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Simina Lucia 🧳 Full-time traveller

@simigoes

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🌍 Visiting every country on a budget 98/195
🥾 Hiking + wildlife adventures
🧭 Offbeat destinations & hidden gems
✈️ #solotravel since 2012

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ON TOP OF AFRICA! 🗻🇹🇿💪🏼
One of the 7 Summits conquered by Simi – yaaay, what an achievement, what a brain-altering experience!

Day 5 of my Kilimanjaro trek was the toughest and longest day of my life. Left Barafu Camp at 11 pm, headlamp on, layers zipped up, feeling strong… and then the mountain humbled me immediately.

Only one hour into the trek, the snow started. Then the wind. Then the altitude really joined the conversation. For the next 9 hours, every step became a negotiation with myself.
“Just make it to that rock.”
“Okay… now just to the next one.”
You climb in silence behind a trail of headlamps, too tired to speak, too stubborn to stop. Every few steps your brain whispers: “why are we doing this, let's turn around”

The mountain slowly strips life down to its essentials: breathe. step. repeat.
No music. No distractions. No chit-chat. Just freezing snow blowing in your face, and your own thoughts becoming louder with altitude.

The toughest part of this summit was probably around 5 am on the steep scree sections right before Stella Point. I wanted to give up then and there. But this is where you need to believe you’re going to make it despite the discomfort. This part teaches you what resilience really looks like.

And then suddenly – Uhuru Peak.
No golden sunrise. No sweeping views. Just a complete whiteout, exhaustion beyond words, frozen hair, frozen toes… and me standing there crying at the top of Africa because I genuinely had nothing left in the tank. 5.895 m – the highest point I've ever been.

After taking our celebratory pictures we hiked back down. In the daylight, half sliding down on volcanic rock, we could see the shape of Kili, surprised at how “untechnical” this mountain looks – basically just a zig zag path upwards.

We were supposed to be camping one more night on the mountain, but honestly, this girl had had it with the rain down in Africa, so I said that I want to go back. That day I broke my own record of hiking 35 km in one go. The sense of achievement only kicked in days later.

#kilimanjaro #topofafrica #uhurupeak #kilimanjarotrekking #altitude by @simigoes

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4 months ago

ON TOP OF EUROPE! 🏔🇷🇺💪🏼 my second 7 Summits mountain, wohooo!

Day 3 on Elbrus started at midnight. Dark, freezing cold, headlamps on and autopilot: one step in front of the other.

Mount Elbrus is a twin-peaked volcano, with the Western Summit reaching 5.642 m – the highest point in Europe. But at 1 or 2 a.m., that number seemed completely irrelevant. I just knew we had to keep walking uphill.

Hours passed in the dark. Step after step, following the people in front of me and trying not to think too much about how much further we still had to go.

Also, one of the strangest things happened: I didn't need to pee once during this entire summit push of 10 hours.

Not because I was being particularly resilient or because I had suddenly developed a superhuman bladder. 😅 But there isn't exactly a toilet situation on Elbrus. You're basically walking across a huge, completely exposed snow-covered mountain. So finding a discreet little spot isn't really an option.

By the time the sun came up, we had reached the saddle between the two summits. That's when the climb became more technical.

We started traversing the steep slope towards the Western Summit. The terrain was getting harder, we had to secure ourselves on the fixed ropes, but the altitude was probably the biggest battle. Every step felt heavier. Breathing took effort. The summit seemed to move further away every time I looked at it.

At that point, the whole world had shrunk down to a very simple routine: Walk. Breathe. Repeat.

After an entire night of climbing, we finally reached the top. I was exhausted, frozen, completely out of energy and absolutely happy. Nothing compares to that feeling when you've earned your way to the top of a mountain!

I looked around and there it was: a sea of white, jagged peaks stretching out beneath me.

After spending the whole night staring into darkness, seeing that view felt almost surreal.

And yes, the first thing I did after coming down was to have a good pee 😂🏔️
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#mountelbrus #elbrussummit #solotravel #adventuretravel #mountaineering

Mount Elbrus • 5642 m • Western Summit • highest point in Europe • Elbrus summit • Caucasus Mountains • mountaineering taken in Elbrus Western summit (5642 m) / Западная вершина Эльбруса (5642 м) by @simigoes

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23 days ago

There are only two people whose pride should truly matter to you – not your parents, not your friends, not even your mentors.

Just two: the 8-year-old you, full of dreams, and the 80-year-old you, full of memories.

Your time is limited. Satisfy your soul, not society. ✨

When 6-year-old Simi said she wanted to travel the world, she had no idea what that would actually look like.

She could never have imagined celebrating her birthday in Jordan, standing in front of Petra in 2023.

Or at Iguazú Falls, finally making it to the South American continent in 2024.

Or hiking up a mountain in the Arctic while exploring Svalbard in 2025.

And definitely not dancing Sirtaki with complete strangers in Uzbekistan in 2026.

Life doesn't always follow the plan you had as a kid. The plan changed a few times, but the adventures got better.

So here's to the little girl who dreamed of seeing the world, and to the woman who's actually out here doing it 🌍

80-year-old Simi will look back at this life and think: "Damn, we really took that ‘travel the world’ thing seriously. We certainly didn’t play it safe."

Cheers to another year around the sun. 🥂✨ by @simigoes

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3 days ago

SINGAPORE • Got a 10 hour layover in Singapore? Here’s how I’d spend it. And yes, I’d definitely leave the airport!

🚇 Start at Changi Airport: Take the MRT into the city. My tip: get a rechargeable EZ-Link card at the airport. You can top it up whenever you need it, and it stays valid for years, so keep it for your next Singapore adventure.

🏮 Stroll through Telok Ayer: Wander through the colourful streets, temples, little shops and food spots. My little coffee tip: stop at Aifokato for an affogato coffee – espresso poured over ice cream. ☕️ The perfect little break while exploring.

🌿 Gardens by the Bay: One of my all-time favourite places in the world! The Supertrees and futuristic gardens are amazing during the day, but stay until evening if you can. The Garden Rhapsody light and sound show beneath the Supertrees is absolutely magical ✨

🌃 Marina Bay: Finish with a stroll around Marina Bay and those iconic views of the skyline and Marina Bay Sands. Singapore really knows how to put on a nighttime view.

🍜 And obviously: eat! If you have time, grab something from a hawker centre (or at Raffles Center, more posh) before heading back.

✈️ Take the MRT back to Changi. Just make sure you leave enough time for the journey (~ 40 mins) and airport formalities.

10 hours might not be enough to see all of Singapore, but it’s definitely enough to get a taste. And in my opinion, that’s better than spending the whole layover inside the airport.

If you only have time for ONE thing, though? Gardens by the Bay. Every. Single. Time. 🌿

What would YOU squeeze into a layover in Singapore? 🇸🇬
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#Singapore #SingaporeTravel #SingaporeLayover #GardensByTheBay #SoloTravelTips taken in Singapore / Singapura / 新加坡 / சிங்கப்பூர் by @simigoes

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5 days ago

MOUNT ELBRUS • Just me, a mountain, and a questionable amount of confidence...
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#mountelbrus #elbrussummit #solofemaletraveler #adventuretravel #mountaineering taken in Elbrus Mountain by @simigoes

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8 days ago

ELBRUS • Day 1 + 2 on Elbrus, reality check: this wasn't the walk in the park I expected.

Day 1 started in Terskol with a cable car ride up into the mountains, followed by my first-ever snowcat ride through the snow to reach base camp. Then came my home for the next few days: a very glamorous… container 😂 (because heaters!)

After settling in, it was time for our first acclimatisation hike, only about 400 m higher. Sounds easy, right?

Except we were hiking through deep, mushy snow that turned a simple warm-up into a relentless leg-burner. Add ridiculously heavy summit boots and the altitude kicking in… and those 400 metres felt like 40 kilometres.

My appetite also decided to disappear somewhere around base camp, which is another little gift from altitude.

Day 2 was more acclimatisation, followed by mountaineering training. Today’s lesson: how not to die if you slip on a mountain by learning how to properly use an ice axe and ropes.

Definitely the kind of training you pay very close attention to when you know you’ll soon be using those skills for real.

And then: light dinner at five. Sleep at six. Summit push at midnight. Time to see what we're made of 💪🏼
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#MountElbrus #ElbrusClimb #Mountaineering #SoloTravel #AdventureTravel

Mount Elbrus, Elbrus climb, Elbrus summit, Russia travel, Caucasus Mountains, mountaineering, high altitude trekking taken in Base Camp - Elbrus by @simigoes

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a month ago

TERSKOL • From Georgia 🇬🇪 to Tyrnyauz 🇷🇺 and what was supposed to be the start of my Elbrus adventure almost turned into a very different story..

The day before leaving Georgia, I messaged my tour company several times asking for information about my pick-up from Mineralnye Vody airport. No reply.

So I arrived in Russia the next day with absolutely no idea who was picking me up or where I was supposed to go 🫠

And then things got even better: no possibility to buy a SIM card, no Wi-Fi and, as luck would have it, no one around who spoke English. Suddenly I found myself stranded in Russia with no way of contacting anyone.

For a moment, I genuinely wasn’t sure I was going to make it to Tyrnyauz at all.

Luckily, a very helpful lady at the airport who spoke English came to my rescue 🙏 She somehow managed to track down the tour company, figured out where I needed to go and sent me on my way.

By the time I finally arrived in Tyrnyauz, my nerves were completely blank, but I was there. And suddenly, all I could think about was the adventure ahead: preparing to hike Mount Elbrus 🗻

After that much drama just getting there, I was really hoping the mountain itself would be the easy part..

PS: if you're planning to summit Mt. Elbrus, please avoid the company Makalu Extreme led by Oxana Morneva – very unreliable and stingy! 👎🏼
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#elbrus #mountainadventure #terskol #loverussia #russiancaucasus taken in Терскол by @simigoes

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a month ago

ARMENIA • 4 nights in Armenia is enough to see a LOT, especially if you base yourself in Yerevan.

Here are 10 places & experiences to put on your list when you visit this superbe country:

⛪ Sevanavank Monastery – a 9th century monastery sitting on a peninsula overlooking Lake Sevan

📍 Khor Virap – one of Armenia’s most iconic monasteries, with incredible views of Mount Ararat

📡 Orgov Radio-Optical Telescope – a huge Soviet-era telescope in the Armenian mountains and probably the most unexpected stop on this list

🌊 Lake Sevan – Armenia’s famous "blue pearl" and one of the largest high-altitude freshwater lakes in the world

🏛️ Garni Temple – a Greco-Roman sun temple from the 1st century, perched dramatically over a cliff

🌲 Haghartsin Monastery – a 13th century monastery tucked away in the lush forests of Dilijan, with beautiful medieval stonework and mountain scenery

🪨 Symphony of Stones – a breathtaking natural gorge filled with towering basalt columns that look like a giant hand-carved organ

🌹 Goshavank Monastery – a tranquil 12th century complex surrounded by greenery, famous for its intricate stone khachkars and wild roses blooming in summer

🫓 Lavash in Dilijan – see how Armenia’s traditional flatbread is stretched by hand, slapped onto the walls of a tonir (underground clay oven) and baked in just seconds

💧 Azat Reservoir – striking contrast where deep blue mountain water meets raw, reddish volcanic rock formations.

Which of these spots are you saving for your Armenia bucket list? 📌👇🏼 @armenia.travel
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Armenia Travel • 4 Days in Armenia • Armenia Itinerary • Places to Visit in Armenia • Budget Travel by @simigoes

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a month ago

ARMENIA • Solo travel is a love story between you and the world. The places you go, the cultures you meet, the sunsets you stand under alone – they all become chapters in the story of you.

The journey will remind you: you are never truly lost. Even in the most unfamiliar places, you're simply finding a new version of yourself you didn’t know existed.
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#armenia #visitarmenia #armeniatravel #solotraveller #girlsthatwander taken in Armenia by @simigoes

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a month ago

YEREVAN • There’s something wonderfully unhurried about this city.

Long coffee breaks, people gathering in parks in the evening, music spilling out onto the streets, old Ladas next to shiny new cars, and the unmistakable colour of Yerevan’s pink tuff buildings glowing in the late afternoon sun.

If you’re visiting, put these on your list:

📍 Cascade Complex – Yerevan’s iconic giant staircase, filled with contemporary art and sculptures. Climb to the top for panoramic views across the city and Mount Ararat

📍 Republic Square – the heart of Yerevan, surrounded by some of the city’s most impressive pink-tuff buildings. Come back in the evening for the famous dancing fountains

📍 Vernissage Market – a huge open-air market where you can find Armenian handicrafts, artwork, jewellery, carpets and plenty of unique souvenirs

📍 Blue Mosque – a beautiful and rather hidden 18th-century mosque, one of the few remaining examples of Persian architecture in Yerevan

📍 Mother Armenia – the enormous statue overlooking Yerevan from Victory Park. The viewpoint here is worth the trip alone, with the city stretching out below you

🍴 Have dinner at Tavern Yerevan – one of my favourite places to try Armenian food, with a cosy traditional setting and a huge selection of local dishes

🔥 HOT TIP: If you're in Yerevan on the last Friday of the month, head to the Cascade Complex. There you'll find people dancing traditional Armenian dances – and you don't have to be Armenian or know the steps. Anyone can join! 💃🇦🇲

So, would Yerevan make it onto your travel list? @armenia.travel
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#thisisyerevan #armenia #yerevan #armeniatravel #loveyerevan taken in Yerevan, Armenia by @simigoes

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a month ago

YEREVAN • I arrived in Armenia's capital without any expectations.

I took the marshrutka from Tbilisi, winding our way through the Lesser Caucasus Mountains, watching the landscape slowly change as we crossed the border into Armenia. I had no idea what Yerevan would feel like, and maybe that’s why this city surprised me so much.

Luckily Yerevan offers this wonderfully unexpected mix of things: pink tuff buildings glowing in the evening light, Soviet architecture standing next to ancient churches, an endless array of cafés and wine bars, chaotic little streets, huge open squares, and Mount Ararat quietly watching over the city from the horizon.

But what I liked most was the atmosphere. Yerevan feels lived-in. A little rough around the edges, a little chaotic, incredibly social, and somehow very easy to settle into.

I wandered through markets, drank Armenian coffee, discovered tiny courtyards, ate way too much lavash and watched the city come alive in the evenings. This was actually one of my favourite moments: getting fresh popcorn on Abovyan street and walking to Republic Square to watch the fountain's music and light show.

Definitely a city I'll gladly return to! 🇦🇲
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#armenia #yerevan🇦🇲 #girlswholovetravel #loveyerevan #visityerevan taken in Yerevan, Armenia by @simigoes

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a month ago

“You always end up in such beautiful places.”

Yes. But there’s usually a very unphotogenic story behind them.

A bus that takes twice as long as it should. Being squeezed in the back of a minivan for 5 hours like in a can of sardines. A road that slowly turns into a dirt track. Getting dropped somewhere with absolutely no idea where to go next. Missed connections.

And then, eventually, you arrive. Tired. Dusty. Sweaty. Probably a little annoyed.
And somehow, the view makes you forget most of it.

That’s the part that makes it into the photo. Not everything it took to get there... 😅
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#philippines #roadtrip #paradise #worldtrip #lovephilippines taken in Philippines by @simigoes

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a month ago