Eva zu Beck lives a life that many people fantasize about. With a knack for making even the scariest, most uncomfortable, and unconventional situations seem inviting, zu Beck has made wanderlust a career by documenting nearly every detail of her life on the road for her 747,000+ Instagram followers and the 1.6 million subscribers to her YouTube channel. A major part of the Polish traveler's appeal is that she manages to make living in the remotest parts of Pakistan or exploring the streets of Afghanistan appealing, even as a solo female traveler.
After years of popping in and out of destinations in the Middle East, Asia, and elsewhere, it was zu Beck's desire to travel at a slower pace and to get to know countries in a different way that led her to buying a Land Rover Defender 110, which she calls Odyssey, and converting it into a tiny home on wheels. Taking her travel routine to four wheels was something she never dreamed she could do—especially considering she didn't have a driver’s license until a few years ago.
Nevertheless, with license authorized and keys in hand, zu Beck set her sights on what she expects to be her biggest adventure yet (and that's saying something)—driving her Land Rover the length of the Americas from the top of Alaska to the southernmost tip of Patagonia.
Having just completed the US leg of the trip, which she’s calling Expedition Wild, Eva’s new life on the road as an overlander has been quite the adventure so far. From getting detained and handcuffed at the US-Mexico border to traveling the length of the Devil’s Highway, a 150-mile stretch of dangerously remote road that runs along the US-Mexico border, zu Beck’s adventure has been full of ups and downs, including forgetting crucial documents and gut-wrenching breakdowns. But zu Beck assures us that the journey's many soul-filling rewards make those small trails worth it (they also make it all a very captivating watch).
Recently, we caught up with zu Beck to ask her about her trip, the overlanding life, traveling solo as a woman, ultra running, and a whole lot more. Read on for the best of our conversation.
You’ve traveled solo through some pretty hardcore places—Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia. What drew you to driving from the top of North America to the bottom of South America?
There’s a huge difference between country-hopping and embarking on a single, continuous journey. After a few years jumping on planes and trains, and sleeping in a different hotel every night, I was ready to try something different. Driving the length of the Americas in my truck feels like a more sustainable journey—I have my tiny home on wheels with me at all times, I can travel with a dog, and I can do so without a set itinerary or fixed schedule. To me, this freedom is what adventure travel is truly all about.
What’s been the most challenging part of the trip so far?
Other people’s unsolicited advice. With a journey like this, a lot of people try to convince you it’s too big, too risky… impossible. I’ve had to learn to block out the noise and simply follow the voice of my heart. Overlanding is often thought of as something only guys can do. It’s “not safe” for women to do alone. What do you have to say about that?
Despite what much of the overlanding world would have you believe, you don’t have to be a mechanic or a professional rally driver to embark on a life changing road trip. As you go, you will continuously learn about your car, about navigating in foreign lands, and about yourself. Of course, as a woman, you’ll want to be extra careful about your safety—always keep your wits about you, don’t do anything you wouldn’t do back home, and listen to your gut. But don’t get discouraged by the voices of naysayers: most of them have never even attempted these kinds of adventures. If you really want to find out what it’s like, the only way is to go out there and try it.
