Transformational Travel: For Life-Changing Experiences

Have you ever returned from a trip and felt like it totally changed your life? It definitely isn’t just you playing it up – you’ve just experienced a life changing experience! If 2020 taught us anything, it’s that we need to appreciate every single thing life has to offer. When travel resumes, what kind of experiences will you be looking for? Transformational travel refers to experiences abroad that change you in a positive way and leave you with life-long memories. 

There are so many ways that travel can impact your life, and the lives of others; here are 3 ways that travel has the power to change your whole outlook on life. 

IT WILL CHANGE YOUR ROUTINE 

One of the best parts about travelling is the way it gives you a break from your everyday routine. Getting out of that regular gym routine and switching up your exercise with some fun and sweaty adventures like hiking, climbing or swimming! Snorkelling with colourful fish or hiking through the wilderness just to see the sunrise from the best vantage point in the country. There are so many ways to stay fit while you travel, and you might even pick up some new exercise routines to bring home with you.

Travelling is also a great opportunity to expand your social circle and make friends you never would have made otherwise. Take the opportunity to chat with locals (they’ll usually share the best-kept local secrets & give you the most unique cultural experience) and befriend fellow travellers – you never know when you might need a bed in Copenhagen! 

Changing up your routine can be as simple as stepping outside your comfort zone and immersing yourself into a new culture. From switching up your exercise routine to meeting new people or trying local cuisines you wouldn’t eat at home and even learning a new language or traditional dance. Putting yourself in a different pair of shoes consistently throughout your trip is what truly transformational travel is about.

IT WILL CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE 

One of the biggest changes that you can experience as a result of traveling is how it affects the way you look at the world around you. 

On returning home you’ll have become a storyteller. The smell of Coconut Sambal will transport you back to the Spice Gardens of Sri Lanka, and the flashing lights on the dancefloor will remind you of the neon jungle that is Tokyo. You’ll have stories to share with your friends back home for years to come and memories that will last a lifetime!

Travel can also be a truly humbling experience, making you more thankful for the things in your life that you would otherwise take for granted. When you travel through a densely populated city like Delhi, you might find yourself appreciating living in the suburbs, with parks or bike trails and expansive sky above. When you experience a cold shower on an island with no hot water, you might find a new appreciation for the boiler you have at home (believe us though, there’s truly nothing as refreshing as a cold shower after days spent snorkelling and swimming on a tropical island!). This appreciation can also go the other way – have you ever camped out beneath the stars on a secluded island and realised how bright they truly are? Finally understanding what the city lights have been blocking all this time will help you recognise how truly beautiful the world can be.

IT WILL CHANGE THE WORLD

This might just be the best part, so listen up. Transformational travel doesn’t only apply to your own life, it will also give you the opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of others from around the world too. Transformative tourism is travelling with more intention, finding ways to make sure that your visit and the money you spend do more than just get you the trip of your lifetime.

While you’re exploring a new place, there are so many ways you can use your visit to support local families and their businesses. Participating in activities run by small, independent companies within the community will often give a better understanding of the local culture and its history, and by supporting these individuals you’re able to directly contribute to the local economy!

Learning about and supporting non-profit charities or local community projects is another way to help transform the communities you’re traveling through for the better. These projects and charities are usually varied in how they operate – some assist in the conservation of native animals and environments, some support underprivileged people within the community and some create opportunities for the development of the whole country. Consider volunteering some of your free time or making a small donation, even spreading the word in your own social circles will make a difference. Maybe you’ll encourage someone else to donate to the same cause, or spend some time volunteering for a programme on their next trip!

Tours with One Life Adventures focus heavily on how travel can change the world for the better. Check out how we’re working with local communities here.

No matter where you travel across the globe, there’s nothing like travel to remind you how big this world is. The things that you learn and the people you meet while you’re exploring the big wide world, all help to mold and shape you into who you are. Whether it’s changing your day to day routine, changing how you see the world, or helping you to change it for the better, these experiences are a beautiful reminder that the world is much bigger and more diverse than just your backyard – get out there and explore it! 

If you’re ready to book your next transformational travel experience, check out the life-changing tours we offer here.