NomadMania
Travel Awards 2023

October 20th – Lviv, Ukraine
& ONLINE globally

NomadMania Awards 2023

NomadMania
Travel Awards

October 20th – Lviv, Ukraine

& ONLINE globally

NomadMania Awards 2023

NomadMania
Travel Awards

October 20th – Lviv, Ukraine
& ONLINE globally

NomadMania Awards 2023

It is like Oscar in the world of travel. The NomadMania Travel Awards are meant to celebrate travelling efforts for the past year.

Our aim is not to make people travel for the award, but rather to award the ones who travel regardless of that and to inspire new generations of travellers!

Watch the Replay of a Gala Ceremony

NomadMania Travel Awards 2023 (Part 1)

NomadMania Travel Awards 2023 (Part 2)

What is NomadMania

NomadMania is a dynamic global platform for independent travellers. Catering to both aspiring explorers and established travel masters, our platform serves as an ultimate travel toolbox. It allows creating a personalised world map of your travels, offers intuitive planning tools, and inspires endless travel ideas.

Above all, NomadMania is a vibrant community with a shared passion for exploring the world’s diversity beyond the ordinary and the obvious. Expects to meet a few dozen high profile travellers from all over the world on our event in Lviv.

What the NomadMania Awards are about

What the NomadMania Awards are about

This year we have 10 awards in 3 main categories:

  1. Golden awards – will be selected internally by the NomadMania Team and their aim is to thank our friends, supporters and partners;
  2. Silver awards – will be selected by our community, through initial proposals by the public. Everyone is eligible, regardless of whether they are NomadMania members or not.
  3. Special award – lifetime travel award is voted and awarded by our committee.

To be eligible for voting in the final round, voters must have registered with NomadMania until one month prior to the event and must have 35 or more NomadMania regions marked as visited on that date. See the Voting Page here.

NomadMania Awards categories

Golden Awards

Golden Awards

BEST NOMADMANIA FRIEND

Awarded to a NomadMania member (a non-team member) whose contributions to NomadMania – in any form – have really made a difference to our platform.

AGAINS THE ALL ODDS TRAVELLER

Awarded to a NomadMania member who, despite having considerable obstacles, has overcome them to become a notable traveller.

Silver Awards

Silver Awards

MOST INTREPID TRAVELLER 2023

A traveller whose travels in the last year have required considerable courage, risk-taking and craziness.

MOST PURPOSEFUL TRAVELLER 2023

The one whose efforts to create community, help local communities and, in general, travel with a purpose.

BEST TRAVEL BOOK 2023

The book that takes readers on new adventures, sparking the love for travel with every page.

BEST TRAVEL CONTENT CREATOR 2023

The creator whose engaging stories and visuals invite us to explore unseen places and cultures.

MOST TRUSTED LOCAL FIXER 2023

The go-to person who turns common trips into unforgettable local experiences with their know-how.

BIGGEST LPI (Low Passport Index) TRAVELLER 2023

The one who doesn’t let the bureaucracy and passport nor nationality issues stop him/her in their travelling. To be eligible for this, travellers have to be from one of the countries that rank the lowest on Henley Passport Index Ranking. Full list is available on the LPI ranking page.

BIGGEST TRAVELLER 2023

The one and only, whose travels in the past year, in terms of both quantity (days on the road and number of trips) AND quality (difficulty and variety of destinations), render them a truly big traveller even by the standards of the NomadMania Community.

Special Awards

Special Awards

BIGGEST LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN TRAVEL

This award is given to any traveller – NomadMania member or not – whose lifetime travel achievements are of an outstanding level.

Nominees 2023

Most Intrepid Traveller 2023

Kurt Caz  🇺🇸

Kurt Caz 🇺🇸

<a href=Eric Gilbertson 🇺🇸" srcset="https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Eric-Gilbertson.jpg 650w, https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Eric-Gilbertson-480x480.jpg 480w" sizes="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 650px, 100vw" class="wp-image-9481 webpexpress-processed">
<a href=Pablo Gonzalez 🇪🇸" srcset="https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Pablo-Gonzales.jpg 657w, https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Pablo-Gonzales-480x480.jpg 480w" sizes="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 657px, 100vw" class="wp-image-9483 webpexpress-processed">
<a href=Daniel Pinto 🇵🇹" srcset="https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Daniel-Pinto.jpg 430w, https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Daniel-Pinto-300x300.jpg 300w, https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Daniel-Pinto-150x150.jpg 150w, https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Daniel-Pinto-400x400.jpg 400w, https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Daniel-Pinto-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="(max-width: 430px) 100vw, 430px" class="wp-image-9488 webpexpress-processed">
Joy Ryan 🇺🇸

Joy Ryan 🇺🇸

Bob Thissen 🇳🇱

Bob Thissen 🇳🇱

Winner

Joy Ryan 🇺🇸

Joy Ryan 🇺🇸

Joy Ryan is a 93-year-old adventurer who made history earlier this year as the oldest person to conquer all 63 national parks across the United States. This awe-inspiring journey was a remarkable eight-year adventure, shared with her 42-year-old grandson and fellow explorer, Brad Ryan. Hailing from Duncan Falls, Ohio, Joy’s story is one of late-life wanderlust, as she went from never seeing the ocean or mountains at 85 to witnessing the breathtaking beauty of America’s natural wonders. From the Redwood Forest to the Channel Islands, their Instagram-documented odyssey is a testament to the enduring spirit of curiosity and the joy of sharing unforgettable moments, often found right in the confines of their trusty car.

Best Travel Content Creator 2023

Joe Hattab 🇦🇪

Joe Hattab 🇦🇪

<a href=Roberto Helou 🇱🇧 🇫🇷" srcset="https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Roberto-Helou.jpg 580w, https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Roberto-Helou-480x480.jpg 480w" sizes="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 580px, 100vw" class="wp-image-9514 webpexpress-processed">
Elona Karafin 🇺🇸

Elona Karafin 🇺🇸

<a href=Shubham Kumar 🇮🇳" srcset="https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Shubham-Kumar.jpg 320w, https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Shubham-Kumar-300x300.jpg 300w, https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Shubham-Kumar-150x150.jpg 150w, https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Shubham-Kumar-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px" class="wp-image-9520 webpexpress-processed">
Keith and Renee Whitaker 🇺🇸

Keith and Renee Whitaker 🇺🇸

Shiho Zekkei 🇯🇵

Shiho Zekkei 🇯🇵

Winner

Shiho Zekkei 🇯🇵

Shiho Zekkei 🇯🇵

Shiho Zekkei a passionate traveller and accomplished writer from Japan, has etched her name in the world of travel content creation. With nine captivating travel books under her belt, including the acclaimed The Breathtaking Sights in the World I Want to See Before I Die, she has become a renowned voice in the industry. Beyond her literary achievements, Shiho’s dedication to her hometown, Hamamatsu in Shizuoka, is evident through her role as a welcome ambassador. However, her wanderlust extends far beyond her roots. Shiho’s Instagram account serves as a visual testament to her adventures, showcasing awe-inspiring landscapes both within Japan and around the world. Shiho is a must-follow influencer for travel enthusiasts seeking inspiration and wanderers seeking guidance.

Most Purposeful Traveller 2023

<a href=Ric Gazarian 🇺🇸" srcset="https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ric-gazarian.jpg 800w, https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ric-gazarian-480x480.jpg 480w" sizes="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 800px, 100vw" class="wp-image-9498 webpexpress-processed">
<a href=Dean Kuchel 🇮🇱 🇨🇿" srcset="https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Dean-Kuchel.jpg 320w, https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Dean-Kuchel-300x300.jpg 300w, https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Dean-Kuchel-150x150.jpg 150w, https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Dean-Kuchel-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px" class="wp-image-9501 webpexpress-processed">
<a href=Cameron Mofid 🇺🇸" class="wp-image-9504 webpexpress-processed">
Danish Soomro 🇵🇰 🇨🇦

Danish Soomro 🇵🇰 🇨🇦

Johannes Voelkner 🇩🇪

Johannes Voelkner 🇩🇪

Winner

After staying in a Tanzanian village where people had to walk far to bring home clean water, Charlie Christensen’s founded the NGO Walking for Water and embarked on a philanthropic pilgrimage, walking from Denmark to Tanzania, to raise funds for public boreholes in underprivileged communities. Till now he has walked 13.000 kilometres from Denmark to Equatorial Guinea, never paying to sleep but primarily couch-surfing or camping in the bush. Ahead Charlie still has about 6.000 kilometers across the African continent to end in the Tanzanian village where it all started. His project has already funded a public water service for a Tanzanian village and another 64 public boreholes across Africa.

Best Travel Book 2023

Zoe Agasi and Olivier van Herck 🇧🇪  🇳🇱

Zoe Agasi and Olivier van Herck 🇧🇪 🇳🇱

<a href=Erika Fatland 🇳🇴" srcset="https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Erika-Fatland.jpg 300w, https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Erika-Fatland-150x150.jpg 150w, https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Erika-Fatland-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" class="wp-image-9461 webpexpress-processed">
<a href=Boris Kester 🇳🇱" class="wp-image-9464 webpexpress-processed">
<a href=Jessica Nabongo 🇺🇸 🇺🇬" srcset="https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Jessica-Nabongo.jpg 560w, https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Jessica-Nabongo-480x480.jpg 480w" sizes="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 560px, 100vw" class="wp-image-9469 webpexpress-processed">
Rolf Potts  🇺🇸

Rolf Potts 🇺🇸

<a href=Kate Rawles 🇬🇧" srcset="https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Kate-Rawles.jpg 750w, https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Kate-Rawles-480x480.jpg 480w" sizes="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 750px, 100vw" class="wp-image-9475 webpexpress-processed">

Winner

<a href=Boris Kester 🇳🇱" class="wp-image-9464 webpexpress-processed">
A passionate traveller since early childhood, Boris Kester’s other dream was to be an author. He wrote The Long Road to Cullaville: Stories of My Travels to Every Country in the World, a riveting book about his travels. Many readers call it a travel thriller. In the sixteen chapters of the book, Boris shows his readers some of the most memorable places in the world and makes one think about the risk-taking that is inherent to travel and adventure. The book is breathtaking, impressive, funny, very adventurous and touching at the same time. Moreover, it is among the most travelled books on earth: it has been to 190 countries (early September 2023).

Most Trusted Local Fixer 2023

Sardar Abdullah 🇮🇶

Sardar Abdullah 🇮🇶

<a href=Fadi Assi 🇸🇾" srcset="https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Fadi-Assi.jpg 350w, https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Fadi-Assi-300x300.jpg 300w, https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Fadi-Assi-150x150.jpg 150w, https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Fadi-Assi-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px" class="wp-image-9531 webpexpress-processed">
Andrew Fortune Bassie 🇸🇱

Andrew Fortune Bassie 🇸🇱

<a href=Baba el Bekay 🇲🇷" srcset="https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Baba-el-Bekay.jpg 330w, https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Baba-el-Bekay-300x300.jpg 300w, https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Baba-el-Bekay-150x150.jpg 150w, https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Baba-el-Bekay-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="(max-width: 330px) 100vw, 330px" class="wp-image-9535 webpexpress-processed">
<a href=Mikhail Rybochkin 🇷🇺" class="wp-image-9538 webpexpress-processed">

Winner

<a href=Fadi Assi 🇸🇾" srcset="https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Fadi-Assi.jpg 350w, https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Fadi-Assi-300x300.jpg 300w, https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Fadi-Assi-150x150.jpg 150w, https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Fadi-Assi-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px" class="wp-image-9531 webpexpress-processed">
Fadi Assi is a fixer and humanitarian from Syria. Originally from Homs, he worked in tourism before the war, during which he was kidnapped no less than four times. As co-founder of the Golden Team agency in 2019, he has been partially responsible for the return of tourism to Syria. Fadi claims his agency is now the largest in the country, and foresees further growth with his company reaching 20 employees; he also sees himself as a pioneer, opening destinations such as Bosra in Southern Syria for visitors before anybody else while insisting on authentic, people-based experiences. Fadi is also the Syrian representative of iCare, aiming to help Syrian orphans with educational and other programmes.

Biggest Lpi (Low Passport Index) Traveller 2023

<a href=Johannes Ardiant 🇮🇩" class="wp-image-9541 webpexpress-processed">
<a href=Anurag Dasgupta 🇮🇳" class="wp-image-9544 webpexpress-processed">
<a href=Maliha Fairooz 🇧🇩" srcset="https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Maliha-Fairooz.jpg 300w, https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Maliha-Fairooz-150x150.jpg 150w, https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Maliha-Fairooz-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" class="wp-image-9551 webpexpress-processed">
Mercyline Masanya 🇰🇪

Mercyline Masanya 🇰🇪

<a href=Pia Dina Montemayor 🇵🇭" class="wp-image-9555 webpexpress-processed">
Pete Rojwongsuriya 🇹🇭

Pete Rojwongsuriya 🇹🇭

Winner

<a href=Maliha Fairooz 🇧🇩" srcset="https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Maliha-Fairooz.jpg 300w, https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Maliha-Fairooz-150x150.jpg 150w, https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Maliha-Fairooz-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" class="wp-image-9551 webpexpress-processed">
Maliha Fairooz is a Bangladeshi female solo adventurer who by the age of 31 has travelled to 100 countries with the 7th worst passport in the world. Maliha has been deported, detained, questioned, put in immigration prison, searched, interrogated, harassed, and assaulted, but none of these things has dampened her travelling spirit. She currently works for a human rights and democracy NGO in Berlin, whilst simultaneously creating content on Instagram and her blog, which caters to young people of colour with an adventurous spirit. Maliha is on a quest to visit 197 countries and decolonize travel in the process by sharing perspectives and stories of the places she visits from the point of view of a brown, Muslim, Bangladeshi woman.

Biggest Traveller 2023

<a href=Janie Borisov 🇦🇺" srcset="https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Janie-Borisov.jpg 359w, https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Janie-Borisov-300x300.jpg 300w, https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Janie-Borisov-150x150.jpg 150w, https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Janie-Borisov-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="(max-width: 359px) 100vw, 359px" class="wp-image-9434 webpexpress-processed">
<a href=Michele Fallucchi 🇮🇹 🇨🇭" srcset="https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Michele-Falluchi.jpg 300w, https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Michele-Falluchi-150x150.jpg 150w, https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Michele-Falluchi-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" class="wp-image-9437 webpexpress-processed">
<a href=Dominique Laurent 🇫🇷" srcset="https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Dominique-Laurent.jpg 784w, https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Dominique-Laurent-480x480.jpg 480w" sizes="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 784px, 100vw" class="wp-image-9441 webpexpress-processed">
<a href=Slawek Muturi 🇵🇱" srcset="https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Slawek-Mituri.jpg 302w, https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Slawek-Mituri-300x300.jpg 300w, https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Slawek-Mituri-150x150.jpg 150w, https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Slawek-Mituri-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="(max-width: 302px) 100vw, 302px" class="wp-image-9447 webpexpress-processed">
<a href=Ravi Prabhu 🇮🇳" srcset="https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Ravi-Prabhu.jpg 300w, https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Ravi-Prabhu-150x150.jpg 150w, https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Ravi-Prabhu-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" class="wp-image-9450 webpexpress-processed">
<a href=Anna-Katri Räihä 🇫🇮" srcset="https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/anna-katri-raiha.jpg 887w, https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/anna-katri-raiha-480x480.jpg 480w" sizes="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 887px, 100vw" class="wp-image-5514 webpexpress-processed">

Winner

<a href=Anna-Katri Räihä 🇫🇮" srcset="https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/anna-katri-raiha.jpg 887w, https://nomadmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/anna-katri-raiha-480x480.jpg 480w" sizes="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 887px, 100vw" class="wp-image-5514 webpexpress-processed">
Anna-Katri Räihä is a solo female traveller from Finland. In 2023 she became the first Finnish woman and the youngest Nordic woman to visit all UN193 countries. She lives for adventure and wants to go beyond the ordinary to explore the world in a deeper, more meaningful way. On her social media, she brings unconventional destinations to the limelight but also shatters the stereotype that only men can experience adventure travel escapades. She has been living out of a suitcase for years spending more time on the road than at home. After finishing all the countries this year, she has been forced to stay at home for several months, but she is already planning new adventures.

Previous Travel Awards

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Join Us live in Lviv or Watch Online

For the first time ever in history the NomadMania Travel Awards Event is happening live in Lviv, Ukraine.

Map Ukraine Tour and NomadMania Awards 2023

Lviv is the largest city of Western Ukraine. Being located far from the frontline, it plays a crucial role as the main logistical hub of the country. Because of its position Lviv is considered somewhat a safe haven.

Life on the streets might look somehow normal like nothing is happening. Thus many events and high profile meetings take place in Lviv due to its strategic position only 1 hour drive away from the EU and NATO border.

Map Ukraine Tour and NomadMania Awards 2023

This event will be a combination of a conference and a gala event held in the underground bunker. Participants will be treated to a mix of entertainment and immersive experiences, blending traditional Ukrainian culture and the contemporary, culminating in an enlightening and celebratory night.

See more details on the Ukraine Tour & Awards page.

Press

Our numbers

registrations on the website

active members

newsletter subscribers

%

average open rate of newsletters

Instagram followers

Facebook followers

regions explored by all members

members visited each of the 193 UN countries

But NomadMania is more than just numbers. While the statistics illustrate our extensive reach and vibrant community, the stories, experiences, and shared memories genuinely define us.

Multimedia

Meet the Team

Orest Zub 🇺🇦

Orest Zub 🇺🇦

Partner

Daniel Zagrodzki  🇵🇱

Daniel Zagrodzki 🇵🇱

IT consultant / developer

Ruth Oyindamola Folarin  🇿🇦

Ruth Oyindamola Folarin 🇿🇦

Secretary / Content Manager

Kasia Szaniawska  🇵🇱

Kasia Szaniawska 🇵🇱

PR / Communications

Yaroslav Ingulskiy  🇺🇦

Yaroslav Ingulskiy 🇺🇦

Frontend IT / Web developer

William Obinyah Tetteh  🇬🇭

William Obinyah Tetteh 🇬🇭

Associate

Should you have any questions, please, contact us, ukraine@nomadmania.com

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