Ready to Push Limits, These Adventurers Chose Nomadic Road

Madagascar’s RN5 is a route that demands grit. While overlanding here, expect all of it — river crossings, deep sand stretches, slippery red clay, steep climbs, and huge rocks — often in a single day. 

Similarly, on Nomadic Road’s Mongolian winter expedition, temperatures plunge to -30 degrees Celsius. Now, add sudden sandstorms and hailstorms into the mix. The weather here is as unpredictable as the terrain itself.

In Peru, the challenge lies in navigating shifting dunes and dizzying canyons. Stability? Predictability? Leave those behind.

A Nomadic Road expedition isn’t for everyone. It requires guts, boldness, and a touch of madness to take on.

But for those who find comfort in discomfort, this is your kind of adventure.

Venky, the founder of Nomadic Road, often says, "You cannot be a true explorer if your travel decisions centre around creature comforts."

On our overland expeditions, Mother Nature sets the rules. No scripts, just raw, unfiltered experience. These are journeys designed to push boundaries. Challenges aren’t avoided — they’re embraced.

For many, this is the best part of the expedition.

A Gateway to Discovering Your Potential

Despite the heavy focus on driving in our expeditions, not every participant is a seasoned driver. In fact, it's not even a requirement. Beyond being a confident driver, all you need is the enthusiasm to learn.

The same goes for everything else — you don’t need to have camped outside, driven long hours in extreme conditions, or been an outdoorsy person.

But here’s the catch: you’ll often find yourself in unfamiliar situations. You might doubt your capabilities. The upside is that you'll likely overcome them.

Consider the Madagascar 2024 expedition — our most gruelling journey yet. Fakhreldin captured the daily routine of the expedition: "Every day I wake up wondering how it’s going to go; who will get stuck, which car will break down, where we'll sleep, which village we'll reach, and whether the ferry will work or not."

Yet, Fakhreldin didn’t dread this uncertainty. It fueled him.

During Nomadic Road's Gobi expedition in 2019, Sud reflected on the thrill of driving fast on Mongolia’s rugged roads. “You realise that it’s those few moments of discomfort that stand out. Once you push through them, it just becomes a lot more fun.”

It’s simple — stepping out of your comfort zone comes with a huge perk. You discover how much you can overcome. Your fears and beliefs about your limitations get shattered. You end up seeing that your potential is limitless.

Seeking Accomplishments via Overlanding

For many, travel is about rejuvenation and relaxation. That’s valid — necessary even.

But for some, travel is about accomplishment. It might come from reaching a hard-to-get-to place, trekking a difficult mountain, or trying a wildly different cuisine.

Katie, who joined Nomadic Road's Gobi expedition in 2019, sums it up well: “Being pushed out of my comfort zone is probably the thing that makes me feel like I’ve done something with my day. That’s the best feeling, especially on vacation.”

On Nomadic Road expeditions, navigating the unexpected is a given. We've encountered hailstorms in deserts and driven on thinning frozen lakes. Vehicular breakdowns are almost routine, no matter the terrain and location.

During the 2018 Iceland expedition, an unexpected blizzard hit us in the first two days. The visibility was close to zero. But for Santhosh, this ended up being the pinnacle of the journey. He recalls, “We got to drive through storms and blizzards — something we never imagined in our wildest dreams. That has been the best part of this trip.”

Discomfort Takes Many Forms and Sizes

“You have to prepare for challenges of every sort,” says Sunny, a participant in Nomadic Road’s 2024 Madagascar expedition.

In the video, participants recount the many challenges they faced — from pooping in the wilderness to navigating treacherous roads, and the constant uncertainty of whether they’d reach their destination.

The list of possible challenges and discomforts on such expeditions is endless.

Not having control over time is a common challenge. Days on Nomadic Road expeditions are long, with hours of driving and few breaks. Factor in natural or technical hazards, and it’s a real test of endurance. But embracing this unpredictability can be rewarding, and every so often, the benefits extend long after the expedition ends.

“I took something positive from it — that sometimes it’s good not to have control over time. It’s nice to let go and go with the flow," says Natasha, who joined our 2023 Madagascar expedition.

Taking Risks Safely

Is it possible to embark on overland expeditions like these on your own? The short answer is yes. But it requires extensive planning, ample resources, access to the right people, and expertise in both tech and travel. Plus, it’s a lot riskier.

On Nomadic Road expeditions, you’re encouraged to take risks in a controlled environment.

“There’s always someone to help you through each type of situation. So it’s like taking all the risks but feeling completely calm while doing so,” says Katie, a participant in Nomadic Road’s 2019 Gobi expedition.

With the right support, conquering towering dunes, driving on frozen lakes, and navigating extreme conditions becomes entirely achievable.

“I would’ve never thought of going glacier hiking unless Venky suggested it,” says Nikhil from the 2018 Patagonia Expedition. “I would never have become a better driver unless Rodrigo taught me how to handle raw terrain.”

It’s clear: stepping out of your comfort zone is a solid path to growth and catharsis.

Santhosh, who joined our 2018 Gobi expedition, says: “Please, get out of your comfort zone [just] once. See what the world has to offer in its rawest, most native sense.