Nick Matthews
Founder & Global Guru
“After a life-saving neck operation in 2001, Nick decided to end his successful 20-year publishing career at Newsweek International and, “because I’ve always wanted to”, take a 2-year sabbatical around the world.
Nick’s journey initially took him overland through the silk road countries of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Pakistan and then up along the Karakoram highway into Kashgar in North West China, then by 4WD across Tibet via Lhasa into Kathmandu, Nepal.


Countries soon to follow were northern India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar (Burma), Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore. Certain animals, birds and fish were on his bucket list as well as a boating experience so Borneo for Orang Utangs, Indonesia for Komodo Dragons, Papua New Guinea for birds of paradise and the Solomon Islands to attain a dive master certificate/tick the fish box both visually and on rod and line as well as sail on a catamaran through its Maravo and Vona Vona lagoons.

Driving a 4WD land cruiser through the Kimberley region of North West Australia just had to be done so a trip camping all the way from Broome to Darwin and then from Cape Tribulation to Adelaide soon addressed this urge! New Zealand north and south with his old mate Jon Perry was a great personal experience. Then it was time for South America – a new Continent to Nick but certainly still his favourite. Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina. This saw the end of this particular dream. Time for the next – laterallife!
Nick founded laterallife in 2004. Since starting laterallife Nick has added Guatemala, Belize, Mexico, more Sri Lanka and India experiences, Bhutan, Japan, outer Indonesian islands/Sulawesi, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Malawi, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa to his travel CV with many more still on his radar.

Laterallife’s strength lies in Nick’s own experiences and love of travelling and life.”