11 independent travellers who will inspire you to pack your bags

Travellers and explorers have always been an inspiration. In the past, the most famous travellers were those who challenged themselves, made amazing discoveries and introduced the world to new cultures. Things haven’t changed much in the 21st century – travelling is inspirational and opens out the world in a brand new perspective. Travel bloggers have opened out the world to amazing new facets through both words and pictures.

Celebrating the spirit of exploration, we look at the most awesome travellers and travel bloggers of the 21st century and why they deserve to be known. Inspiring many along the way, these travellers unravel the hidden destinations and take you to a fascinating journey with their tales and photographs.

Before you go, here is a special something that will help you pack your bags.

1. Matthew Karsten | The Expert Vagabond

‘In the fall of 2010 I quit my job, left my girlfriend, sold everything I owned, and bought a plane ticket to Guatemala.’ – Matthew

Check out his instagram account for some brilliant photographs.

Matthew have been constantly travelling the world for the past 4 years. His area of interest are adventure travel & photography. He likes to take risks, meet interesting people, challenging activities and explore the world.

Credits: www.expertvagabond.com

2. Rohith Subramanian

“I pay more attention to minute details, and am realizing that no matter how much we plan, we have to give in to uncertainties of the road or the weather or plans gone awry because of a bike breakdown” – Rohith

21, Royal Enfield and travel. This about sums up Rohith Subramanian. This young biker is now pursuing his multi country bike trip across Europe. (More about it here) Find him on Facebook as The Lone Wanderer and as @misfitmagellan on Instagram.

Destinations Visited: 25 countries. To name a few, Italy, Switzerland, France, Belgium and many more!

3. Sachin Bhandary | Eccentrips

‘Every day every trip is different on the road. It’s fascinating to be in a strange place where I do not speak the language and yet be able to understand people, connect with them and understand their motivations, their lives and history.’

Sachin Bhandary is not exactly the new kid on the travel block. He’s been globetrotting for a decade, from a 25 trains in 25 days in India and then to Thailand to learn rock climbing, exploring mystical religions in Brazil – Sachin has been looking at the world in a different perspective each day. Follow him on his Facebook page or Instagram and get inspired! Watch his lungi dance across the world below!

Destinations Visited: 14 countries

4. Christina Vidal | jetsetchristina

‘Smile. Always. It’s universal. Plus, when you’re travelling, what is there not to smile about?’ – Christina

Check out her instagram account for some brilliant photographs.

Christina is travel writer with a talent for making us lust over her exotic, and often beachy, vacations. Follow her as she takes you on an adventure around the world, showcasing the coolest locales, restaurants, bars, and beaches around the world and capturing breathtaking moments that will inspire your next adventure.

Destinations Visited: More than 50 countries

5. Gareth Leonard | tourist2townie

‘With zero knowledge of the language, a minimal budget and no contacts, I was on a quest to immerse myself in a foreign culture and push my personal limits. It was time to start writing my own story.’ – Gareth

Check out his instagram account for some brilliant photographs.

Follow Gareth as he immerses himself in local culture and adventures all around the globe. He has lived in South America .His photos are awesome and often fun. His goal is to go from Tourist to Townie, one adventure at a time. He counts relationships formed over countries visited, and experiences over landmarks.

Destinations Visited: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, England, Guatemala, Greece, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, USA.

6. Kristin Luna | CamelsAndChocolate

‘We have a bit of an obsession with photography and are forever trying to fine tune our skills.’ – Kristin

Check out her instagram account for some brilliant photographs.

Kristin, a Nashville based travel writer, has incredible photos that often focus on the South. We love her for her Southern charm and her fun-loving photography.

Destinations Visited: More than 100 countries.

7. Kiersten | TheBlondeAbroad

‘I started blogging with zero experience and did EVERYTHING wrong before I got it right’ – Kiersten

Check out her instagram account for some brilliant photographs.

Kiersten’s travel log contains beautiful photos of food and festivals on her frequent travels. From goofy Go-Pro photos to stunning landscapes to fashion and style photos, her Instagram is a little bit of everything, all over the map.

Destinations Visited: More than 40 countries.

8. Gary Arndt | everything-everywhere

Check out his instagram account for some brilliant photographs.

Gary’s award-winning photography takes you on a beautiful virtual tour through some of the many UNESCO World Heritage Sites that he visits from around the world. He is a self taught travel photographer, who was named ‘Travel Photographer of the Year’ by both the Society of American Travel Writers and the North American Travel Journalists Association.

Destinations Visited: More than 100 countries.

9. Ryan Gargiulo | pausethemoment

Check out his instagram account for some brilliant photographs.

Ryan brings his cool surfer dude vibe to his amazing instagram account, where he’ll never cease to make you jealous of his constant sunny vacation spots. From photos of the Greek Isles to the BVI’s to the Carribbean to Mexico, he will continuously inspire you to Pause the Moment and travel the world.