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

Mar 18, 2025

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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.

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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

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