Why Adventures Feel Out of Reach (and How to Change That)
Everyone loves adventure. Bookshops are overflowing with travel books, adventure film festivals are popping up all over the world, and the internet is packed with inspiring expedition blogs. I love adventure so much that I turned it into my job: I am a professional adventurer. It says so on my business card, so it must be true. (Never mind that I designed them myself during one of my many procrastination-fueled mornings.)
I write books, give talks, and make films about the adventures I’ve had. Enough people enjoy hearing these stories that I’m able to earn a living from them.
But here’s something I’ve noticed: more people read about adventures than go on big trips themselves. This book is for those readers—you—to help you realize that grand adventures are within your grasp. You can start taking steps today to make them happen.
Why settle for reading about adventures when you could be out in the wild having them yourself?
Ordinary People, Extraordinary Adventures
Many of my closest friends are adventurers. They’ve climbed great mountains, trekked to the Poles, and done other exciting things. I love sitting in the pub with them, swapping increasingly far-fetched tales as last orders approach.
But here’s the important thing: I know these people well enough to see they aren’t particularly special. They’re ordinary people. What sets them apart is their willingness to do things that others might call extraordinary.
Being an adventurer isn’t a genetic gift. Usain Bolt was born fast. Albert Einstein was born brainy. Living adventurously, however, is mostly a choice.
When I left university, I chose to make the most of my abilities and resources. I decided to see how far I could ride my bike. I didn’t have a fancy bike. I didn’t ride fast. I didn’t spend much money. I got lost often, napped under trees, and carried a bike repair manual because I didn’t know how to fix a derailleur.
I spent £7,000 on the entire trip—not because I wanted to do it cheaply, but because I preferred to get going rather than risk never starting. Four years of banana sandwiches was a small price to pay for four years of unforgettable memories.
And yet, despite all the mishaps and learning curves, I succeeded in cycling around the world.
What Really Holds Us Back?
When people dream of adventure, they’re usually not discouraged by the journey itself. In fact, the physical and mental struggles—extreme heat or cold, basic living conditions, and even moments of discomfort—are often part of the appeal. Many of us feel these challenges are better than the dull routine of daily life.
So what’s stopping us?
It’s not a lack of practical skills, fitness, or equipment. The real barriers are mental:
- It feels too hard.
- It seems too scary.
- It’s uncertain.
To explore this further, I asked people through my blog what stood between them and the adventures they dreamed of. From the 2,000 responses I received, these were the top five issues:
- Money
- Time
- Family/partners/commitments
- Fear
- Society’s expectations
Interestingly, no one mentioned being afraid of falling into a crevasse or getting eaten by a tiger. The biggest obstacles lie in getting to the start line.
The Hardest Part Is Starting
In Norway, there’s a phrase that translates to “the doorstep mile.” It refers to how hard it is to begin something—to step out your front door and commit to action.
This book is about helping you tackle that doorstep mile.
Do you dream of a massive adventure but can’t see how to make it happen? Do you long to explore the world but feel stuck? Do you look enviously at other people’s trips and think, that’s not for someone like me?
If so, this book is for you.
The goal is simple: to help you commit to planning your dream adventure. Once you’re in motion, the rest is easier—and up to you.
Adventure Awaits
This book spotlights the obstacles standing between you and the most amazing, life-changing adventure of your life. It’s here to remind you: if you truly want a big adventure, you can do it.
Over the past year, I interviewed countless adventurers for this book. They’ve done it all—Everest, the Poles, the Amazon, the Sahara, the oceans, and even space. All of them started the same way: by committing to their first adventure.
These stories are from men and women who’ve traveled by boat, bike, car, kayak, motorbike, and even homemade rafts. Some went on one big trip and returned to normal life. Others became lifelong adventurers. They include young and old, fit and unfit, able-bodied and disabled, couples, families, and solo travelers.
They all share one thing in common: they committed to start.
Your Turn
Whether it’s cycling to the Sahara, walking across Australia, or rafting the Amazon, the longest journeys begin with a single step.
These steps are tiny, yes. Easy, yes. But they still need to be taken.
So let’s begin.
Why Don’t We Go on Grand Adventures?
Many of us dream of embarking on grand adventures—journeys that break us free from the monotony of daily life and immerse us in the unknown. Yet, few of us actually take the plunge. Why is that? Life gets in the way. Time is scarce. Money feels tight. Relationships and commitments tether us to routines. And then there’s the fear of not knowing where to start or how to turn dreams into action.
That’s the premise behind Grand Adventures, a book that sets out to bridge the gap between dreaming and doing. Its message is clear: adventures aren’t just for the fearless, wealthy, or unattached—they’re for anyone willing to take small steps toward something big.
A Thousand Pounds to Adventure
The book begins with a practical thought experiment. What if you saved £20 a week for a year? By the end, you’d have £1,000—a sum more than sufficient to fund a life-changing adventure. This simple concept underscores a key theme: small, consistent actions can lead to extraordinary outcomes.
Addressing the Barriers
The first half of Grand Adventures dives into the obstacles that keep us from pursuing our adventurous aspirations. It tackles pressing questions:
- How do we find time amid busy schedules?
- What can we do to manage costs?
- How do we balance adventures with relationships and other responsibilities?
It also delves into the essentials of planning. What kind of adventure do you want to embark on? What equipment will you need? How can you turn vague dreams into actionable plans?
Stories from Real Adventurers
The second half shifts from theory to inspiration, showcasing interviews with around 100 remarkable adventurers. These individuals represent a wide spectrum of backgrounds—men and women, young and old, disabled and able-bodied, seasoned explorers and first-timers. Their journeys demonstrate that anyone can find their own way to adventure.
Choosing Your Path
Grand Adventures explores a range of adventurous possibilities, helping readers discover what might suit them best. Here are some of the journeys featured:
- By Bike: Cycle around the world—or, for the bold, on a penny-farthing!
- On Foot: Walk the length of the Amazon, or take inspiration from a woman who ran around the world in her late 50s.
- With Animals: Trek across Wales with a donkey, or traverse Eurasia on horseback.
- On Water: Sail the oceans, raft down the Amazon, or row solo across vast seas.
- With Motors: Drive through Europe on pizza delivery bikes, ride motorbikes across Africa, or circumnavigate the globe in a black cab with the meter running.
- Cultural Connections: Hitchhike the world, or follow in the footsteps of an adventurer who visited every country without flying.
- Mountains and Peaks: From climbing Everest to scaling lesser-known summits, the mountains hold endless challenges.
- Lifestyle Adventures: Live in a treehouse, or travel the world as a nomadic artist.
Dream Big, Plan Quick, Go Explore
For those seeking the ultimate challenges, the book also touches on polar expeditions, journeys to the North and South Poles, and even advice from an astronaut—arguably the pinnacle of human exploration.
The underlying message of Grand Adventures is simple yet powerful: grand adventures are within reach for anyone willing to dream boldly and take those first steps. Life’s most enriching experiences don’t have to remain fantasies.
So, what’s stopping you? Start planning today. Dream big. Plan quick. Go explore.
My new book, Grand Adventures, answers many questions such as this. It’s designed to help you dream big, plan quick, then go explore. There are also interviews and expertise from around 100 adventurers, plus masses of great photos to get you excited.
I would be extremely grateful if you bought a copy here today!
I would also be really thankful if you could share this link on social media with all your friends – http://amzn.to/20IMYDt. It honestly would help me far more than you realise.
Thank you so much!
Grand Adventures from Alastair Humphreys on Vimeo.
Sadly this isn’t available until May in the States.
I know – it’s very stupid. Sorry1
This is a bit random but the thing that impressed me here is not outer space or the amazon or Everest but the fact you seemingly managed to go all of that video in a single take without stopping for breath or taking a sip of water. Is that something you could always have done or something that comes more easily as a result of speaking practice? Or was it take no 45?
Haha! A bit of all of the above!