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Middle East

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There is no place like the Middle East. With endless hospitality and great food, it's a fascinating region in this world.

10 Must-Visit Museums in the Age of Dark Tourism

November 9, 2019

Killing Fields Cambodia

This is the darkest article I have ever written. Its content might disturb some readers.

11-day Travel Itinerary for Iraqi Kurdistan (and Epic Photos)

September 15, 2019

Iraq battle tank

Going to Iraq, not as a terrorist but as a tourist. Not many would consider it a safe travel destination, but you would be surprised by my 11-day itinerary!

Tourism in Pakistan: Visiting The Swat Valley as a Solo Backpacker

January 20, 2019

A region home to ‘the most hospitable people’ is slowly getting ready for tourism once again. I went there ahead of the crowds to see what to expect.

10 Incredible Discoveries Inside an Abandoned Beer Brewery in Beirut

April 6, 2017

Abandoned and scarred by civil war, this beer brewery is the oldest in the Middle East and lays hidden in a quiet residential neighbourhood in Beirut.

Visiting Burj Al-Barajneh, the Site of the 2015 Beirut Bombings

August 21, 2016

Burj Al Barajneh

You may call it disaster tourism. Weeks after it happened I went to see what it was like at the site of the 2015 Beirut bombings, deep inside a Hezbollah stronghold.

Romance scamming is thriving in Petra, Jordan. Here’s how to stay safe

March 20, 2016

Petra Treasury

It is estimated that hundreds of Western women have fallen victim to romance scamming by Jack Sparrow lookalikes in and around Petra, Jordan.

Is It Safe to Visit the Baalbek Ruins in Lebanon?

December 18, 2015

Under the sounds of the war raging on in and around Syria, I visited the Roman Ruins in the Hezbollah stronghold of Baalbek, Lebanon.

The End of a 100-Day Journey: My Wrap-Up

December 11, 2015

With an average daily expense of €21, I travelled to 7 countries in 3 continents. This articles gives a small look behind the scenes.

How to Avoid Getting Scammed at Egypt’s Great Pyramids

November 8, 2015

I was shocked to learn how many foreigners get scammed at Egypt’s Great Pyramids. Here is how you can outsmart the touts.

I Got Locked up inside an Ancient Egyptian Tomb

November 7, 2015

Horemheb tomb, in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, Egypt

After pretending to be a journalist, I met with Egypt’s minister of Antiquities and managed to get myself locked up inside a 3200 year-old tomb.

7 Things I Never Knew about Iran

January 26, 2015

A man offers me to have some of his oranges

Iran is not the average travel destination and remains shrouded in mystery. Read 7 things I learned from my trip to this amazing country.

Inside Iran – Iran through the Eyes of a Couchsurfer

October 19, 2014

What was once a popular tourist destination, now has to endure persistent perceptions of being unsafe for foreigners. To try find the truth, I went inside Iran and quickly realised I have never felt so welcome and safe in my life.

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About Bart

"My name is Bart and I travel to some of the world’s most fascinating places"

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Top Posts & Pages

  • 12 Kick-Ass Route Ideas to Travel the World
  • Riding the Iron Ore Train across the Sahara in Mauritania
  • The Longest Overland Route in a Straight Line
  • Counting Countries like a Pro with This Awesome Excel Spreadsheet
  • Romance scamming is thriving in Petra, Jordan. Here's how to stay safe

Instagram

I’m stepping out of the spot light! It’s bee I’m stepping out of the spot light! 

It’s been a wonderful and eventful three months of travelling around Africa and Saudi Arabia and a pleasure to share it all with you guys! But it’s time to get back to normal (working) life again, so that’s why I’m posting this from the comforts of my home in the Netherlands.

I might create some reels of my past adventures, but the pace of me using social media will drop significantly. As you might know, I don’t use Instagram that much when I’m not travelling. So the moment I will, you will be the first to know! 

Thanks all once again for following me and tagging along on my journeys around the world!

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#travel #instatravel #fuji_travel #wanderlust #picoftheday #travelphotography #exploretheworld #worldtraveller #everycountry #everypassportstamp #beautifuldestinations #traveldestination #backpacker #solotravel #adventure #adventuretravel #natgeotravel #passionpassport #nomadmania #aroundtheworld #jeddah #visitsaudiarabia #saudiarabia
What a great party at the 2023 Grand Prix Formula What a great party at the 2023 Grand Prix Formula One in Jeddah!

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#swedishhousemafia #saudiarabiangp #concert #performance #dj #visitsaudi #jeddah #travel #party #mood #disco #edm #dancemusic #electronicmusic #holiday #grandprix #saudiarabia #shm #mdlbeast #formula1jeddah
Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 in 2023 Travelling to Saudi Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 in 2023

Travelling to Saudi Arabia all by yourself? No tour guides or sponsored trips? Totally possible! I hired a car and drove 3.000 km from Riyadh to Jeddah!

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#adventure #tourism #visitsaudiarabia #travel #travelblogger #wanderlust #worldtrip #aroundtheworldpics
Wealth is not measured by how much money you have. Wealth is not measured by how much money you have. Neither by how much you travelled and the experiences you gathered. It’s determined by the number of camels you own.

How many camels do you have?

#camelmarket #saudiarabia #visitsaudi #visitsaudiarabia #market #animals #souq #travel #instatravel #fuji_travel #wanderlust #picoftheday #travelphotography #exploretheworld #worldtraveller #everycountry #everypassportstamp #beautifuldestinations #traveldestination #backpacker #solotravel #adventure #adventuretravel #natgeotravel #passionpassport #nomadmania #aroundtheworld
Where the road ends, is where the adventure starts Where the road ends, is where the adventure starts.

#saudiarabia #visitsaudi #visitsaudiarabia #independenttravel #tourist #travel #instatravel #fuji_travel #wanderlust #picoftheday #travelphotography #exploretheworld #worldtraveller #everycountry #everypassportstamp #beautifuldestinations #traveldestination #backpacker #solotravel #adventure #adventuretravel #natgeotravel #passionpassport #nomadmania #aroundtheworld #travelquotes
Is it safe to travel in West and Central Africa? W Is it safe to travel in West and Central Africa? Well, after two months travelling using public transport I came a long way and made it to my final destination!

Yes, I did get malaria twice and road transport is not always the safest. But never did I encounter crime, hate, violence, etc. Just smiles and curiosity.

It’s been mostly solitary travel though. I did not meet many other like-minded people on the road. In these regions, solo travel really means solo. Eating out alone almost every day. Going on hikes all by yourself. Staying in a hospital without anyone visiting you. Always paying for a double room by yourself.

But in the end, my two months here have been full of nice and memorable encounters. The tea guy at the bus station, selling amazing ginger lemon tea. The Ghanian woman who crossed the border into Togo with me. The young boy selling ice cream for absolutely no money. The local kid who offered me water when I was totally thirsty.

Soon I will leave this continent once again, but for sure the continent will not leave me. I’ll be back!

#ghana #togo #benin #saotome #gabon #cameroon #westafrica #centralafrica #africa #travel #instatravel #selfie #wanderlust #picoftheday #travelphotography #exploretheworld #worldtraveller #everycountry #everypassportstamp #beautifuldestinations #traveldestination #backpacker #solotravel #adventure #adventuretravel #natgeotravel #passionpassport #nomadmania #aroundtheworld #peoplephotography
São Tomé and the iconic Cão Grande. I guess you São Tomé and the iconic Cão Grande. I guess you all liked this photo from my stories, so why not post it here as well?

Have you been to Sao Tome? Did you do a self drive like me, on a motor? Or by car? With a guide? Let me know how you travelled around the island so others can read and learn about the different options! 

#saotome #paradiseisland #paradise #mountain #island #principe #saotomeprincipe #travel #instatravel #fuji_travel #wanderlust #picoftheday #travelphotography #exploretheworld #worldtraveller #everycountry #everypassportstamp #beautifuldestinations #traveldestination #backpacker #solotravel #adventure #adventuretravel #natgeotravel #passionpassport #nomadmania #aroundtheworld
People of Togo ❤️ #travel #instatravel #iphon People of Togo ❤️

#travel #instatravel #iphone11 #apple #iphonephotography #africa #westafrica #facesofafrica #humans #humansofafrica #wanderlust #picoftheday #travelphotography #exploretheworld #worldtraveller #everycountry #everypassportstamp #beautifuldestinations #traveldestination #backpacker #solotravel #adventure #adventuretravel #natgeotravel #passionpassport #nomadmania #aroundtheworld
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