It’s often said that travel leaves you speechless before it turns you into a storyteller. I can absolutely attest to this. My journey with travel, which started with dreaming over my mum’s old photo albums in country South Australia, has become a lifelong passion and career that I now share with my partner, Stoewie, through View Retreats.
Travel has this quiet, transformative power, gently yet insistently nudging us to grow, change, and reconnect. But what makes travel so uniquely transformative?
Stepping Out of Comfort Zones
Travel often encourages us to embrace discomfort in the best possible ways. Whether it’s navigating the vibrant chaos of a bustling Bangkok market or hiking a remote trail in Patagonia, being out of our element is a powerful experience. When we step out of our familiar routines, we also leave behind preconceived notions about ourselves. I’ve seen people who thought they were lifelong city-slickers discover a new love for remote mountain treks, and those who swore by luxury
But it isn’t just about changing surroundings. It’s about the subtle shifts that happen internally. The small victories, like communicating in a new language or finding your way in a foreign city, build resilience and adaptability. With every challenge comes a chance to grow, to see how resourceful and patient you can be.
A Mirror to Humanity
One of the greatest gifts of travel is the ability to connect with people who are nothing like us—or so we think. Travel opens the door to conversations and interactions that broaden our understanding. Sharing a meal with a family in a small Indian village or participating in a community festival in rural Bali reveals a beautiful truth: our differences are to be celebrated, but our similarities are just as profound. We all want to feel safe, loved, and understood. We all seek moments of joy and connection.
Experiencing life through someone else’s eyes fosters empathy and compassion. These encounters remind us that our way of doing things isn’t the only way, and that’s a humbling and liberating realisation. They teach us patience and tolerance. In a world so focused on division, these simple connections can be profoundly healing.
Learning and Unlearning
Travel is the ultimate teacher. It invites us to learn about different histories, traditions, and ways of being. It also challenges us to unlearn: to shed prejudices, question our habits, and rethink long-held beliefs. I remember my first trip to Japan. The rituals around food preparation and the respect for nature changed the way I view everyday routines. They showed me that happiness and satisfaction often come from the simplest experiences.
This is where travel teaches us that we don’t need much to be happy. As modern life pushes us to accumulate more—more gadgets, more wealth, more status—travel reminds us that we can find true contentment in connection, experiences, and moments of stillness. Watching a sunset over the Cambodian coast or laughing with strangers in a tiny Belgian café often feels far richer than anything material.
Reconnecting with Self
Perhaps most importantly, travel offers a rare chance to reconnect with ourselves. In a world buzzing with notifications, stepping away can be immensely restorative. Many of us have forgotten how to be alone with our thoughts, but being perched atop a rugged mountain or standing in awe of the captivating Northern Lights gives us precisely that opportunity. These are moments where we rediscover what it means to feel small, part of something much larger. Travel can remind us of our dreams, aspirations, and what we genuinely value in life.
At View Retreats, Stoewie and I built our wellness travel philosophy around this idea. We believe in balance—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual—and design holidays that invite this gentle reconnection. Whether it’s a guided meditation in a Balinese forest or a leisurely bike ride through Vietnamese rice paddies, our experiences are crafted to help people reset and reconnect in ways that feel nourishing, not forced.
Finding a New Perspective
Every journey changes you, no matter how big or small. Travel reveals that there’s an entire world out there—full of people leading rich and complex lives. It encourages us to think beyond ourselves, to live with more mindfulness and grace. We become more adaptable, understanding, and compassionate. It also teaches us the value of letting go. Of slowing down. Of recognising that life is about experiences and relationships more than it is about achievements.
So, what’s holding you back? There’s a whole world out there, waiting to teach you, to inspire you, and to change you. Take that leap and discover how travel can transform your perspective—and your life.
