The Saharan Mine Fields
Stuck in No Man’s Land. Western Sahara.

-

The last stretch of Western Sahara before Mauritania was supposed to be simple.
It wasn’t.

We were approaching the border, which consisted of little more than three wind battered tents in the middle of the desert. My then girlfriend bottled about twenty grams of hash in a condom, which a few people in the group eventually found out about. So needless to say, tensions were high.

If that wasn’t enough, we were about to cross an active minefield.

“Passeports!” we heard from the van in French.

The desert was blindingly bright. Huge golden dunes stretched into the distance, and the heat shimmered above the sand. Around the border posts, Moroccan guards sat drinking small glasses of sweet tea, rifles nearby, while battered trucks sat in the dust.

Two border guards came onto the van. One walked the length looking under our seats while the other stayed in the front.

“C’est bon” we heard.

The area had been heavily affected by the Western Sahara conflict, and the Moroccan berm system had extensive minefields. We were heading toward Mauritania, but this was No Man’s Land. Literally. It’s patrolled by Morocco but it’s a disputed territory complicated both politically and geographically.

Once cleared, they told us we could go. There wasn’t really a road, just tire tracks disappearing in different directions. We had brought shovels, sand ladders, water and extra fuel for the desert crossing but no one knew what was in store.

A group of local workers were standing along the road trying to tell us where to go. They were yelling and pointing toward what seemed to be the correct path.

“Xxxx” ignored them and went the opposite way. He was convinced that he knew where the road was.

“Xxxx” was the mastermind behind the journey. We met in Prague. He had invited us, along with a handful of other strangers to drive through Europe and down to Timbuktu. It was a journey he had supposedly made many times before with his family. To his credit, he would go on to do it many times afterwards. This time, though, he drove straight into a sand pit.

We were stuck again.
It was the second time that day.

The locals immediately came over to help dig us out. They pointed toward another route and tried to explain which way we should go, but “Xxxx” still refused.
Everyone was getting frustrated. I couldn’t blame them; I was too. We were sitting in the middle of an active minefield while the people who actually worked there were desperately trying to tell us which way to drive. Eventually “Xxxx” gave in.

We hired a local guide and we were off.
The guide’s strategy was simple: “la gauche, la gauche, la gauche!!!!!!” or the occasional “aller à droite!” Basically screaming “left or right” in French. He was sitting right behind “Xxxx” while we were all white-knuckled peering over our seats behind.

Up and over dunes. Swerving at the last minute left or right. Eventually we started noticing wreckage; the remains of vehicles that hadn’t made it through. Rusted and bombed out chassis sat in the sand. Scattered metal remains poking out everywhere.

And then, the paths disappeared completely.

—-

Full story for free here:

https://inlandyears.substack.com/p/the-saharan-mine-fields

If you like it, please subscribe or let me know. I’m going through all my travel diaries and planned to post a story every other week.

Random travel question because I’m curious:

What’s your best trip — where did you go, who were you with, and what made it so good?

What’s your worst trip — where did you go and what went horribly wrong?

And if you could go anywhere tomorrow, where would you go and why?

Bonus: rate your best trip / worst trip / dream destination from 1–10.

Ciao a tuttə, sono Milena, studentessa di antropologia culturale all'università di Bologna. Per la mia tesi magistrale sto cercando autostoppistə che abbiano voglia di farsi intervistare (di persona o in videochiamata - mi posso spostare, ma non in tutta Italia). L'obiettivo delle interviste sarà quello di indagare sul fenomeno dell'autostop oggi dal punto di vista di chi lo pratica, con un focus sui meccanismi di fiducia reciproca creati dalla pratica e del significato che l'autostop ha per voi, anche rispetto alle vostre inclinazioni politiche, oltre che di qualsiasi altro argomento legato alla pratica che pensate sia importante approfondire.

Se siete interessatə vi chiedo di contattarmi qui:

- instagram: @__milizzi

- email: [milena.galizzi@studio.unibo.it](mailto:milena.galizzi@studio.unibo.it)

Se conoscete qualcunə che potrebbe essere interessatə vi chiedo di condividere questo messaggio.

Grazie a tuttə per l'aiuto!

Hello people. Am 32 years old and got a sudden unplanned vacation as I had vacation days remaining this year

Am planning to travel spontaneously anywhere north of Germany or netherlands/ France/ Denmark.

Am an Asian and I can speak English and German fluently. DM if interested.

Hallo zusammen,
meine Freundin und ich möchten im Oktober für eine Woche in die Schweiz fahren. Wir wollen hauptsächlich wandern, die Natur und die Berge genießen, aber zwischendurch auch einfach ein paar ruhige Tage verbringen.
Meine Vorstellung wäre ein kleiner, ruhiger Ort, in dem wir in einem schönen Hotel übernachten können und von dort aus mehrere schöne Wanderungen relativ schnell erreichen. Wir suchen dabei ausdrücklich nicht nach den bekannten Touristenorten wie Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen, Zermatt usw.
Viel interessanter wären für uns kleinere Ortschaften oder Gegenden, die man vielleicht nur kennt, wenn man selbst in der Schweiz lebt oder dort schon häufiger unterwegs war. Also gerne richtige Geheimtipps: wenig Tourismus, schöne Natur, Berge und gute Wandermöglichkeiten.
Wir sind mit dem Auto unterwegs, daher muss der Ort auch nicht perfekt mit öffentlichen Verkehrsmitteln erreichbar sein.
Da wir im Oktober fahren, wären Erfahrungen zu dieser Jahreszeit ebenfalls sehr hilfreich. Uns ist bewusst, dass es in höheren Lagen bereits Schnee geben kann und das Wetter unberechenbarer wird. Ideal wäre deshalb eine Gegend, in der es verschiedene Wandermöglichkeiten auf unterschiedlichen Höhen gibt.
Welche kleinen Orte oder Regionen könnt ihr für eine ruhige Woche zu zweit empfehlen? Gerne auch persönliche Erfahrungen und konkrete Wanderungen.
Vielen Dank!

Im 19, I'm from the UK, I'm in university but im also incredibly poor, I recently saved enough for a passport and I'm FINALLY leaving the country to go on a solo trip to France at the end of the year. I want to have the freedom to go where I want, I've seen people talking about backpacking or sometimes just leaving and never looking back, being on the road forever.

How do I do that? That future seems so impossible but I want it so bad, I need it but I dont know how to get it, i know its a step at a time but what are those steps?? How do I get to it without leaving myself stranded somewhere with no money? I can't settle for a simple life anytime soon

A couple of weeks ago I decided to leave on my own in my car and just wander. I left a toxic relationship and now for the first time in my life I actually feel alive. I left Georgia and then spent the night in Tennessee,then made my way to Ohio for a weekend,then went to Kansas City for work and now I'm back in Ohio for another week or so. I'm having a blast on my adventures so far,and will definitely be writing a book about my experiences and how I survive the road I'm on. But I wanna see all the cool things and meet cool people along the way. I'm letting my soul and the universe guide me. I'm doing it broke and working when I can, crashing at friends houses,or sleeping in my car at rest areas. Heading to New York in the next week or so. Just trying to figure out what kind of life I want to live and what kind of man I really want to be. Feel free to dm me with stories and advice and places to visit or work. I'm just trying to live for the experience and feel like life has meaning again.

So we arrived yesterday and it has been on and off rain since touchdown. Completely realize that it is the rainy season but wanted some suggestions in case the rain continued throughout the week. Sunday is probably the toughest day because everything appears to be buttoned up and closed.

Hi ich suche schon eine weile nach einem Zelt da ich mit Campen anfangen möchte.

Ein Freund und Ich wollen Anfang August in die Schweiz fahren um Zelten zu gehen

aber mir Fehlt das passende Zelt. Ich habe mir schon viele Zelte angeschaut doch weiss nicht

welches am besten für mich ist. Ich werde alleine im Zelt schlafen, brauche ich ein 1 Mann Zelt

oder ist es besser ein Zweimannzelt zu kaufen? Soll ich gleich ein teures 4 Jahreszeiten Zelt

kaufen oder erstmal ein Budget Einsteiger Zelt? Mein Budget ist ca. 300euro und zelte die ich

mir angeschaut habe sind: verschiedene Naturehike Cloud up varianten, otimos-x-lite-nomad-solo, msr elixir 1 v2 , mt 900 von decathlon, usw.

Hoffentlich könnt ihr mir gute optionen geben und mein Zeltkauf mitentscheiden.

left my phone in the hotel for whole afternoons last trip. got lost with no destination, found a tiny place with no reviews, no English sign — best meal of the trip

not anti-photos, just noticed the trips I remember most are the ones I wasn't performing for anyone

anyone else realize they were traveling for the feed instead of themselves?

Let us know what you think!!!

September 25 – November 1, 2026 (38 Days)

⸻

✈️ Flights

September 25

• Depart New York (JFK) for Peru via Lima

November 1

• Return home from the Galápagos Islands via Quito to New York (JFK)

⸻

🇵🇪 Peru

Sacred Valley (September 26 – October 1)

5 Nights | Tambo del Inka Resort & Spa

Highlights

• Luxury resort stay in the Andes

• Pisac ruins and market

• Moray agricultural terraces

• Maras Salt Mines

• Ollantaytambo fortress

• Scenic train journey through the Sacred Valley

• Full-day visit to Machu Picchu

⸻

Cusco (October 1 – October 3)

2 Nights | Palacio del Inka

Highlights

• Historic Inca capital

• Sacsayhuamán fortress

• Qorikancha Temple

• San Blas artisan district

• Anniversary spa experience

• Historic center and Plaza de Armas

⸻

Lima (October 3 – October 10)

7 Nights | JW Marriott Lima

Highlights

• Oceanfront stay in Miraflores

• Surf lesson on the Pacific Ocean

• Huaca Pucllana archaeological site

• Larcomar and Malecón coastal walks

• World-renowned Peruvian food

• Relaxation and remote work week with ocean views

⸻

🇧🇷 Brazil

Rio de Janeiro (October 10 – October 17)

7 Nights | Ipanema/Leblon

Highlights

• Ipanema and Leblon beaches

• Christ the Redeemer

• Sugarloaf Mountain

• Santa Teresa neighborhood

• Full-day boat excursion to Angra dos Reis & Ilha Grande

• Botanical Garden and Parque Lage

• Beach clubs, sunsets, and samba nightlife

⸻

🇦🇷 Argentina

Buenos Aires (October 17 – October 23)

6 Nights

Highlights

• Argentine steakhouses and wine bars

• Plaza de Mayo and San Telmo

• Recoleta Cemetery

• Palermo Soho

• MALBA Museum

• Tango dinner show

• Day trip to Tigre Delta or Colonia, Uruguay

⸻

🇪🇨 Galápagos Islands

Puerto Ayora & Santa Cruz Island (October 23–24 and October 29–November 1)

4 Nights Total

Highlights

• Waterfront town of Puerto Ayora

• Tortuga Bay

• Las Grietas

• Giant tortoise encounters

• Relaxed island exploration

⸻

Galápagos Cruise (October 24 – October 29)

6 Days / 5 Nights | Galaxy Sirius Expedition Yacht

Highlights

• Western Galápagos expedition

• Isabela, Fernandina, Santiago, and Santa Cruz Islands

• Snorkeling with sea lions, turtles, penguins, and marine iguanas

• Giant tortoises

• Kayaking and panga excursions

• Some of the most wildlife-rich islands in the archipelago

Hoi Zäme 👋

ich suche eine schöne 2-tägige Rundwanderung in der Schweiz, idealerweise gut erreichbar von Luzern aus.

Meine Wünsche wären ungefähr so:

• Start und Ziel am gleichen Ort (Rundtour)
• 2 Tage / 1 Übernachtung unterwegs
• möglichst mit einem Bergsee zum Übernachten (Hütte/Zeltplatz in der Nähe)
• landschaftlich schön (Berge, Panorama, gern etwas „alpiner“)
• machbar mit normaler Wandererfahrung (keine extremen Kletterpassagen)

Ich würde die Tour gerne mit meinem Bruder machen und bin offen für verschiedene Regionen rund um Zentralschweiz / Innerschweiz.

Hat jemand gute Vorschläge für konkrete Routen oder Erfahrungen mit solchen Touren? Besonders interessiert mich auch, wo man am besten startet und wo man gut übernachten kann.

Danke euch schonmal 😄

There's something about moving through different countries at a relaxed pace that unlocks a kind of creativity that staying home never quite does. Sketching in a plaza, writing in a cafe, photographing street life, playing music in a public square Europe especially feels like it was built for people who want to wander and make things at the same time.

I've been thinking a lot lately about how travel and creative work can feed each other in genuinely unexpected ways. A new city, a different culture, unfamiliar sounds and light and food all of it seems to push you to see and do things differently.

For those of you who have taken extended trips through Europe or elsewhere while staying committed to a creative hobby, I'd genuinely love to know how it worked out. Did you plan your route around your passion or just let things unfold? Did certain cities or regions feel more inspiring than others? Did you connect with locals or other travelers who shared your interest?

I think there's a lot of wisdom in this community about how to make travel feel meaningful rather than just a checklist of landmarks. Would really appreciate hearing what has worked for people.

Hi, my name is Zion! I am 25 years old, and I currently live in NYC. Some of the lakes and parks in Canada look so gorgeous, and I would love to explore them this summer. I have done a lot of solo traveling, and it's been wonderful, but I don't want to be alone anymore. I have wonderful friends, but their interest in travel doesn't run quite as deep as mine. That held me back for a while, but I am young, and it's summer! I don't want to waste this time waiting on anyone. So, if you're also a 20-something who would be down to drive around Canada for a week or two in July, lmk!!!

A while back I stayed at a place in Latin America where monkeys would come right up near the property every day, and honestly it was one of the most memorable travel experiences I’ve ever had. Being that close to wildlife felt surreal.

But later on I started looking into more traditional wildlife trips/safaris where the animals are completely wild and untouched by people, and it felt like a very different type of experience entirely. Less interactive, but maybe more authentic in a way.

Now I can’t tell which kind of wildlife travel I actually prefer more.

Part of me loves those really close, immersive encounters, but part of me also thinks there’s something special about seeing animals completely on their own terms, even if it’s from far away.

If you had to choose, would you rather:

- have close/interactable wildlife experiences

or

- see animals in a more completely wild, untouched setting?

And what makes one experience more appealing to you than the other?

Hi everyone,

I'm Amanda, from a small village in the Netherlands. By day I work in an office (nothing too exciting really) and in the evenings I write books while I dream up and plan my next journey. I'm new on this subreddit and would love to get to know more travelers in various communities.

So, in my mind I'm always dreaming about which places I still want to visit in the world, the new cultures that I still want to explore and life in for a short while. (The list is truly long and I've visited 13 countries so far) I also always love to read about other people's journeys and get inspired by them.

I hope it's okay I made an introduction post like this to get a conversation started and to e-meet more of you 😄. If not, my apologies to the moderators.

I realized on my last trip that I care way more about the environment around where I stay than the actual room itself.

Like I’d honestly take a simpler cabin if it meant waking up to birds, hearing animals outside at night, seeing wildlife nearby, being surrounded by nature, etc.

But I’ve noticed it can be surprisingly hard to tell what places are actually immersed in nature versus just designed with that aesthetic in mind.

A lot of listings use words like “eco retreat,” “jungle stay,” or “nature getaway,” but they don’t really show what the real experience is like beyond the room itself.

I always end up wishing there was a better way to know:

- what the area actually feels like

- what wildlife people saw nearby

- how secluded it is

- what the overall nature experience is really like

What do you usually look for when booking nature-focused trips?