{"id":78776,"date":"2024-12-04T08:36:00","date_gmt":"2024-12-03T21:36:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/?p=78776"},"modified":"2025-06-06T00:03:43","modified_gmt":"2025-06-05T14:03:43","slug":"travel-in-your-30s","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/travel-in-your-30s\/","title":{"rendered":"My 20s were a blast, but here\u2019s why your 30s are great for solo travel"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Worried you\u2019ve missed the boat to start travelling? Spoiler: no age is too old! As a solo traveller in my early 30s, I\u2019m convinced my best adventures are yet to come.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After graduating from university, I felt an urgent need to see the world, so I made it my mission to do so. For a few years, I worked, saved, travelled, returned home and repeated the cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In true twenty-something style, I stretched my budget as far as possible by staying in the cheapest hostels, taking advantage of backpacker drinks deals and living off street food (that last part hasn\u2019t changed; street food is still the best). I had a blast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But as I entered my 30s, the thought of staying in 20-bed dorms and wasting mornings nursing a sore head became less appealing. And instead of racing to tick off every destination, I started to tune into what I really<\/em> wanted from my travels. It became less about the Instagrammable highlights and more about appreciating the smaller moments along the way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Travelling isn\u2019t any less fun or adventurous just because I\u2019m older \u2013 and, dare I say, a little wiser. In fact, it\u2019s quite the opposite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Memories from my backpacker days in my early 20s<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why your 30s are a great decade to travel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you didn\u2019t travel much in your 20s and think it\u2019s too late, I\u2019m here to tell you why your 30s might just be the perfect time to start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019re more confident<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Your 20s are a whirlwind of trial and error. They\u2019re full of firsts \u2013 first jobs, first big decisions, first time navigating heartbreak \u2013 and figuring out what ‘adulting\u2019 even means. It\u2019s the decade where you learn about who you are and how the world works. By the time you hit your 30s, you know yourself more and embrace new experiences with a little more ease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All that experience makes you a more confident traveller. For a start, you become more comfortable in your own company, which means you can book the trip you\u2019ve been dreaming about for years even if your friends can\u2019t join you. Travelling with loved ones is great, but if they can\u2019t get the time off work, it shouldn’t hold you back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You also have confidence in stepping out of your comfort zone, which comes in handy when you need to make decisions on the go and navigate new environments and language barriers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘Looking back at the trips I’ve taken in the last year, it’s the moments where things went wrong \u2013 lost luggage, flat tires, a whole group of sick people after a dodgy fish dinner, getting lost in a thunderstorm on foot \u2013 that I look back on with the most fondness. And I attribute that carefree-ness and positive attitude to years of practice.’<\/em> \u2013 Liz, USA<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Essential Italy<\/a><\/div>
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Real Thailand & Laos<\/a><\/div>
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Essential Egypt<\/a><\/div>
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You know what you like (and don\u2019t like)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In my early 20s, I said yes to almost every activity on my travels. Bar crawls? Let’s go. Whitewater rafting? Sign me up. While I always had fun, I sometimes joined even when it wasn\u2019t really my thing just to stick with my friends. These days, I only pursue things that genuinely excite me. You\u2019re more likely to find me at a cooking class or on a trek instead of rushing down rapids \u2013 even if it means going solo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Knowing what lights you up and being intentional about your plans lets you travel on your terms. After all, it\u2019s your adventure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘Travelling in your 30s, you have a deeper sense of purpose. You can immerse yourself in meaningful experiences and enjoy travel in a way that feels more enriching and fulfilling.’<\/em> \u2013 Laura, Australia<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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You know your limits<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Most of my friends agree that weekends in their 30s have become quieter. And we\u2019re here for it! The same goes for travelling. While travelling in my 20s included their fair share of late nights, my 30s are about rising early (and feeling fresh) to hike up a volcano for sunrise<\/a> or watch local life unfold at morning markets. It might also have something to do with the fact that hangovers in your 30s are a different beast. I still love a good time, but now it looks like singing my heart out at a karaoke bar in Japan<\/a> or sipping Aperol in a Roman piazza.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But you know what\u2019s even better? Travelling with like-minded people<\/a> who share your enthusiasm for making the most of each day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘”Older and wiser” might be a cliche, but I’m making WAY better travel decisions in my 30s. Spending more time in fewer places, getting to know a destination before moving on and feeling more connected to the people and places I visit are a few themes from recent trips.’<\/em> – Gemma, Australia<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may have more money<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For many people, your 30s often bring more financial stability. While money doesn\u2019t buy happiness, it can make travelling more fun and comfortable as you can prioritise what matters to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In my 20s, I\u2019d endure an extra layover or looong<\/em> bus journey and power through snoring-filled dorms to save a few bucks. I admire the resourcefulness of my younger self, and I still love finding a bargain, but I now focus on value over squeezing every dollar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I may not go backpacking for months at a time now, but I make every moment count. And that doesn\u2019t mean splurging on luxury hotels; it means booking a private room for a good night\u2019s sleep, grabbing a cab instead of lugging my rucksack uphill or treating myself to a bucket list experience I\u2019ve wanted to do for years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plus, the budgeting skills you develop in your 20s can help you become a more financially savvy traveller.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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You value connection more<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

With more life experience comes a greater ability to connect. In my younger years, meeting people often meant swapping travel itineraries or sharing laughs over hostel games. It was fun, fleeting and what I needed at that stage of life. Now, I connect more through shared experiences \u2013 like learning to whip up a full Indian meal or doing a morning yoga and surf session in Morocco<\/a>. Activities like this are a great way to make new friends, as they lay the groundwork to spark meaningful conversations and get to know each other while having fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘In your 30s, <\/em>you\u2019re more mature and independent and have a clearer sense of who you are. It\u2019s a great age to participate in group travel and connect with people outside your circle, as making friends can be harder as you get older.’<\/em> – Brittany, Australia<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ready to make your 30s the decade of travel?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Planning a solo trip can feel overwhelming, but it doesn\u2019t have to be. If you\u2019re umming and aahing about taking the plunge, small group travel could be the way to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Intrepid\u2019s 18 to 35s<\/a> trips are designed for younger travellers (yes, 30 is still young!) who want to travel with like-minded people of a similar age.\u00a0With a local leader psyched to share their culture and flexible itineraries with plenty of free time, you can rock up knowing everything\u2019s been taken care of. It\u2019s the perfect way to travel solo but not feel alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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