About Me
My name is Gilles, and I am a French Traveller and Photographer who has been discovering the world for over 25 years. These journeys – some short, others longer like two „Trips Around the World” in 2007 and in 2015, took me to more than 70 countries on all continents except Antarctica.
My travel style followed the walks of life, one might say… I have never been a budget backpacker travelling the toughest and cheapest possible way, but I have long been an experienced rucksack traveller who appreciated a minimum level of comfort, trying not only to discover world famous sights but also choosing more “off the beaten track” experiences. Now the (proud) father of 3, I stick to easier, more common and safer travel destinations (whatever easy and safe means). That might change again as the kids grow, and we gain experience as a “travelling family”…
It is never too late…
A trip through Senegal in 2002 in a “Taxi Brousse” started it all! Back then, I had no experience of independent travel, and even less of countries outside of Europe or Northern America. In the 20 years that followed, I have dreamt and organized trips to Africa, South & Central America, Asia, the Middle East and more recently Europe (with the kids).
On a personal note
After graduating from NEOMA Management School in Reims (France) in 1996, I left Paris, my hometown, to work in Germany for five year. Afterwards, I moved to Vienna, Austria, where I spent almost 15 years. I finally decided in 2015 to come back to France, for personal reasons.
I have been working approx. 20 years in various positions in Sales, Business Development & Management, first in Internet DotComs – during the great hype and the even greater crash – then joined the printing industry in 2002, before returning to Entrepreneurship & Start-Ups in 2016, in International Business Development positions.
Travel Photography, Travel Blogging
Before I started my trip Around The World in 2007, I created my first website OneYearOff.net. At this point it was meant to be my Travel Dairy, since I realized that without clearly reflecting and writing down so many strong impressions, a lot would be lost. That is why I chose the format of rather detailed entries.
To my surprise, lots of people visited this website and I received much friendly feedback as to how useful the site was. Considering that I do not write regularly but only after a trip, this success was indeed astonishing. That is why I created GrandEscapades in 2014, a blog that also mirrors the evolution of my travel style throughout the years.
As a Travel Photographer, I must have taken 200.000 pictures over the years. More than 1.200 (and counting) are now listed with one of the leading, fastest growing Stock Image Agency, ImageBroker in Munich.
Here you find a selection of pictures of me through 20+ years of travelling…
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- 2022 – in the Wahiba Sands, Sultanat of Oman
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- 2022 – in the Wahiba Sands, Sultanat of Oman
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- 2019 – Ait Ben Haddou, Morocco
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- 2018 – Hamn i Senja, Norway
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- 2017 – Wat Mahat That, Ayutthaya, Thailand
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- 2017 – Scuba Diving in Koh Haa, Koh Lanta, Thailand
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- 2017 – In the streets of Cartagena de Indias, Colombia
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- 2016 – El Estrecho, Rio Magdalena, Colombia
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- 2016 – Train from Kandy to Nuwera Eliya, Sri Lanka
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- 2015 – Erta Ale in the Danakil Depression, Ethiopia
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- 2015 – Hyenas Feeding, Harar, Ethiopia
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- 2015 – The Pantanal, Brazil – It’s Never Too Late To Make A Fool Of Yourself!
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- 2014 – Bagan, Myanmar
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- 2014 – Bagan, Myanmar
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- 2014 – Bagan, Myanmar
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- 2014 – With Chum Mey, Survivor of Security Office 21 or S21 of Tuol Sleng, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
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- 2014 – Lake Malawi, Malawi – Malawean Kwachas – Approx. 280 €
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- 2014 – Kashan, Iran
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- 2013 – Ladakh, India – Passing Tagang La, the second highest motorable pass in the world
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- 2013 – Turtuk, the last village in the Shyok Valley before the Pakistani border, Baltistan, India
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- 2013 – Ladakh, India – Passing Khardung La, the highest motorable road in the world, at 5.602 meters, on the way to the Nubra Valley from Leh
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- 2013 – Holi Festival in Bundi, India
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- 2013 – Scuba Diving in the Fjords of Musandam, Sultanat of Oman
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- 2012 – in the Wahiba Sands, Sultanat of Oman
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- 2012 – Gilles – Antelope Park, near Gweru, Zimbabwe
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- 2012 – Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
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- 2012 – Masuma Dam, Hwange National Park (Sinamatella Camp Area), Zimbabwe
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- 2012 – Itimad-ud-Daulah, better known as the “Baby Taj”, Agra, India
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- 2012 – Taj Mahal, Agra, India – It’s Never Too Late To Make A Fool Of Yourself!
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- 2011 – Semliki National Park, Uganda, Africa
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- 2009 – Taroa Beach, Punta Gallinas, La Guajira, Colombia
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- 2009 – Villa de Leyva, Colombia
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- 2008 – Wenbi Monastery, Lijiang, Yunnun, China
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- 2008 – Leshan, near Chengdu, China
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- 2008 – Tongariro National Park, New Zealand
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- 2008 – Slope Point, the southernmost point in New Zealand
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- 2008 – Riding on our scooter … On the runway! (a short-cut), Atiu Island, Cook Islands
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- 2008 – Rarotonga, Cook Islands
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- 2007 – Discovering the Working Conditions of the Mineros del Diabolo, Cerro Rico, Potosi, Bolivia
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- 2007 – During the “Southwest Loop” or “Salar de Uyuni Tour” in Bolivia – Here at 4.855 meters above sea level!
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- 2007 – Aguas Qualientes, near Machu Picchu, Peru
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- 2007 – Crossing the border from Venezuela to Brazil
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- 2007 – Fernando de Noronha, Brazil
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- 2005 – Dogon Country, Mali
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- 2002 – Zinginshor, Casamance, Senegal
If you wish to contact me: Gilles (AT) GrandEscapades.net
