One of the superpowers of traveling is its power to transform us. As we often have to talk about transformation and traveling, we realized the best way to explain what exactly transformative travel is by giving examples of such inspiring change or causing a shift in mindset adventures. So we asked fellow-travelers to share their transformative travel experiences.

In this article, we’ll share those transformative travel experiences that have to do with volunteering, studying, working, and generally living abroad. We’ll have an article with transformational solo, couple, and family travels and an article with travels to transformative extraordinary places and adventurous activities around the world.

Overland travel and eco project

Steve Rohan | thetripgoeson.com

In 2009 I took two months off from my office job to travel to Siberia and volunteer on an eco-tourism project. The Great Baikal Trail aims to construct a series of hiking paths around the world’s largest body of fresh water, Lake Baikal in Russia’s far east, to promote environmentally sound travel to the area.

The trip would also be to broaden my travel horizons as I had never traveled outside of Europe. I decided to travel overland (and sea) to make the journey more interesting and discover different places along the way.

My route took me from London to Brussels and then through Germany where I boarded a ferry to Finland. I then made the short hop across to Estonia and then took the overnight train to Moscow.

I waited in Moscow for a friend to join me, and then together we took the legendary Trans-Siberian railway 5,195km East to Irkutsk in the Buryat Republic.

We spent two weeks camping in the Khamar Daban mountains high above Baikal where we spent our days carving out the hiking trail, making friends with other volunteers, cooling off in the fast-flowing Osinovka River, hiking and picking fresh berries.

Our days off were spent at Baikal where we swam in its crystal-clear waters (it was warmer than the river) and picnicked on the lakeshore, before hiking the 5km back into the taiga.

After returning to England, I struggled to get back into the rhythm of life at home. I had said to myself for years that one day I would like to up-sticks and disappear to the other side of the world in search of adventure. My trip to Siberia cemented this and seven years later I moved to China where I have been living ever since.

Studying abroad

Veronika Primm | Jigsaw Puzzle Queen

I had no idea what a semester spent abroad would do to my life and how free it would set me.

But let’s get back to the beginning. During my University studies, I got the chance to spend a semester abroad, in Turku, a lovely town in the Southeast of Finland. At that time, I had a great part-time job at a management consulting company, planned to finish my university after coming back from Finland, move into a full-time position at the firm, and live my happy corporate life.

But then I went to Finland.

Those five months changed everything. I met the most amazing group of friends from all over the world. We bonded over countless hours spent studying, partying, and exploring this beautiful part of Finland, as well as taking trips abroad. Since I was one of a few who really needed to pass all courses and additionally write my Bachelor thesis, I had to cut down on sleep and managed everything on 4 hours of sleep per day. Don’t ask me how I did it, I can’t wrap my head around that either.

The ideas about my possible future have taken a radical turn. Already in Finland, I found a Master’s program combining studies in Berlin, Germany and Chengdu, China. I decided to go for it. I no longer wanted a calm corporate life, I longed for adventure and rediscovering myself.

And here I am, more than a decade later, back to my home country, with the fondest memories, self-employed and happy with the life of freedom I built for myself, working on my own dreams.

Learning Spanish in Madrid

Or | My Path in the World

When I had decided to learn Spanish at a language school in Madrid, Spain, I never thought the experience would have such an impact on me. But spending that one summer month in Spain was a lot more than just technically improving my Spanish level.

First, it was my first time traveling alone, and even though Madrid was not difficult to adapt to, I still had to be more responsible for myself. It showed me that I could be resourceful and independent and that I can manage taking care of myself when I need to.

Second, in my class, I got to meet many people from around the world. Some had a very different way of life, which kind of burst my bubble, and some came from a totally different culture and mentality, which was fascinating to get to know. Having conversations with people from other countries always changes your perspective on life, even if just a little bit.

Last but not least, I got to experience slow travel. I had the privilege to discover the alternative and non-touristy Madrid, as well as everyday life in this wonderful city that most people only see in 2 or 3 days.

As for the school itself, I chose Enforex, which has many branches across Spain and offers various types of courses. You are assigned to a specific classroom according to your level, and you get to learn from the best teachers in a super interesting and interactive way while practicing diverse conversation topics.

Volunteering in Brazil

Moheb Wessa | The Wanderer Pharaoh

My first travel experience was to volunteer in Maceio in Northeast Brazil. Back then, I had saved some money to start a small business in a beach town in Egypt. I was fighting depression and trying to start over. But when I heard about a volunteering program with an organization called AIESEC, I felt that it might be good to travel abroad for the first time in my life. This volunteering experience changed my life and gave me the energy to finish university after 8 years of struggling.

My first days at the NGO were a big disappointment. My program was to teach English to teenagers in a poor neighborhood. But neither the students nor the NGO’s managers spoke English. We were communicating using signs. I also felt lonely at first, because it was almost impossible to find an English speaker in Maceio. The only people I knew who spoke English were my host and the organization members I was volunteering with, but they all had exams. So, I spent most of the time alone, walking on the ocean shores, but I never felt more free and proud of myself. It was my first time to travel abroad and to see an open ocean.

Over the next weeks, everything at the NGO got better. Most of my teaching topics were based on our mutual interest in knowing each other’s cultures. My students and I started to develop a friendship. And I was enjoying going to the NGO every day.

My travel experience got better when I was introduced to other foreign volunteers. We spent most of the time together exploring the beautiful city and the outstanding culture. And it got even better when my host finished his exams. He used to take us – me and the other volunteers – to street parties and authentic drumming parades.

Through my 6 weeks in Maceio, I made tens of friends. I always went with the flow and discovered an amazing culture and had a lot of fun. This volunteering experience transformed me into a better man with a dream to know more cultures and always making new friends. 

Moving abroad and becoming an expat

Steph | Book It Let’s Go!

When I moved to St Kitts in 2019 to work at the veterinary university, I had no idea what I’d let myself in for. Moving abroad from the UK where everything is available on-demand to a tiny Caribbean island where island time is real and “rush slowly” is a common motto was a huge shock to the system. In my first year living abroad, I learned to stop worrying about things I couldn’t control and go with the flow because things happen outside of your control and now I have patience in abundance. I also learned to trust myself and I realized that I don’t need to rely on anyone, moving away from your support network really makes you realize how strong you are as a person.

One of the biggest changes and transformations I have made is trying to become more sustainable, I now buy local goods and eat produce that is in the season rather than buying imported goods from the store. I have also converted to using reusable everything, from cups and cutlery to shopping bags and sanitary products. Seeing just how much plastic washes up on the beaches here every day is heartbreaking and not something I want to be part of anymore.

For people wanting to move abroad, my best advice would be to do your research thoroughly, life as an expat is not always easy, and it is definitely not all rum punches and hammocks. But if you can get over the differences and the challenges that come from being an expat, it is worth it.

Volunteering at Na’ankuse Wildlife Sanctuary, Namibia

Kanupriyaa Choudhary-Legha | My Lost Camel

When I touched down in Namibia I was bursting with excitement at the thought of volunteering at the Na’ankuse Wildlife Sanctuary for 2 weeks. I sat in an open jeep and drove through an incredible landscape of the dry African bush. The warm wind blew through our hair and before we knew we were at camp in the middle of the wilderness.

The next couple of weeks I spent working my ass off having some of the most incredible experiences. I fed baby baboons with a bottle, cleaned out warthog cages, went on walks with cheetah cubs, and every free moment I could find – I climbed inside the meerkat enclosure and played with them. The feeling of a meerkat running up your arm and standing on top of your head to look around is one of the few that you never forget. I had seen these animals in the wild but caring for them up close made me realize how breathtaking they were. I had so many heartwarming moments with each of the animals that still make me smile.

What stood out to me amongst all the fun was that we had to take turns in the camp to keep a lookout for poachers. How sad was it that our animals still weren’t safe inside the sanctuary. For this reason, one of the biggest goals I have for my blog is to work with organizations in Africa that are preventing the poaching of these animals. I can use my voice and my blog to generate more movement and make sure that these animals do not end up at the orphanage because of poachers. This experience ended up being one of the most transformative trips of my life and I recommend everyone to go there at least once in their life.

Teaching languages in Cuzco, Peru

Jiayi | The Diary of a Nomad

One of the most transformative travel experiences for me was teaching English and Italian in the beautiful city of Cusco, Peru. I was there for merely a month but can say the experiences I’ve had there have changed me for a lifetime.

My students were all adults, and our lessons took the form of active conversations, where each class essentially felt like a cultural exchange session. Hearing my students talk about their lives — which were so different from mine — made me see my own life from a completely new perspective. I often learned even more from them than they did from me! The stories they told me were so eye-opening and inspiring; from the man who lived in a jungle for 3 years off of animals he and his father hunted, to the woman who was incredibly driven to learn English so that she could become a tour guide and have a better future. 

What my students taught me the most was that even though they had much less than we do in the West, their passion and appreciation for the most simple things in life were so much stronger than ours. I was incredibly moved by their warm smiles and contagious energy. Ever since I got back from this trip, I started complaining a lot less and reminded myself more often to be appreciative of the little things in life.

On a side note, Peru is also one of the dreamiest destinations on earth, and I highly recommend visiting it — not just for its majestic landscapes, but mostly to get to know the amazing locals there.

Teaching in Spain

Ciara | Wellness Travel Diaries 

“What an unbelievable play! The setter jukes the other team, quickly setting the ball high to the outside hitter. Instantly she’s met with four hovering hands over the net to block the attack. Oh…player number 7 is down,” the broadcaster promptly stated as their intonation shifted to concern. That was me, player number 7, with a collegiate volleyball career over, and the dreams of playing professional volleyball shattered. I had a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and was later diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome, which is when the effects of a concussion last for months, or years. 

A year after the incident, an amazing opportunity occurred. I was accepted into a teaching abroad program in Spain. Traveling around the world was a dream I’d always visualized, but traveling the world with a hidden disability, seemed scary. The post-concussion syndrome brought– mental fatigue, depression, headaches, dizziness, migraines, difficulty concentrating, and more.

“Player number 7 is down.” The broadcaster promptly stated. This was my old story, but I craved a new story, “Player number 7 got up, and still traveled the world despite her injury”. A few months later, I packed my bags to the brim with wellness items to boost brain health and then moved alone to Spain.

Instantly, I fell in love with the lively Spanish culture and beautiful language. Every day I would practice Spanish by engaging in conversations with locals. Traveling quickly felt like a new superpower. It encouraged me to keep growing and pushed my brain to make new healthy connections. The combination of a new daily routine and a shift in food allowed some recovery from the TBI symptoms. I began to travel blog about my personal wellness journey and fell in love with writing. This transformative experience is a continuous reminder that the brain is extremely powerful, and travel is possible for anyone.

Teaching English in Italy

Lyndsay | The Purposely Lost

One cold, winter day while in college, I searched online for opportunities to work for a summer in Italy. Up popped the information for ACLE, a company that organizes English camps throughout Italy, using theatre as the main tenant of its teaching methods. As a professional actor, this was a culmination of everything I loved, and I knew I had to apply.

As a tutor, you travel all over the country, from big cities to the smallest towns, working as a team with other English tutors from around the world, living with host families, and exploring the local culture. Over my two summers with ACLE, I traveled to five different cities all over Italy, and learned how to be a leader, advocate for myself, honed my traveling skills, and grew in self-confidence.

If you’ve ever dreamed of living in Italy, are interested in some incredible teaching experiences, or are a theatre artist, look into spending your summer teaching English with ACLE. After my first summer, I recommended the experience to everyone I knew, and now, more than 10 of my friends and acquaintances have tutored with ACLE. The experience truly transformed my life.

Teaching English to a monk

Umang Trivedi | Travelmax

Right after my post-graduation, before joining my first job, I took a break and headed to the mountains. Tucked in the lap of beautiful mountains, the town of Mcleodganj was going to be my home for the next few days. Before heading to the town, I had corresponded with an NGO that used to enable the Tibetian monks to learn English. I was assigned one Tibetian monk, Tenzin, and my job was to teach him English. This volunteering experience in Mcleodganj was going to transform my perspective. 

When I started teaching him, he took some time to open up. But as days passed, he became more comfortable and shared his story. He had escaped from Tibet along with a few friends and was staying with them in Mcleodganj. He wanted to learn English, enough to cross borders, and somehow reach Japan. While he shared all his difficulties, he always had a smile on his face. 

The entire month I spent in Mcleodganj, surrounded by beautiful landscapes and teaching Tenzin English left me more humble than I was before. I was so glad that I could contribute to his journey to leading a better life. It was indeed a transformative travel experience. 

Work for an atourney in Germany

Lisa | Planning away

Have you ever been afraid to travel outside of your home country?  I have been.  But that all changed when an opportunity of a lifetime came my way.  That opportunity came when my husband was in his first year of law school.  All first years had an opportunity to go anywhere in the world and get school credit working for an attorney in another country.  This was not an opportunity that I wanted to take at first. Another country? A different language? No and no.

But although I was nervous, I started to think back on the stories my mom told of her time living in Germany before I was born. She talked of the people. Of the food. Even about how they swept their front steps.  She spoke of Germany with fondness, leaving an indelible impression on me. At this point in time, it had been decades since she had lived in Germany.  She had always talked about going back but never had a chance. 

It then hit me. My chance was her chance. And her chance was mine. If I could muster the courage to go to Germany, I could help my mom return.  And if she was willing to return, I was willing to go. I called my husband and told him we were going to Germany.  He was so excited that I had changed my mind about a foreign opportunity, he didn’t even at first ask, “why Germany”?

And so he and I that summer found ourselves traveling to Europe with our then 16-month-old baby.  I always knew I loved planning vacations, but this trip changed my life.  I had every detail planned.  Hotels?  Check.  Tours and tickets?  Yep, all over it.  Transportation, sights to see, food to eat . . . I had it covered.  (While, as much as I could on a student budget.)  This was before smartphones, and so I had a big binder full of information.

Germany did not merely expand my trip planning bounds, it showed me new languages, culture, and so much more. We were in Leipzig. Russian was the most common second language, not English. We embraced it. We did not have air conditioning. My husband rode a bike to work. We otherwise got around in public transportation.  And grocery shopping was a daily experience.  We would walk there, put our items in our Speedo backpack, and do it all again the next day.

And while in Europe we took the time to see other places.  Berlin, Munich, Salzburg, Paris, Rome, and London.  What an amazing experience! Everything was so different from what we knew, but we learned to appreciate the differences. And in so doing, differences no longer scare me like they used to. No, instead I look forward to the next adventure!

On lockdown in India

Mukund & Riddhi | Discover New Paths

In February 2020, we left our jobs in the UK to go traveling for 6 months. It’s something we had wanted to do for a long time so we were full of hope and excitement.

Less than 2 months later, we were in India when the country suddenly went into lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Luckily a family friend let us stay in their empty flat so we were able to isolate ourselves safely.

There was so much uncertainty about everything that we had to learn to go with the flow and trust our instincts. Over time, it became clear that many countries would keep their borders closed.

Slowly but surely, our dreams came to a standstill and we had to accept that we weren’t able to continue traveling. With international flights suspended, we weren’t able to go back home just yet either.

So we spent our time living slowly and simply. Watching TV shows and movies. Daily walks by the river and fields nearby, soaking up the sunshine. Eating fresh fruit every day – mangoes, melons, papaya, you name it.

As places slowly re-opened, we saw the locals return to their daily routines. Families would spend time cooking and eating. Children would play outside with sticks for cricket bats. Old men would sit together drinking tea and people-watching.

They were also willing to help those in need. This included foreigners like us who were stranded there but also each other, as lockdown had hurt local business. There was no greed or competition, just a great sense of togetherness.

Living this way for over 4 months made us realize how much we worry in our lives back at home; constant pressure to keep achieving, doing, and pleasing others. And yet these things rarely bring lasting happiness.

We have now returned to the UK and will start working in new jobs, but we will try to keep that inner peace and simplicity with us, and remember not to take life too seriously.