https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset Long-form essays on walking, retreats, recovery and slow travel from Maverick Adventures: founder-led walking holidays in Spain and Croatia. en-gb Tue, 15 Sep 2026 05:34:31 GMT https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/benefits-of-trekking-physical-mental-health https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/benefits-of-trekking-physical-mental-health Tue, 15 Sep 2026 09:00:00 GMT Nenad combines a decade of trail experience with physiology and psychology research to explain ten physical, mental and social benefits of multi-day trekking. Walking & Wellbeing https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/why-we-need-things-to-look-forward-to https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/why-we-need-things-to-look-forward-to Tue, 08 Sep 2026 09:00:00 GMT Having something to look forward to changes how you experience the time before it happens. Alex explores the research behind positive anticipation, why we are so good at putting ourselves last, and why a date in the calendar, whether a 5-day walking retreat or dinner with friends, can change the feel of an entire week. Mindset & Growth https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/multi-day-trekking-benefits-transformation https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/multi-day-trekking-benefits-transformation Tue, 01 Sep 2026 09:00:00 GMT Modern life traps us in air-conditioned bubbles. Multi-day trekking is an initiation back into raw human vitality: 4 to 6 hours of daily walking rebuilds your cardiovascular system, sculpts functional muscle, hardens bone density, resets your metabolism and hormones, grows new mitochondria, and crushes chronic stress hormones. Nenad breaks down the ten physical transformations that no gym can replicate, and how the 5-day Camino del Sol from Málaga to Marbella delivers them. Walking & Wellbeing https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/how-i-got-hooked-to-walking https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/how-i-got-hooked-to-walking Tue, 25 Aug 2026 09:00:00 GMT Nenad Popovic used to avoid walking at all costs. Days after coming through depression and addiction he ditched the car, started walking every day with audiobooks in his ears, and never stopped. This is how a daily walking habit turned into 20,000km, a 700km charity walk across Serbia, the Camino Catalan from Barcelona to Finisterra, and eventually a business. Stories https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/camino-del-sol-vs-camino-de-santiago https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/camino-del-sol-vs-camino-de-santiago Tue, 18 Aug 2026 09:00:00 GMT The Camino de Santiago is a 9th century pilgrimage of 286 routes, walked mostly solo, 25 to 35km a day. The Camino del Sol is a curated 5-day, 66km coastal retreat for a maximum of 10 Mavericks with everything organised. Nenad, who walked 1,400km coast to coast from Barcelona, breaks down the real differences and which one suits you. Guides https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/london-walking-events-maverick-adventures-launch https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/london-walking-events-maverick-adventures-launch Tue, 11 Aug 2026 09:00:00 GMT We launched our London walking social events with a group walk from Camden Town through King's Cross, Angel, Islington, Shoreditch and Spitalfields, across Tower Bridge and along the Thames Path to a river pub opposite Big Ben. Nenad on what happened, what we learned, and why healthy inclusivity sits at the centre of it. Stories https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/why-we-changed-8-day-camino-del-sol-to-5-days https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/why-we-changed-8-day-camino-del-sol-to-5-days Tue, 04 Aug 2026 09:00:00 GMT We built the Camino del Sol as an 8-day, experience-packed retreat. Our Mavericks told us something different: fewer holiday days, continuous walking, no side excursions, more time to connect. Nenad explains why we scrapped the 8-day retreat and what the 5-day Camino del Sol offers instead. Reflections https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/120km-sid-to-belgrade-walk-mental-physical-health https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/120km-sid-to-belgrade-walk-mental-physical-health Tue, 28 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMT On his 39th birthday, Nenad walked 120km from Šid on the Serbian border to Republic Square in Belgrade in under 24 hours. A village spit roast at kilometre 8, beers with a former Serbian sprint champion at midnight, a stray pup guided to safety, and a stranger from LinkedIn who paced him through the final 35km. Stories https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/walking-larnaka-airport-ayia-napa-50km-cyprus https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/walking-larnaka-airport-ayia-napa-50km-cyprus Tue, 21 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMT For my 30th birthday I landed in Larnaka at 1am and walked 50km through the night to Ayia Napa with my brother Nenad and a 24 year old Cypriot named Oleg. Sunrise over the sea, cold beers at Savino's Rock Bar at 3am, the giant potato of Xylofagou, and thirteen hours of moving on foot across Cyprus during Men's Mental Health Month. Stories https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/malaga-to-estepona-walking-retreat-camino-del-sol-recap https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/malaga-to-estepona-walking-retreat-camino-del-sol-recap Tue, 14 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMT Our second Camino del Sol retreat covered 100km from Málaga to Estepona over five days with two new Mavericks, Hans and Sara. This is Alex's honest field report: the boardwalks, the A7 stretch that demands more than fitness, the extra kilometre after 25km, and what actually happens when strangers walk a coastline together. Stories https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/remembering-how-to-walk-kopitnik-slovenia https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/remembering-how-to-walk-kopitnik-slovenia Thu, 09 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMT A first-person field report from a Saturday climb up Kopitnik (914m) in Slovenia with three friends: 12.55km, 763m of elevation, Kranjske kobasice and ričet at Koča na Kopitniku, a hand-cranked Cicka cable car over the Sava, and calamari at Flosar. What a heavier, older body relearns when you ask it to walk again. Insights https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/group-walking-retreat-vs-solo https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/group-walking-retreat-vs-solo Tue, 07 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMT Solo walking retreats sound romantic. In practice they hand you the logistics, the risk, and a lot of silence. Here is what an organised group walking retreat gives you that a solo trip cannot, from safety to shared achievement to genuine connection. Walking & Wellbeing https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/benefits-of-walking-mental-physical-health https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/benefits-of-walking-mental-physical-health Tue, 30 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT The benefits of walking for mental and physical health are hard to overstate. A practical, science-backed look at why a daily walk does more for your heart, mood, sleep and mind than almost anything else. Walking & Wellbeing https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/croatia-founders-retreat-rab-island https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/croatia-founders-retreat-rab-island Tue, 23 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT Inside the Maverick Adventures Croatia Founders Retreat on Rab Island: the setting, Villa Papalina, the boat day, the Founders' Roundtable, the food, and who this founders' escape is built for. Croatia Retreat https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/walking-larnaka-airport-to-ayia-napa-50km-cyprus-recap https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/walking-larnaka-airport-to-ayia-napa-50km-cyprus-recap Tue, 16 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT Nenad recaps the 50km walk from Larnaka Airport to Ayia Napa: 1am arrivals, Savino's Rock Bar, a Cypriot sunrise, John's Way in Dhekelia, Ormideia, Xylofagou and the finish line. The real story of walking across southern Cyprus in summer. Adventure https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/malaga-to-estepona-walk-recap https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/malaga-to-estepona-walk-recap Tue, 09 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT A first-person recap of the Camino del Sol 2.0 retreat (26-30 May 2026): two Mavericks, 100km from Málaga to Estepona, and a brother-sister bond built one kilometre at a time. Retreat Recap https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/50km-night-walk-larnaka-airport-ayia-napa-cyprus https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/50km-night-walk-larnaka-airport-ayia-napa-cyprus Tue, 02 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT At 1am, brothers Nenad and Alex Popovic step off a plane at Larnaka Airport and start walking 50km to Ayia Napa. A midnight mission for mental health, resilience and the maverick spirit. Adventure https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/how-camino-del-sol-was-born-malaga-marbella-65km https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/how-camino-del-sol-was-born-malaga-marbella-65km Tue, 26 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT The true origin story of the Camino del Sol walking retreat: how one solo 65km walk from Málaga to Marbella in 2023, sparked by a sarcastic dad joke, became the blueprint for Maverick Adventures' founder-led Costa del Sol retreats. Origin Story https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/33-people-two-walks-estepona-marbella-may-2026 https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/33-people-two-walks-estepona-marbella-may-2026 Tue, 19 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT In May 2026 we led two walks from Estepona to Marbella with 33 people from across the world. Here's what happened, who showed up, and why this route never gets old. Community Walk https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/benefits-of-long-distance-walking https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/benefits-of-long-distance-walking Tue, 12 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT Long-distance walking is one of the oldest forms of human movement, and science increasingly confirms it may also be one of the most powerful medicines we have. Ten evidence-backed benefits of regularly walking 25km or more. Mindset & Approach https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/walking-best-therapy-not-paying-for https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/walking-best-therapy-not-paying-for Tue, 05 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT Therapy has its place, but for the everyday weight of modern life, walking in nature may be the most effective, accessible and underused intervention available. Here are seven reasons why. Mindset & Approach https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/what-camino-de-santiago-taught-me-about-walking-life https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/what-camino-de-santiago-taught-me-about-walking-life Tue, 28 Apr 2026 09:00:00 GMT I'd never heard of the Camino de Santiago. Two weeks later I was walking 300km from Porto to Santiago de Compostela, alone. This is what happened on that walk, and why it became the foundation for everything I'm building now. Founder Story https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/walked-100km-malaga-to-estepona-first-retreat https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/walked-100km-malaga-to-estepona-first-retreat Tue, 21 Apr 2026 09:00:00 GMT We started in Malaga. The plan was to finish in Marbella. It didn't quite go that way. This is the full story of our first ever Camino del Sol retreat. Retreat Stories https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/why-book-camino-del-sol-over-a-call https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/why-book-camino-del-sol-over-a-call Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:00:00 GMT You're ready to commit to the Camino del Sol. So why do we ask you to book a call first? Because this isn't a checkout page experience. It's a walking retreat that starts with a real conversation. Retreat Guide https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/is-camino-del-sol-right-for-you https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/is-camino-del-sol-right-for-you Tue, 07 Apr 2026 09:00:00 GMT Not sure if the Camino del Sol is for you? Here's an honest breakdown of who thrives on our 5-day walking retreat from Malaga to Marbella, who should sit it out, and what you'll actually experience along the way. Retreat Guide https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/malaga-to-marbella-walk-camino-del-sol https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/malaga-to-marbella-walk-camino-del-sol Tue, 31 Mar 2026 09:00:00 GMT The Camino del Sol is not your typical walking holiday. 5 days walking from Malaga to Marbella along the Costa del Sol. Here's what the journey looks like, what you'll experience, and how to join. Retreat Guide https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/skiing-after-acl-surgery https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/skiing-after-acl-surgery Tue, 24 Mar 2026 09:00:00 GMT After tearing my ACL during Muay Thai training, I spent months rebuilding strength through rehab. This is the story of returning to skiing in Morzine and Avoriaz and what ACL recovery really takes. Founder Story https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/fear-of-long-distance-walking https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/fear-of-long-distance-walking Tue, 17 Mar 2026 09:00:00 GMT The thought of walking 20, 30, or even 50 kilometres in a day feels intimidating. But fear of long-distance walking isn't necessarily a bad thing. Once understood properly, it can guide you toward growth, resilience and joy. Mindset & Approach https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/ultra-walk-malaga-airport-estepona-93km https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/ultra-walk-malaga-airport-estepona-93km Tue, 10 Mar 2026 09:00:00 GMT I landed in Malaga at 1:30am. Most people would grab a taxi. I walked 93 kilometres home to Estepona along the Costa del Sol, through the night and into the next afternoon. Founder Story https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/meet-nenad-popovic https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/meet-nenad-popovic Tue, 03 Mar 2026 09:00:00 GMT I didn't start walking for health benefits at first. I started walking in 2018 because the more hours I spent walking, the more podcasts I listened to and consumed other people's inspirational hero stories. Walking helped change my life philosophy. Founder Story https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/walking-discipline-when-motivation-gone https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/walking-discipline-when-motivation-gone Tue, 17 Feb 2026 09:00:00 GMT Motivation is unreliable. Anyone who has trained, built something, or stayed consistent with anything longer than a few months knows this. Walking doesn't ask for motivation. It gives you a structure where discipline can quietly rebuild itself. Mindset & Approach https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/why-rab-island-croatia-fitness-retreat https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/why-rab-island-croatia-fitness-retreat Mon, 09 Feb 2026 09:00:00 GMT When we started planning our Croatia retreat, we could have gone with the obvious choices. Dubrovnik, Split, Hvar. They're beautiful, but they're packed. Rab is different. Destination Guide https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/estepona-marbella-final-walk-january-2026 https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/estepona-marbella-final-walk-january-2026 Tue, 03 Feb 2026 09:00:00 GMT Saturday's walk from Estepona to Marbella was a proper way to close out the month. After a week of non-stop rain, the day we met was dry, warm, and calm. Community Walk https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/walking-burnout-reset-professionals https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/walking-burnout-reset-professionals Tue, 27 Jan 2026 09:00:00 GMT I didn't get into walking because I was looking for answers. It happened gradually, almost accidentally, through spending more time on my feet and realising that certain things in my head became quieter when I walked for long enough. Mindset & Approach https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/first-walk-with-friends https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/first-walk-with-friends Tue, 20 Jan 2026 09:00:00 GMT The first time we walked from Estepona to Marbella was on the 20th of September 2025. Five guys. A never-ending stretch of coastline. And a beautiful, sunny day. Founder Story https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/earned-change-walking-retreats https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/earned-change-walking-retreats Thu, 15 Jan 2026 09:00:00 GMT I don't believe in transformation that fits inside an Instagram caption. If change doesn't taste like salt, sweat, blister-fluid, and the metallic aftertaste of your own excuses dying... it's not change but hollow marketing. Mindset https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/estepona-marbella-coastal-walk-january-2026 https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/estepona-marbella-coastal-walk-january-2026 Tue, 13 Jan 2026 09:00:00 GMT Sunday's walk from Estepona to Marbella couldn't have been better. A great group. Perfect weather. A successful challenge for everyone. Community Walk https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/meet-alex-popovic https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/meet-alex-popovic Tue, 06 Jan 2026 09:00:00 GMT I started training in the gym at 15 because I was getting bullied and I wanted to feel stronger. Be more capable. Like some people, the gym became my safe zone. Founder Story https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/estepona-duquesa-walk-january-2026 https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/estepona-duquesa-walk-january-2026 Sun, 04 Jan 2026 09:00:00 GMT Some walks are planned weeks in advance. Others happen because a few people decide to show up and walk, despite the uncertainty. This one was the second kind. Community Walk https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/boxing-day-walk-estepona-marbella-2025 https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/boxing-day-walk-estepona-marbella-2025 Sat, 27 Dec 2025 09:00:00 GMT Most people spend Boxing Day recovering from Christmas. This year, a small group of us walked 32km from Estepona to Marbella instead. Here's why starting while others wait creates real momentum. Community Walk https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/walking-retreat-fitness-guide https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/walking-retreat-fitness-guide Thu, 25 Dec 2025 09:00:00 GMT Most people get scared when they see the distances. But the question isn't about fitness levels — it's about mindset, dedication, and consistency. Any human can go from 0km to 20km daily in 30 days. Mindset & Approach https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/estepona-marbella-walk-how-to-prepare https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/estepona-marbella-walk-how-to-prepare Tue, 23 Dec 2025 09:00:00 GMT Planning on joining our 32km Estepona to Marbella coastal walk? Here's how to prepare: shoes, water, pacing, terrain, stops, and what to expect on the day. Gear & Preparation https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/estepona-marbella-32km-december-2025 https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/estepona-marbella-32km-december-2025 Sun, 21 Dec 2025 09:00:00 GMT This past Saturday at 8:00am, we left Estepona Marina. The sky slowly lit up behind us as the sun rose over the sea. By late afternoon, 11 strangers had become friends after walking 32km along the Costa del Sol. Community Walk https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/should-you-use-hiking-poles https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/should-you-use-hiking-poles Thu, 18 Dec 2025 09:00:00 GMT This topic has been an ongoing debate amongst walkers for many years. But the real question isn't should they simply be used but rather, 'why' and 'when' they should be used? Duration plays a significant role. Gear & Preparation https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/what-blisters-teach-us https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/what-blisters-teach-us Tue, 16 Dec 2025 09:00:00 GMT Everyone hates blisters, right? But what if blisters had a deeper meaning — not about pain, but persistence and dedication? Here's what walking through discomfort really teaches us. Mindset https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/estepona-marbella-walk-december-2025 https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/estepona-marbella-walk-december-2025 Thu, 11 Dec 2025 09:00:00 GMT This past Saturday, ten people who had never met before gathered at Estepona Marina. By late afternoon, after 32 kilometres and 45,000 steps, those ten strangers became friends. Community Walk https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/stop-being-tourist-become-traveller https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/stop-being-tourist-become-traveller Tue, 09 Dec 2025 09:00:00 GMT The most beautiful thing about travelling isn't the destination — it's the people and experiences you share along the way. When you look back on your trips, what do you actually remember? Travel & Culture https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/tourist-vs-traveller https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/tourist-vs-traveller Thu, 04 Dec 2025 09:00:00 GMT To most people they probably seem the same. But are they really? Think about your last trip. Did you really explore your destination? Did you wander down random roads and hear local stories? Travel & Culture https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/slowing-down-by-walking-forward https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/slowing-down-by-walking-forward Tue, 02 Dec 2025 09:00:00 GMT The crunch of gravel under your feet. The scent of fresh tar off old pavement. The gentle tickle of new-to-you leaves on your fingertips. If you've ever completed a long journey on foot, taking yourself back to that place is as simple as closing your eyes and remembering the sensations. Mindset https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/first-retreat-starts-on-foot https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/first-retreat-starts-on-foot Thu, 27 Nov 2025 09:00:00 GMT Our first Maverick Adventures retreat is built around walking. Not yoga. Not therapy. Not comfort zones. Walking is the simplest and most powerful way to rebuild strength — physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually. Here's why we chose it. Adventure https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/when-theres-no-wall https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/when-theres-no-wall Tue, 25 Nov 2025 09:00:00 GMT I used to lie about why I walk. The real reason? Fear. Growing up in 90s Russia with violence, dysfunction, and restless legs syndrome, walking became my survival mechanism. Here's the raw truth about how walking saved my life. Personal Story https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/acl-recovery-walking https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/acl-recovery-walking Tue, 04 Nov 2025 09:00:00 GMT When I tore my ACL in 2023, I didn't realize how much I'd taken walking for granted. Here's how walking became my most powerful rehabilitation tool. Recovery https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/escape-now-more-than-ever https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/escape-now-more-than-ever Thu, 30 Oct 2025 09:00:00 GMT Everything's changed. We can travel freely, yet we spend most of our time on technology. It's time to travel with purpose, meet locals, and create real stories — not just visit tourist attractions. Travel & Culture https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/architecture-of-change https://maverick-adventures.com/maverick-mindset/architecture-of-change Thu, 16 Oct 2025 09:00:00 GMT Most people don't change because someone told them to. They change because something inside of them finally refuses to stay the same. Walking creates that moment. Mindset