Matt Saunders, 28, and his girlfriend, Rachel Kelly, 26, spent 11 months travelling down the Pan American Highway, visiting 16 countries, and seeing some of the best countries in the world
A daring couple ditched their day jobs for the adventure of a lifetime, spending £40,000 to travel an epic 40,000 miles down the world’s longest road, passing through a remarkable 16 countries.
Matt Saunders and Rachel Kelly, both hailing from Clapham, London, embarked on an incredible journey along the Pan American Highway, having saved up a budget of £40k.
On June 4, 2024, the Clapham, London pair traded the familiar streets of the UK for the rugged terrains of Canmore, Canada, where they shelled out £15k on a Dodge Ram pick-up truck, fitting it with a camper and sprucing it up to become their reliable ride.
With their trusty Dodge Ram, Matt, 28, a quantity surveyor, and Rachel, 26, set off towards Alaska before heading down the expanse of the Pan American Highway. Their ambitious trek took them through diverse nations, from Guatemala to Peru and Bolivia.
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However, their voyage was not without peril. The two had a near-death experience when their truck almost plunged into a 1000ft abyss in the treacherous Peruvian Andes owing to dire road conditions.
Currently soaking in the sights at the Galapagos Islands, the couple reflects on a journey that was anything but mundane. Matt enthusiastically shared: “The freedom that this trip has given us is insane. We spent 11 months visiting some of the best countries in the world.
“It has been daunting, but this lifestyle has given us so much freedom. The freedom of living in the van, being able to be where you want each day, waking up with a different view. When you backpack and fly everywhere, you end up missing so much, whereas the drive gives you that adventure and excitement that nothing else can.”
In 2018, the adventurous Matt embarked on a journey from London to Mongolia in a tiny 1-litre Suzuki Alto. Upon his return to Blighty in 2020, love sparked between him and Rachel, who he matched with on Tinder and she shared her dreams of globetrotting, kicking off their grand plans for the Pan American Highway.
Matt reminisced: “Seven years ago I drove from London to Mongolia in a little crappy car that your grandma would drive. After doing that, I got the sense of adventure. When I first met Rachel, she said that she wanted to go travelling. I told her to wait a couple of years as I had a plan to explore America by car, and she was on board.”
The duo scrimped and saved an impressive £40k from their pay packets and on June 4, 2024, they launched their expedition from the UK to Canmore, Canada, for a pit-stop at Matt’s sibling’s place. During their Canadian escapade, they invested £15k in a 1997 Dodge Ram coupled with a camper to continue their odyssey.
Disaster struck shortly after when both their camper roof collapsed and the truck’s transmission went kaput, necessitating a hefty £10k repair bill. Reflecting on the early mishap, Matt explained, “Day three into our journey to the Arctic, our camper broke and we had to live with it like that for six weeks.”
Further down the line, while in Washington State, a mechanic delivered grim news that their vehicle was beyond repair, prompting them to fork over another £5k for a substitute, devouring half their budget.
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Unwavering, Matt and Rachel, who works in sales, ventured forth from Alaska down the Pan American Highway – the planet’s most extensive stretch of road – on June 24, 2024.Matt and his intrepid companion drove an astounding 40,000 miles through 16 countries in just 11 months, finally ending up in Ushuaia, Argentina.
On their epic journey, Matt highlighted the sheer beauty of their travels, mentioning awe-inspiring visits to the USA, Chile, and Argentina. He warmly recalled: “We loved visiting the American National Parks with their remoteness and wildlife.
“We spent 11 months on the road going to some of the best countries you can visit.”
Despite the thrilling adventures, it wasn’t all smooth sailing as Matt reported numerous challenges along the way.
Among their ordeals, the truck caught fire twice, they nearly met a tragic fate in Peru, and mechanical failures threatened to cut their travels short.
“We nearly died in the Peruvian Andes with our car nearly sliding off a 1000ft drop on muddy roads. It was a dangerous road, and intense rain basically made it impassailable but we couldn’t turn around,” he added.
“One harrowing incident saw the wheel fall off in rural Patagonia when we had no spare. We were stuck for three days figuring out what to do.”
Completing their monumental Pan American journey, the adventurers sold their 1997 Dodge at a surprisingly good price and set off on the next leg of their adventure on foot, leading them from Brazil to the Galapagos Islands.
The adventurous couple, Matt and Rachel, are gearing up to return to the UK this summer, albeit with a sense of trepidation about the move.
Matt shared: “We are spending a few days Galapagos Islands before returning to the UK in a few weeks. We are daunted by the feeling of returning to the UK, but we are excited to see our family and friends. I will be returning to work, and Rachel is still figuring out what to do.”
Their extensive travels have taken them across numerous countries including Canada, America, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Brasil.
Followers can keep up with Matt and Rachel’s journey on their Instagram: @ramonthepanam.