brooke beyond
About Brooke Beyond
Hi, I’m Brooke
I’m a full-time traveler obsessed with exploring unique destinations, remote landscapes, and high-elevation summits around the world.
At 18, I moved by myself from Seattle to Australia in search of something different, eventually earning permanent residency and a PhD in Biomechanics. But after nearly a decade in my new home, I felt that same pull to do something unexpected— so I bought a suitcase and a one-way ticket to the next adventure!
Since then, I’ve explored 70+ countries, solo climbed mountains like Aconcagua & Mont Blanc, driven a van from Canada to Guatemala, designed (and sold out!) my very own group trips, and grown this blog from a casual travel journal into a trusted source for thesis-level hiking guides & adventure itineraries.
It’s such a privilege to share it all with you 🖤
The Evolution of Brooke Beyond
I started this blog in 2013 as a travel journal, simply documenting the trips I planned between university breaks: backpacking through Bolivia, exploring jungle temples in Cambodia, hiking alpine trails across France, and chasing adventure everywhere from Argentina to Zimbabwe.
But over the years (and more than 3 million readers later), Brooke Beyond has evolved into a resource for other travellers seeking mountain adventures & unique cultural experiences all over the world!
Informed by my background as a research scientist, I pride myself on creating thesis-level travel itineraries & hiking guides that truly stand out for their level of detail and expertise— it often requires YEARS of repeat visits and meticulous research before I feel ready to share a 5-day Mexico City itinerary or THREE times hiking the W-Trek before I’m ready to call my packing list “complete”. My hope is that this blog truly helps you explore better, deeper, and beyond the ordinary!
Meet the Team Behind the Screen (& the Camera)
After many years of traveling solo, I met my now-husband, James, in Patagonia and we set off to explore the world together— he proposed on safari in Uganda, we had a small wedding in Iceland, and then spent our honeymoon on a 5-week climbing expedition in Nepal!
James holds three master’s degrees in the education space and most recently worked as the Head of Instructional Design for Adobe, but he now manages the back-end of this blog and delights in his unpaid role as team photographer. More importantly, he patiently agrees to just about every wild travel idea I pitch him!
Where I’m fiery, passionate, and somewhat unrelenting in my goals, James is steady, dependable, and eternally easy-going— together, we’re a perfectly balanced team!
What You’ll Find on Brooke Beyond
Hiking Guides
Detailed planning guides for iconic hikes & epic summits around the world, full of practical advice, route variations, and daily route notes to help you explore confidently!
Outdoor Gear Recs
Comprehensive gear lists & guides on everything from building an adaptable outdoor layering system to the best backcountry sleep set-up!
Travel Itineraries
Meticulously researched & carefully curated travel itineraries to help you embark on unique adventures everywhere from Ethiopia to Patagonia to Jordan!
What makes this blog different:
- Don’t be fooled by my beloved em dash— all the content on this blog is written by Brooke, NEVER by AI!
- I feel strongly about only writing travel guides from a place of authority and authenticity, so until I know a destination incredibly well, I won’t write it up on this blog! Sometimes that takes YEARS of repeat visits, but I’ll never rush a generic, superficial post just to get more traffic.
- We plan all our own travel— no press trips or free rides from tourism boards, so you can trust that all recommendations are entirely our own.
- I'll only ever promote outdoor gear in my packing lists that we’ve personally used & LOVE!
brooke beyond