Highlights of Ecuador, 2 and 3 weeks itinerary

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If you want to discover South America but have only a few weeks in front of you, Ecuador is certainly the destination I will recommend. Andes, coast, amazon rainforest, traditions, colonial history… you can experience in Ecuador most of what South America has to offer, without wasting too much time in transportation (the country is one of the smallest of the continent).

In this article I put together my recommended itineraries for 2 or 3 weeks, both will allow you to discover the country and many of the things it has to offer. You will also get ideas for alternatives and practical information about transportation.

Friendly locals to help you find your way (from Sigchos to Insinlivi)

Friendly locals to help you find your way (from Sigchos to Insinlivi)

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Are you too old to take a gap year?

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Warning: reading this post will make you want to quit your job and go travel!

Two years ago, I handled my resignation letter to quit my corporate job. A few months later it became reality when I left Europe with bags of excitement and a one way ticket to South America. This was the best decision of my life. I stay for 222 awesome days exploring this wonderful continent.

Since then, many people -friends or not- have questioned me about this experience. All are curious, and I can tell many are tempted to do the same even if they don’t really dare. Today, exactly a year after I came back from this wonderful adventure, I will answer the most asked questions ever about taking a career break and go travel.

Should I quit my job and go travel?

If you are asking yourself this question, you probably already know the answer.

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Is it crazy to visit Stockholm in winter?

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The cold is freezing your hands, the snow is bitting your face, it is lunch time but it is -15°C / 5°F! You are doing this!

You might have stumble upon some of my articles about Stockholm, where I recommend to visit the swedish capital between May and September, but a visit in winter will bring the city under a different lights, that few tourists get to know. In this post, I will tell you what to expect when visiting Stockholm in winter and give you tips to make it a rewarding experience. Gloves and hat on, let’s go!

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Yes, you are likely to freeze your ass when visiting Stockholm in winter, but it is worth it!

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Completing a Swedish Classic – “En Svensk Klassiker”

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Biking 300 km, swimming 3km in a river, running for 30km, and skiing across 90km. 4 disciplines, 4 competitions across Sweden. One goal, one year.

I always love the moment you contemplate a challenge and just think “whoooo… that’s crazy” and the second that follows when you think “I should totally try this“. And then, as quickly as that, you are set. And I was. This was in fall 2015, and I found out what will keep me busy for the next 15 months!

What is “A Swedish Classic”?

It is a scary, exciting and fun challenge: four competitions to complete within 12 months that test your endurance at proper viking standards. The “Swedish Classic” (Svensk klassiker) is all about pushing yourself and doing so by completing 4 swedish classic competitions within a year. Continue reading →

Trekking options in Torres del Paine NP in Chile

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Ice as far as the eye can see, granite towers, turquoise waters, forest, tundra, wildlife and more than 150km of trails: Torres del Paine National Park in southern Chile has everything Patagonia has to offer to explore. With 8 days and 8 nights of adventure  on one of the most beautiful trails of the planet, our South American exploration ended up in apotheosis.

In this article, I tell you all you need to know about this magical place. You will get:

  • an overview of the trekking possibilities in Torres del Paine National Park,
  • some tips to navigate between the different options,
  • a zoom on the “circuit” trek
  • some advices for the hike,
  • all the online resources I used myself to prepare my trek.

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10 reasons to try adventure travel

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“But why would you do that?”
We hiked for 6 days. We walked 140km through snow, rain showers and mountains. My foot were wet constantly wet, because the path was so damp and my old hiking boots started leaking. I got so cold after walking in a blizzard that I wondered at which point you can get hypothermia (if you are curious here are some explanation about it here) and my legs got so tired that I almost wanted to cry. This was last summer, in Swedish Lappland.
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July 2015. We could have been on a beach in Greece…

My choices of vacation trigger shakes of heads and flat faces. Why would you do that? Or more exactly “Why on earth would you f****** do that?“

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7 months itinerary in South America: a trip of a lifetime

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Are you looking to spend several months travelling in South America? This article is for you! In June 2014 we left Europe for a trip of a lifetime, exploring South America. It took us 222 days to go “From the Caribbean to the end of the world“. It was magic.

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Highlights of 6 months in South America

This is always a difficult question: what did you like the most in South America? Impossible to pic one thing but here is a list of few experiences that make it to the “top list”.

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Pleasures of Provence, a 5 day itinerary in the south of France

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Last month, I took a late vacation to go back to my tender France and spend a week re-discovering the beautiful area of Provence. I had been there several time as a kid and remember the villages, the smell of the lavender and the taste of the fresh fruits and tomatoes.
 
Jump in the car, and start exploring with me the little roads of Provence. I am sharing tops things to see and to do in Provence, along with tips and a 5 days itinerary between nature, food and history.

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Adventures in the Gorges du Verdon, the Grand Canyon of Provence

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“Provence”. The name probably makes you picture cute villages and lavender fields, but did you know that it is in this area that you can find one of Europe’s most grandiose canyon?
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A million years back, during the last ice age, the river found its way in the rocks, creating the Gorges du Verdon.

Difficult to seize properly the dimension of the Canyon on a picture… Try to imagine that the limestone walls are 700m (higher than 2 Eiffel towers on top of each other!) and that the emerald river Verdon runs in the canyon over 25 kilometres, creating a fantastic playground for outdoor lovers.  By foot, by car, by canoe or climbing, discover in this article the many ways to explore this jewel of Provence.

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