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The most fascinating, inspiring and unique travel tattoos & their stories!

Nic (The Roaming Renegades) - Last updated on June 3rd, 2023 at 2:27 pm

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The Roaming Renegades (Us!) Travel is such a

Chapters

  1. The Roaming Renegades (Us!)
  2. Buddy the travelling Monkey!
  3. Eride from Queidue!
  4. Thomas from Amid The Ruins
  5. Sarah from Live, Dream, Discover
  6. Will - The Broke Backpacker
  7. Nina from Where in the World is Nina?
  8. Amelie from Mostly Amelie!
  9. Nick & Dariece from Goats on the Road
  10. Vanessa from The Island Drum
  11. Alice from Teacake Travels
  12. Rob from 2 Travel Dads
  13. Guilherme from Slow Spirit
  14. Shara from Skj Travel
  15. Do You Have A Travel Tattoo?

The Roaming Renegades (Us!)

Travel is such a huge part of our lives that we have several travel-related tattoos…most of them on me (Nic!) I was once even a tattoo apprentice a few years back and after finishing my degree in Fine Art wanted to pursue tattooing as a career…well that was before I was bitten by the wanderlust bug! I have 13 tattoos in total and all of them mean a great deal to me, I am someone who is very passionate and wears my heart on my sleeve (literally!). Tattoos for me are a way of marking memories, places people or times that were important to you, shaped you or left a mark on you.

The first below represents our love for New York, a place that will always hold our hearts and the location we chose to get married! I picked out some of my favourite places such as the Brooklyn Bridge and the Chrysler building as well as the 7 train to represent the NY Mets!

This one is our most recent…I say us as we decided to get matching tattoos to remember what turned out to be the trip of a lifetime over to Switzerland in the summer of 2015! The mountains in the background are the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau of the Bernese Alps. The writing “Get busy living” was also used by one of the adventure companies in Interlaken as well as being from one of our favourite films The Shawshank Redemption. It resonates quite powerfully with us that you must live every day to the fullest!

The next two tattoos are old-school sailor Jerry inspired to represent my general wanderlust! From images of the globe, flowers picked from foreign lands, the ship sailing off for new shores and the freedom of the birds, these tattoos are full of symbolism for a life of adventure and exploration!

A travel tattoo of New York featuring the Chrysler building, brooklyn bridge and a 7 line logo. In the background is a purple sunset sky and there are waves next to the bridge with a banner reading "NYC 13.06.13"

Buddy the travelling Monkey!

I had wanted a travel tattoo for a while. It was just a matter of figuring out what to get. A map? A globe? A plane? I wanted it to be different though; something of my own creation. I’m not sure at what point I thought of doing something resembling an EKG line. After a few initial ideas, I finally came up with a drawing that I loved.

I wanted to represent my hometown of Miami and I have a thing for palm trees, so the first part of it was easy. Then, the word “wanderlust” because it is a desire that I have felt all of my life. And finally, a plane to represent going out and seeing the world.

Buddy blogs at: www.buddythetravelingmonkey.com

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Eride from Queidue!

No, it’s not a Templar Cross, it’s a Maltese Cross! I have lived 2 years and a half in Malta, the small European island in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. I love tattoos so I got this one since the cross is the symbol of Malta and its archipelago in order to remember forever this amazing life experience. Fortunately, it did not hurt at all!

Eride blogs at: www.queidue.it

Thomas from Amid The Ruins

have the Gao Yord Sak Yant tattoo. A monk in Thailand skewered me with a piece of bamboo dipped in an ink made from bamboo ash and snake venom, inscribing 20 magic spells inside an image of Mt.Meru, topped with nine Buddhas, at the top of my back. I went to Wat Bang Phra, a temple about an hour and a half northwest of Bangkok. My tattoo is a representation of Mt Meru, the central world mountain of Hindu and Buddhist mythology, and which Angkor Wat is also patterned after.

Thomas blogs at: www.AmidtheRuins.com

Tattoos, tattoo, ink, wanderlust, Thai, traditional, Philippines, Angkor wat, adventure, hipster, meaningful, stories, New York, Switzerland, Shawshank redemption, birds, old school, 13, Buddhist, Mt Meru, sak yant tattoo, Gao Yord, bamboo tattoo, Whang Od, Mamababatok, Will Hatton, The Broke Backpacker, Goats on the road, Tea Cake Travels, 2 Travel Dads, Slow Spirit, Mostly Amelie!, Where in the World is Nina?, Live, Dream, Discover,

Sarah from Live, Dream, Discover

It took me more than 40 years to get my first tattoo and it was born of a love for travel as well as in memory of my Dad who inspired the wanderlust in me at a very young age. The tattoo is a mix of a compass and the world signifying travel; a bird and an anchor for a balance of freedom and stability; and the words Explore, Dream, Discover taken from the Mark Twain poem which also inspired my blog name. Live Dream Discover – A Story Of Life, Death, Tattoos & Travel

I recently got my second travel tattoo while in Thailand. It was an incredible experience because it is a sacred Sak Yant bamboo tattoo chosen and given to me by a Buddhist monk. My design is the Gao Yord and it has nine spires each with a different blessing for protection and good luck in life and travel. How to Get a Sak Yant Bamboo Tattoo in Thailand

Sarah blogs at: www.livedreamdiscover.com

Tattoos, tattoo, ink, wanderlust, Thai, traditional, Philippines, Angkor wat, adventure, hipster, meaningful, stories, New York, Switzerland, Shawshank redemption, birds, old school, 13, Buddhist, Mt Meru, sak yant tattoo, Gao Yord, bamboo tattoo, Whang Od, Mamababatok, Will Hatton, The Broke Backpacker, Goats on the road, Tea Cake Travels, 2 Travel Dads, Slow Spirit, Mostly Amelie!, Where in the World is Nina?, Live, Dream, Discover,
Tattoos, tattoo, ink, wanderlust, Thai, traditional, Philippines, Angkor wat, adventure, hipster, meaningful, stories, New York, Switzerland, Shawshank redemption, birds, old school, 13, Buddhist, Mt Meru, sak yant tattoo, Gao Yord, bamboo tattoo, Whang Od, Mamababatok, Will Hatton, The Broke Backpacker, Goats on the road, Tea Cake Travels, 2 Travel Dads, Slow Spirit, Mostly Amelie!, Where in the World is Nina?, Live, Dream, Discover,

Will – The Broke Backpacker

The Philippines – Whang Od. A few months ago I trekked through the Philippines to reach Whang Od, the last Mamababatok, or tattoo master. I had no idea if she would tattoo me, as I knew that she would only tattoo a Westerner if she liked them… so I was blindly hoping she’d like me. The tradition there was to tattoo using thorns, soot, and a bamboo hammer – a truly unique and wonderful experience! You can read about the whole adventure here.

Will blogs at: www.TheBrokeBackpacker.com

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Nina from Where in the World is Nina?

My tattoo means so much to me. To the eye, it’s just a tree with a face in it. But to me, it’s a huge life milestone. I’ve been obsessed with trees since I was a child. I climbed them any chance I got and still do today. Not to mention, they are gorgeous. This tree means so much but I often don’t flaunt its meaning. One thing I’ll point out is it represents a popular tree found in Southeast Asia. I’ll say it represents travel, the start of all my adventures, and the explorations to come. Nobody sees it but I and that’s OK. I like it that way. 🙂

Nina blogs at: Where in the World is Nina?

Tattoos, tattoo, ink, wanderlust, Thai, traditional, Philippines, Angkor wat, adventure, hipster, meaningful, stories, New York, Switzerland, Shawshank redemption, birds, old school, 13, Buddhist, Mt Meru, sak yant tattoo, Gao Yord, bamboo tattoo, Whang Od, Mamababatok, Will Hatton, The Broke Backpacker, Goats on the road, Tea Cake Travels, 2 Travel Dads, Slow Spirit, Mostly Amelie!, Where in the World is Nina?, Live, Dream, Discover,

Amelie from Mostly Amelie!

I wasn’t going to get a travel tattoo because I think they can sometimes be a little tacky, but I have developed such an obsession with durian fruit while in Thailand that I decided to go ahead and get one tattooed on my leg. The meaning goes beyond the simple fact that I am passionate about the stinky fruit: I would say it’s a bit of a metaphor for the quest for new and exotic things I am on when exploring new countries. And the crown and “hail to the king” writing is a bit of a cheeky double sense wink to what is called the “king of fruits” and the country where I got the tattoo, Thailand and its beloved king. Amélie is a hungry fun-loving vegan Canadian graphic designer and travel writer who’s ditched the 9 to 5 lifestyle in favour of something that lets her roam the world at her own will and follow her ever-itchy feet.

Amelie blogs at: www.MostlyAmelie.com

Tattoos, tattoo, ink, wanderlust, Thai, traditional, Philippines, Angkor wat, adventure, hipster, meaningful, stories, New York, Switzerland, Shawshank redemption, birds, old school, 13, Buddhist, Mt Meru, sak yant tattoo, Gao Yord, bamboo tattoo, Whang Od, Mamababatok, Will Hatton, The Broke Backpacker, Goats on the road, Tea Cake Travels, 2 Travel Dads, Slow Spirit, Mostly Amelie!, Where in the World is Nina?, Live, Dream, Discover,

Nick & Dariece from Goats on the Road

We both got our tattoos done on the island of Koh Tao in Thailand. We were mid-way through our year-long trip in the region and decided that we wanted a tattoo! These are the only ones that we have to date.  The tattoos are written in the Thai language and mine means Let It Be, while Nick’s means Freedom. They both symbolize what we’re all about: going with the flow, and being free!

Nick and Dariece blog at: www.goatsontheroad.com

Tattoos, tattoo, ink, wanderlust, Thai, traditional, Philippines, Angkor wat, adventure, hipster, meaningful, stories, New York, Switzerland, Shawshank redemption, birds, old school, 13, Buddhist, Mt Meru, sak yant tattoo, Gao Yord, bamboo tattoo, Whang Od, Mamababatok, Will Hatton, The Broke Backpacker, Goats on the road, Tea Cake Travels, 2 Travel Dads, Slow Spirit, Mostly Amelie!, Where in the World is Nina?, Live, Dream, Discover,
Tattoos, tattoo, ink, wanderlust, Thai, traditional, Philippines, Angkor wat, adventure, hipster, meaningful, stories, New York, Switzerland, Shawshank redemption, birds, old school, 13, Buddhist, Mt Meru, sak yant tattoo, Gao Yord, bamboo tattoo, Whang Od, Mamababatok, Will Hatton, The Broke Backpacker, Goats on the road, Tea Cake Travels, 2 Travel Dads, Slow Spirit, Mostly Amelie!, Where in the World is Nina?, Live, Dream, Discover,

Vanessa from The Island Drum

My bubble-blowing seahorse has certainly seen better years, but the decades-old
tattoo is compliments of a tequila-fueled evening in Cozumel, Mexico. A seemingly great way to commemorate a successful group dive trip to the once-pristine reefs of the Caribbean Sea. In those days tattoo parlours in 3rd world countries posed more possible health risks and the best not to visit when smashed. I was reminded of this sobering realization by my hospital’s medical director, after returning from my adventures. Coincidentally I found out that she too had a seahorse tattoo on her ankle.

Vanessa blogs at: www.theislanddrum.com

Tattoos, tattoo, ink, wanderlust, Thai, traditional, Philippines, Angkor wat, adventure, hipster, meaningful, stories, New York, Switzerland, Shawshank redemption, birds, old school, 13, Buddhist, Mt Meru, sak yant tattoo, Gao Yord, bamboo tattoo, Whang Od, Mamababatok, Will Hatton, The Broke Backpacker, Goats on the road, Tea Cake Travels, 2 Travel Dads, Slow Spirit, Mostly Amelie!, Where in the World is Nina?, Live, Dream, Discover,

Alice from Teacake Travels

It’s been 13 years since I’ve inked myself. The first time was in a backstreet parlour in England: hastily done, hardly award-winning and although lovely in design, it’s not something I’m deeply in love with. Fast forward to last month and my tattoos just got serious. In the middle of the Thai countryside, amongst the swaying trees and tranquillity of nature, I had the honour of experiencing a monk bless me with a magical, herbal, sak yant tattoo. Tattooed into the body to protect the body and mind, this particular unique lotus design has the power to bring out my inner beauty, creativity and other peoples’ love. It’s my perfect travel tattoo and although bamboo tattooing is on a whole new level of decorating yourself, it’s a deeply spiritual and meaningful experience to go through. I urge you to take the plunge too.

Alice blogs at: www.TeaCakeTravels.com

Tattoos, tattoo, ink, wanderlust, Thai, traditional, Philippines, Angkor wat, adventure, hipster, meaningful, stories, New York, Switzerland, Shawshank redemption, birds, old school, 13, Buddhist, Mt Meru, sak yant tattoo, Gao Yord, bamboo tattoo, Whang Od, Mamababatok, Will Hatton, The Broke Backpacker, Goats on the road, Tea Cake Travels, 2 Travel Dads, Slow Spirit, Mostly Amelie!, Where in the World is Nina?, Live, Dream, Discover,

Rob from 2 Travel Dads

My first tattoo I got in secret. It’s a compass. Of course, it’s a compass, because I’m a traveller and I needed to get a cliched compass. But I love it. I drew it myself as a reminder that I can always find my way home and back to ME. After that, I kept travelling and coming across totem poles and Native American art that pulled me to dig further and go to new places, including acknowledging my own roots. I drew my next four pieces, ready at a moment’s notice to get them. What are they: 2 constellations, an otter and a goat. The otter stands for my travelling buddy and soul mate, my husband. The goat is for me, my Capricorn self. And the constellations, those started as the Big Dipper and Orion, but then the kids were born and before I had either done, they became Scorpio and Sagittarius. Even though I have modern navigation tools, my tattoos remind me of what’s important to me and they’re one more way that I can keep my family close. Forever.

Rob blogs at: www.2traveldads.com

Tattoos, tattoo, ink, wanderlust, Thai, traditional, Philippines, Angkor wat, adventure, hipster, meaningful, stories, New York, Switzerland, Shawshank redemption, birds, old school, 13, Buddhist, Mt Meru, sak yant tattoo, Gao Yord, bamboo tattoo, Whang Od, Mamababatok, Will Hatton, The Broke Backpacker, Goats on the road, Tea Cake Travels, 2 Travel Dads, Slow Spirit, Mostly Amelie!, Where in the World is Nina?, Live, Dream, Discover,
Tattoos, tattoo, ink, wanderlust, Thai, traditional, Philippines, Angkor wat, adventure, hipster, meaningful, stories, New York, Switzerland, Shawshank redemption, birds, old school, 13, Buddhist, Mt Meru, sak yant tattoo, Gao Yord, bamboo tattoo, Whang Od, Mamababatok, Will Hatton, The Broke Backpacker, Goats on the road, Tea Cake Travels, 2 Travel Dads, Slow Spirit, Mostly Amelie!, Where in the World is Nina?, Live, Dream, Discover,

Guilherme from Slow Spirit

This was my first tattoo! I had it done in London, one year after I left Brazil. The spirals represent “evolution” and a mix of “self-discovery” (if they’re spinning inwards) or “hunger to see or learn about the world” (if it’s outwards). It was exactly how I felt then and how I still feel nowadays!

Guilherme blogs at: www.slowspirit.com

Tattoos, tattoo, ink, wanderlust, Thai, traditional, Philippines, Angkor wat, adventure, hipster, meaningful, stories, New York, Switzerland, Shawshank redemption, birds, old school, 13, Buddhist, Mt Meru, sak yant tattoo, Gao Yord, bamboo tattoo, Whang Od, Mamababatok, Will Hatton, The Broke Backpacker, Goats on the road, Tea Cake Travels, 2 Travel Dads, Slow Spirit, Mostly Amelie!, Where in the World is Nina?, Live, Dream, Discover,

Shara from Skj Travel

For many years I had wanted an icon-style tattoo of a cheetah; I love their black markings, especially coming down from their eyes. I searched and searched online for just the right photo to base the tattoo on. I have only a handful of cheetah photos from my travels in Africa, taken at quite a distance, but I have many wildlife photographer friends, and I scoured their Facebook albums but nothing ever jumped out at me as the “right” one. Then one day I was idly scrolling through my own photos from Namibia, and lo and behold, I had forgotten about a set of close-up cheetah shots, and one of them leapt right out and said, “I’m the one!” It makes me happy now that my cheetah tattoo is based on my own photo.

Shara blogs at: www.skjtravel.net

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  1. Rhonda Albom says:

    People are so clever. Wonderful collection and inspiration. Personally, I am a bigger fan of small and simple. I think the Maltese Cross is my favourite of this collection.