People have been exploring since the dawn of time; it’s in our DNA. Whether it’s been through necessity or desire, there’s no feeling quite like what we experience when discovering a new place for the first time. It is a magical moment. I recall being out on deck feeling queasy after a rocky crossing of the Drake Passage when the first icebergs from Antarctica came into view. Suddenly I forgot all about my discomfort and stood open-mouthed as a huge white monolith slowly passed.  The grandeur and majesty of the ice was even more breathtaking than I imagined, and I was immediately reminded of why I had wanted to undertake this voyage in the first place. 

These types of experiences are why many people explore. We want to be exhilarated, challenged, and taken out of our day-to-day comfort and experience something different. I’ve had the good fortune to travel to more than 75 countries and explore some of the most remote places on the planet. These journeys have taught me that preparation is critical to getting the most from the experience.  And that’s not just the preparation of one’s clothing and equipment, but also minimising what I take and, most importantly, the preparation of my mindset.