We are experiencing a sense of wanderlust as we read through Another Escape – the outdoor lifestyle and creative living journal that Jody Daunton and Rachel Taylor manage. Jody and Rachel shared their love for the outdoors and how they turned that passion into a business on the CulturallyOurs podcast. Now 6 years later, Another Escape has a loyal following and community of like-minded, nature loving readers who activity engage with the magazine.

In case you missed Jody and Rachel’s podcast interview, you can listen to it here.

There are some of us who travel and explore for the sights, some for the food and culture and others for the adventure. And then there are those of us who travel for the experience in itself. These people are typically the ones who don’t follow any guidebook, make last minute reservations and take each day as it comes along. Travel isn’t to just check off items on the proverbial ‘bucket list’ or even #doitforthegram! In fact, one of the major reasons they travel is to grow and explore and open their mind to new experiences. Opting for the road less traveled is to explore new locations and experience each day in your own way so as to have a more meaningful adventure far beyond what a review or a pre-prepared itinerary can have provide.

There are many benefits to traveling off-the-beaten path. Not only do you come back with some unique memories and experiences that are atypical for most people but also with a new outlook on life and a new appreciation for adventure.

#1 New experiences

We can learn a lot about a culture by visiting museums, eating at ethnic restaurants, reading books, and watching movies, immersing yourself within that culture can provide a much deeper experience. Rather than always staying at popular hotels or resorts, consider options in AirBnB or VRBO homes. Don’t be so quick to sign up for that tour bus ride, instead consider traveling like a local on public transportation or better yet, rent a car or motorbike and drive it yourself.

In many small towns and even tinier villages, the people will be some of the nicest you will meet, excited to connect with ‘out-of-towners’ and invite you in for lunch. Immersing yourself into a new culture is a humbling experience that allows you to see the country in the eyes of those you meet.

#2 Unique and hidden gems

Traveling around remote countries isn’t as simple as hopping in an air-conditioned taxi for a 10-minute drive to your hotel. It can be a ride in a rickshaw along dirt roads, passing through villages and asking locals for directions. It can be a 10-hour flight, two-hour layover and five-hour ferry ride. It’s this type of adventurous travel that leads to finding secluded waterfalls after winding your way through deserted trails in tropical forests.

While it may take longer than the guided tours, traveling off-the-beaten path to can allow you to witness the untouched beauty and hidden locales you hear so much about. In larger cities, these hidden gems can seem hard to find when all the guidebooks are leading tourists to the same popular attractions. While it can be nice to scroll through the hundreds of online reviews for the best restaurant in town, some of the most memorable meals can be found by simply asking the locals for their favorite place to dine.

#3 Sense of self-discovery and self-confidence

Without a guidebook to follow, your daily activities when traveling off-the-beaten-path are entirely up to you. You are the guide for your trip. Asking locals where to go and what to see forces you to step outside of your comfort zone. You have to be social with those you meet and often this will not be in a language that you both speak.

Like Paula Saalfeld shared, mindfulness in travel is a by-product of traveling off-the-beaten path. Can you find a way to communicate? Can you work up the courage to ask others for directions? Can you allow things to happen as they unfold? Can you get rid of the notion of a planned itinerary and just enjoy each moment? Learn more about yourself by how you adapt to these situations.

#4 Appreciation and gratitude

The basics of everyday life are so easy to overlook. You have a roof over your head. Your car starts when you get in it to go to work in the morning. You have a hot shower in the winter. You have enough food on the table. Traveling to places where these things are not the norm gives you the opportunity to learn and appreciate all the things that perhaps you take for granted.Life becomes a blessing more than ever before.

In a nutshell, off the beaten path travel teaches us

• To be flexible. Our plans can change quickly so we just need to learn to be nimble and adaptable.
• Have zero expectations. It’s better to be pleasantly surprised than disappointed.
• Pack light and only what is essential. Overpacking can be a hinderance when sudden plans materialize.
• Trust your instinct and at the same time, let go of fear of the unknown.

Have you ever traveled off the beaten path? How was that experience like and what did you learn from it?

Related Reading