When you’re young, it’s easy to think you have all the time in the world to travel and explore. But ask anyone a little older, and they’ll tell you there are some trips they really wish they’d taken when they were younger, freer, and had fewer responsibilities. These are the adventures that are a little easier (and a lot more fun) when you’re young. Here’s a list of trips travelers often regret skipping in their youth.
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Backpacking through Europe
This means packing a backpack, staying in hostels, taking cheap night trains, eating pasta on park benches, and wandering old city streets. Backpacking is fun when you’re young because you don’t mind roughing it.
A road trip with friends
Driving down highways to nowhere, blasting music, singing off-key, stopping at random diners, and laughing at dumb jokes. A road trip is hard to arrange as adults because it’s so easy to let responsibilities get in the way.
A solo trip somewhere new
Solo travel teaches you confidence, independence, and how to improvise. You learn to enjoy your own company, meet random people, and create stories to remember. This is much harder to do later in life when you have a family & responsibilities.
Visiting Southeast Asia
Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Bali are dream destinations for young people because they’re inexpensive, full of culture, and packed with fun. Simple accommodations, tasty street food, and adventure opportunities make it easy to enjoy yourself without breaking the bank.
A music festival trip
Camping out with friends, dancing in a field until sunrise, and seeing your favorite bands live is a magical experience. Sleeping in a tent (or eating nothing but fries) is easier when you’re young.
Working holiday or gap year abroad
Living and working abroad for a year is a life-changing experience. You make new friends, learn important life skills, and collect memories more precious than any souvenir.
Camping or hiking adventure
Wilderness camping or hiking is a special and unforgettable travel experience. Many people regret not having done more of it while they were young and healthy.
Cross-country train trip
Long-distance train travel is a great way to see a country. You can slow down, watch the world roll by, and chat with fellow passengers. When you’re young, you’re less focused on time and more open to the journey itself.
A spontaneous weekend getaway
Booking a last-minute getaway, throwing a few clothes in a backpack, and leaving is pure joy when you’re young. The daily grind of adult life makes spontaneity difficult.
Volunteering abroad
Volunteering overseas is a great way to see a part of the world and help make a difference. It’s also a perfect way to expand your worldview and learn new skills. It’s a little easier to do when you’re still young and don’t have a job.
Island-hopping trip
Island-hopping between beaches, snorkeling in blue lagoons, and watching sunsets with cheap drinks is pure, simple fun. It’s the kind of carefree travel that most people only seem to be able to pull off when they’re young.
A crazy adventure trip
Skydiving, bungee jumping, surfing, or racing are all on this list of things to do before you die for a reason. The chances are you’ll be more fearful or risk-averse as you get older, and your body will be less capable of bouncing back.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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