I’m amazed by Turkmenistan, it’s a very beautiful country and I hope to visit soon! These are 5 things I love about Turkmenistan.
Men Türkmenistany gowy görýärin we ýakyn wagtda bu ajaýyp ýurda baryp görmek isleýärin.
1: ASHGABAT
Turkmenistan is amazing! Ashgabat was recently noted by the Guinness Book of World Records as having the most white marble-clad buildings in the world
The capital of Turkmenistan of Ashgabat is the first thing to see. The city is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the whitest city on the planet. 543 buildings are built in the same style-they are lined with white marble. Absolutely beautiful architecture and extremely clean.
2. The ancient city of Nisa
Nisa is stunning and full of history
If you drive 18 kilometers west of Ashgabat, you can meet the remains of the ancient city of Nisa. The monuments are protected and included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The exhibits found during the excavations are kept in the State Cultural Center of Turkmenistan.
3. The Ruins Of Merv
Merv is very beautiful and should be visited in Turkmenistan
In the south-eastern part of Turkmenistan, there is another UNESCO World Heritage Site, older than Nisa. These are the ruins of the ancient city of Merv. Its top is still decorated with a brick dome. The items found during the excavations are kept in the United Museum of History. I LOVE THIS COUNTRY! 🇹🇲❤️
4. Fiery Gas Crater of Karakum Desert
Fiery Gas Crater of Karakum Desert is amazing
The place of the Fiert Gas Crater of Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan is remembered for a lifetime. Darvaza means “gate” in the national language. The gas crater 90 km from the village of Yerbent is very unique. Anyone who comes here at night becomes an eyewitness to an incredible sight: in the middle of the sands, in pitch darkness, an orange fiery light breaks out from under the ground.
5. Traditional cuisine
People travel to Turkmenistan to eat delicious meat and fish. Most of all, the locals love chicken and lamb. The restaurants serve game, goat and camel meat. Milk is drunk by camel and sheep. The serving plate in Turkmenistan is prepared at every step. Lamb meat is finely chopped, fried in lard and canned.
I love Turkmenistan and I hope to visit this beautiful country soon. Bu ýurt haýran galdyryjy we ýakyn wagtda görmek isleýärin.
I have now done the Iron Ore Train in Mauritania 9 times and I can tell you this is one of the most amazing travel experiencesyou can do in Africa, which by the way is my favourite Continent, because of all the wild adventures. To jump on the World’s longest train 700 km through the SAHARA DESERT is one the absolute best and most authentic travel experiences you can get and everyone in my previous groups ranked the trip 1 million/10. These are memories we have together now!
NEW GROUP TRIP – 23rd APRIL to 29TH APRIL 2025
Mauritania Iron Ore Train – Gus1thego Expedition
We have additionally added camping at this sand dune, which is not even on Google Maps yet and we will have to find it by driving off road, but we have done it before and will do it again! Are you ready for an experience of a lifetime? Come with me! Here is some info:
The Last Gus1thego Expeditiosn in Mauritania were simply unforgettable, but a lot of people were unable to join me on these dates.. I have itchy feet already again, the locals are struggling there with jobs opportunities, so therefore I’m giving you guys a NEW chance to do the Iron Ore Train with me. We will hit up all the highlights in Mauritania from 23rd APRIL to 29TH APRIL 2025 and end it with the world’s most fascinating train ride in the Sahara desert. Are you ready to join me?
Day 1 – Nouakchott
We will arrive at your convenience into Nouakchott – the largest and capital city of Mauritania which is well connected from many countries within Africa and most of Europe. You can fly from Tunis, Istanbul or Casablance. I flew from Tunis last.
Airport pick up and overnight at a hotel in Nouakchott. We will pick you up from the airport, don’t worry!
Go To The Camel Market. We will hit up the largest camel market in Nouakchott, Mauritania
Camel Market in Nouakchott
Day 2– Chinguetti
Wake up in the morning and enjoy a cooked breakfast by camp fire
Begin exploring the Adrar Region of Mauritania
Visit Azoughi oasis and village for a tea stop and experience how the locals live
Oasis out in nowhere in Mauritania
Afternoon
Drive to the UNESCO world heritage site of Chinguetti – a holy city of Islam. You’ll visit the library and other historical monuments and landmarks including the much loved Friday Mosque of Chinguetti, the national symbol of Mauritania.
Evening sunset watched from the huge sand dunes of Chinguetti
Dinner and overnight at Hotel – Traditional stone guesthouse
One of Islam’s holiest cities, Chinguetti
Day 3 – Chinguetti – Ouadane
Morning
Breakfast at hotel. Ready to see the TALLEST Sand Dunes in Mauritania!
Begin 80km drive through pure desert and sand dunes: on the way stopping in Tanounichert for a tea stop with the locals – once upon a time it was an important stop of the trans-caravan routes of the Sahara. Ouadane is the Pompei of Mauritania for its sprawling city in ruins which is sure to amaze you. It was here that products of sub-Saharan Africa were traded with those of the Maghreb. The Portuguese arrived in 1487 and transformed the city into a local centre of cultural, economic and scientific advancement.
We will see Mauritania’s tallest sand dunes
Afternoon
Explore the streets and see the buildings that once glorified the country as a whole and then move on to the new part of town where you’ll be sure to mingle with the locals.
Traditional dinner and overnight in the Hotel.
Ouadane is a magical city that we will explore
Day 4 – Zoerat – IRON ORE TRAIN
Get through a rather chilly, very loud, and pretty uncomfortable night. Then brag about this experience for the rest of your life! 20 hours of absolute madness and one h*ll of a story to tell when you get old! It’s now or never..
The Mauritania train is the longest train in the world at 2,500m.
Iron Ore Train, Mauritania is a bucketlist you should tick off
Day 5 – Noaudhibou
Exploring the harbour city and the cool shipwreck!
Day 6 – Noaudhibou- Noaukchott
Morning
An early rise for breakfast and the long drive to the Mauritanian capital city of Nouakchott
Afternoon
On the way stopping for lunch at San Francisco Café for a hearty meal and access to WiFi after a few days of deprivation.
Arrive in time to catch the lively Atlantic fish market. Every evening hundreds of fishermen bring in the day’s catch on their distinct sea canoes recognized by their colourful hand-painted hulls. The catch is then brought by donkey cart to the city’s markets
Visit the National Museum where artefacts of the history of Mauritania and its ancient cities are exposed – this will allow you to have a quite recap of what you’ve seen in the last days.
Visit the local craft market where locals specialise in camel wool rugs
Driving tour of the massive embassies of the main players of the region – USA, China, France, and Russia.
Quick photo stop by the Great Mosque of Nouakchott – funded by Saudi Arabia and built in 1982.
Head to the beach for some great people watching. This is where local Nouakchottois come to escape the city and cool off.
Farewell dinner at a local restaurant
Overnight in Nouakchott
Tour price includes:
Airport Transfer *2
Accommodation in clean and comfortable 3* and 4* hotel in good location
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Private transport in a 4×4 and tickets for the train
English-speaking accompanying guides
All entrance fees
ALL PERMITS NEEDED FOR TRAVELLING AROUND MAURTIANIA
VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: IF ANYONE DECIDES TO CANCEL AFTER PAYING, they can NOT BE REFUNDED as we need to pay for cars, guides, hotels, driver and lots of things in advance. YOU DO AGREE ON THIS WHEN YOU HAVE PAID THE DEPOSIT AND DECIDES TO JOIN THE TRIP! Why would you cancel anyway?
Tour price DOES NOT include:
Travel Insurance
Tips
Souvenir/clothing/shopping
PACKING LIST:
Ski Goggles.
Multiple Garbage Bags. (we have in Mauritania, but you can bring some too)
Headscarf. (we will get in Mauritania)
Thick Face Mask.
Headlamp.
Protective Bag For Your Cell Phone.
Blanket (buy in a town before arriving)
Sanitizer to clean your hands
Special camera plastics to protect your lens
You’ll be provided WATER AT ALL TIMES! Don’t worry.
Send me an e-mail to gus1thego@outlook.com on why you should join the Iron Ore Train Expedition! Looking forward to hear from you as soon as possible. Our team will be amazing and I can’t wait do this with you! Gustav / gus1thego
I went to Kazakhstan in the Summer of 2018 and these are 7 extremely Weird Facts about the country.
Almaty Park, Kazakhstan
1. The name of the major city and the former capital of Kazakhstan, Almaty, mean a “place full of apples.”
2. Kazahstan is the 9th largest country by size in the world. It’s a huge place with a very small population of only 16 million people.
3. It’s the largest landlocked country in the world, with Russian to its North, China to the West, Uzbekistan down South and the Caspian Sea on its Western Border.
Big Almaty Lake, Kazakhstan
4. The New Year for Kazakhs is called Nauryz, and it is celebrated on the 22nd of March.
5. Kazakhstan used to be a part of the silk route and hence has marvelous constructions which were erected during the years of silk trade.
With my German friend and Kazakh friends
6. Interestingly, it is believed that Kazakhstan was the place where the horses were first tamed to ride. It is also said that Kazakh means ‘a free rider.’
7. Apples are reputedly to originate from Kazakhstan and there are still wild apple forests in the country.
The Squirrel Statue in Almaty, which was only there for a short period of time
I had 11 awesome days traveling around Zimbabwe, and now I want to share with you the 5 most hilarious things I did during my time in this landlocked country in southern Africa, which is officially named the Republic of Zimbabwe, formerly known as Rhodesia.
Lovely people in Zimbabwe
1. Celebrating Christmas in Zimbabwe
Celebrating Christmas in Harare, Zimbabwe
There is something special about a hot Christmas (especially when you’re from a cold country like Denmark,) and celebrating Christmas in t-shirt and shorts in the heat is just what you need. I love escaping the cold winter from home! To celebrate Christmas in Zimbabwe with two of my good Danish friends was a great experience, and after some delicious African food for dinner, we went straight to the dessert, which was of course some super spicy Carolina Reaper chili’s, which is the strongest chili in the World, (because it wasn’t hot enough already?!) My friend Emil went puking om the grass afterwards and then jumped in the pool to try to save his life! It’s amazing how fast you can empty 2 liter of milk after such a little spicy fellah!
Amazing Christmas in Zimbabwe!
2. Helicopter Tour Over Victoria Falls
Magical view of Victoria Falls
It was quiet pricey, but he needed to do it. Helicopter trip over Victoria Falls. 3 big Danish guys and a pilot in the smallest helicopter over the huge waterfalls. We were all looking nervous at each other when the helicopter made strange noises, but at the same time we were amazed to soar over the iconic Victoria Falls— one of the seven wonders of the natural world— on this helicopter flight. An aerial view is definitely the only way to take in the vast scope of the waterfall. Plus, the flight enables you to see both the Zimbabwe and Zambian side of the falls without the hassle of the border crossing. Pretty awesome!
3. Bungee Jumping in Victoria Falls
Bungee Jumping Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe was epic
First we wanted to see how high we could go over the Victoria Falls, and after how low we could get. Bungee Jumping in Victoria Falls was a MUST-DO! It’s a 111m (364ft) drop falling almost into the Zambezi River, jumping off the historical Victoria Falls Bridge with extremely scenic views and crocodiles below. I remember the day before the jump we watched some horrible fails from this place, where an Australian woman went straight into the water. It didn’t make any of us more nervous at all! It was a great experience though!
4. Speed Boat Tour Chasing Hippos
Speed boat tour chasing hippos
Though they look pretty slow, clumsy and friendly, we all know hippos aren’t necessarily any of these things — they can run very fast, and are Africa’s most dangerous animal to get close to. Hippos kill more humans each year than great white sharks and lions combined! These guys are lethal. So why not take a speed boat through a very narrow lake full of hippos in Zimbabwe? That’s what me and my friends did on the border to Botswana! We were all so scared when our speed boat driver gave it full speed towards an enormous hippo in our super small, cr*ppy speed boat, but what we didn’t know was when an object moves towards a hippo with full speed in a narrow place like this, it apparently makes the hippo scared, so instead of a brutal collision, we saw the hippo turn in the other direction torpedo through the water away from us. That what an absolutely wild experience and I’m so glad it turned around and ran away!
5.Walking Around Wild Rhinos
Another one of the DON’T DO’S. Went walking around with wild rhinos in Zimbabwe
Is is stupid? Yes. Would I do it again? No. Matter of fact we went walking around wild rhinos by ourselves in Zimbabwe and it was nerve-wrecking as few other things! If these guys decide to attack you, you probably won’t stand a chance. White rhinos can weigh over 3500 kg (7700 lb.) Stupid, stupid, stupid! Will never do it again! I promise!
That’s It And What A Crazy Trip in Zimbabwe!
I forgot to tell you we also ate some delicious crocodile meat, ate mopane worms which were alive (the worst thing I’ve ever tasted – you could feel them moving around in your throat,) drove past Robert Mugabe’s house (it was that time where the military would shoot at your car if you stopped in front of it,) and did some epic road trips. We should have had a diploma for this trip, but at least we had a diploma for eating these terrible mopane worms. They were so bad – But Zimbabwe wasn’t, it was a really great country!
Riga is such a pretty city. From the impressive art nouveau architecture – one of the finest collections in Europe, the winding and to the medieval lanes of the UNESCO listed Riga Old Town. A city that is loaded with history and is picture-postcard pretty wherever you look; there is plenty to see in Riga.
These are the 3 BEST things about Riga!
1. Explore Riga Old Town
House of the Black Heads, Riga, Old Town
The heart of Riga, the UNESCO listed Old Town is undeniably picturesque. Narrow cobblestone streets wind their way past restaurants, museums, galleries and medieval churches, unexpectedly opening up onto squares bustling with street cafes and markets. House of the Black heads building above is my favorite!
Exploring Old Town Riga is an excellent way to spend a day in Riga, and the best way is to lose yourself, wandering the streets and ancient alleyways.
2. Visit Armoury Bar
Armoury Bar, Riga, Latvia
Many people (especially guys) have a fascination with firearms and given the numerous displays of authentic pistols, machine guns, semi-automatic weapons and even grenades at this fun bar, it has all of that to fulfill a funny childhood fascination! A cozy and awesome bar!
3. Visit Europe’s Largest Market – The Riga Central Market
Europe Largest Market, Riga Central Market
Riga Central Market is Europe’s largest market and bazaar in Riga, Latvia. It is one of the most notable structures from 20th century in Latvia and has been included in UNESCO World Heritage Site list together with Old Riga in 1998. Oh man, Riga has so much to offer, these were only 3 quickies. Try out the nightlife too, super cheap!
Riga Is A Criminally Underrated City – So Go And Visit!
Riga, what a fun city!
Whenever a “Western” friend visits Latvia, it’s pretty much guaranteed that the words “oh my gosh this is so cheap” escape their mouths at some point.Food, hotel and transportation is very affordable, and since Riga is fairly small, it’s a really cool city to visit for a few days and walk around and enjoy. Maybe have a pint at night, who knows!
See You In Riga, Latvia!
Riga!
I really like this young-feeling city with a wealth of culture to explore. Okay, guys, I’ll see you in Riga, Latvia next time!
I’ve been to Morocco 2 times before and these are 30 Interesting Morocco Facts. How well do you know Morocco? And how many of these 30 Morocco Facts did you know before reading this article?
1. Morocco is located in the northwestern corner of Africa.
2. The Kingdom of Morocco is the official name of Morocco.
3. There are approximately 36 million people living in Morocco.
Zagora Desert, Morocco
4. The capital city of Morocco is Rabat.
5. The largest city in Morraco is Casablanca.
6. The official currency of Morocco is the Dirham.
7. The people of this area are called Berbers or Amazigh.
8. Moroccans speak a dialect of Arabic known as Darija.
9. Toubkal is the tallest mountain of Morocco and the highest peak in North Africa.
10. The official languages of Morocco are Berber and Arabic.
11. The most well-known Moroccan food is couscous, a dish typically eaten on the Islamic holy day.
12. The most popular sport in Morocco is Football.
Marrakesh, Morocco
13. Marrakech is a popular tourist attraction in Morroco.
14. Agadir is one of the major urban centers of Morocco and is located on the Atlantic Ocean.
15. Agadir was mostly destroyed by an earthquake in 1960.
16. The national animal of Morocco are Barbary Lions.
17. Morocco exports more than 90,000 tons of dates each year all around the World.
18. Morocco is one of the world’s largest producers of illicit hashish.
At The Ksar of Aït-Ben-Haddou, Morocco
19. A Moroccan widow wears white for 40 days after her husband’s death to show she is in mourning.
20. Morocco shares its border with Algeria and Western Sahara.
21. Morocco is the largest producer and exporter of sardines in the world.
The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, 2017, Morocco
22. The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca is the world’s seventh largest mosque.
23. The Moroccan national costume is called Djellaba.
24. Tangier is the oldest city in Morocco.
Marrakesh Market, Morocco
25. Morocco is the only African country that is not a member of the African Union.
26. Morocco’s highest point is Jebel Toubkal at 13,665 feet.
27. The lowest point of Morocco is Sebkha Tah.
Camping in Merzouga Desert, Morocco
28. Tourism is one of the country’s most important economic industries.
29. Morocco was the first nation to sign a treaty with the United States in 1786.
30. Morocco is second to Egypt in the Arab world for encouraging friendly relations with Israel.
Morocco, what a fascinating country
Hope you enjoyed these 30 Morocco Facts. How many did you know of them? Please comment below!
I visited one of Europe’s smallest countries back in 2017 on a 2 days trip, and I don’t think I’m ever going back, because I covered pretty much all of the country in 3 hours. These are however 7 weird facts about Andorra.
Arrived in Andorra La Vella, Andorra
1. The country of Andorra can fit into the City of London more than 3 times!
London is way bigger than Andorra!
The whole country of Andorra is only 467.6 kilometres squared (46,760 hectares). In comparison, just the city of London is 1,572 kilometres squared (157,200 hectares), meaning that the whole of Andorra could fit inside the city of London just over three times. Andorra is in fact the 17th-smallest country in the world.
2. It’s the only country in the world that has Catalan as its only official language
Catalan is also an official language in Catalonia, but Andorra is the only place in the world where it is the only official language of the whole country. Most people speak French and Spanish as well as Catalan, though.
3. 9% of Andorra has UNESCO World Heritage status
The mountains of Andorra Pixabay
Andorra’s largest natural park, the Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004, and takes up 9% of the country. It is made up of glaciers, wooded valleys, wide green pastures and rocky mountains. To be fair that might be a good reason to go back to Andorra!
4. Andorra de la Vella Is The Highest Capital in Europe
A bit high up in Andorra La Vella
The capital of Andorra is Andorra de la Vella, which is the highest capital city in Europe at around 1,023 metres (3,356 feet) above sea level.
5. Andorra Has No Airport
No airport in the country Andorra
Andorra is one of the few countries in the world with no airport. It can be reached only by land, via France or Spain. Two of the main international airports nearby are Toulouse in France and Barcelona in Spain.
6. People of Andorra Have One of The World’s Highest Life Expectancies
The people of Andorra live to a very old age. For males the life expectancy is around 80, while for females it is around 84.
7. Only 1/3 of People That Live in Andorra are Andorran
Not many locals in Andorra
Two-thirds of the population of Andorra do not actually have Andorran nationality; most are Spanish, French or Portuguese. One of the largest groups is the Spanish, who make up around 43% of the population.
Goodbye Andorra!
That was it for now Andorra. Will maybe see you again, but I’m not totally sure. A small, but pretty nice country whatsoever!
I have traveled a lot over 7 years and visited 130 countries in that period of time, but in all fairness 2019 has been my most amazing travel year when it comes to unique travel experiences! This is my TOP 15!
15. Experiencing The Algerian Hospitality And Mountains
Breathing in the fresh Algerian mountain air at Bordj Zemoura, Algeria
Go to Morocco and you’ll meet a lot of tourists, go to Algeria and you’ll hardly meet any. I didn’t meet 1 tourist on my trip through Algeria, and to be fair the visa was one of the hardest I’ve ever tried to get. It was impossible for me to go on a tourist visa, so I had to go on a business visa. Thanks to my friend Djaber and my own creative skills we made it possible, and Algerians (the Amazigh people) has a sharing mentality and hospitality I’ve rarely seen anywhere else in the World. I was completely blown away by Algeria, the people, the mountains and the beauty. This is one of my favorite countries in Africa.
14. Driving All Around Namibia For 2 Weeks
Roadtrip all around Namibia
Coming to Namibia with no plans, splashing out $500 on a rental car last minute, because it was IMPOSSIBLE to get around without a car in Namibia, forgetting my International Driver License which is necessary to have to rent a car, (thinking f*ck,) meeting two Namibian strangers by incident last minute, and David didn’t really have any plans for the next long time, so I asked if he wanted to join my trip for free. He did and so did Susan! Strangers who became friends and joined me on this EPIC trip around Namibia. You can watch the video from our crazy ride around Namibia below!
13. Attending An Indian Wedding In London, England
Attending an Indian Wedding was magical
When my parents got married 10 people attended, to this magnificent, fairy tale alike Indian wedding +400 attended and it gave me goosebumps being a part of. Furthermore the male spouse, my friend Hemal, whom I traveled Brazil with in 2016 gave me a shout-out in his wedding speech. Incredible day!
You can read all the details about this beautiful Indian wedding below in the link.
I have surfed in a few countries before, but no place like Costa Rica or El Salvador. I like to learn things myself and even though I’m good at most sports, surfing has always been slightly difficult for me! I like to challenge myself (one of the reasons why I love to travel,) and I felt like both El Salvador and Costa Rica was a good chance to take some surf lessons and actually improve my technique a bit. I must say I had an amazing time exploring both countries and I still think back on a few perfect days hitting the waves on some super beautiful beaches there. “If you’re having a bad day, catch a wave.” Surfing is really something I want to do a bit more of and get better at, when I feel like having some more time! Amazing feeling!
11. Visiting The Great Wall Of China
The Great Wall Of China
I have technically visited China 4 times, two times Hong Kong and one time on a 48 hour transit, but this was my first visit to ‘The Great Wall of China’ and walking around here for hours was worth every second!
I went to one of the best preserved parts, called Mutianyu, and it was surprisingly quiet. I couldn’t imagine a better day at the wall with sunshine, a clear sight and almost zero people. One of the greatest sights in the World!
These are my visits to the New 7 Wonders of the World below. There’s only 1 of them I didn’t visit yet, check it out!
I loved it so much that I went to see the sunrise in the morning and then spent all day to see the sunset. The most impressive thing about the Taj is the absolute perfect symmetry that around 20,000 people built in the 17th century. You can notice the perfection and small details, when the sun is low in the sky, and the shadows are perfectly cast on the marble stone. It surely is the one of the most perfect buildings in the World and it deserves its name as the “Monument of Love.”
Iraq became my first place to hold a travel speech. I honestly couldn’t imagine a better destination to do it, breaking all stereotypes! I did it in front of 40 people in Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan, and Kurdistan completely blew my mind. Iraqi Kurdistan is NOT at all what you think, super friendly people and it felt really safe in this region everywhere I went. Holding a travel speech in Iraq was a perfect experience and the Iraqi people really enjoyed interacting with me, and asked me several questions about my travels. I can’t wait to come back to Kurdistan, and I’m also really excited to travel around mainland Iraq in the close future!
8. Volcano Boarding In Nicaragua
Volcano boarding in Nicaragua with speed up to 80 km/t
When Cerro Negro—Nicaragua’s youngest volcano—last erupted in 1999, boulders tumbled down the western slope, creating a rocky, ascendable path. On the opposite side, the wind deposited dark, smooth ash that is perfect for sliding. In 2004, this unique pairing of terrains sparked an outlandish idea: volcano boarding. This is the only place in the world I’ve heard of where you can sit upright on plywood, feet-first, and coast down a cindery flank of a still-active volcano! This is the only place to do Volcano boarding. Rated #2 on CNN’s “Thrill seekers bucket list” Volcano boarding is a must do before you die! So much fun!
7. Seeing The Komodo Dragons With My Own Eyes
The Komodo Dragons can get up to 4 meter long, the closest we get to dinosaurs nowadays
The wildlife is on another level in Indonesia. Here sitting with a Komodo dragon, which can only be found on a few Indonesian islands in the World. There are only around 5,000 komodo dragons left worldwide. Psychical features of a dinosaur, a deadly lethal venom and they can grow up to nearly 4 meter long with a top speed of 20 km/h. One of the craziest animals I’ve ever been close to!
Feeding Hyenas happens in Harar, the oldest Islamic city in all of Africa. I don’t harbor some kind of death wish, although such a desire might explain why I decided to feed a wild hyena from my mouth, placing my face within easy striking distance of one of the fiercest, most dangerous predators on Earth. With its incredibly powerful jaws, a hyena can even crush and digest elephant bones. Read the full story below!
In 2019, a number of Western travel influencers worked with the Saudi government to market inbound tourism due to the new E-Visa, which has now been introduced in Saudi Arabia. This triggered substantial controversy as the authenticity of their posts was questioned. Just to avoid all confusion: My trip to Saudi Arabia was NOT sponsored. My travel here was with my own funds and no state invitation.
I was very satisfied with my stay in Saudi Arabia, a country I’ve heard too much bad stuff about before coming here, and my 100% honest Saudi Arabia video went viral with more than 120,000 views. Check it out by clicking the link below.
North Korea was a VERY SPECIAL experience for me! I was extremely lucky to go during May Celebrations, so I was allowed to walk freely on several occasions, and I’m one of few travelers who had several encounters with the North Korean people. A bizarre and surreal country to be on the inside of! You can check my Youtube Video about my visit to North Korea by clicking the link below.
Aleppo, Syria. Traveling all the day from the south to the north of Syria
I traveled Syria when ISIS-Leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was still alive, so there were some serious tensions, especially in the north of Syria. The capital Damascus in the south feels even safer than most European capitals. But Syria left a mark on me and is honestly an amazing country! I hope it will soon be completely safe again! You can watch my video about my Syria trip by clicking the link below.
Whenever I talk about Pakistan, I’m close to break down in tears. This country got totally under my skin. AMAZING people, AMAZING hospitality, one of the friendliest countries on earth, with mountain scenery that is beyond anyone’s wildest imagination. To all of my Pakistani friends, a big Pakistan Zindabad from your Danish friend 🇵🇰
Check out my 2 videos below about my visit to Pakistan to better understand why I love this country!
1. Traveling West Africa Solo With No Car (And 0 Flights)
Experiences I will never forget in West Africa
Most of the few travelers who went to West Africa, will usually talk a lot of sh*t about the region, because it’s challenging as few others, but it’s a beautiful challenge. If you’re an adventure traveler like me, you’ll love West Africa, the good and the bad days on the road, and it was my most rewarding travel experience traveling from Senegal to Togo over several months solo, just me and my backpack and without taking any flights. I lost 7kg and it was one of my toughest travel ever, but I enjoyed it so much! If you want to read in details about my West Africa trip and how it went, click the link below.
What a travel year! Only person at the Kambadaga Falls in Guinea’s jungle
Now you have some inspiration for your future travels. I’m btw going to the most dangerous country of them all (they say) to celebrate Christmas, I’m not sure any travelers have done that before, so if you want to follow my journey, you can follow me on Instagram: @gustavrosted, Subscribe on Youtube: gus1thegoor follow me on Facebook: Gustav Rosted.
Feel free to share the article and safe travels everyone!
I really don’t like talking about my bad travel experiences, as I always try to focus on the positive sides of traveling and the countries I go to. But sometimes bad stuff happen on the roads, and I also want to be honest about that, so people don’t think it’s all just picture perfect Instagram posts with no suffering.
Gustav in Eritrea
10 Worst Travel Experiences Of 2019
Free motorbike ride in Bamako, Mali
The year of 2019 is coming to an end and I’ve had an incredible travel year, where I’ve visited more than 45 countries, new and old ones.. It sounds pretty much perfect, right? Well, not totally. These are my 10 Worst Travel Experiences of 2019!
10. No Phone For 1 Week In Somalia And Eritrea
Traveling Somalia with no phone.. Not the most easy region without your phone
I had some amazing days in Somaliland, Somalia and out of a sudden my phone goes out (Iphone X), and I can’t open it again. I try everything to recover my phone, but there’s nothing to do. My phone is dead! I’m the type who plans pretty much everything on my phone, so not having it to navigate/plan stuff was incredibly hard for 1 week of travel around Somalia and Eritrea. You can read the full story below by clicking the link.
India was super interesting, but waiting 20 hours in the Airport wasn’t
Because of high tensions between India and Pakistan my flight with Air India (one of the worst airlines from my travel experiences) was delayed. They kept on delaying the flight with 1 hour at a time, so I had to wait in the Airport, because of the insecurity if we were able to go. I ended up waiting for 20 hours, and I just made it last second to some work I had to do in Denmark, because of this crazy delay! Really not nice!
8. Getting Attacked By 2 Gangsters On A Beach Club in Belize
Beautiful Belize, but getting attacked was a crazy and bad experience
I had a really nice time in Belize City and doing islands hopping in Belize, right until I went to a Beach Club in Caye Caulker Islands. Two drunk guys (probably on drugs too) pushed me super in the back randomly when I was standing in the bar, and I turned around and asked “what are you doing?” I asked as politely as I could, but the second after they were straight in my face threatening me, so I took one of the guys and threw him into one part of the club and the other guy into a wall 5 meters away. They pulled up a knife each, but some people and the security came in between and threw them out of the club. They were apparently known for being bandits and making a lot of troubles in the night life. My adrenaline was pumping and at that time, and I wasn’t scared at all in the second! Nothing happened after and I had a good time still in Belize, super beautiful country! I’m really not the aggressive type normally btw 😜
7. Spending 3 Days In San Pedro Sula, Honduras (Most Murderous City in The World)
Honduras has some beautiful sights, but think twice before going to San Pedro Sula. Copan, Honduras
Going to San Pedro Sula is an INTENSE experience. I did 2,5 days there, in what was the World’s most murderous city, until Caracas in Venezuela surpassed it recently! You can read about my time in San Pedro Sula here:
I was detained in Ivory Coast for 5 hours after taking a photo of a flag pole in Ivory Coast that a local Ivorian guy had just taken a photo of seconds before me without any problems. When I took the photo the police yelled “no, no, no!” and took me to the Police Station for 5 hours, where I had to talk to so many different Police Officers.. I threw a water bag in the ground of anger to show them I’m not an easy target to rip off and I’m not soft (that’s how things work in Africa sometimes), and after I slowed down, kept my patience and explained myself well, and therefore I managed to not pay anything. I didn’t do anything wrong and I was really mad about what the police did!
4. Hotel Shaking Because Of 3 Rocket Attacks, Aleppo, Syria
Aleppo, Syria
I had an amazing time traveling around Syria for 1 week, and to be fair the capital Damascus in the south feels even safer than most European capitals. But when you get adventurous (like I usually do,) and travel around a country like Syria, bad things can happen. I haven’t told so many about this, because I want to spread a positive image of Syria and because I had an amazing time in Syria, so I haven’t felt the need to mention it. But since these are my 10 WORST travel experiences, I will do it now. Rocket attacks. 1 of my nights in the north of Syria in Aleppo was intense and I couldn’t fall asleep that night after what happened.
I could literally feel 3 rocket attacks at my hotel, with ISIS less than 20 km west of the city. I went that time ISIS-Leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was still alive, so it was an intense time in the north of Syria.
Check out my 100% honest video about Syria and the condition of the country here.
Mud in the face after the MOST SCARY BORDER CROSSING EVER
You can’t believe how crazy this jungle border crossing was. They had closed the original border, so the only way was through the jungle in the night. Read about the story below!
China is the WORST country to lose your passport in
In terms of my most difficult moment of 2019, it was losing my passport in China after coming back from North Korea. I had to stay in China for 1 week extra, and the process of getting an emergency passport was unbelievably hard. My own embassy was unable to help me, and I had to go to 20 different non-English-speaking Police Station, go to the Chinese Embassy and many other Government places in order to get my emergency passport to fly home. This is a process I wouldn’t even wish for my worst enemy, SO DON’T LOSE YOUR PASSPORT IN CHINA AS A DANISH CITIZEN! Or wherever you’re from! I did however try to enjoy my extra week in China as good as I could and got to see some new cool stuff on my 4th visit!
Positive mindset ALWAYS!
1. Caught In Shootings And Explosions In Liberia
Only white man at a road block in Liberia
I’m writing this 6 months after the episode and to be fair I still have the pictures in my head after what happened this specific day in Liberia. The day where some villagers blocked the only International road to Ivory Coast. I remember all the details, and it’s probably a trauma I’ll have for the rest of my life. Running for my life, seeing two people get shot. It’s something you really don’t want to try!
You can read about the story and all the details here:
What a travel year! With A LOT of good memories and a few bad ones. Village in Burkina Faso with wild crocodiles
I’m writing the article from the slums of Luanda in Angola, which is said to be Africa’s new hotspot for kidnappings and I forgot all about mentioning a terrorist attack in Mali on my 2nd day there (140 killed), only 30 minutes away from me. I have 2 countries, which are considered dangerous left of 2019, and I hope to not add any more stories to this list. It was hard to write this article of my worst travel experiences, because I’m a positive guy who loves to travel, and I want to inspire other people to travel more and see the beautiful World of ours. But I also want to show you guys my honest travel experiences, what comes with visiting 130 countries over 7 years of lots of traveling. What comes with being an adventure traveler, and not a tourist who just visits resort or luxury hotels in safe areas, or just sets a foot in a new country and say “hey, I’ve been there now.” That’s really not interesting for me. Traveling to 130 countries on FULL ADVENTURE MODE is not as easy as it might look on Social Media Platforms!
Stay Safe And Travel The World With No Fear
Only guy at the Kambadaga Waterfalls in the middle of Guinea. One of the most difficult waterfalls to get to
I haven’t told you the thousands of amazing memories I had this year in this article, remember that please. Take care everyone and safe travels always! Never let fear decide anything in your life!
Traveled around Iran for 12 days in 2018 and Iran is NOT what you think it is! Touring through Iran is not like visiting Disneyland, but it’s definitely safer.
Varzaneh Desert, Iran
Crazy Start To My Iran Adventure
Me and Alireza, the guy who helped me out, eating in a 400-year-old renovated bath-house, Jarchi Bashi, Iran
I had $150 on me for my 12-days Iran adventure, and what I didn’t think of what the fact it was impossible to withdraw money from any ATM’s in Iran, because of sanctions from the US. Furthermore you can’t use Whatsapp, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram etc., so it was a really worrying start that I had around $50 on me after my visa was paid for 12 days in Iran. Lucky for me I met a super friendly Iranian guy in the Airplane, who helped me out, and with this guy’s help I ended up having the most awesome time in Iran.
1. The People
With a lovely Iranian family, Isfahan, Iran
It’s important to state for me I came here solo, all costs where covered myself and I have no hidden agendas in visiting. I’m speaking my honest travel experience as always, and the Iranian people are incredible. If you take away anything from this blog post, please let it be that Persians are some of the most hospitable, kind and humble people that I’ve met in all my travels to 129 countries.
I interacted with as many locals as I could, and not once on any occasion was I disrespected or even looked at funny. I even told people that I was from Denmark, and it made them even more interested to get to know me. I was invited (dozens of times) into peoples’ houses for a cup of tea and even offered a bed to sleep in. One time in Isfahan, I walked into a tea shop in the evening and the owner wouldn’t let me leave because he wanted to talk to me all night and he kept feeding me tea! I made many good friends while in Iran, and I can’t wait to go back and visit them all someday soon. Iran is very high on my list of countries I want to return to sooner or later, and a big reason for that is the amazing people in Iran.
2. The Historical Sites
The Historical Sites in Iran will blow your mind! Hope to come back soon
Iran is home to one of the world’s oldest civilizations. Human activity in this country dates back 40,000 years — and evidence of these ancient humans can be found in select places in Iran. My favorite historical site was the Shah Mosque in Isfahan. The ocean of turquoise and blue ceramics, with majestic patterns and architecture in Imam (Shah) Mosque of Isfahan, the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Wow!
3. The Society
Talking about future and sustainable tourism in Iran, with one of the most important persons in Iran, Mr. Jebali
Being in Iran is like entering a time warp back to the 1970s or 80s (not that I was alive in those decades, but from what I know, this is how the World looked like). The models of cars on the road today don’t resemble anything modern (except for maybe a few neighborhoods in Tehran), there are NO international brands or chains anywhere to be seen except for Coca-Cola (no McDonald’s, Starbucks, Uber, Marriott, etc), and the wifi speed is very slow. You can’t use Facebook, Whatsapp etc. without a VPN!
But that all being said, it is somewhat of a refresher to be immersed in such a society, which is opposite to most countries that are overrun by tourists (like most of South East Asia). There are no scams in Iran. Life is as real and genuine as it gets.
4. The Food
Persian food is yummy
Ah, last but not least — the food! Who doesn’t travel for food? Iranian cuisine is so delicious, and you’ll most likely be invited for dinner many times. The cuisine is based on a combination of rice, meat, vegetables and nuts. Common herbs include saffron, cinnamon and parsley, and fruits include plum, pomegranate, apricots and raisins. Most of the meat takes form of a ‘kebab’ which is minced beef/lamb/chicken served on a plate alongside fresh vegetables like tomato, cucumber, olives, onion and lettuce.
5. The Love
Getting asked for a lot of photos in Iran
Iran is a country of love, not hate, when we talk about the super friendly population. I’ve been lucky to witness the breathtaking mosques, ancient history and the untouched nature. But it’s by and large the people that leave the most lasting impression. Iranians take you under their wings and their hospitality is the stuff of a legend.
Will never forget you Iran and I hope to revisit soon and travel more around this beautiful country!
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