Hi, I’m Selim—honorary scout, part-time adventurer and the mind behind this blog about trekking, outdoor and adventure travel.

By the way, the scout thing is no joke… I stayed with the Association of Christian Scouts until I was 16, spending most of my summer vacations in campgrounds, forests and various hiking trails across Europe. Then girls and alcohol came into the picture, and, well, the rest is history…

Was dich auf diesem Blog erwarteAuf diesem Blog möchte ich eine unabhängige Plattform für Leute bieten, die es auf ihren Reisen in die Natur zieht und die Abenteuer erleben wollen: Spannende Wanderungen in einsamen Berglandschaften, Zelten unter einem klaren Sternenhimmel, Backpacking in fernen Ländern am anderen Ende der Welt und Trekking-Reisen zu den schönsten Orten der Erde – ob in den Alpen, im Dschungel Thailands, in den peruanischen Anden oder im HimalayaWenn das die Sachen sind, von denen du träumst… dann bist du hier genau richtig!

Please note: I slowly translate my vast back-log of articles from German to English. For now, the selection is pretty slim – but check out my website regularly. It gets bigger every week!

What to Expect on This Blog

With this blog I want to offer an independent website for those drawn to nature and seeking adventure on their travels: thrilling hikes in remote mountain landscapes, camping under a clear starry sky, backpacking in distant countries halfway across the world, and trekking to some of the most beautiful places on Earth—whether in the Alps, the jungles of Thailand, the Peruvian Andes or the Himalayas.

If these are the things that make your heart race… then you’re in the right place!

But it’s not just about sharing my own experiences. What matters to me far more is this:

I want to show you how you can plan these kinds of adventures for yourself.

A lot of people nowadays seem to think there’s nothing to discover anymore—everything’s already known, mapped out in guidebooks, turned into a POI on Google Maps. But that’s far from the truth: in reality the world is still an enormous playground full of uncharted spots. Often, all it takes is stepping just a little off the beaten path. With the stories and practical advice on my blog I hope to inspire you to head out and explore this fascinating world for yourself.

My Story

After my time with the scouts, I didn’t see the inside of a tent for nearly 20 years. I studied English literature and started working as an online editoro for a tech publication. My life was all about smartphones, computers, and the latest gadgets from Apple. After work, I would sit on my couch and binge-watch Netflix. It was normal but also kind of boring.

The big change came in 2016. I had just moved to the German capital Berlin, didn’t know anyone and felt that something had to change quickly. So, first I decided I needesd some new people in my life. By chance I stumbled upon a group of outdoor enthusiasts through the platform “Meetup” and something inside of me must have remembered my experiences as a scout. I spontaneously joined a hiking trip to Scotland. And that’s where it all started…

Any reasonable person would probably have called our trip to the Highlands a failure. The weather was miserable, I was completely unprepared after more than 20 years of outdoor abstinence and my gear was basically a single cheap plastic rain jacket from the supermarket. But as I trudged through the neverending Scottish rain on the West Highland Way it hit me: “You haven’t felt this alive in years.”

And just like that, I was hooked.

This experience lit a spark inside of me that I still can’t quite describe. All I know is that I couldn’t get enough of hiking and traveling. I bought a decent backpack, my first real tent and started heading out almost every weekend. At first I went with my new acquaintances traveling all over Europe and beyond: the Alps, Spain, Italy, Norway, Greece, Bulgaria, Jordan, Morocco—mountains, forests and deserts became my new playground.

Being out in nature fascinated me more and more and eventually I realized: I actually don’t need that much to be happy. Material possessions, a house, a car—none of that really matters to me. What truly fulfills me are experiences like these:

About three years later I quit my permanent job as an editor team and took the plunge into self-employment as a freelance writer. It was a not the easiest decision, me being quite uncertain, and to be honest that uncertainty has never completely gone away. Still it was the right choice. The normal routine of a 9-to-5 never appealed me. And even though I may have lost some financial security, I now have as much time as I want to explore the world.

My blog is a sparkling mix of outdoor, backpacking, trekking, hiking and adventure travel content, as these are the poles between which I move on my journeys.

What matters most to me is not so much the “how” but the mindset. I love exploring the world on my own terms. My mantra is: Get out, try new things and do it yourself. That’s why I’m not a big fan of organized tours or package “adventure trips” where everything is meticulously planned and the biggest surprise is what’s for dinner. I prefer to just set off and see what happens. That’s how real adventures are born.

And yes… a lot has gone wrong during my escapades. In the South Pacific I almost drowned when I accidentally dove in front of a coral reef and was tossed around like a toy by the massive waves. In Thailand I got lost in the jungle. In the Himalayas I nearly slipped in a steep scree field at over 4,000 meters. But I always survived and came back a little wiser each time.

Some people tell me, “You always have these crazy experiences, you’re a real adventurer.” I would never describe myself that way. At the end of the day I’m just a regular guy who enjoys trying new things. And I think that’s the point: You don’t have to be a superhero or the second Reinhold Messner if you want to have extraordinary experiences. Sometimes you just need to believe in yourself a little—and if you find some inspiration here on the blog, that would be fantastic!

This is how I prefer to travel

Since I started the blog in 2020 I have embarked on various long solo journeys. Most of these trips have involved mountains, camping, hiking, and trekking because that’s what I enjoy the most: to set off in the morning, experience the world from the view of a pedestrian, hopefully have some delightful encounters along the way and then collapse into bed (or my sleeping bag) in the evening night, feeling satisfied.

Among other things, I:

• Fell in love with the Dolomites while trekking the famous Alta Via 1.
• Walked through the whole of the unknown but incredibly beautiful volcanic island of Santo Antão.
• Crossed the only true desert in Europe completely alone with a tent, sleeping bag and plenty of water in my backpack.
• Learned during a mountaineering course that I will probably never be a true climber, even though I love the mountains.

My longest adventure to date was a three-month journey through Peru— others rush around through all of South America in that time. I prefer to take it slow instead and come up with ideas like a complete crossing of the barely known Cordillera Vilcabamba on foot. Perhaps it’s because I’ve realized one thing, the more I traveled over the years: If you want to see the truly exciting places that aren’t in any guidebook and that no tourist ever gets to see, you don’t necessarily need a ton of money but plenty of time.

I would love for my blog to be a source of inspiration for you in this regard: to get outside, explore the world step by step and most of all: take your time—regardless whether you hike, travel in a camper or prefer to stay in hostels. Slow travel. Immersing yourself in a place. Not seeing as much as possible but having the best experience possible. That, for me, is the magic of travel. If I can share even a fraction of that magic, it would mean a great deal to me.

How You Can Support This Blog

It may be naive but I still believe that dedicated and well-researched blogs offer one of the best ways to find inspiration for travel, hiking, and exciting getaways even in this age of social media and ever shrinking attention spans.

If you share this belief and enjoy what you read here, I would greatly appreciate your support for my work. Here are a few ways you can help:

• Use the affiliate links marked with an asterisk (*) in the articles and purchase products through my website. This doesn’t cost you anything extra but I’ll receive a small commission from the sales.
• Consider making a small donation via PayPal for my coffee fund. I truly appreciate any amount, no matter how small.
• Follow me on Instagram and/or Facebook.
• Spend a bit of time on the website and check out my posts. Knowing that someone is reading what I write is a wonderful motivation to keep going.
• If you enjoy a post, please leave a comment, give it a like and share it with your friends or acquaintances.

By the way: I send out a regular monthly newsletter with the latest posts, tips, and updates. If you’ve read all the way down here, you seem to have some interest… Am I right? If so, feel free to sign up for the newsletter to stay updated. I send the mail about once a month and share exclusive tips and insights for subscribers, plus the newest gear deals. No spam, just quality!

Never Stop Exploring

One more thing that’s seems kind of important to me: You don’t have to travel to the ends of the earth to have an adventure. Sure, it sounds super cool to say you’ve been to the South Seas and hiked up one of the world’s most active volcanoes. But I’ve had plenty of thrilling experiences deep in the German countryside of Brandenburg too—whether it’s exploring abandoned ghost towns in the woods, encountering wolves on an old military training ground or having a nighttime contest with a fox who was trying to steal my shoes from the tent.

Okay… maybe the last one wasn’t all that thrilling. Still, it was an experience! What I really mean to say: It’s not so much about where you go but that you actually get out at all. Even in your own neighborhood, places where you think you know every corner, there’s usually more to discover than you realize. The best adventures often start right at your front door.

So, keep your eyes open, stay safe, and never stop exploring!