Hi, I’m Maciek!
A software developer by profession and a traveller by passion – born and raised in Olsztyn, Poland, where I also studied. Day to day I work at a computer, but whenever I can, I pack my backpack and head out into the world. I run this site – “Odkrywczym Szlakiem” (“On the Trail of Discovery”) – to share what I’ve seen and experienced, along with the practical things that help when planning your own trip. At the very beginning, my Facebook page was called “Maciej w podróży” (“Maciej on the road”).
- 34countries
- 6continents
- 9years as Odkrywczym Szlakiem
- 175posts
- 17%of the world’s countries
- USAmost written-about country (48 posts)
- Citiesmost common topic (86 posts)
- 5895 mhighest summit – Kilimanjaro
Where the name comes from
“Odkrywczym Szlakiem” is a simple rule for me: I’d rather keep discovering new places than return to ones I already know. The world is huge and my “to see” list is longer than I’ll ever manage – so I try not to go round in circles, but to keep discovering something new.
How I travel
Cheaply and independently: hitchhiking, with a tent, on local buses, eating what the locals eat. I plan my routes myself, often as I go, and I like to look into less obvious places too. That has taught me a lot about travelling on a budget – and I’m happy to share it.
What you’ll find on the blog
Above all, practical things: real prices and budgets, getting there and connections, notes on safety, and also the slip-ups and what went wrong – because that’s often where you learn the most. I want someone heading to the same place to be able to plan their trip from my posts, not just look at nice photos (though there are plenty of those too).
The turning point: Latin America
The biggest milestone was more than eight months in Latin America (2023/2024) – from Mexico, through Central America, all the way to Peru. It was a completely different scale: a different pace, more challenges and countless stories that couldn’t have been planned. I put the whole route, the costs and the lessons into a trip summary. Since coming back I’ve been telling this story live – at festivals and travel meetings in Poland.
Talks and videos
Besides writing, I give travel talks and record travel videos on YouTube (both in Polish). If you’re looking for a speaker for a festival, a library, a school or a travel club – I’ll gladly talk about my trips with passion, humour and lots of photos. Details and dates (in Polish): Talks (in Polish).
My YouTube channel (in Polish)
Travel videos from around the world
More than 126 videos from my travels (in Polish) – from cenotes and Maya ruins in Mexico, through the volcanoes of Guatemala, to US national parks, Scotland and Ukraine. Whole routes, practical tips and short reports straight from the trail.
Subscribe to the channelAll videos
Latest videos
12:23How to use this site
- Travel map – see where I’ve been; click a country to go to the posts from there.
- My travels (in the menu) – posts arranged by continent and country.
- Topics – posts grouped by interest: mountains, cities, national parks, hitchhiking, diving…
Good places to start
If you’re here for the first time, start with a few posts:
- Kilimanjaro via the Machame route – a 7-day trek to Uhuru Peak (5895 m)
- Through Latin America in 9 months – summary: 12 countries, route, daily costs, safety and lessons learned
- Iceland: a 16-day road trip around the island – waterfalls, canyons, craters and Heimaey
- Jordan in a week – itinerary and practical information
- Berlin: what to see – the top sights, lesser-known spots and practical tips
What’s next?
Let’s stay in touch – follow me wherever you like best. See you on the trail!