Why Your Best Travel Memories Start Outside Your Comfort Zone
As humans, we all recognise how much we like to feel comfortable in everything we do in life. For some people, this includes travelling to places that have similar cuisine to what they eat back home, or being around people from the same nationality or culture. I’d like to say there’s absolutely nothing wrong with this. Let’s be honest — a bit of comfort and familiarity is nice, and it can help you settle quicker when you’re in a new country. Clearly, as humans, we need this to an extent.
However, I see many people miss out on amazing experiences because they don’t look outside the box. For example, some travellers join tour groups because they think it’s the only option for a certain activity or experience they’re seeking while abroad.
For those who want to experience something different while travelling, I urge you to spend just a little more time browsing the internet before you arrive. Typing in key words that lead you to travel blogs or detailed local information — rather than relying solely on surface-level tourist guides — can greatly increase your chances of discovering hidden gems beyond the well-known streets, areas, and historical landmarks.
Don’t get me wrong — I still visit famous tourist sites occasionally and enjoy popular viewpoints. But overall, I’d strongly say that the best experiences I’ve had while travelling came from trusting my instincts and doing my own research. This approach has led me to some amazing food spots — whether small stalls, markets, or lesser-known restaurants and cafés — as well as interesting neighbourhoods in cities.
A pair of Hornbills on Pangkor Island, Malaysia
A recent example of doing a trip differently was when I visited Malaysia last summer. I decided to go against my initial plan to visit a famous rainforest a few hours from Kuala Lumpur. After some research, I realised it wouldn’t be the experience I wanted. I found out that half the rainforest was inaccessible due to recent flooding, and that the national park was only open to certain tour companies. Discovering that I would need to join a group of at least ten others, with a strict and rigid itinerary, completely put me off the idea.
I also looked into the accommodation options, and the only one available was a high-end hotel. While that may sound great to many, when I want to disconnect and immerse myself in nature — especially in a place like a rainforest — I prefer something more rustic, where I can live as close as possible to that environment. Ideally, I want to be in a small group, or even solo, with a local guide.
Although I didn’t end up trekking in the rainforest, I booked a week on a tropical island with very few tourists. The island felt secluded and provided the peace and tranquillity I was looking for. I found a reasonably priced hotel surrounded by rainforest, with a swimming pool just a five-minute walk from the beach. I discovered this island simply by browsing Google Maps and doing a bit of research. Once I realised it wasn’t a particularly touristy destination and read the positive reviews, I was sold.
Not only did this experience give me peace and immersion in nature — I also saw lots of macaques and incredible birdlife such as hornbills. The bonus of travelling to less-visited destinations is that you’ll often find cheaper accommodation and better value for money. You’ll also tend to discover less gentrified areas, which can give you a more authentic experience of the culture you want to connect with.
The only transport you need on Pangkor island is a moped
Another memorable experience was back in 2023, when my girlfriend and I decided to cycle around Europe for a few months. We had been living under quite tight COVID restrictions abroad for a couple of years and had a massive itch to explore and feel a sense of real freedom. After being inspired by a few cycling tour books I’d read, I was determined to experience this myself.
Overall, that trip was, in many ways, life-changing. We spent about five months planning everything and arrived in southern Spain feeling both excited and overwhelmed. Five months later, the route we’d planned didn’t go as expected. We had incredible highs — being immersed in nature and feeling free — but also real lows, feeling exhausted from the constant movement.
We even naively camped in the desert in the middle of winter without the right equipment, unable to sleep because our hands and feet were freezing. Yet, some of the highlights were magical: camping in the middle of nowhere and enjoying our morning coffee to the sound of birds, or cycling through the mountains of Andalusia with the roads all to ourselves.
The trip brought out every emotion imaginable, and at times it was incredibly hard. But when it ended, we came home as different people, with a much clearer understanding of what we wanted in life — and what we didn’t. It didn’t go to plan and was much harder than expected for many reasons, but we wouldn’t have learned what we did if we’d chosen the easy route and joined a cycling tour. Of course, the easier option would’ve been less hassle, but I honestly don’t think it would’ve been anywhere near as satisfying as doing it independently.
To conclude, next time you’re travelling to a new city or seeking a new adventure, take some time to think about how you can experience it in an authentic way. Not only will your experiences be more meaningful, but you’ll likely see more interesting things and get a more genuine feel for the place you’re visiting.
Additionally, spend more time researching when planning an adventure, and engage with the locals. If you stick to this approach, you’ll have more memorable moments and connect with the place and culture on a much deeper level.
Cycling through Andalusia, Spain
