Travelling the world is an experience like no other. It can be terrifying, exhilarating, and at times even infuriating, but it can also be genuinely life-changing. Here’s why you should travel at least once in your life.

You’ll make amazing friends

No matter where you go in the world, it’s inevitable that you’ll meet plenty of new and interesting friends. Both fellow travellers and people local to your destinations. It’s also very likely that you’ll meet people you wouldn’t ordinarily associate with. People who have completely different outlooks and life experiences to you and your existing group of friends.

Meeting people is often a big concern of travellers, particularly if they’re on solo adventures. But the reality is that there are so many ways to meet people that it shouldn’t be a worry. There will be opportunities on trips and excursions, in your hotel or hostel, and even just chatting with the owners of your favourite food stall or coffee shop. You’ll end up with a global friendship base, great for when you decide on more travelling as you’ll have a friendly face in every corner of the globe!

It will change your perspective

Someone, somewhere, once said something like “the world is a book, and those who don’t travel read only one page”. A lot of people also claim that travel is the best education you can get.

Now though I call BS on both of those sentiments (wouldn’t want you to think the small fortune you’re spending on your education is going to waste), the point is that travelling will really teach you a lot. Simply through the new things that you experience and cultures you’ll expose yourself to, you’ll start to gain a new perspective on things.

You will challenge yourself in ways you didn’t think possible

One of the strange things about going on a travel adventure is how quickly you begin to embrace the inevitable challenges it brings. Every day presents you with new hurdles which test your resolve. At times you’ll be genuinely pushed to the brink when the seemingly simplest thing, like ordering a coffee or getting on a bus, turns into a big ordeal.

But then you’ll overcome those obstacles, get on with your day and be able to look back on it and laugh. It’s these situations and challenges that arm you with an arsenal of skills that will stay with you far beyond the duration of your travels.

It’s completely freeing

Travelling affords you with a level of freedom that is quite simply difficult to match. You can escape from many of the everyday stresses and strains of “normal life” and just go out there and be completely independent. Your schedule is yours and there’s no need to compromise on what you want to do.

Go full out adventure with activities like skydiving, mountain climbing and scuba diving. Do some foot to the floor partying and go wild for a while. Fully immerse yourself in the culture and history of your chosen destinations. Or simply chill out on a deserted white sand beach if you want. It’s up to you.

You’ll expand your comfort zone

Most of us spend our lives trying to build a bubble around us where we can live comfortably and safely without ever pushing ourselves into situations that we’re not prepared for. Travelling is like deliberately stepping out of that cocoon into the complete unknown. And it’s great.

Just making that first move away from everything you’ve become accustomed to feels like a massive risk, but eventually, you’ll start to create a new normal. Constantly expanding your comfort zone will provide you with additional levels of confidence and begin to redefine your barriers.

You’ll get some cool stories to tell

There are three types of travel experiences. Firstly, there are the ones that make you unbelievably happy while you’re doing them. Then there are the ones that you hate while you’re doing them but can look back on them and laugh, safe in the knowledge they’ll never happen again. And finally, the experiences that you hate while they’re happening, and which still fill you with a horrible feeling of dread when you think back to them. All three can make for great stories.

One word of wisdom though, don’t go recanting them at every opportunity to anyone who will listen when you get back. You’ll quickly end up with no friends.