After ten years traveling around the planet and talking to more than a hundred unusual characters, Spanish writers Itziar Marcotegui and Pablo Strubell decided to put down on paper the real stories of 131 travelers who by car, public transport, motorcycle, boat, hitchhiking or simply on foot dared to change their lives.

The result is 'El libro de los grandes viajes' ('The Book of Great Journeys') (Lonely Planet, 2022), a book that combines inspiration with reality and suits all dreamers determined to make a great journey.

Without omitting the unexpected mishaps and setbacks, the authors describe their experiences unabashedly, encouraging readers of all ages to take the plunge and travel without fear of what they might encounter. Their message seems to be: you only need determination to discover the world.

Its authors, Itziar Marcotegui and Pablo Strubell, are among those travelers who put aside their work (or take it with them) in order to travel the Silk Road or cross Africa, from South Africa to Morocco.

Authors of other books on how to prepare such journeys, since 2013 they have been organizing the Jornadas de los grandes viajes , a meeting that since 2013 has brought together hundreds of travel lovers in Madrid and Barcelona every year, and which has allowed them to collect the testimonies of these 131 Spaniards who have the world as their home. The next conference will take place between April 26 and 30, 2022 in Barcelona.
In parallel, Strubell is the author of the podcast Un gran viaje, one of the most listened to in the "travel" category in Spain.

Traveling on $770 per month

In addition to collecting the testimonials of intrepid travelers, the book is a guide for all those who are eager to embark on an adventure.

The first section is a kind of self-help manual that analyzes the main obstacles to face a long-distance trip and their possible solutions, especially the fears of leaving the job, the family, how to finance a long-distance trip, what about security, etc., according to Tendencias Hoy.

The second part of the guide presents some conclusions drawn from surveys carried out among the participants of its meetings, which reveal interesting conclusions, such as that for 700 euros a month (773 dollars) it is possible to travel the world, that for most of them it has been more difficult to return than to organize their trips, or how several have been recycled at work to continue traveling.

The third part is a practical guide to get going, with advice on what to carry in your backpacks, how to organize a health kit and what documentation to take with you.