# Driving around the World?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-around-the-world/37779
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [October 21, 2000, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-around-the-world/37779 "2000-10-21T14:48:08Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@schief2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/schief2)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2000, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-around-the-world/37779/21 "2000-10-23T00:50:44Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by ElvisL1ves \*
> \*\*To turn south and get into Africa without a long ferry ride would require passing from an Arab country into Israel, then back into an Arab country - does anyone know if that’s possible? \*\*
AFAIK, in theory it is. You could go Jordan–\>Israel–\>Gaza–\>Egypt. Subject, of course, to whatever political winds are blowing at the time.
Of course, good luck getting from Egypt to any OTHER Arab country once you’ve got those nice Israeli stamps in your passport. Libya would be out of the question, but heading to Sudan might be possible…
---
### Author:  [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2000, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-around-the-world/37779/22 "2000-10-23T01:54:31Z")
Wish I could provide the exact issue, but about two years ago, _Car & Driver_ ran an article about an American husband-wife team who planned to circumnavigate the globe in a combined land-sea vehicle. The “Dobberton Land Orbiter”, as the machine was dubbed, was constructed out of a Heil tank trailer, of all things. At the time of the article, it had been tested on water, but I recall the writer being highly sceptical of the machine’s ability to negotiate ocean waves.
The journey has not taken place as yet; apparently the couple split up and ownership of the orbiter is being disputed in the divorce proceeedings.
---
### Author:  [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2000, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-around-the-world/37779/23 "2000-10-23T04:13:39Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by mavpace \*
> \*\*Can I at least do my trip in parts? Is it possible to drive from England to India? \*\*
Of course this trip is possible (except through the channel tunnel). Traditional route shouls take you through all the scenic destinations: Croatia, Croatia, Serbia, Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan before driving through tranquil Kahmir. Let us know how you get on .
---
### Author:  [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2000, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-around-the-world/37779/24 "2000-10-23T04:38:31Z")
So I gather the consensus is this:
Can you? Yes.
Would you want to? No, not really. A surprising amount of the world is hostile to the West (lumping Western Europe with North America here) and would not look kindly on our traipsing around their land. Other countries, like Mexico, are not hostile to the US (theoretically) but have so many local problems (bribery at all levels, crime rampant, complete lack of infrastructure) you had better watch yourself over there. Sibera, the Empty Quarter in Saudi Arabia, etc., and other nearly uninhabited regions have problems all their own: No infrastructure, natural problems (extreme temperatures, dangerous life forms, dangerous landforms), and no communications with the outside world (a satellite phone can’t set a broken leg). I, myself, wouldn’t try it.
[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-around-the-world/37779.md?page=1)