I regularly visit the forum and use the most recent posts facility to see what people have been asking about and have noticed that most questions seem to be about South America. This is quite anicdotal and totally unscientific but based on questions asked I get the impression that the most popular continents for travellers on here are as follows.

South America
Asia
North America
Europe
Africa
Australia

Does this look about right? If this is something like correct I wonder what makes these destinations as popular as they are and what affects people's choices, ease of travel regarding paperwork such as visas, carnet etc, perceptions about security, cost of living or just a greater interest in that part of the world?
Something that does surprise me is how few people now make the overland trip from Europe to India, in the last 3 months of travel in Pakistan, India and Nepal I have only seen 4 foreign registered bikes and a couple of 4WD, when I first came here 25 years ago there seemed to be many more, the only travellers I have seen more of are the intrepid cyclists who were very few and far between back then.

Hey Mark. I guess it depends if you're looking at it from a UK/US perspective. Which I always assumed most of the members on this forum are from.

The most popular continent to travel for Europeans is by far, Europe. For obvious reasons.

If you're talking about the exotic, then yes, I have to agree that South America is where it's at. And for very good reason. It's got EVERYTHING !!

Easy Visas, no carnets, low cost(ish), great people, easy travel, good infrastructure, great food and awesome roads and scenery.
However, I think the biggest factor is the diversity. You've got everything from rain forests to Glaciers, ancient temples to modern luxuries. Even though it's 'exotic' , it's also got a European 'theme' to it. You can tell the Spanish and Portuguese were there. And I suppose it's not too difficult to learn some basic Spanish before you go.

If you compare that to crossing Africa is central Asia, it's a whole different ball game. Changing languages, Visa Woes, expensive carnets, impossible to learn languages etc etc.

South America is easy and incredibly rewarding. There's a reason that even the most seasoned hard core travellers keep going back.

To answer your question about India/Pakistan. I think Pakistan put's off A LOT of people. Axis of evil and all that !! It's hard to not absorb the Rhetoric about such places.

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Interesting topic and one that touches on something I was thinking of posting.

My interests are very much focused on the Old World; so Eurasia and Africa, though I have only travelled in-depth in Eurasia (Europe and Asia).

I have a website which recounts these trips and I take an interest in visitor statistics. I would say that the articles are of fairly consistent quality and style, so to me my statistics are a benchmark of the popularity of destinations in Eurasia.

What I notice is that the articles on India are the least-visited, quite consistently. I wondered if this was a reflection on myself - India is my least favourite country which I write about on the website - but two things make me think that this is irrelevant; firstly because people would have to actually read the article first before seeing that I had mixed experiences, and secondly because my favourite country, neighbouring Pakistan, also receives relatively little traffic, even though I have nothing but good things to say about it. So I would cautiously conclude that there is a general lack of interest in India.

I would put the decline of the overland route to India down to the following:

- The Former USSR is opening up; after almost 30 years the visa regulations have eased and the herds are realising that this is an easy, safe and fascinating place to see.

- The Pakistan visa must stymie many travel plans for people who can't be bothered with the logistical process.

- The Pakistan escorts - can't be much fun. A terrible shame as Pakistan (I used to live in the south and travelled to every corner of the country) is a truly magnificent country to travel in with almost zero hassle compared to India or even Iran.

- Perceived security issues. Even though people are on an 'adventure' the lawlessness of Balochistan I think puts many people off. The truth is that very few foreigners have actually had any trouble here; I can think of two Czech girls kidnapped from a bus and a cyclist who witnessed a shooting (not aimed at him) in the last 10 years or so.

- India is very much a love-hate place. Facing constant hassle from people trying to take advantage of you (though there are plenty of regions where they don't) is not much fun for me and I have little wish to return to India apart from some mountainous areas.

- Iran - although it has never been easier for most nations to visit Iran, for US, UK and Canadian travellers it has become impossible it seems to self-drive across the country.

- What do you do after India? Fly home to get new Pakistan visas? Ship out? Take a very expensive guided tour through Tibet and China? Drive through Myanmar to SE Asia, which is now more trouble than it's worth to bring a vehicle into? None are attractive options in my eyes.

As for global overlanding trends, I think South America comes out on top mostly because it's so accessible for Americans, who are present in numbers, and have high incomes (though few holidays) that make overlanding relatively accessible. Plus it's logistically easy as Ted points out. I think security is very personal; for me in South America I hated the constant need of vigilance from pickpockets, distraction thieves (tried to rob me in Ica, Peru), bogus police on the streets of La Paz etc etc. In Asia there is basically nothing like this (with a few notable exceptions) and I like being able to drop my guard and trust people I meet. But yes, there is that one in a million chance that some lunatic comes and blows himself up (had a couple of close calls in north-western Pakistan - though these were areas I knew to be unstable). For me the latter is much easier to deal with. Indeed, apart from a lingering wish to see Patagonia and drive across the Amazon, I personally see little appeal in travelling in South America. Yes there are beautiful landscapes but it has nothing like the cultural diversity and historical depth of Eurasia. The primal landscapes and good people of Africa are next on my list. The fact that Eurasia and Africa are typically more logistically challenging keep the hordes out; for me that's a bonus.

Interesting discussion, thanks for starting it

EO

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EurasiaOverland a memoir of one quarter of a million kilometres by road through all of the Former USSR, Western and Southern Asia.

I can see where you are coming from, but I'd read the information differently.

Folks are asking more about South America, because they understand the least about it, not because it's the most popular destination.

Your not going to find a whole load of Brits, posting up and asking how to get across the Channel, they just know, or know someone who does, or there are four pages full of good advise, if they google it.

It's the less travelled places that get asked about the most.

With the exception of Australia, which is super easy to travel in, but a freakishly long way to go, with a whole lot of world to grab the attention in between, at least from the UK.

Anyhow, not saying your wrong or anything, just the way I see it.

Touching back on India. I travelled the west coast for a month. Although its a very interesting and diverse country, there are a couple of things that stop me going back in a hurry. Although I know I will one day.

Never have I been so sick with food poisoning in my life. The intense over-crowding and poverty in the country makes hygiene non-existent. I think I spent 90% of my trip feeling sick or recovering from being sick. And my stomach is solid !!

The pollution is unlike anything I have seen. There is rubbish everywhere. Even national parks are full of plastic and shite. It seems like the whole country smells like sewage.

You don't go to India if you value your privacy or personal space. I think it's just a culture thing. You are NEVER alone in India. Even if you think you are there are eyes watching you. Many women travellers have terrible stories to tell about their experiences there. Men looking through keyholes etc.

I understand that my experience is only of one side of India. I have never been to the North which I understand is much cleaner and natural. I will have to go !!

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

The good thing about going overland to India is that you first get sick in Pakistan, after which you don't get sick in India anymore! (at least, that is how it worked for us, apparently not for everybody)
India (and the Indian subcontinent) is indeed a different part of Asia, the rest is more civilized or at least more relaxed.

Going to Central Asia or Mongolia, there are quite some people on the road, very different form the old hippie trail to India.

I like Asia a lot because it allows us to just drive there (and sometimes back).
Just took more than half a year to drive from our driveway to Tokyo
And it is cheap and safe (mostly, again Pakistan is the exception although it was great to visit)
South America must be great and very willing to see, but while it is diverse, it has this spanish flavour all over (okay and some Portugese).
Asia seems to be more diverse, at least to me. Lots of different nature and different cultures, nomadic cultures, buddhists but also islamic culture and so on.

Anyway, I would hate to say that one continent is better to visit then another continent, that would be ridiculous to claim.

But I guess for some reason it helps that you can just drive off towards Asia. And in that sense also Africa. At least I would like to drive to Dakar once, which seems to be very doable and since it doesn't have to cost much time it is easier to fullfill than a one year roadtrip or something.

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2011 Overland from Amsterdam to Nepal and back
2018 Overland from Amsterdam to Tokyo via Central Asia and Mongolia

And to add, I think South America is getting more popular in general in recent years. This has to do with the fact that this style of overland travelling (a lot of times in a car, here come the #vanlife people!) is getting more popular in the US, where people want to drive to Argentina for example.

And with a motorbike, I guess it is much easier (okay, let me just say cheaper) to ship it to South America and go riding there. With a car very doable as well. But the cost soon add up to some amount for which you could easily do a Central Asia roundtrip for up to half a year.

I am looking forward to exploring South America one day, and I even see it as something inevitable
But I would not have want to missed Asia with all its colors and diversity. Also quite a fan of the old Islamic architecture and deserts, that helps.

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2011 Overland from Amsterdam to Nepal and back
2018 Overland from Amsterdam to Tokyo via Central Asia and Mongolia