28M – After 8 years of solo travel, I don’t know if it’s…
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28M – After 8 years of solo travel, I don’t know if it’s still for me
Hey everyone,
I’m 28M and I’ve been solo backpacking since I was 20. Mostly 3–4 week trips around Southeast Asia, the longest I have travelled in one go was 3 months in Indonesia. I’m currently in Mexico and for the first time, I’m questioning if I even like traveling anymore.
I used to love it. Exploring islands like Borneo for wildlife photography, riding a bike around Sulawesi, connecting with locals, being in nature. Those moments felt real.
But now it feels like every place is one of two extremes:
Overrun party spots with loud music and surface-level connections.
Or so remote that I end up completely alone.
I don’t mind solitude. I actually enjoy it. But I miss sharing experiences with someone looking at a sunset and having that unspoken “wow” together.
Lately I also feel uneasy about tourism itself. Scuba diving while thinking about damaged coral. Visiting “hidden gems” that aren’t hidden anymore. Being seen as a walking wallet. It takes something away from the experience. I know I am part of the problem which makes it even worse.
What I really want is simple: nature, a bike, a tent, a few good people, a quiet night under the stars. Sometimes I think camping somewhere near the Netherlands might bring me more peace than flying across the world again.
Maybe I’ve changed. Maybe I want connection more than adventure now.
Has anyone else felt this shift after years of solo travel?
#travel
Hey everyone,
I’m 28M and I’ve been solo backpacking since I was 20. Mostly 3–4 week trips around Southeast Asia, the longest I have travelled in one go was 3 months in Indonesia. I’m currently in Mexico and for the first time, I’m questioning if I even like traveling anymore.
I used to love it. Exploring islands like Borneo for wildlife photography, riding a bike around Sulawesi, connecting with locals, being in nature. Those moments felt real.
But now it feels like every place is one of two extremes:
Overrun party spots with loud music and surface-level connections.
Or so remote that I end up completely alone.
I don’t mind solitude. I actually enjoy it. But I miss sharing experiences with someone looking at a sunset and having that unspoken “wow” together.
Lately I also feel uneasy about tourism itself. Scuba diving while thinking about damaged coral. Visiting “hidden gems” that aren’t hidden anymore. Being seen as a walking wallet. It takes something away from the experience. I know I am part of the problem which makes it even worse.
What I really want is simple: nature, a bike, a tent, a few good people, a quiet night under the stars. Sometimes I think camping somewhere near the Netherlands might bring me more peace than flying across the world again.
Maybe I’ve changed. Maybe I want connection more than adventure now.
Has anyone else felt this shift after years of solo travel?
#travel
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