Where are you from?

We are from Germany

When did you start your interest in exploration?

Hard to tell, probably easiest to say is that we grew into that together - we always loved to travel but I didn’t think we realized that it is possible to see the world how we do it now until we went out to explore fulltime in 2018.

What is a brief understanding of your background story up until you started seeking adventure?

We met as teenagers, as we had the same friends. So we used to hang out together before we became a couple. Which happened 2010, so over 14 years ago. Since then we have been together a lot. We always shared the interest in discovering new places & new activities. But we both grew up in a small village, where you get told that traveling the world is for rich people only and you will never do something like a world trip. 

Thankfully we both went out and learned that this isn’t true. And that it is always worth it to follow your dreams.

What special skills do you have to help with your explorations?

If something is broken, Philipp will fix it. If he can’t fix it, it’s really broken. He can know every single screw of our van and does almost everything by himself. It helps that he is very patient & keen to find the answer for everything.

Sarah is very talented in planning & organizing, so she usually has a plan for every possible situation. 

Where have you explored so far?

We have explored over 30 countries together so far. To name some; Sweden, Norway, Italy, Austria, Bosnia, Croatia, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, USA, Canada

What is a brief understanding of your adventures so far?

We lived for one year in Australia & one in New Zealand. We traveled a lot in north & mid Eastern Europe. Since 2016 with our Volkswagen T4. Currently we are in our third year overlanding North America.

What are the top three destinations you hope to explore next, and why?

> Canada - we can’t get enough of this country, our third year & still so much to see

> Czech Republic - we don’t live far from the Czech border in Germany & we planned a couple trips there while we will visit Germany this spring

> USA - we will spend some weeks there this summer & fall to explore the stunning nature of the US west coast

Where would you recommend others visit?

Difficult question, totally depends what type of explorer they are. But we would say: Australia for the sun lover & amazing food, New Zealand for hiking and the most friendly people, Yukon Territory / Canada during winter for extreme temperatures like -40 degrees & watching Northern Lights, Newfoundland / Canada - whale & iceberg watching.

How do you primarily travel on your adventures today?

We have a Volkswagen T4 camper van, built 2002. In his first life he was a German police van. We bought him in 2016 and made a simple conversion, just enough for some trips here & there. Before we shipped him to Canada in 2022 we ripped everything apart, did a whole new conversion and got him fresh paint. 

What are five pieces of equipment that you always travel with?

> Camera equipment

> Internet (Starlink) & Notebook

> Our small BBQ

> Hiking boots

> A good card game

What inspires you to explore more?

The endless beauty of our planet, the amazing people we meet along the way & the fact that you develop yourself in the best way whenever you dive into new challenges outside your comfort zone.

How do you engage with others?

It is super easy to meet new people along the way. We are always impressed how traveling & the passion for exploring brings people together & sometimes random strangers become good friends. We find ourselves often around a campfire talking the whole night to people we just met. Or sometimes we connect with other travel enthusiasts on social media, to share tips & our love for exploring.

Why is it important to embrace global cultures?

Because you can learn so much, if you open your eyes & your heart to other cultures. You will understand and barriers will melt quickly. If you are open and welcoming, you will be welcomed. 

What are your goals when you explore?

We love to dive into new cultures, to see new places & learn new things. We love the community of other explorers & we are deeply in love with nature.

We want to learn more about the history of places we visit. It is important to understand the people they live there and the meaning this place has for them. We love to hear stories about people and their lives. This is necessary to respect & acknowledge the land and the people who live on it.

What are some challenges you have experienced?

If you travel full time your life can be very challenging. Sounds strange right!? But constantly moving from place to place, where you have never been before can be exhausting. You always have to find a place to sleep, to shower, to wash your clothes,... Everything needs planning and nothing goes fast. Sometimes we miss the luxury of an own bathroom or simply a comfortable apartment. 

Another challenge can be the fear of missing out. And yes, even after all these years we still have these feelings. Sometimes it's hard to accept that you can’t see everything & that going slower is the better idea. 

Also a big deal is to keep in touch with our loved ones all over the globe. This is a big challenge, even in times of social media. 

Yes we do live our dream, but that doesn’t mean its always easy and great. It is like in everyone’s life, there are good days & bad days. 

What has been your most meaningful moment so far?

We couldn’t name one outstanding one, it is more the feeling you have when you do all these things you thought you would never be able to do in your life.

I, Sarah, remember the moment when I was standing in Sydney in front of the Opera House. Which was a symbol for the other end of the world, since I was a small child. I have been told that Australia is so far away & I believed for a long time that I will never see this place with my own eyes. And then I'm standing there with tears in my eyes, thinking: "I made it!".

This was one moment but we often have this during our travels. We had the same feelings when we saw our very first grizzly bear, when we drove all the way to Alaska with our own car, we saw Orcas for the first time, driving into cities like New York, Miami & Seattle with our home on wheels. These moments make us speechless & so grateful.

How has exploration changed you?

It changed us almost 100%. We aren’t the same two kids from the forest, who started once to see the world. But I think this happens, you are never coming back like you left. And this change is still going on, with each day we live this life. 

We learned so much about our beautiful planet, but the more we see the more we have the feeling that we need to act & do our best to protect it. The more we dive into other cultures and get in touch with people all around the world, we know that it is important to open your heart. Each day we live in our van, with limited space and limited resources - we believe that we don’t need a lot of things to be happy. 

What is the number one lesson that you have learnt through your exploration?

Number one is probably that we can achieve anything we want, if we are willing to work hard for it and we believe in ourselves.

How do you explore locally?

Whenever we visit Germany we want to make sure we catch up with our loved ones, which often means a lot of driving from A to B and back, as our friends and family live all over Germany. But we also do lots of weekend trips while we are there or just go on a small adventure together with friends and family. Often we hike, bike or do other outdoor activities together.

What does the explmore mantra mean to you?

To us it means: leaving your comfort zones behind, discover the unknown & face every challenge on the way. It is about living our live to the fullest & don’t regret any detour we have taken. Leave the beaten path to follow our dreams.

What advice would you give to others who are seeking life changing adventure?

If you have a dream, go for it. Work hard & make it happen. Don’t listen to others who tell you this won’t work or this is too high for you, it’s your life - it’s the only one you get. There will never be the "perfect time" - there will always be something that seems to be more important. Whatever it is for you - go out there & make it happen.