Trail Running Tourism: How to Explore Off-the-Beaten-Path Destinations on Foot with Joe Baur

What happens when you combine trail running with travel storytelling? You get Joe Baur—a writer who's discovered that the best way to understand a destination is often to run through it.

In this episode of Type 2 Travel, Laura sits down with the Cleveland-born, Berlin-based travel writer and host of Without a Path podcast. Joe's work has appeared in BBC Travel and National Geographic, but what sets him apart is how he uses running as a lens for cultural exploration.

From dressing up as ninjas on Japanese trails to pushing through pneumonia during an 8-day stage race in Nepal, Joe shares stories that can only come from moving through destinations on foot. They discuss the Japanese concept of ikigai, why country counting misses the point of travel, and which "off-limits" destinations are actually worth exploring. If you've ever wondered how to combine your passion with authentic travel, this conversation is for you.