Finally… after a stressful 1.5 years of it being pushed back multiple times, we are now embarking on our dream of a round the world backpacking adventure.

There’s nothing quite like a global pandemic to make you stop and reflect on what you value and what gives your life meaning. For us, there is nothing more fulfilling than travelling. Experiencing life in different ways – new places, new cultures, new adventures (good & bad), new cuisine. For us, travel isn’t luxury, it’s necessity.

There is so much value in breaking free from the mundane 9-5 and shaking things up. Leaving the easy, cosy comforts of home and 99% of your possessions and plunging into the unknown.

Excitingly, this is also the first time we have both backpacked in a couple. We can’t wait to see what crazy experiences await us. Let’s go make some unforgettable memories! Thank you for following in our journey 🙂

The worries about covid soon dissipated (nobody cared at Heathrow or Cairo) but concerns over the drone soon took over…

We knew drones were banned in Egypt and we would have some issues but we didn’t realise exactly how stressful the experience would be. If there was any other feasible option for bringing it but not through Egypt we would have taken it. After declaring it to customs we were told it would be taken, stored and be available to pickup when we leave. Easy. And free of charge!

Oh, if only any of that were true. Leon was in good spirits if not a little nervous during the wait for the receipt. After about 30 minutes a man – could have been anyone – grabs Percy (the drone) and Leon’s passport and disappears.. another nervous 30 mins goes by, he comes back empty handed but now Leon has to go with him. Surely this won’t take long…

[Leon] Having done the Mongol rally and it’s border crossings, I’m used to experiencing crazy levels of unnecessary bureaucracy. Cairo airport would make Uzbekistan proud. I was like a terrified pinball bouncing around various offices being asked questions like, “you have a weapon?”, escorted by a police officer while a piece of paper inside my passport was being signed and written on by no less than 5 ‘officials’. I started to think what life would be like in an Egyptian prison.

After 2 hours of speculating me and the police officer started back to the customs hall (not without stopping at every single office on the way to get more signatures). 3 hours had passed before myself and Amy were reunited – poor Amy had been sat there alone this whole time wondering if I had been arrested, with nobody to ask. My watch then buzzed to let me know I’d done 10,000 steps; mostly around the airport.