When Nick Chazee and Mathilde Vougny packed their lives into a Land Rover Defender three years ago, they weren’t running away from work – they were running toward a dream. What started as a casual idea during weekend trips soon evolved into the Next Meridian Expedition, a full-time, globe-spanning journey that has already covered more than 160,000 kilometers across over 40 countries.
The French couple, both 28 years old when they began, traded their stable careers – Nick in a tech startup and Mathilde at the United Nations – for a life that moves with the horizon. “Anytime we had free time, we would go travel, even if it was just a few hours away from home,” Mathilde recalled. “So one day we thought – what if we just kept going?”
From Dream to Drive
It took nearly two years of saving and planning before they could hit the road. Their Land Rover was transformed into a self-sufficient home on wheels, complete with a shower, dual-fuel stove, 45-liter fridge, and a 65-liter water tank. Inside, there’s space for cooking, sleeping, and even working remotely. “The car is perfect in almost every way,” Nick said. “Except when it’s too hot to sleep.”
The couple’s journey started in Europe, then stretched through Central Asia, the Americas, and beyond. Financing the adventure was the hardest part at first. “We started completely self-funded,” Nick explained. “We planned to stop when the money ran out.” But their habit of documenting the trip online eventually grew into a global following. What began as casual updates for friends and family turned into a community of thousands – and a sustainable income stream through social media partnerships and content creation.
Their journey and updates are documented on their official website, Next Meridian Expedition, where they share stories, photography, and insights from life on the road.
Their annual budget now sits around $41,000, covering essentials like fuel, car maintenance, visas, and the occasional shipment of their Land Rover across oceans – an expense that alone averages $6,000 a year. To stretch their funds, they skip hotels and restaurants, instead camping, cooking, and managing logistics themselves. “It’s actually cheaper than our old lives,” Mathilde said with a laugh.
Life on the Road
Daily life is a blend of routine and unpredictability. Laundry happens every two weeks – either at laundromats or local homes. Internet access, through portable routers, keeps them connected for remote work and streaming nights. When shipping delays strand them between continents, they switch to motorbikes and continue exploring.
Not everything goes smoothly. In Australia, their Land Rover’s engine broke down just days after arrival. “It was our worst moment,” Mathilde admitted. “But then a local family stopped to help – and ended up hosting us for three weeks. They helped fix the car, and we cooked together every night. It turned into one of our favorite memories.”
It’s those human connections that keep them going. In Bolivia, a farmer once mistook them for thieves until conversation turned into laughter and tea. “We realized people are mostly curious, not unfriendly,” Mathilde said. “For me, those small interactions are the best part of the trip.”
Their Land Rover, with its French license plate and stickers from dozens of countries, often draws attention. “Everywhere we stop, people come over to talk,” Nick said. “It opens doors to incredible friendships.” Over 300 people around the world have invited them into their homes, and the couple keeps a list of every host.
The Road Ahead
Now, after three years and 160,000 kilometers, the couple shows no signs of slowing down. Their plan is to continue for two more years before deciding whether to build a home base. “We want a place where we can welcome other travelers,” Mathilde said. “To give back what we’ve received.”
Nick envisions building a bigger vehicle next time – something more rugged for Africa and South America. But for now, the road remains their home. “Every border we cross reminds us why we started,” he said. “The freedom, the people, the landscapes – it’s everything we hoped for.”
For Nick and Mathilde, life isn’t about the miles behind them, but the moments they collect along the way. As they like to say: “The road always knows where to take us.”
