Why travel – What is the purpose of travel?

Why do people travel?

Have you ever been asked: "Why do you travel?" Maybe you even asked it yourself?

Do you remember your answer? Was it something like:

"Because!"

"We love it."

"It is what we need to do."

...

For many, answering this question turns out to be difficult. Even if it is somewhat clear to you, explaining it to others - especially to those who are not infected by the travel bug -  is a considerable challenge.

View of a lake from roof top tent

"Is it simply a way to relax?"  Why not go fishing for a day or book a spa treatment instead?

"Can we reduce it to the adrenaline rush we might feel?" If that is the case, we can also go on a roller coaster ride.

What is the purpose of travel?

As a psychologist, neuroscientist and someone who loves to travel I had to find a better answer.

According to scientists

Researcher Filep Sebastian makes a strong case that "a fulfilling travel experience is not only about satisfactions. It is also about how personally meaningful we found our travel activities".

The purpose of travel is connected with building social relationships, opportunities to learn and grow, and  commitment. It gives us the chance to be truly engaged in an activity, to develop new skills and to discover new cultures. It brings us closer to ourselves and others.

In other words, all the things we need to increase our resilience!

Purpose of travel - meeting people

According to long-term travelers

Konrad Waliszewski asked long-term travelers why they travel. He received responses like:

“It has deepened my life”
“My perspective has shifted”
“It opens up your possibilities and your horizons and the kinds of conversations you can have, the kinds of experiences you can have”
“It changes how I see and interact with nearly every aspect of the world around me”
“I travel to learn”
“It provides context apart from me”

Travel destinations - Road sign with Iran

Our brain

Our brain filters constantly all the information around us. It decides how we experience and interpret the world. What we see, hear and feel depends not only on our senses. It also strongly build upon what we believe, value, know and on our ability to imagine alternatives. On top of all that our brain is developed for challenges; we need them to feel good.
By submerging ourselves in new cultures, environments, culinary traditions,... we enrich ourselves with new frameworks for comparison and give our world room to grow.

That what makes people different, we find intriguing.
Things we don’t understand, we want to figure out.
Places unknown to us, we will explore.

Travel graces us with unique opportunities to (re)discover our dreams and talents, and to share these with others.

"The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” – Pablo Picasso

off-roading in Turkey

What are you waiting for? Go out there and explore!

Happy travels!


Discover more:

The Travel Brain Series >>

Related post: Regret (not) traveling the world?

Maybe you like these books as well:

The Art of Travel
by philosopher Alain de Botton

13 thoughts on “Why travel – What is the purpose of travel?
  1. You get more open minded and independent. Very nice article and quite motivational. Thanks for sharing such great points.! I agree with them all and found that traveling abroad.You can visit travel

    1. Hi Kate,

      Thanks for the wonderful reply. Happy travels in South Africa! One day we will make it over there.

      Cheers,
      Nicole & Elmer

  2. Can I asked what book of Filep Sebastian can I read this sentences “a fulfilling travel experience is not only about satisfactions. It is also about how personally meaningful we found our travel activities”.

    The purpose of travel is connected with building social relationships, opportunities to learn and grow, and commitment. It gives us the chance to be truly engaged in an activity, to develop new skills and to discover new cultures. It brings us closer to ourselves and others.

    1. It’s not from a book but from an academic article; is the link not working?

  3. Hi Nicole,
    Your article is inspiring. It makes one travel more, can you suggest places if I want to travel to India? Keep up the good work.

  4. I am Travel Agency Owner and have Travel many places over my 55 years in the business and I totally agree that travel definitely broadens my global horizons and helps me understand how other people feel about the world we live in and it makes me a better world citizen and revived my souls and physic. Travel is a breath for the soul

  5. Just read your article.
    Was researching bit and pieces for a presentation to ‘The Cycling Festival’ in the UK
    entitled
    ‘…and the aftermath is troubling.’ (as said by Ted Simon) in relation to the consequences of long solo travel.
    If you wish to get more of an insight into that I recommend to read ‘Quondam: travels in a once World’ ” A masterpiece of travel writing” Dervla Murphy and forwards by her and Ted Simon. It concurs and goes further than the above. Enjoy.

  6. Hello Nicole! I am starting my blogging career of travel and I am researching everything that I can🤩 And go through this…..what the purpose of travel readed full and it also helps me for my blogging. THANKYOUSOMUCH!

  7. Hi this is a great article, I loved the way you explained why travel and the purpose of travel cool blog and keep writing more.

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