The Moment the Adventure Began
Marc Hall didn’t exactly ease into adventure travel. At 19, he packed his bags, said goodbye to New Zealand, and moved halfway across the world, alone.
“It wasn’t about running away from anything,” he says, “it was about running towards something I couldn’t quite name yet.” That leap into the unknown became the foundation for a life spent chasing horizons, both literal and personal.
Over the years, Marc’s adventures have taken him across mountains, deserts, cities, and coastlines. But it was one particular journey, cycling through 24 countries with his one-year-old son that rewrote what adventure meant to him.
Portugal: When Home Became Everywhere
Ask Marc where “home” is, and he might point to a quiet Portuguese village tucked between hills and vineyards.
“It wasn’t in the plan,” he laughs. “But then again, most of the best things never are.”
Portugal became a base between rides, a place to pause and breathe. It was here he learned that home isn’t a fixed point, it’s wherever you unpack your bags and feel like you belong, even if it’s just for a little while.
Dodging the Unexpected
Marc’s journey wasn’t all sunny coastal rides and sleepy cafes. There was the time he crossed the Himalayas, fighting altitude and weather that could turn hostile in minutes. Another time, flights were cancelled and plans dissolved overnight.
“The only constant is change,” Marc says. “You can fight it, or you can flow with it. Flowing’s easier.”
His ability to adapt, sometimes on a dime, wasn’t just a travel skill. It was a survival skill.
What’s in the Backpack That Isn’t Useful?
Every traveler has something they pack “just in case.” For Marc, it was a heavy book he swore he’d get through on long train rides.
“Never opened it,” he admits. “But somehow it kept making it into my bag, country after country. I guess we all carry something we don’t actually need.”
It’s a metaphor as much as a packing tip. Lighten your load physically and mentally, and the road feels different.
Why Solo Time Is Sacred
Traveling with a toddler is joyful chaos, but Marc values the pockets of solitude he carves out along the way.
“It’s when I write, when I think, when I process what’s happening,” he says. Blogging from a hostel bunk or a quiet café table, Marc turns experience into story, making sense of the miles behind him.
You can read more about his travels and insights on his own blog, Life Went That Way.
The YES Philosophy
If there’s a guiding principle to Marc’s life, it’s this: say yes, even when it’s easier to say no.
“Yes doesn’t mean reckless,” he explains. “It just means staying open.”
That openness has led him into conversations with strangers who became friends, meals that turned into memories, and detours that became highlights.
What People Get Wrong About Long-Term Travel
Instagram might show sunsets and street food, but Marc is quick to point out the other side - visa paperwork, fatigue, and the odd emotional low.
“The reality isn’t less beautiful,” he says, “it’s just less polished.”
Adventure isn’t about avoiding the hard parts; it’s about letting them shape you.
The Bottleable Moment
If Marc could bottle one moment from his travels, it would be standing at a Himalayan ridge, staring at Everest through crisp morning air.
“It wasn’t just the view,” he says. “It was the work it took to get there. Every pedal stroke, every cold night, every time I thought about turning back, it all led to that view.”
Adventure Reframed
Marc’s definition of adventure has shifted over the years. It’s no longer just about distance or difficulty.
“The biggest adventures happen inside,” he says. “Travel just gives you the stage.”
Related Reads
If you enjoyed Marc’s story, you might like:
🔹 The Lost Trail of Percy Fawcett: Mystery in the Amazon
🔹 Junko Tabei: The First Woman on Everest and the Mountains She Moved
Find Your YES
Marc’s journey is more than a travel diary, it’s a reminder that adventure starts the moment you say “yes” to the unknown. From ancient ruins to snowy summits, his path is filled with stories worth sharing. They might be closer to home, smaller in scale, or wildly different in focus.
The point is to say yes anyway.
Follow him on Instagram for real-time snapshots from the road and inspiration from his ongoing adventures.
Because sometimes, the scariest yes leads to the best story you’ll ever tell. Your next “yes” might just change everything.