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I’M SPEAKING AT THE MTP SUMMIT 2025 IN ETHIOPIA! Danakil Depression After?

Big news! I’m thrilled to announce that I’ll be one of the featured speakers at the MTP Summit 2025, taking place this year in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This isn’t just any travel conference. The MTP Summit is a global gathering of explorers, storytellers, and adventure-seekers who have dedicated their lives to understanding the world and the people in it.

To be speaking alongside some of the world’s most inspiring travellers is a huge honour, and I can’t wait to share my journey.

WHY SHOULD YOU CARE?

Good question. First, come and join me (and drink some wine with me!).

Secondly, they run epic trips before and after the event. The best one, in my opinion, and the best value one, is a trip right after the event to the Danakil Depression AKA the hottest place on earth! It’s normally $2k or so for group tours, but these guys are running it for just over $1k. Super cheap.

It’s a really hard trip to organise, and it’s one of the least visited spots on earth. You should visit when you get the chance (and this is that chance!).

What is the MTP Summit?

MTP stands for “MOST. TRAVELED. PEOPLE.”

This summit is unlike any other travel event out there. It’s a curated gathering of real-deal adventurers – people who have been to 100+ countries, rowed oceans, trekked through the Amazon, and lived with tribes. It’s not about influencer nonsense or fancy Instagram feeds. The MTP Summit is about meaningful travel, connection, and cultural understanding.

Each year, MTP chooses a different host country, and for 2025, they’ve chosen a location that couldn’t be more fitting: Ethiopia. Ancient, wild, and culturally unmatched.

Why Ethiopia?

It’s a great hub for all the trips they have before and after. Also, Addis Ababa is a buzzing hub in East Africa and the perfect gateway to the continent. Nestled at the base of Mount Entoto, the city pulses with life, colour, and history. As the headquarters of the African Union and a direct flight hub to over 30 African countries, it’s the ultimate starting point for exploring the Horn of Africa and beyond.

And Ethiopia itself? Well, if you’ve never been, you’re in for something seriously special. From the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela to the salt flats of the Danakil Depression, Ethiopia offers the kind of raw, untamed adventure that us real travellers dream of.

The Venue: Sheraton Luxury Collection Hotel

The summit will be held at the Sheraton Hotel, one of the top properties in Addis. Think lush gardens, poolside bars, and five-star service.

If you’re keen to join, the package includes 3 nights at the luxury Hilton, which is a 1.5km walk away (25min walk, 2 min taxi).

What’s Included in the MTP Summit 2025 Package:

• Full access to the Summit programme at the Sheraton
• 3 nights accommodation in a luxury hotel
• All meals included (except one dinner)
• Coffee breaks and refreshments
• A full schedule of talks, workshops, and networking sessions

You’re not just coming to listen. You’re coming to participate, connect, and be part of something special.

TICKETS:

• Hilton Hotel (Sunrise Special Offer): Book now from $840

My Talk: Extreme, Adventure Travel

During the summit, I’ll be delivering a talk on the power of saying yes. How extreme travel can bring the best out of you. How it changed my life, brought me across every country on Earth, and taught me more than any university degree ever could. From growing up on welfare in Northern Ireland to becoming a Guinness World Record-holding adventurer, I’ll share the real, unfiltered story. I ncluding the tough parts, the heartbreaks, and the mistakes.

I’ll also dive into how I built my blog, how travel led me to start a charity, and why I believe now, more than ever, that meaningful travel can change lives.

Optional Trips After the Summit

As if the summit wasn’t enough, after it wraps up, you can join fellow adventurers on trips to some of Ethiopia’s most jaw-dropping destinations

*NOTE: They have loads of trips before the event too, just check them out. All discounted)

• Danakil Depression: One of the hottest and harshest places on Earth. Think bubbling lava lakes, neon sulphur pools, and salt caravans. Price: $1100 (crazy cheap for what you get!). YOU SHOULD DO THIS!
• Lower Omo Valley: A cultural journey like no other, deep into the tribal heartlands of Ethiopia. Discover ancient customs, traditional body art, and communities living the way they have for centuries.

There are other trips on offer too, so whether you’re into culture, nature, photography, or adrenaline – there’s something for everyone.

Why You Should Come

The MTP Summit is not your average event. There are no “Travel Hack 101” talks or boring panels. This is a chance to be in the same room with people who have lived on the road, seen it all, and come back with stories that matter.

And more importantly? It’s a space to feel understood. If you’ve ever felt that your friends don’t quite get your love for travel, that they roll their eyes at your tales from Turkmenistan or your dream to visit Mauritania – this is where you’ll find your people.

Who Else Is Speaking?

Lots of very cool people, the line-up right now looks like this below, ranging from Nat Geo photographers, to the first disabled person to visit every country on earth. Pretty cool.

Final Thoughts

If you’re thinking about coming, do it. Ethiopia is calling, and so is a community of people who see the world the way you do. Come join me in Addis Ababa this November.

Come for the stories (and the wine), stay for the people. And who knows? You might just leave with a new perspective, a new plan, or even a new best friend.

I’ll see you there.

• Johnny

P.S. Bring an open mind, a notebook, and a passport with a few empty pages. You’re going to need all three.