--- title: "#42 How do over 21 000 km on long-distance treks change you? Matúš Lašan" description: "What happens when thru-hiking becomes a lifestyle? ⛰️ Matúš Lašan came to the podcast to tell us about it – a doctor who says himself, \"You catch long-distance crossings once – and then there's no helping you.\"" canonical_url: "https://gramino.com/blog/21000-km-on-long-distance-treks-matus-lasan" last_updated: "2025-07-31" --- # #42 How do over 21 000 km on long-distance treks change you? Matúš Lašan Authors: David Czempka Date: 2025-07-31 What happens when thru-hiking becomes a lifestyle? ⛰️ Matúš Lašan came to the podcast to tell us about it – a doctor who says himself, "You catch long-distance crossings once – and then there's no helping you." What happens when thru-hiking becomes a lifestyle? Matúš Lašan came to the podcast to tell us about it – a doctor who says himself, "You catch long-distance crossings once – and then there's no helping you." These days he's mainly an adventurer, traveler, thru-hiker, photographer, and writer who (together with his wife Anna) already has over 21 000 kilometers under his belt. In recent years, they've managed, for example, to cross New Zealand's Te Araroa twice (3 000 km), hike the Greater Patagonian Trail (2 600 km), and cross Iceland (3 000 km) and Europe from east to west (6 330 km). Don't expect a detailed account of a single trek. This conversation is more of a deeper reflection on Matúš's approach to adventure, on what treks have taken from him and given him, and on how hard coming home from a journey can be. But you'll also learn practical things – like how Matúš prepares physically or how he handles food. 🎧 Play this long-awaited episode and get ready for what might await you one day too, if you take your first step into the unknown. ## **🎧 Where can you listen to the podcast?** - [YouTube](https://youtu.be/NvCygDhtOKw?si=cc-u39XjHbj5U-Dz) - [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/episode/78cG3lyDLUTG565aTZ4lxo?si=gVNGI56ySFyjYKvcamDO2Q) - [Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/cz/podcast/42-jak-t%C4%9B-zm%C4%9Bn%C3%AD-21-000-km-na-d%C3%A1lkov%C3%BDch-trec%C3%ADch-mat%C3%BA%C5%A1-la%C5%A1an/id1612950422?i=1000720190355) [Video](https://youtu.be/NvCygDhtOKw) ## 🧔🏻‍♂️ Guest: Matúš Lašan - [Instagram Matúš Lašan](https://www.instagram.com/matus.lasan/) - [Facebook Matúš Lašan](https://www.facebook.com/lasan.mat) - [Matúš Lašan's website](https://www.matuslasan.com/) ## 📖 Chapters [0:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvCygDhtOKw&list=PLzAPgal8-IHPBXnY3lnr3LsUDhNSrff9X&index=2) – Intro [0:43](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvCygDhtOKw&list=PLzAPgal8-IHPBXnY3lnr3LsUDhNSrff9X&index=2&t=43s) – Intro [3:10](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvCygDhtOKw&list=PLzAPgal8-IHPBXnY3lnr3LsUDhNSrff9X&index=2&t=190s) – Thoughts on thru-hiking [4:39](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvCygDhtOKw&list=PLzAPgal8-IHPBXnY3lnr3LsUDhNSrff9X&index=2&t=279s) – Stats [6:13](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvCygDhtOKw&list=PLzAPgal8-IHPBXnY3lnr3LsUDhNSrff9X&index=2&t=373s) – Completed treks [8:56](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvCygDhtOKw&list=PLzAPgal8-IHPBXnY3lnr3LsUDhNSrff9X&index=2&t=536s) – From hiking partner to wife [10:32](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvCygDhtOKw&list=PLzAPgal8-IHPBXnY3lnr3LsUDhNSrff9X&index=2&t=632s) – First long-distance treks [12:42](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvCygDhtOKw&list=PLzAPgal8-IHPBXnY3lnr3LsUDhNSrff9X&index=2&t=762s) – What's new at Gramino [13:42](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvCygDhtOKw&list=PLzAPgal8-IHPBXnY3lnr3LsUDhNSrff9X&index=2&t=822s) – Physical preparation [18:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvCygDhtOKw&list=PLzAPgal8-IHPBXnY3lnr3LsUDhNSrff9X&index=2&t=1110s) – Relationship with the mountains [19:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvCygDhtOKw&list=PLzAPgal8-IHPBXnY3lnr3LsUDhNSrff9X&index=2&t=1155s) – Photography and video making [24:56](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvCygDhtOKw&list=PLzAPgal8-IHPBXnY3lnr3LsUDhNSrff9X&index=2&t=1496s) – Personal sacrifices [27:29](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvCygDhtOKw&list=PLzAPgal8-IHPBXnY3lnr3LsUDhNSrff9X&index=2&t=1649s) – Motivation [29:27](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvCygDhtOKw&list=PLzAPgal8-IHPBXnY3lnr3LsUDhNSrff9X&index=2&t=1767s) – Coming back home [31:40](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvCygDhtOKw&list=PLzAPgal8-IHPBXnY3lnr3LsUDhNSrff9X&index=2&t=1900s) – Traveling as a couple [35:03](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvCygDhtOKw&list=PLzAPgal8-IHPBXnY3lnr3LsUDhNSrff9X&index=2&t=2103s) – New book [36:31](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvCygDhtOKw&list=PLzAPgal8-IHPBXnY3lnr3LsUDhNSrff9X&index=2&t=2191s) – Choosing and planning treks [41:58](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvCygDhtOKw&list=PLzAPgal8-IHPBXnY3lnr3LsUDhNSrff9X&index=2&t=2518s) – Food on the trail [49:22](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvCygDhtOKw&list=PLzAPgal8-IHPBXnY3lnr3LsUDhNSrff9X&index=2&t=2962s) – Ultralight gear [55:09](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvCygDhtOKw&list=PLzAPgal8-IHPBXnY3lnr3LsUDhNSrff9X&index=2&t=3309s) – Surprising experiences in Europe [59:51](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvCygDhtOKw&list=PLzAPgal8-IHPBXnY3lnr3LsUDhNSrff9X&index=2&t=3591s) – Crossing borders in the Balkans [1:02:09](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvCygDhtOKw&list=PLzAPgal8-IHPBXnY3lnr3LsUDhNSrff9X&index=2&t=3729s) – Unpleasant experiences [1:05:57](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvCygDhtOKw&list=PLzAPgal8-IHPBXnY3lnr3LsUDhNSrff9X&index=2&t=3957s) – Fun facts from Te Araroa [1:07:16](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvCygDhtOKw&list=PLzAPgal8-IHPBXnY3lnr3LsUDhNSrff9X&index=2&t=4036s) – Plans for the future [1:08:10](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvCygDhtOKw&list=PLzAPgal8-IHPBXnY3lnr3LsUDhNSrff9X&index=2&t=4090s) – Tips for beginner hikers [1:10:25](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvCygDhtOKw&list=PLzAPgal8-IHPBXnY3lnr3LsUDhNSrff9X&index=2&t=4225s) – How long-distance treks change a person [1:13:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvCygDhtOKw&list=PLzAPgal8-IHPBXnY3lnr3LsUDhNSrff9X&index=2&t=4395s) – Recent joys [1:14:01](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvCygDhtOKw&list=PLzAPgal8-IHPBXnY3lnr3LsUDhNSrff9X&index=2&t=4441s) – Wrap-up Happy listening! 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