"Let's do it" - and the dream of seven continents becomes the Next Meridian Expedition.
What began as a fleeting thought on a mountain peak in Montenegro became the greatest adventure of their lives: Mathilde and Nick have been following the dream of crossing all seven continents in the Defender "Albatross" since 2022 - driven by curiosity, longing and the magic of a single sentence: Let's do it.
Mathilde & Nick didn't just want to circumnavigate the world - they wanted to find out what a life beyond routine feels like. They have been traveling in their Defender "Albatross" since 2022, have already crossed five continents and have learned that the greatest adventure is not the route, but everyday life in the unknown.
Their Next Meridian Expedition is more than just a journey: It is an attempt to put trust above planning, freedom above safety - and to show that a dream can become reality if you are prepared to really live it.
What began as a mental game on a road trip became a life project. Today, they finance their expedition through social media, share their experiences with an ever-growing community - and live an everyday life that is no longer an everyday life. In this interview, Mathilde & Nick talk about magical moments, the reality behind the scenes and the conviction that you can make any dream come true if you have the courage to set off.
"The greatest adventure is not the route, but everyday life in the unknown."
About you and your journey:
Introduce yourselves briefly: Who are you? How long have you been traveling? What have you done so far? Where are you living right now? And what's coming up next?
We are Nick & Mathilde from France, Nick is also half Italian. We've been on the road in our Land Rover Defender called Albatross since April 2022 and have already traveled to 5 continents: Europe, North and South America, Antarctica, Australia - and now Asia, our 6th continent. At the moment we are in Indonesia and are slowly moving north to China, then further west to Kazakhstan, before heading south to Saudi Arabia and finally to Africa. Our destination: Cape Town in South Africa. Our dream: to travel to all 7 continents.
Do you remember the moment when you felt it for the first time? I want to get out. I want more out of life?
Yes - in 2020 on a road trip from Paris to Montenegro, during our usual two-week vacation. On a mountain top in Montenegro, just before heading back to Paris, we asked ourselves: "What if we just keep going and never come back?"... "Is that even possible?"... "Isn't that way too expensive?" After a week full of thoughts and research, we both said: LET'S DO IT. To this day, we still get goosebumps when we think about it. Two years later, we got started. The four decisive steps: a poster with monthly goals until departure, the purchase of Albo, quitting our jobs - and on April 18, 2022, closing the doors and setting off.
What does your everyday life look like when you're traveling - or does it no longer exist?
The excitement is still there! But we've gotten used to overlanding and how international travel works. The joy of reaching an unknown destination every day - be it a hike, a beach, an off-road adventure, an encounter, a border crossing, a wild camping site, a language or culture - is as fresh as it was on the first day. We have never thought about stopping. On the contrary: we have extended our planned trip around the world from 3 to 5 years.
What has been the best place so far - and why?
Argentina! The country is our favorite so far, South America our favorite continent. The culture, the language, the people, the energy in the cities, the music on every street corner, the curiosity and friendliness, the dramatic Andes, the lagoons, the variety of landscapes and climate zones - simply epic.
"Oh man, something big awaits you! Don't doubt it. It's the best thing you'll ever experience."
Were there moments when you wanted to give up everything?
Just kidding - when the car broke down again. It was particularly bad in Australia, where we needed to replace the engine, or in Peru, where it was almost impossible to get spare parts. But seriously: give up? Never.
If you could say one sentence to your former self before you set off - what would it be?
"Oh man, something big awaits you! Don't doubt it. It's the best thing you'll ever experience. The day you quit your job, close the car doors and drive the first few miles - you'll understand."
The question of all questions: How do you finance this? And how do you deal with the uncertainty?
We started with savings for 3 years, which were almost used up after 2 years. Fortunately not completely - because after the first year we started generating income via social media (YouTube, Patreon, partnerships). Today, this finances our trip completely. This has allowed us to do more activities, travel more slowly and extend the expedition by 2 years.
But: it's hard work. Many people think: "You make a few videos and get lucky." We don't begrudge anyone making a living this way - but it's not easy - the competition is huge. It's also an insecure model: social media can disappear at any time - due to a lockdown, a hack, a bad phase or simply a loss of motivation. You have to love it, otherwise you'll burn out.
"We have learned: People are good - everywhere."
Travel as a life principle: what does that mean for you - beyond postcards and bucket lists?
Seeing the world as it is. Really meeting people. Getting to know cultures and traditions. Making friends. Gathering experiences. Create memories. Enjoying life - with joy, mindfulness and sincerity.
One of our guiding principles: If you have a dream, make it come true. Set yourself a goal - and see it through.
Has traveling changed your view of the world?
100 %. We have learned that people are good - everywhere. The media often exaggerate, stir up fear and mistrust. Our own experiences, whether in tourist hotspots or in the most remote areas, were exclusively positive.
We experienced incredible generosity - people who took us in, helped us, shared everything. A humanity that still moves us deeply today. We are trying to pass this on now - and even more so later.
Were there any encounters that had a particular impact on you?
Many! For example, a farmer in Guatemala who invited us into his home and showed us his village, his family and his cows. We spent two days with him - he always said: Mi casa es su casa. We are still in contact today.
Or in Australia, when our engine broke down: a family took us in, gave us a room, a car, tools, cooked with us, drove us around - until Albo was running again. We are still in contact today and are infinitely grateful.
And then all the encounters via social media: 314 invitations, 71 people we met, sleeping in 36 houses. Every single encounter was unique and unforgettable.
"If you have a dream, make it come true. Set yourself a goal - and see it through."
"We have never thought about stopping. On the contrary: we have extended our world tour from 3 to 5 years."
What role does "home" play for you - and where would you say "I'm staying here"?
Nick never had a fixed home - he was always an "expat kid". Mathilde lived in France most of the time, but always wanted to go abroad. Europe: Spain. Outside: Argentina or New Zealand. And we have high hopes for Cape Town - maybe that will become our home.
Is there anything you've let go of while traveling - and don't miss?
We miss friends and family - experiencing their developments: new jobs, weddings, children. What we don't miss: having a job.
Traces & meaning: What do you want to leave behind - not in the sand, but with the people you meet?
Memories that last. Experiences that they take with them. And for some: an open invitation to our future home.
What drives you when things get difficult?
Both of us. The generosity of people. And the ability to simply move on if a place doesn't fulfill us. Technical problems? Then Nick becomes a robot, organizes everything and gets on with it - no time for brooding. We know: This is our journey and we're doing everything we can to make it a success.
"To this day, we get goosebumps when we think about it: Let's do it."
What else do you dream of - personally?
- To complete the expedition to Cape Town and travel to all 7 continents with Albo.
- Exploring island states around the world on our Gully motorcycle.
- Expand social media for a living and continue traveling with children.
- Have a permanent base - perhaps in Cape Town - for family and friends.
And if more happens along the way: Have there been projects, initiatives or encounters that are more than your own adventure?
We don't just have our own adventures on the road. In Colombia, we supported a coral reforestation project, and we regularly collect garbage at our wild camping sites - small gestures that are part of traveling for us.
For Asia, we dream of organizing a clean-up campaign together with an NGO. And because we like to share this energy, we now organize adventure trips ourselves: 12 days that take people out of their comfort zone - whether on foot, on a motorcycle or soon also in an overlanding vehicle.
Another 2.5 years and around 50 countries lie ahead of them. Perhaps the expedition will end in Cape Town, perhaps not - because the goal is no longer a point on the map, but the courage to keep going. Every kilometer counts, every encounter changes. And perhaps that is precisely the message of their journey: that sometimes it only takes a single sentence to transform a life. "Let's do it."
Follow the Next Meridian Expedition - if you want to follow Mathilde & Nick's journey, you can find it here:
Instagram: @nextmeridian.expedition
YouTube: NextMeridianExpedition
Patreon: NextMeridianExpedition
Website: www.nextmeridianexpedition.live