I've never been overlanding before, but now I am taking some time off between jobs and want to give it a try. I'm a bit nervous about committing to months and months in a truck, so I am looking for a shorter trip where I can get a feel for it first, before thinking about booking something further. Do you know of any? Dan Frazer, London

Sunday Times travel expert Richard Green responds: If you are looking to sample overlanding, you'll get the fullest flavour if you take a trip somewhere far away from the tentacles of public transport, where some off road travel can quickly get you to some mind-blowing places that would otherwise be completely beyond your reach.

A perfect starter would be Dragoman's (01728 861 133) 15-night trip into the Mauritanian Sahara. You'll soon be in pristine wilderness, and an exhilarating three-day beach drive north from Nouakchott, slipping along between the high dunes and the Atlantic rollers. After a commune with Elephant Seals at Cap Blanc, it's inland to tiny oasis towns, and a visit to Ben Amera, a monolithic rock second only to Australia's Uluru. Then after the historic desert cities of Chinguetti and Ouadane, once rich from passing camel trains, it's off to the 30-mile wide earth's bull's eye, Guelb Er Richat, a super-sized eroded dent in the planet.

Prices start from £396pp (plus £70 payable locally), including transport in a 4X4 truck, camping accommodation, all camp meals, and an expert Dragoman crew. Flights aren't included, but can be arranged from about £500, usually from Heathrow with Royal Air Maroc, via Casablanca.

Other great trips to think about are Acacia Adventure Holidays' (020 7706 4700) new 11-day Cape Desert Safari, which heads from Cape Town to Windhoek, Namibia (from £275pp, plus 155 local payment, excluding flights); Dragoman's 15-night Tashkent to Bishkek (from £695pp, plus £130, excluding flights), or Acacia's 11-day highlights of Tanzania trip (from £495pp, plus £30, excluding flights).

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