Solo Traveling Europe and “The Stans” in a Campervan with Maria Glaser

Zero To Travel Podcast

Jason Moore

Entrepreneurship, Places & Travel, Business, Society & Culture

4.5 • 828 Ratings

🗓️ 18 March 2025

⏱️ 69 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

How do you build the confidence to take off on a long-term solo vanlife journey, especially through lesser-traveled regions? Maria Glaser has been traveling solo in her self-converted van across 16 countries, from Germany to Mongolia. What started as a pandemic project turned into an epic adventure spanning thousands of miles, unexpected challenges, and even a surprise four-legged travel companion. Maria shares the highs and lows of vanlife on the road, from navigating tiny medieval streets in Europe to traversing the vast deserts of Kazakhstan. We dive into what it’s really like to live and work from a van, how she adopted a stray dog along the way, and the unexpected ways solo travel can push you out of your comfort zone. She talks candidly about facing fears, handling adversity, and the ways travel has reshaped her perspective on home and cultural identity. She shares her best tips for vanlife, budget travel, and making connections on the road, even in the most remote places. Would you take off on a solo van adventure like Maria’s? What’s one big travel goal that feels out of reach but might be closer than you think? I'd love to hear about it, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message. Premium Passport: Get ad-free episodes, exclusive content, and access to all episodes for only $3/month. Subscribe now! Tune In To Learn: How Maria’s van journey started as a pandemic project inspired by her mother’s dream The shift in her family relationships and the harrowing experience of her mom getting attacked by dogs in Turkey Why she originally planned to travel with a companion but ultimately decided to go solo How traveling with a dog has changed her experience on the road How her expectations of solo female travel compared to the reality of it Her favorite places for vanlife in Southwest Europe, the Balkans, and Central Asia (and where to avoid) The biggest lessons she’s learned about resilience, independence, and making peace with uncertainty And so much more Resources: Join Zero To Travel Premium Passport Sign up for our FREE newsletter Visit Maria’s website Follow Maria on Instagram “Stufen” by Hermann Hesse Want More? Vanlife In Europe (A Beginner’s Guide), Moving To Spain, and 5 Tips For Running A Successful Remote Work Retreat With Chase Warrington From About Abroad New Zealand: Top 10 Hidden Gems, Campervan Lifestyle (Tips and Tricks), and Doing Life Differently With Lisa Jansen Overland Travel 101, the Pros and Cons of Full-Time Travel, and Favorite Hidden Gem Destinations (After 10 Years as a Nomad) With Eric Highland Thanks To Our Sponsors Defender - Explore the full lineup at landroverusa.com. Unbound Merino - Use code ‘TRAVEL10’ to get 10% off your Unbound Merino order. Booking.com - Book your next stay and find exactly what you’re looking for on booking.com

Transcript

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0:00.0	Here are three reasons why unbound merino apparel is perfect for travel. You're going to pack
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0:08.7	You'll save money because most airlines will charge you for checked baggage, but if you can
0:14.1	pack lighter and do less laundry, you can save money for the real experiences. And you're going to
0:18.0	save time because you never have to check luggage or worry about airports losing your stuff. So check them out. This is my new favorite clothing
0:25.5	company over at zero to travel.com slash unbound. Get a 10% off discount with the promo code
0:31.8	Travel 10 as a first time customer. Thank you to Unbound Marino for supporting today's show.
0:39.0	Before that, I always thought, oh, I could never travel solo. And by now I'm like, I could never
0:43.7	travel not solo anymore. You have the total freedom to do whatever you want. And as soon as you learn,
0:51.5	or as soon as you can kind of let go of that anxiousness or shyness or fear,
0:57.7	as soon as you can let this go, it just becomes a very enriching, fulfilling experience.
1:04.7	At least that's how it went for me.
1:06.6	That is today's guest Maria Glasser, who's been on an incredible journey traveling solo in a camper van across 16 countries.
1:15.1	But she didn't start out as this fearless solo traveler.
1:18.8	She built her confidence step by step over time.
1:22.8	And it is now turned into this incredible life-changing adventure she is on through Europe and beyond in her camper van, which includes traveling through several of the stands like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, which we'll hear about today.
1:37.8	You'll also discover how starting small can lead to big adventures, practical strategies for camper vanning across different countries,
1:44.9	including which European and Central Asian countries are camper van friendly in which to perhaps
1:50.6	approach with a bit of caution. You'll gain a better understanding around your ability to connect
1:56.7	with others while traveling solo, the financial realities of this style of travel,
2:01.3	off the beaten path, destination recommendations, and loads more happening right now.
2:07.2	So buckle up, Strapping.
	...

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