About

From the shadows of a challenging upbringing, where the concept of 'home' felt more like an abstract idea than a place of safety or comfort, I began a quest to find a place that resonates with the simple concept of home. Driven by an insatiable desire for freedom, community, and helping others, I embarked on a journey fueled by hard work, saving every penny, surviving against the odds, and harboring dreams that reached far beyond the confines of my beginnings.

My journey started with a modest adventure—a brief, but important, travel adventure that ignited my passion for exploration and set the stage for the grand odyssey that lay ahead. This initial taste of freedom was merely a precursor to the monumental journey I was about to embark on.

Then, in 2005, I began the overland part of this current journey. What I anticipated to be a year-long exploration has unfurled into over 17 years of continuous adventure. And here I am, still journeying, still exploring, and still discovering. The path has been long, winding, and utterly unpredictable, but it's a journey that has shaped me in ways I never could have imagined. It has also led to many more people taking what I have learned to forge their own paths. Be it long-term travel or simply taking a once-in-a-lifetime holiday.

This solo migration has been a much greater task than I ever expected.

This search for home is not just an abstract wish for belonging but a critical pursuit of stability, security, and a foundation upon which to build a life. Without it, I'm walking a tightrope without a safety net, where the fear of falling looms large with every step. My journey, chronicled in my article "The Definition of Home" is a heartfelt exploration of the profound impact the absence of home has on one's spirit and the relentless quest to find that one place where I can finally say, with a sigh of relief and a heart full of peace, "I am home."

I am not the only one

People throughout the ages have done similar things. Look at the millions clawing their way out of developing countries in search of a better place to live. And also the countless people sitting in offices around the world today dreaming of a better life elsewhere. Well, I went through the same thing and now I'm making that dream come true.

Embarking on the journey to find a new country to call home might prompt some to label me as either recklessly naive or a restless nomad. However, I see my quest through a more pragmatic lens. This is not about defying conventions for the sake of it, nor is it about aimless wandering. It's a calculated, deliberate search for an ideal place to live.

This journey is driven by a straightforward ambition: to find a place that balances quality of life, vibrant culture, and abundant opportunities. I am search for a destination that not only offers a fresh perspective and challenges but also provides a sense of community and stability. Join me as I sift through the possibilities, not as a stereotype, but as an individual on a well-considered mission. I’m seeking a place that resonates with my personal and professional goals, a locale that feels like a match not just for the present, but for the future. This quest is about finding not just a new address, but a true home where potential can be realized and dreams can flourish.

Where do you write everything?

For each country I visit, there is a mini guide with several unique sections pertaining to this journey. Over the years, this website has become a vast travel resource that helps many people. Check out the travel resources section for things from up-to-date travel guides to in-depth features.

The travel blog is my journal. Starting as a private diary of sorts, it's developed into a modern-day explorer's journal which includes helpful guides and insights into local food. This world is constantly changing, and I am documenting it like no one else out there.

I also founded The Digital Archaeology Foundation and Missing Trekker.

In 2014, I rewrote the standard format for guidebooks and began publishing digital guidebooks to Nepal.

In 2017, Himalayan Travel Guides published my guidebook to Nepal in print.

In 2019, the second edition of my guidebook to Nepal was published by Himalayan Travel Guides, and my new book Kathmandu Valley Heritage Walks was also published.

In 2020, my Guidebook to Nepal was expanded and remains the only guidebook to be kept up to date throughout the year during the global pandemic.

In 2021, an international edition was launched during the pandemic as postal series were halted in Nepal. The photography book Kathmandu: Signs from the Past was published.

In 2022, a Trekking & Hiking Journal was published. The fiction book Don't Forget Your Guidebook was also published.

In 2023, the first edition of Trekking in Nepal was published.

In 2024, brand new editions of my Nepal Guidebook and Trekking in Nepal Guidebook were published both digitally and in paperback, internationally.

These books have been recognized as being the best guidebooks to Nepal in the world today.

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Here are a few more things that might help you find out more: Welcome tour to new subscribers & the 5 stages of long-term travel

Why this site? I'd traveled extensively back in the 1990s before I started this current journey and kept a diary like many others do and emailed myself a copy of it as a backup. For this journey, I started a small private travel blog as a personal online journal. Emailing myself notes just wasn't working anymore - we are talking 2005 here. But strangers stumbled onto it and started to read about my journey. It took off from there.

The website has been through a few subtle changes over the years. But I created it for something quite basic:

"With no home, this has become my place to hang my photographs and write my findings as I discover what many others would like to know ..."

I venture to places and find myself in situations very few people have documented. I am proud to say that this is no cookie-cutter travel blog nor a fame-starved man's copycat attempt of a book. I know who I am and this is an original pioneering look at travel via 21st-century migration.

By these means The Longest Way Home has now become one of the most read travelogues in the world. And, the most acclaimed place for travel guides and guidebooks to Nepal. Without a doubt, it has also become the most documented story arc in online travel history.

From all of this, maybe my story can help inspire someone else or motivate them to get through some rough times and push forward with their lives. If I can do this - so can anyone!

Everything on The Longest Way Home was written, photographed, designed, coded, and paid for by me.

Every piece of content here springs from personal experience and investment. There are no sponsored articles or posts nor AI content; no trips or products have been compensated by others. This ensures that everything you read is genuine, candid, and uniquely influenced by my own journey. The only trade-off? Please pardon the occasional typo!