Over the 30-plus years that MotorWeek has been on the air, we’ve seen some amazing parts of the world. And a lot of that was from behind the wheel of a Land Rover product. Now, while their off road prowess is well documented, you might think the ability to experience such adventures are for a few lucky people. Well that’s not really the case. Just about anyone with a driver’s license can jump into a Land Rover and hit the trail. Here’s how!

In our increasingly “connected” world, getting away from things has become ever more difficult. If only you could just jump in an ultra-luxurious vehicle, hit the trail, and disappear for a while. 

Well, that’s exactly what the Land Rover Experience Driving School is all about. Well, technically it’s about teaching you the necessary skills to handle a vehicle off road, and more importantly bring it and you back home in one piece. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t use it as an excuse to get away for a short time. 

The school has multiple locations in North America with 3 in the U.S.  Equinox Resort in Manchester Village, Vermont; Quail Lodge in Carmel, California; and the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, where you’ll get a great view of much of the 8,000 acre property that most never see. And that’s where we took in some recent trail time.

Rain made for some very muddy trails and slow going, but the Land Rovers had no problem with it. And you won’t either, no matter what the conditions, thanks to the expert instructions you’ll be getting from the many trail tutors on hand to keep you going. Anyone can enroll with no previous off road experience required. 

GREG NIKOLAS: …everything that we teach is an expedition style of driving, and it’s really applicable to all types of 4-wheel-drive vehicles and really all types of driving situations. So even though we’re working in an off-road environment, there’s a lot of on-road and daily applications to the techniques that we teach.”

JOHN DAVIS: Vehicles are all current Land Rover SUVs, and the Experience is a great way to get a taste of what they are capable of. And spending a couple hundred bucks for the opportunity is a lot cheaper than buying one. 

Or, if you actually do own a Land Rover, here’s your chance to see what it’s capable of, without having to spend a couple of days getting the muck off.

GREG NIKOLAS: …one of the applications of the Land Rover Experience is for the Land Rover owner to be able to come here and drive a vehicle similar to what they may own and actually start to understand what the vehicle is capable of… …and how they can become a better driver on a daily basis. 

JOHN DAVIS: Everything from a 1-hour lesson to multi-day excursions are available, and you can even do a ride-a-long if you just want to be an observer. Some locations even offer training for the little tykes. 

Ultimately the goal of the Land Rover Experience is to sell more Land Rovers by demonstrating just how capable they are off road, and how comfortable they can be while doing it. Even if you’re not in the market now, you can attend any one of these schools, get away for a bit, have a great time, and more importantly improve your off-roading skills!

GREG NIKOLAS: …you will actually walk away with a deeper driving skill set and a better thought process; again, to become a better and safer driver in every type of situation.