About CarChallenge
CarChallenge has been organizing driving adventures for 18 years. Across the globe, throughout the year. A Challenge with your own car — where driving, adventure, and luxury take center stage.
Each Challenge is built around extraordinary routes and unexpected obstacles. It demands creativity and calls on your sense of resourcefulness.
At the same time, it’s about boundless enjoyment in some of the world’s most stunning places. Moments of awe in unfamiliar cultures. Discovering regions where tourists are a rarity.
Since 2007, we’ve hosted over fifty events across every continent. From Amsterdam to Singapore, Mumbai to Tokyo, Anchorage to Panama, Perth to Sydney, Dar es Salaam to Cape Town, Cape Town to Amsterdam — just a glimpse of the many Challenges we’ve crafted over the years.
What is a Challenge?
Adventure, Thoughtfully Arranged
Discover the world in your own car
Driving takes center stage — the route is the goal
Fully scouted and supported by CarChallenge
On the road together, each on their own path
A Challenge is a group journey developed and guided by CarChallenge, where driving is central. Not as an end in itself, but as the ultimate way to explore both familiar and unfamiliar parts of the world.
The route is always the goal. Easy stages alternate with more demanding ones. Unpaved roads are never avoided. And while we enjoy staying in beautiful, luxurious hotels, the route always comes first.
As a participant, you discover the world in your own car. CarChallenge meticulously prepares (and pre-drives) each Challenge, involves participants in the planning process, and takes care of every detail during the journey. Throughout the Challenge, our organizational team and technical support crew are on the ground with you.
You drive the route independently, but in the evenings, you come together — whether that’s in a fully equipped camp in Namibia or a luxury hotel on Thailand’s eastern coast.
Each Challenge is limited to a maximum of 14 teams. Every day, our team is ready to assist you. The hotel is expecting your arrival. And if you experience technical issues? Our mechanics work tirelessly to get you back on the road as quickly as possible.
The World Challenge
In 2024, we celebrated ten years of The World Challenge. The original idea: to drive around the world in seven years, in your own car. A different continent each year, a new adventure every time. More than 100 teams took part.
Along the way, we learned one important thing: the world doesn’t divide neatly into seven equal parts. Some routes demand more time. Others, we’re saving for later. And so, it’s time for a new approach: The World Challenge 2.0.
No fixed sequence of continents, but a flexible series of standalone stages. Sometimes within one region, sometimes crossing multiple continents.
Each year, we drive a new World Challenge, made up of two or three stages, each lasting about five weeks. Between stages, there’s an average rest period of four weeks.
You can join for a single stage, combine several, or take part in a complete World Challenge. Every stage is bookable on its own.
The World Challenge
2024: North America
Challenge
America Part I
From Newfoundland to New Orleans
We begin in Newfoundland, on the east coast of North America.
Completed ~ 35
America Part II
From New Orleans to Panama
Tracing the curve of the Gulf of Mexico, we journey into the heart of Central America.
Completed ~ 35
Latin America Deel I
From Paramaribo to Lima
2025: Latin America
We begin in Suriname, on the northern coast of Latin America. The Amazon rainforest is our first major challenge.
Latin America Deel II
From Lima to Ushuaia
We pick up where Part I left off — in Peru. We explore Bolivia before heading into Paraguay, then on to Argentina and Chile.
Latin America Deel III
Antarctica
As the grand finale: an expedition to this vast, white continent.
2026: Cape to Cape
Challenge
Cape to Cape Part I
From the North Cape to Turkey
We begin at the North Cape and drive south through Finland. After crossing from Helsinki, we travel through the Baltic States into Eastern Europe: Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and finally Turkey.
July 2026 ~ 35
Cape to Cape Part II
From Turkey to Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Oman
From Turkey, we sail to Egypt, visit the Pyramids and the Valley of the Kings, and continue our journey through Saudi Arabia and Oman.
September 2026 ~ 40
Cape to Cape Part III
From Djibouti to South Africa
We drive through Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, and Lesotho before reaching South Africa. The finish line is at the southern tip of the continent — just as summer begins there.
November 2026 ~ 42
2027: The Far East
Challenge Date Nights
The World Challenge | The Far East From Amsterdam to Hong Kong and Sydney
Starting in Amsterdam has its charm — finishing among the skyscrapers of Hong Kong is epic. And everything in between is adventure of a different kind. Exactly how the route will unfold is still written in the stars. As always, much depends on how the world evolves between now and then.
November 2027 ~40 nights per part ~120 nights in total
September October
The World Challenge Cape to Cape
Part 1: From the North Cape to Southern Turkey
An ultimate adventure: from the northernmost point reachable by car — the North Cape — to Cape of Good Hope, the southern tip of Africa.
Three stages of five weeks each, separated by four-week breaks.
This is more than a road trip — it’s an expedition that takes you through dramatically different landscapes and cultures along the way.
Cape to Cape is familiar ground for CarChallenge. For over sixteen years, we’ve explored Europe’s northernmost roads and the remote regions of Africa. This new Cape to Cape Challenge brings together all that experience into one epic journey.
We begin at the North Cape in Norway, the northern edge of Europe. The cars are ready and waiting, and we land in Alta to acclimatize to the northern climate and endless daylight.
Here, where the road quite literally ends, the journey of a lifetime begins.
Our first nights are spent at the stunning Sorrisniva — known for its ice hotel and authentic Norwegian atmosphere. From there, we descend to the famed Norwegian coastline, where fjords, mountains, and deserted roads unfold in ever-changing sequence.
After a rest day in the picturesque village of Nusfjord, we continue through Sweden, following the Gulf of Bothnia. The landscape shifts subtly — from rugged to serene — with endless forests and mirror-like lakes. A ferry takes us to Finland, where we pause in Helsinki, a city where Scandinavian design meets historical architecture.
From there, we cross into the Baltic States and head south. In Kraków, we immerse ourselves in the culture and history of Eastern Europe.
Next awaits the Transfagarasan — one of Europe’s most iconic mountain roads. We wind through high passes and deep gorges, eventually reaching the Turkish border. In Istanbul, Europe’s largest city, we take two rest days. Our colleague Thom, who knows the city inside and out, guides us through its vibrant streets and rich cultural layers.
From Istanbul, we follow the Black Sea coast, passing through villages like Ordu and Rize, where the scent of fresh tea and hazelnuts lingers in the air. Then we venture into the rugged interior, with a highlight being the road to Artvin and Erzurum — where unpaved mountain tracks rise to nearly 3,000 meters.
The adventure concludes in magical Cappadocia, famed for its fairy-tale rock formations and the morning skies filled with hot-air balloons. After this unforgettable stretch through Turkey, we arrive in Mersin, where the cars are prepared for shipping to Egypt.
Check out the route
In a nutshell:
Start: 15th of June 2026
35 days, including 8 rest days
Approximately 8,000 kilometers
Begin at the North Cape: the northernmost point of mainland Europe
Drive past dramatic fjords and endless forests through Scandinavia
Discover the Baltic States and the cultural richness of Eastern Europe
Experience an iconic drive along the Transfagarasan Highway
Spend two days exploring Istanbul — where continents and cultures meet
Tackle unpaved mountain roads at 3,000 meters along the Black Sea
Enjoy a sunrise balloon flight over the magical landscape of Cappadocia
The World Challenge Cape to Cape
From Cairo to Salalah
We begin in Alexandria — the city of Alexander the Great — on the edge of the Mediterranean Sea. The journey starts in late August, when the intense heat of North Africa begins to subside. We take our time to absorb the city’s deep history before continuing on to Cairo. The pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum are, of course, highlights — but the vibrant markets and the Nile leave an equally lasting impression.
From Cairo, we follow the path of the Nile, passing through legendary cities like Luxor and Aswan. The temples, the Valley of the Kings, and the stories of ancient pharaohs transport us momentarily to another time. Our Egyptian stage concludes at Abu Simbel, where we cross the water into Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia is a land of striking contrasts. We visit Al Ula, with its ancient rock formations, and continue via Neom — a futuristic city rising from the desert. Then comes Wadi Al Disah, a breathtaking canyon landscape filled with palm trees and silence. We explore the Farasan Islands before venturing into the Empty Quarter.
Here, among the endless sand dunes, we feel completely alone in the world. Camping under the stars, far from any trace of civilization — this is true adventure.
In Oman, the landscape shifts once more: mountains give way to coastline. We trace the route south, past Duqm, until we reach Salalah. There, we slow the pace, take in the legendary hospitality of Oman, and prepare the cars for the next chapter: Africa.
In a nutshell:
Start: Late August
Duration: 40 days, including 9 rest days
Distance: Approximately 8,000 kilometers
Start in Alexandria and Cairo: gateways to ancient Egypt
Highlights along the Nile: Luxor, Aswan, and Abu Simbel
From Wadi Al Disah to Neom: from ancient landscapes to futuristic visions
Dune driving and stargazing in the Empty Quarter
Follow Oman’s coastline to the finish in Salalah
The World Challenge Cape to Cape
Part 3: From Djibouti to Cape Town
The cars await in Djibouti City, the capital of a small country at the Horn of Africa. Here begins our journey through a landscape few travelers ever encounter.
We first explore Lac ‘Assal, lying 155 meters below sea level in a volcanic crater. The deep turquoise water against stark white salt crusts creates an almost surreal scene. The heat shimmers above the lake, and salt crystals crunch underfoot. Further on, we discover the Mangrove de Godoria, where resilient trees root themselves in the salty waters of the Gulf of Aden. This natural boundary between land and sea offers a rare moment of shade in a country dominated by sun and stone.
After visiting Lake Abhe, where limestone chimneys rise like sentinels from the water, we cross into Ethiopia — a country thirty times the size of the Netherlands, still waiting for the flow of travelers it truly deserves. It’s a curious reality for a nation so rich in history and home to one of Africa’s most dynamic economies. While Ethiopian Airlines connects the country to the world, its homeland remains an open secret. We avoid the northeast, where past and present are still in quiet conversation.
Our route leads through central Ethiopia, following the Rift Valley — the ancient scar where continents drift apart. We journey to the Erta Ale volcano in the Danakil Depression, one of the most inhospitable yet mesmerizing landscapes on Earth. Here, the planet still breathes: with bubbling sulfur springs and salt flats in colors that seem too vivid for nature’s palette. The heat becomes something tangible — a presence of its own. After several days in this primordial landscape, we arrive in Addis Ababa, where the cool highlands offer a welcome moment of reprieve.
We continue south through the Bale Mountains National Park, where alpine meadows transition into dense forest. In Dorze, we meet a people who build bamboo houses shaped like human faces — architecture as an extension of identity. From there, we reach the Kenyan border and gradually return to a world of more familiar comforts.
In Samburu National Park, we spend a day among animals that have mastered adaptation — gerenuks standing on their hind legs to graze, and Grevy’s zebras with their fine-lined coats. Red earth roads lead us to Loisaba and Mount Kenya National Park, where Africa’s second-highest peak rises like a sentinel. Through bustling Nairobi, where skyscrapers and acacia trees share the skyline, we reach the Masai Mara. The landscape opens into endless grasslands where the Great Migration repeats its eternal cycle — a story of movement, pursuit, and survival.
This is Africa revealed without embellishment or pretense. At times raw, always essential. A continent that does not ask for admiration — it commands it by simply being.
After Kenya, Tanzania unfolds before us. In Gombe National Park, we search for Goodall’s chimpanzees among the green hills along Lake Tanganyika — creatures that meet our gaze with eyes that echo our own evolution. We pass through Tarangire, where baobabs rise from the savannah like silent guardians, and continue south to the rarely visited Katavi. In the dry season, hippos crowd into shrinking pools.
We continue into Malawi, a narrow land stretching along its namesake lake. The road leads south toward Blantyre, where tea plantations roll across gentle hills. The lake remains ever-present — a constant blue-grey shimmer on the eastern horizon.
In Mozambique, we meet the Zambezi — a river with the patient strength of centuries. We follow its course, which forms the natural border with Zimbabwe. The landscape here breathes recovery — of both people and nature. In Zimbabwe, we rest in Nyanga National Park, where misty mountains and cascading waterfalls offer a striking contrast to the Africa most imagine. Gonarezhou welcomes us with red sandstone cliffs and elephants marked by the very earth they tread.
In the renowned Kruger National Park, the savannah unfolds like a living canvas — herds and predators performing their timeless dance. This is Africa as it lives on in our collective memory: open plains with giraffes moving like silent markers through the grass.
South Africa reveals itself as a land of transitions. We cross Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), a small kingdom nestled between giants, and continue west into Lesotho — the mountain kingdom in the sky. In the Drakensberg, ancient rock paintings whisper stories older than language. The mountain passes test our vehicles; the altitude, our lungs.
We continue westward toward Bloemfontein, heart of the old Boer territory, and Kimberley with its Big Hole — a gaping wound in the earth where men once dug for diamonds and a city rose from dust. From Augrabies National Park, where the Orange River plunges through a canyon, we head south through an increasingly arid landscape.
In Clanwilliam, the Cederberg mountains embrace us with rust-colored rock and rare flora. And finally, we arrive in Stellenbosch, where vineyards climb in geometric rows up sunlit slopes. Here, in the shade of old oaks, we raise a glass to the journey’s end at the Southern Cape — not just the edge of a continent, but the story of the road that brought us here.
In a nutshell:
Start: Early November 2026
Duration: 42 days, including 10 rest days
Distance: Approximately 9,000 kilometers
Start in Djibouti City, gateway to the Horn of Africa
Through Ethiopia’s Rift Valley to the active Erta Ale volcano in the Danakil Depression
Kenya’s wildlife circuit: Samburu, Loisaba, Mount Kenya, and the Masai Mara
Face to face with Goodall’s chimpanzees in Gombe National Park
The mighty Zambezi as a natural border between Mozambique and Zimbabwe
Kingdoms between borders: Eswatini and the mountainous Lesotho
Across the Drakensberg, past prehistoric rock art
Final stop in Stellenbosch: a toast to Cape of Good Hope — the southern end of the continent
Practical Information
For this Challenge, we create the most scenic and well-balanced route and select the best possible hotels. Prior to departure, we personally scout the route, visit every hotel and restaurant, check border crossings, and handle all necessary procedures and permits.
What kind of car is suitable for this Challenge?
A 4x4 vehicle. Think Toyota Land Cruiser, Land Rover Discovery, Toyota Hilux, or something similar. Adequate ground clearance, underbody protection, and reliable all-terrain tires are essential. A 4x4 offers both comfort and confidence on diverse terrain.
Technical support travels with us throughout the Challenge. The goal is simple: every team must reach the finish. At complex border crossings, we’re there to assist. We know the paperwork, permits, and potential hurdles — and make sure everyone gets through smoothly.
The route is the focus, but each stage is designed to be achievable. There’s also time to relax, explore cultural sites, and enjoy curated excursions. We include activities we’ve personally experienced and found worthwhile during the scouting
trip. At least one unforgettable excursion is part of every Challenge — something rare and exclusive, designed especially for this journey.
Navigation is done via your own tablet. Before the start, we provide you with the full route digitally. You drive independently, not in convoy. Each team departs at a time that suits them. You’re welcome to drive together with others, but it’s entirely optional.
The same applies to dinner. At times, we dine as a group, but often you’re free to choose your own restaurant. In larger towns, we provide recommendations. Simply submit the receipt to the organization, and the cost will be reimbursed. Prefer to eat at the hotel? That’s fine too.
Vehicle Modifications
A 4x4 is an excellent starting point, but often not enough on its own. Depending on the make and model, several — sometimes extensive — modifications may be required. These range from truly essential upgrades, such as proper wheels, all-terrain tires, adequate ground clearance, and underbody protection, to optional comforts — like a built-in coffee maker.
Essential Not required, but nice to have
• Underbody protection
• VHF radio with antenna
• BF Goodrich all-terrain tires
• Dual battery system
• Two spare wheels
• Air compressor
• Dashcam
• A tablet with 4G connectivity
• Power inverter in the cabin
• Tablet mount
• Reliable refrigerator
• In-car storage system
• Additional LED lighting
• Two extra USB ports
• Starlink
Many vehicle modifications are made without the right knowledge or experience — which often leads to problems on the road, and sometimes even before the journey begins. It’s not uncommon for electrical systems to fail during shipping. Cars are also frequently prepared with rally conditions in mind, while what’s truly needed is a vehicle capable of handling a long-distance endurance journey.
It’s not unusual for our technical team to spend much of the trip correcting pre-existing modifications. That’s why we’ve decided — together with a group of trusted specialists — to carry out all modifications ourselves, according to our own standards. This ensures every participant starts the Challenge fully prepared, and allows for any issues en route to be resolved quickly and efficiently.
All modifications are carefully documented and labeled. That way, any technician can easily identify each cable and fuse, and understand its function. This documentation remains with the vehicle, serving as a practical reference guide for technical support during the journey.
“If you haven’t yet purchased a vehicle, we’re happy to advise you on that as well.
Pricing Breakdown
Included: Excluded
• Vehicle shipping
• All hotel accommodations
• Lunch on selected days
• Drinks during dinners
• Third-party liability insurance for the vehicle
• Parking fees
• Driving permits for all countries
• Flights
• Vehicle-related expenses (fuel, maintenance, tolls, etc.)
• Personal expenses
Our aim: “Leave your wallet at home.”
What do we do in preparation for the Challenge?
• Complete preparation, both behind the desk and on location
• Pre-driving the entire route
• Arranging vehicle shipping, including all customs procedures
• Applying for all necessary customs documents
• Assisting with personal visa applications
• Securing driving permits for each country
• Selecting, evaluating, and personally visiting all hotels
• Planning potential excursions for rest days
• Booking flights (if desired)
• Organizing a pre- or post-trip holiday (if desired)
What can you expect from us during the Challenge?
• Guidance from four CarChallenge team members, with additional support from our office
• One organization vehicle and one technical support vehicle accompany the
• Each vehicle is equipped with a GPS tracker
• Assistance at all border crossings
• Hotel rooms checked and pre-checked-in ahead of arrival
• Advancing various expenses during the journey
• Spa reservations and bookings (upon request)
Price and Duration
At this stage, it is difficult to determine an exact price. Shipping rates fluctuate significantly, and hotel prices have risen sharply in recent years.
A final price will be confirmed only after the inspection trip.
Cape to Cape • Noordkaap tot Mersin ~25.000€ per person ~ 35 dagen
Cape to Cape • Alexandrië tot Salalah ~25.000€ per person ~ 40 dagen
Cape to Cape • Djibouti tot Kaapstad ~25.000€ per person ~ 42 dagen
Preparation
Preparations for The World Challenge – Cape to Cape will begin in the summer of 2025.
We also offer additional services for participants who request them:
• Application for a Carnet de Passage
• Application for personal visas
• Flight booking
• Organization of pre- or post-trip holidays
Registration for 2026
Registration opens on 17 May 2025. Each stage is limited to a maximum of 14 teams. Once that number is reached, registration will close. If places are still available, the following deadlines apply:
• Part 1: North Cape to Mersin – latest registration by 1 February 2026
• Part 2: Alexandria to Salalah – latest registration by 1 April 2026
• Part 3: Djibouti to Cape Town – latest registration by 1 May 2026
Participation Agreement & Cancellation Insurance
Your registration is complete once the travel agreement has been signed and the deposit has been paid.
Cancellation insurance is not mandatory, but if you wish to take it out, it must be arranged within 7 days of signing the agreement.
This package tour is subject to the ANVR Travel Terms and Conditions, as well as our own supplementary terms. If the trip includes travel services provided by different service providers, their individual terms and conditions may also apply — provided these do not override the ANVR conditions or your statutory rights. Where additional terms apply, we will state this explicitly.
You can find the ANVR Travel Terms and Conditions at www.anvr.nl/ reizigersvoorwaarden.pdf, and our supplementary terms at: Executive Golf Travel Terms & Conditions / Executive Travel Terms & Conditions / CarChallenge Terms & Conditions, also available via www. anvr.nl/touroperatorvoorwaarden.
This booking is covered by the VZR Garant financial protection scheme. The terms and conditions of this guarantee can be found on the VZR Garant website.
With this protection, CarChallenge meets the legally required safeguards to refund your payment and, if transport is included in the package, to provide repatriation in case of financial insolvency. For more information, visit www.vzr-garant.nl.
We are also affiliated with the Dutch Calamity Fund (Calamiteitenfonds), meaning the Calamity Fund’s guarantee scheme applies to this booking.
You can verify this at www.calamiteitenfonds.nl/garantieregeling. In case of a qualifying event, you may be entitled to compensation as
Legal Information
The combination of travel services offered to you constitutes a package tour within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2015/2302. This means you are entitled to all EU rights that apply to package travel.
We are fully responsible for the proper execution of the entire package tour. We also have the legally required protection in place to refund your payments and, if transport is included in the package, to repatriate you in the event of our insolvency.
More information about your fundamental rights under Directive (EU) 2015/2302 can be found online.
Exchange Rate Changes
The prices in this offer are subject to change in the event of significant currency fluctuations.
To avoid any surcharges due to exchange rate changes, you may choose to pay the full travel sum in one installment. If you wish to take advantage of this option, please let us know.
Shipping Rates
The prices in this offer are also subject to change due to fluctuations in shipping rates. In very rare cases, such changes may be passed on to participants.
Insurance
For this journey, a cancellation insurance policy can be arranged. CarChallenge partners with Paardekooper Private Insurance for this service. If you wish to take out cancellation insurance, it must be arranged within 7 days of booking your trip.
1261ZM Blaricum The Netherlands
www.carchallenge.nl info@carchallenge.nl
© Text and photography by CarChallenge. Version 4.0
CarChallenge and the CarChallenge logo are protected trademarks, registered in the Netherlands. All rights reserved. No part of this publication — whether text or imagery — may be reproduced or used in any form without the express written permission of CarChallenge. Our Details: