3catcircus
Adventurer
The same could be said of the map of Bavaria in Ravenloft. The issue is the scale of the map. It's quite possible to make each of the wilderness journeys in a day or two at most. There isn't enough time invested in that journey to make all the problems mentioned in the text in any way relevant. Any exploring is not only strictly optional, but makes no sense as a choice for the players in context. People just follow the road/breadcrumbs and no trip requires much time.
A couple of suggestions: change the scale of the map. I don't have it handy, but I think that Raurin is huge. And "empty," so it is easy to make it any scale you need. Second suggestion is that a failed survival check is the DM's best friend. Lost desert tribesmen, hidden oases, cranky brown and blue dragons, ancient Imaskari ruins, etc.
Just take some inspiration from the world around you - how often do you see news stories of a lost hiker who is literally the next hill over from civilization...