Mariusztravel-Mountains, Travel, Photography


Welcome to my website!

I have created it to write about my travels and share photos which describe them even better than words.  As a keen amateur photographer I strive to capture all the beautiful places I visit on film.
On this website you can find the best images and read about my adventures.

ATTENTION - WHEN VIEWING PHOTOS, USE THE ARROWS ON YOUR KEYPAD. IT MAKES GOING TO THE NEXT PHOTO MUCH EASIER!

Peru 2011  new

Peru It was a short, two-week visit. However, I found myself running out of memory cards in no time. That's because I visited three of Peru’s extremes — the snow-capped high Andes, the rain forest and the desert. This amazing variety within one country makes Peru such a fantastic travel destination. Some people come for the mountains, some for the ruins, some for the wildlife. But most of us want to see it all and two weeks is the absolute minimum for this. For a more comprehensive visit including the north I would say one month may not be enough!

Cyprus 2011

Cyprus Cyprus is not on a typical backpacker's list of places to visit. Tourism on the island is big, but geared towards package holidays. However, cheap charter flights make it possible to visit "the island of Aphrodite" without spending a fortune. Cyprus lies at the crossroads of cultures and religions, between Europe, Asia and Africa. It entered the EU only as a half, because 36% of it's territory is occupied by Turkey. It's capital, Nicosia, is divided by the Green Line. It has everything you want from a tourist destination: hot and sunny climate, long coast and even longer history.

Egypt 2010

Egypt A short, independent trip to one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Unlike most people going on package tours, Ela and I had the freedom to go where we wanted. We spent 1 day diving in the Red Sea and then went to Cairo for a couple of days. Seeing the Giza Pyramids was obligatory. After that came Siwa, the best oasis in Egypt. Another highlight was a trip to the Black and White Desert, including sleeping under the stars. Last few days we spent in the upper Nile valley, visiting Asuan and Luxor. After all, some of the most amazing ancient monuments are found in the area.
our route - map of Egypt

South-East Asia 2009-10

Asia Most people on honeymoon relax somewhere warm and comfortable. Ela and I decided to travel instead. We started in Thailand by enjoying spectacular scenery of the Andaman coast. From there we went to Cambodia to admire the beauty of Angkor. Next came Vietnam, with Ha Long Bay and many, many great places along its 3,444km coastline. Than Laos, where we escaped civilization by trekking in the mountains and visiting hill tribe people. Finally, Myanmar. Isolated and run by a brutal military regime, it was a true journey back in time. Not only to see the old way of life, but to meet the nicest people on Earth.
our route - map of South-East Asia

The Balkans 2008

Rumunia My girlfriend and I spent over 5 weeks traveling by car from Poland to Albania, visiting 6 countries during our 8,200km odyssey. Some of the highlights include: underground glacier and colorful monasteries in Romania, awesome mountain scenery in Montenegro and beautiful Ionian Sea coast in Albania. Yailata Archaeological Reserve on the Black Sea coast in Bulgaria made a big impression, same as Mileștii Mici in Moldova. After all, it is the biggest wine collection in the world, stored in the biggest underground town. I know what you are thinking. Moldova? Never heard of it! So go on, check it out!
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our route - map of Europe

USA 2008

USA 3 weeks.  6 thousand miles.  11 states and 9 national parks in virtually all climate zones of this enormous country.  Our journey by car took us from Chicago all the way to the Californian coast and back.  On the way we saw some extraordinary scenery, including natural arches, slot canyon, giant trees and geysers.  We hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and went to one of the most amazing places in America, called The Wave. Only 20 people per day can visit The Wave, so check out the photos to see what's all the fuss about!
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my route - USA map

Patagonia 2007

Patagonia After losing my flight to Europe, I decided to stay in South America for 2 more months and visit Patagonia.  I wanted to see a few places I missed during my first trip to the continent, such as Peninsula Valdez and the South Patagonian Ice Field in Argentina.  Also, I wanted to take the Navimag ferry along the Patagonian Channels in Chile.  Overall, it was a fantastic experience and an unforgettable journey through almost all of the Latin World, from Mexico all the way down to Patagonia.  It took exactly 14 months and ended in the capital of Chile in November.
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my route - Patagonia map

From Mexico to Argentina 2006-07

Patagonia Another trip to the Spanish speaking world. It started in Mexico City, and during the next 12 months it took me to 15 countries in Central and South America. It was the longest and most varied so far. High altitude trekking and climbing in the Andes, diving in Galapagos, Mayan pyramids, Inca ruins, active volcanoes, exotic beaches and islands, the highest waterfall in the world, geysers, deserts, jungle, "El Dorado", whales, glaciers. There are no words to describe it all. Just click "photos" to see all those amazing places!
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my route - Central America map
my route - South America map