Travel has been at the heart of our lives for more than 20 years. Since our first round-the-world journey in 2005, we’ve travelled independently through more than 100 countries, lived abroad and experienced many different ways of exploring the world. Along the way, we’ve learned that the most rewarding journeys aren’t always the ones that go exactly to plan.
For us, travel is about curiosity, independence and the willingness to step outside our comfort zone. It’s about discovering places beyond the usual tourist routes, learning from different cultures and staying open to the unexpected.
Table of contents
Travel Beyond the Obvious
We’re naturally drawn to places that offer something different, whether that’s a lesser-known region, a local market, a mountain trail, a road trip through the countryside or simply a conversation with someone who sees the world differently.
While we enjoy visiting world-famous destinations, we’re equally drawn to the lesser-known places that many travellers overlook.
Travelling beyond the busiest tourist routes can lead to memorable experiences, a closer connection with local life and a different perspective on a destination. It can also help spread the benefits of tourism to places and communities that receive fewer visitors.
Travel That Challenges Us
Some of our favourite travel experiences have come from doing things that initially felt unfamiliar. Living in different countries, learning new languages, travelling for months at a time and adapting to different cultures have all taught us to be more flexible and open-minded.
Travel doesn’t have to be about constantly ticking places off a list. Sometimes the most valuable part of a journey is learning to see things from a different perspective, questioning our assumptions and becoming more comfortable with the unfamiliar.
Slow, Independent and More Thoughtful Travel
Over the years, our approach to travel has evolved. We still love adventure, road trips, hiking and discovering somewhere new, but we’ve also come to appreciate the value of slowing down.
Spending more time in one place, supporting local businesses and choosing experiences that connect us with local communities can make a journey more meaningful. When practical, we also enjoy travelling by train and using public transport rather than relying entirely on a car.
We’re not perfect travellers, and we don’t believe there is a single right way to explore the world. But we try to be conscious of the choices we make and the impact they can have on the environment, local communities and the places we visit.
Supporting Local Places and Communities
One thing we’ve noticed repeatedly during our travels is how concentrated tourism can become. A handful of famous destinations can receive huge numbers of visitors while equally fascinating regions nearby remain largely overlooked.
Whenever possible, we like to look beyond the obvious and highlight places that deserve more attention. Staying in locally owned accommodation, eating at independent restaurants, working with local guides and exploring less-visited areas are simple ways travellers can help spread tourism more widely.
These choices can also lead to some of the most memorable experiences, from discovering a small family-run restaurant to exploring a region with someone who knows it inside out.
Why We Keep Travelling
Ultimately, curiosity is what keeps us travelling. We’re still interested in what’s around the next corner, what lies beyond a destination’s main attractions and what we can learn from the people we meet.
Through Thinking Nomads, we share the places we discover, the experiences that stay with us and practical advice from our journeys. We hope to inspire you to travel independently, explore beyond the obvious and experience the world with an open mind.