Backpackingmatt

Today’s Friday Travel Photo brings you to Cappadocia in central Turkey. Thanks to Verity (@verty) from With Sparkles for submitting the photo. The rocks of this area of Turkey have been whipped into shockingly smooth curves – this volcanic terrain, with rock formations known as ‘fairy chimneys’ has been shaped by Mother Nature over thousands [...]

Last week, Cat Gaa shared the background behind her deeply personal goal of visiting 25 countries by the time she turned twenty-five. It’s a goal she recently met. You can imagine that traveling to 25 countries would bring about some excellent stories – both of personal growth and exploration. This series documents Cat’s 25 most [...]

Are you planning a trip around the world? Or perhaps you’re already living overseas and considering starting a travel blog? Maybe you’re stuck in an office somewhere, considering a trip backpacking around the world – saving, and one day soon you’ll make it happen? If you fall into one of these categories, you should be [...]

I’m excited to publish the first in a five part series by one of my good friends and fellow expat, Cat Gaa. Cat is one of a few people who graduated from the University of Iowa with me and decided that the 9 – 5 route wasn’t the only option. We’ve gone different directions around [...]

A trip to New Zealand isn’t complete without a bungy jump – a topic that has been written about often on Backpackingmatt. I’ve reviewed my experiences at the Lake Taupo Bungy and on the Nevis Highwire Bungy. I put together a quick travel video which outlines the workup to my recent jump here in Queenstown. [...]

A trip to Scotland’s West Coast should include a visit to the beautiful Isle of Mull – a peaceful island home to the Tobermory Distillery. Tobermory itself is a quaint little village situated on a fishing harbor that is lined with brightly colored buildings. It’s a terrific village where you could very easily waste away [...]