We sit down with Nicolas Breton, the acclaimed author of the travel narrative «Off the Beaten Track: Discovering the World Differently». Join us as he reflects on his incredible journey to explore the globe and connect with its diverse inhabitants.
1 – Hello Nicolas! Can you tell us about your trip and your book?
Hello! My journey was a 15-month ‘off-the-beaten-path’ world tour between 2013 and 2014. During this time, I intentionally moved away from conventional tourism to embrace alternative and unique travel experiences. This included activities like:
– Acting as an extra in Bollywood productions,
– Immersing myself in local cultures by staying with residents,
– Practicing meditation and yoga at an Ashram in India, among others.
This incredible adventure inspired my book! In it, I share my experiences with humor and passion, offering valuable practical advice and insights for readers hoping to embark on similar journeys. The book also provides numerous creative and responsible travel suggestions, such as Couchsurfing or Gamping, to help others explore the world authentically!
2 – So, when did you return to France? It must have been quite an adjustment after all these global adventures!
I arrived back in France in March 2014. The initial weeks were a whirlwind of joy; I was reunited with everything I’d longed for while away: my family, friends, home comforts, and, of course, delicious French cheese! Writing the book actually became my bridge, helping me transition from my nomadic journey back to a more settled life. Now, I find myself more restless than ever before. I’m torn between the urge to hit the road again and the desire to build a stable family life. Perhaps it’s possible to balance both…
3 – What inspired you to publish your adventure? How did you approach writing the book? Did you write it during or after your trip?
Initially, my goal was simply to embark on a grand global adventure. I maintained a website to share my experiences, but the thought of writing a book had never crossed my mind. However, as a solo traveler, I felt a strong urge to share my stories, developing a passion for recounting my adventures and discovering a new love for writing.
Concurrently, I was living through truly extraordinary and unconventional experiences: appearing as an extra in Bollywood, forging a deep friendship with a Buddhist monk, trekking through the Zimbabwean savannah alongside a cheetah (a country I hadn’t even planned to visit!), sharing daily life with an indigenous community deep in the Amazon, and encountering situations that transported me to another dimension of reality and self-discovery.
“These improbable and insightful adventures would be a shame to keep to myself; perhaps I should write a book?” I wondered. But it was just a fleeting thought among many. As my journey progressed, more and more friends and even strangers sent me encouraging messages:
“You have a wonderful way with words, and your adventures are incredible – you really should write a book.” Their feedback made me realize that this idea could indeed become a reality. Finally, the pivotal moment came with a Peruvian proverb:
“You will truly be a man when you have raised a child, planted a tree, and written a book.“
As soon as I returned to France, I dedicated myself to writing this project.
The ‘End of the World Adventure’ publishing house showed interest in my experiences and offered to publish my work. Their condition was that, beyond narrating my travel stories, I also provide practical information for readers to replicate similar experiences. This unique blend of personal narrative and actionable advice is what gives the book its originality and strength. While countless travelers journey across the globe, few genuinely share the practicalities of their adventures. This book aims to make grand adventures accessible to the reader, empowering them to embark on their own journeys.
During the nine months of writing, I discovered that authoring a book is an epic adventure in itself. Looking back, I’d even say it was far more complex than organizing and completing a world tour…
4 – What was your itinerary? Was it predefined before your departure or did you travel at the rhythm of your desires and encounters?
My fifteen-month journey unfolded across these regions:
– Southeast Asia: Cambodia, Laos, Thailand,
– India,
– Parts of the United States,
– South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Northern Brazil, Colombia.
My intention was to travel spontaneously, allowing my desires and unexpected encounters to dictate my path. To achieve this, it’s crucial not to over-plan or impose too many rigid constraints; flexibility and openness to opportunities are key. Before leaving, I outlined the major regions I wanted to visit, but I had no fixed duration for each stay, nor did I predetermine my activities. I simply allowed myself the freedom to wander.
Interestingly, I had no plans to visit Africa, and I’d never even heard of Zimbabwe, let alone knew its location on a map. While in India, I met Sara, a Zimbabwean. As we said goodbye, he invited me, “Come to Zimbabwe whenever you like. I live in the heart of the savannah. Every morning on my way to work, I encounter elephants and rhinos. If you visit, I’ll take you camping in the bush.“
“Okay, maybe one day,” I replied somewhat dreamily, fully expecting it would never happen. However, a month later, while booking a flight online to Argentina, my next planned destination, I noticed an itinerary with a layover in Johannesburg, South Africa. As this was adjacent to Zimbabwe, I seized the opportunity. There, I camped in the savannah, found myself face-to-face with a lioness, and walked alongside a cheetah amidst the drought-yellowed shrubs and grasses… Zimbabwe, the only unplanned country on my entire itinerary, turned out to be the most exhilarating part of my journey. It truly highlights the incredible benefits of not planning every detail when you travel!
5 – Why this trip?
This journey, first and foremost, represents a dream transformed into reality. I yearned to exchange my structured life for one filled with risk and the unknown. I no longer wanted to experience adventure vicariously through literary heroes; I wanted to live it for myself.
My primary motivation was an insatiable thirst for discovery—a desire to truly encounter others and, in turn, myself. I wanted to witness the world firsthand to comprehend it more deeply, and I hoped to gain greater self-awareness by confronting the vastness of this planet.
Moreover, we only get one life, and I wanted mine to be different. Each new destination felt like a fresh beginning, because to travel, to explore, is always to be reborn and to author a new chapter in your personal story.
6 – Is Nicolas Breton the same as before?
I firmly believe that the person who left France is fundamentally different from the one who returned.
I now perceive life with an entirely new perspective, because, as Marcel Proust so eloquently put it: «The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.»
7 – Many aspiring travelers dream of embarking on a journey like yours. Do you have any advice to help them turn that dream into a reality?
My key advice would be: don’t wait until you feel completely ready to depart, because the truth is, you never truly are. Before my journey and right up to the final moment, I harbored numerous doubts and countless fears. It’s perfectly natural to feel apprehensive.
Between family commitments, work, friends, and hobbies, we can always find a compelling excuse not to leave. However, to make your dreams a reality, you must be prepared to let go of certain comforts, as travel often necessitates making concessions.
And one final piece of wisdom: it’s far better to live your dreams than to merely dream of your life.
8 – You aimed to travel alternatively, meet locals, and share their daily lives. Did you ever try ‘country camping’ or staying on private land? What was your experience like?
When I was hitchhiking in Argentina and deep in the Amazon, I often embraced a form of ‘local camping’ – though more accurately, it was hammock-camping, as I always traveled with my hammock. It allowed me to connect with people by sleeping on their property, or simply immerse myself in nature.
It’s a delightful experience because it provides a private space (unlike Couchsurfing, where you often sleep on a shared sofa) and the joy of waking up surrounded by nature.
More importantly, it’s an incredibly enriching experience. In my opinion, staying with locals is the most effective way to truly immerse yourself in a new culture, by sharing their daily routines or a significant part of their lives. The magic of such exchanges can lead to truly unexpected discoveries.
Furthermore, it’s an excellent method for responsible and ecological travel. By sharing resources with our hosts, we significantly reduce our carbon footprint.
9 – Finally, do you have a small anecdote to share with our readers?
Here’s a little anecdote about connecting with locals: I was working as an extra on a Bollywood film in Mumbai, India, alongside some Iranian and Afghan colleagues. My original plan was to travel to Pune to meditate at an Ashram – a place dedicated to spiritual practices. It turned out my colleagues were all students in Pune, and they were taking an overnight bus back. They offered for me to join them, and along the way, I received about a dozen invitations for accommodation. So, instead of meditating and drinking tea in an Ashram as planned, I found myself engaged in deep conversations, ‘remaking the world’ over wine in an apartment. It seems purification and spirituality had to wait!