How To Go on Your Own Expedition

If you follow this website, chances are you've probably thought once or twice about going on an expedition. Its really not that hard, and doesn't need to cost too much either. Here I will give you ten pieces of advice to get you started on your first expedition.

1. Choose a Region

This is the most important stage of planning in my opinion. Where are you going to go? What interests you? Do you want to go to a desert or a jungle, to the mountains or down a river. What continents and countries do you want to travel to? I chose the Holy Land because the history of the region has always fascinated me. Does the history of Mongolia fascinate you? Are you interested in the anthropological differences in the peoples of India? What part of the world interests you?

2. What method of transport will you use?

Will you walk, kayak, cycle, drive, paraglide etc. The options are innumerable. Walking is my preferred method. You are immersed in an environment for a longer time and are therefore forced to slow down. If you're kayaking: would you like to drift along calm waters, or kayak exciting, thrilling rapids? Cycling allows you to cover greater distances during the day but miss out on some of the spontaneous interactions with strangers if you were walking down a hill instead of zooming down it on two wheels. It's all up to you.

3. When will you go?

After you've chosen a region. You need to research when you will go. Each country is subject to its own weather conditions. To walk across Australia in the summer would be much more difficult than in the winter. Walking Across Iceland in the Winter will be much more difficult than any other season because of daylight. You can't kayak across Lake Baikal in the middle of winter. Do you want to go in tourist season? Do you want to spend Christmas in the Land of the Bible? Cross out the dates on your calendar and guard them.

4. Save Up.

If you are living in Europe, flights are remarkably cheap and you can fit in an expedition with less than $1000. Saving $20 per week will get you $1040 in a year. Quit smoking that packet of cigarettes, drinking coffee at cafes, going out for a sandwich 4 times in the week, drink less. Don't live like a peasant, but eliminate the hedonistic non-necessities from your weekly life.

5. Tell your friends and family (but maybe not your mother) about it.

This is a great way to commit to a journey. If you tell people about your journey, you almost feel obliged to actually go ahead and do it. Be careful about telling your mother, mine was particularly worried when I was in the Middle East.

6. Get the Right Kit

I started out being a complete kit-nerd and making huge lists of every single thing I would need. If you are walking, the most important things to take in mind are boots and a backpack. If you are sleeping out at night then a good quality sleeping bag if no harm if you're going somewhere cold. You don't need everything, just the basics. You will be kicking yourself after the trip when you unpack things you didn't need like those extra battery-packs, camping stove and too many clothes.

7. Safety

Safety is paramount in all of these expeditions, but risk is a part of adventure that we embrace but also seek to mitigate. For your first trip, write down on a word document where you plan to be by the end of each week, or each day if you want. Give this document to your consulate, friends/family or the local authorities. If something goes wrong, they'll know where to look. You may also want to invest in a DeLorme GPS, which allows you to send satellite messages with anyone, anywhere; and also call emergency services.

8. Train

A base level of fitness is all that's required on these journeys. A few long distance hikes/bikerides won't do any harm, but don't think you need to be ironman. Learning a bit of the local language also won't do any harm.

9. Do you want to make money out of it? (OPTIONAL)

Are you going to write a book? Make a film? Take and sell photos? Are you adequately prepared to have the means to make money out of this. Do you know how to take photographs, edit videos etc. If not: learn!

10. Do it!

There is no piece of more cliche advice than 'Just Do It.'

But seriously, go out there. Explore the world and you will come back more informed, fitter, more interesting and you'll have a great story to tell everyone.