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Construct a private journey mission that makes each journey extra significant.
Once I took my 12 months profession break and traveled all over the world for the primary time, I spent my time ticking off all the favored locations that I needed to see on the planet. I went to Hong Kong, the Nice Wall, did a safari, went to Rome, explored the Nice Barrier Reef, noticed the Taj Mahal, went to New Zealand, seen the Nice Pyramids, partied on the islands of Greece, and had memorable nights in Bangkok. After a 12 months or two of touring to those in style locations, my journey wishes began altering. Ticking locations off a generic bucket record was shedding its attraction to me. I needed extra.
I began dipping my toe into longer journey journeys and journey objectives that had a theme. In spite of everything – I LOVE theme! I began with studying the best way to drive a bike in Vietnam, as I lived in Ho Chi Minh Metropolis for a 12 months. I hiked the Camino de Santiago solo. I drove a automobile from London to Mongolia as a part of the Mongol Rally. I drove a Rickshaw throughout India for 2000 miles. These have been all journey tasks that drove me and challenged me – however additionally they launched me to completely different components of the world, completely different cultures, and in the end, I discovered loads about myself throughout these journey tasks!
I like huge tasks. They devour me and preserve me targeted on residing within the current, reasonably than simply repeating the identical previous routine day after day. Journey tasks have a long-term, purposeful really feel, like an even bigger mission past simply “go on a visit.” They make me take a look at my travels in a different way than merely roaming round to sights; I journey deeper, slower, and extra introspectively when on a journey mission.
I like Huge Journey Initiatives
My largest mission that I had ever accomplished lasted for 9 years – it was referred to as the Niece Undertaking. Once I stopped shopping for items for my nieces, I didn’t know it could flip into some of the significant journey tasks of my life. As an alternative of extra toys and devices, I needed to offer them one thing they’d by no means outgrow — one thing that might form how they see the world.
So I made them a promise: once they turned 16, I might take every of them anyplace they needed to go. What began as a easy concept turned years of dreaming, planning, and unforgettable adventures — for them and for me.
This mission didn’t simply change their lives. It modified mine, too.
With the Niece Undertaking behind me, it didn’t take me too lengthy to give you yet one more journey mission – my boldest but – taking on my dad’s previous Capitol to Capitol mission – biking to all the Capitol buildings within the US.
I do know I’m not alone in the case of loving journey tasks. In spite of everything, there are a selection of people that have visited each nation on the planet.
Why Begin a Journey Undertaking?
Whenever you journey with a private mission in thoughts, each journey turns into a part of one thing larger — your individual story, your individual quest. As an alternative of simply ticking locations off an inventory, you construct expertise, deepen your understanding of the world, and keep motivated even when life will get busy.
The Advantages of Beginning a Journey Undertaking
✅ Staying impressed to journey long-term
✅ Constructing experience and confidence
✅ Creating deeper cultural connections
✅ Turning journey reminiscences into an enduring legacy
✅ Fostering curiosity, creativity, and resilience
Journey tasks with a long-term, purposeful really feel, like an even bigger mission past simply “go on a visit.”
The Happiness of Pursuit
Once I was beginning to plan my Capitol to Capitol mission and make it a actuality, I learn a guide referred to as The Happiness of Pursuit by Chris Guillebeau. Some time again, Chris visited each nation, and that impressed him to dig additional into the anatomy of huge private quests. His guide covers all aspects of objective planning from the preliminary step of figuring out your huge objective (or quest) by means of its execution. This contains discovering assist, how a lot a quest may cost a little, the best way to deal with misadventures (or failure), and at last, what to do when a quest ends.
In The Happiness of Pursuit, Chris Guillebeau explores how setting a private quest — whether or not it’s touring to each nation on the planet (which he did), cooking a meal from each nation, or strolling throughout a continent — offers life extra construction, function, and pleasure.
“Should you’re going to construct a quest round journey, it helps to make it particular. Going in every single place is much less necessary than going someplace—particularly someplace that challenges you or adjustments your perspective.” — Chris Guillebeau
His analysis and private expertise reveal that long-term objectives aren’t simply motivating—they’re deeply transformative. Individuals who tackle quests really feel extra engaged with life, expertise larger readability, and report a stronger sense of identification.
“The pursuit of happiness isn’t about passive contentment — it’s about lively engagement.”
Chris Guillebeau
Advantages of Lengthy-Time period Journey Initiatives or Quests
Guillebeau discovered that individuals who pursue daring, long-term quests — particularly ones involving journey — profit in 5 key methods:
- Renewed Motivation – When you could have a significant objective, even the planning turns into joyful.
- Better Resilience – Going through challenges whereas chasing your dream builds confidence and flexibility.
- A Sense of Progress – Each journey turns into half of a bigger journey, providing you with function.
- Private Development – A quest stretches your consolation zone, forcing studying and reinvention.
- Deeper Tales – As an alternative of fragmented reminiscences, you construct a cohesive narrative that lasts.
Ottsworld Favourite
The Happiness of Pursuit: Discovering the Quest That Will Deliver Goal to Your Life
A guide that challenges every of us to take management—to make our lives be about one thing whereas on the identical time remaining clear-eyed in regards to the dedication—The Happiness of Pursuit will encourage readers of all ages and aspiration. It’s a playbook for making your life depend.
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08/28/2025 07:02 pm GMT
Huge Journey Undertaking Concepts For You to Tackle As Your Personal
“A quest doesn’t must be grandiose; it simply must be yours.”
Whether or not you’re visiting each desert on the planet or chasing down the world’s finest libraries, your journey mission turns into greater than a guidelines — it turns into a supply of pleasure, identification, and that means.
As a result of I’m loopy about having to be completely different, I needed to create a list of journey mission concepts which are extra artistic and much less apparent than “go to each nation.” Right here’s what I got here up with. Be at liberty to make use of any of those concepts in your personal journey mission!
1. Chasing the Equator
Go to all of the nations the Equator runs by means of (there are 13!). Think about touring by means of Ecuador, Gabon, Indonesia, Kenya, Uganda, and others — and documenting how life alongside the Equator differs all over the world.
✅ Lengthy-term objective: Discover “life at zero levels” — local weather, tradition, and biodiversity.
2. Pilgrimage Routes of the World
As an alternative of simply climbing the Camino de Santiago, construct a lifetime mission to finish well-known pilgrimage routes throughout completely different faiths and cultures — like Japan’s Kumano Kodo, India’s Char Dham, or Mexico’s pilgrimage to the Basilica of Guadalupe.
✅ Lengthy-term objective: Stroll sacred paths across the globe.
Learn my article about thru-hikes all over the world: Alternate options to the Camino de Santiago
3. Island Nations Solely
Give attention to visiting solely island nations — from the Maldives to Iceland to Madagascar to Wrangle Island. Doc how island life varies throughout completely different oceans and cultures.
✅ Lengthy-term objective: Perceive remoted ecosystems and distinctive cultures formed by the ocean.
I really like visiting distant islands – learn my article about South Pacific Journey: Tips on how to Go to 14 of the Most Distant and Culturally Fascinating Islands
4. World’s Finest Practice Journeys
Create a mission to expertise the world’s most iconic prepare rides — the Trans-Siberian Railway, India’s Palace on Wheels, the Rocky Mountaineer, Switzerland’s Glacier Categorical, Australia’s Ghan, and so on.
✅ Lengthy-term objective: See the world from a gradual, immersive perspective.
5. Festivals of the World Tour
Plan your travels round attending distinctive festivals globally — Holi in India, Día de los Muertos in Mexico, the Working of the Bulls in Spain, and the Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Pageant in Eire.
✅ Lengthy-term objective: Have fun humanity’s various methods of honoring life, demise, seasons, and pleasure.
6. Historical Civilizations Path
Journey to see the ruins and legacies of historical civilizations — assume the Mayans, Greeks, Egyptians, Khmer, Incas, and so on. Not simply the favored ones, however lesser-known ones too (just like the Nabataeans or the Etruscans).
✅ Lengthy-term objective: Piece collectively humanity’s historical tales throughout continents.
7. One River, Many Lives
Observe the course of 1 main river (the Amazon, Nile, Danube, Mekong, Mississippi) by means of completely different nations, finding out how the river shapes cultures, economies, and every day life alongside the way in which.
✅ Lengthy-term objective: Inform the story of a river by means of the eyes of those that dwell by it.
8. World Capitals at Night time
Go to main world capitals, however deal with exploring and photographing them solely at evening — seeing how cities rework after darkish.
✅ Lengthy-term objective: Create a portfolio or photograph sequence of “the world after sundown.”
9. Border Crossings Undertaking
Journey overland throughout worldwide borders and doc the experiences, particularly in distinctive locations the place cultures visibly change throughout an invisible line — like crossing from France to Spain within the Basque Nation or from Thailand to Myanmar.
✅ Lengthy-term objective: Discover what borders imply — and the way synthetic (or actual) they really feel on the bottom.
10. World Libraries or Bookstores Tour
Should you’re literary, design a journey mission round visiting essentially the most lovely, historic, or quirky libraries and bookstores all over the world — from Livraria Lello in Portugal to the George Peabody Library in Baltimore.
✅ Lengthy-term objective: Have fun world tales and structure tied to studying and information.
11. Summit the World’s Iconic Mountains
Climb legendary peaks — Kilimanjaro, Fuji, Mont Blanc, and Desk Mountain — whether or not by technical climb or climbing path.
✅ Lengthy-term objective: Doc your ascents in a private journal or “Seven Summits” problem.
12. Expertise the World’s Deserts
From the crimson sands of Namibia’s Sossusvlei to the white dunes of New Mexico, to the rocky Gobi Desert, and the salt flats of Bolivia, immerse your self on the planet’s arid magnificence.
✅ Lengthy-term objective: Create a photographic sequence titled “The Silent Landscapes.”
13. Go to All Continents Earlier than You Flip [Insert Age Here]
Set a private milestone to the touch all seven continents — sure, even Antarctica — earlier than a selected birthday (30, 40, 50?).
✅ Lengthy-term objective: Full a private documentary referred to as “Seven Continents, One Life.”
14. Cross a Nation Fully on Foot
Trek throughout a complete nation, whether or not it’s the UK’s Coast-to-Coast Path, New Zealand’s Te Araroa, or Japan’s Nakasendo Approach.
✅ Lengthy-term objective: Write a memoir titled “Step by Step: Crossing Borders on Foot.”
15. Go to the World’s Extremes
Journey to the world’s most northerly, southerly, highest, lowest, wettest, driest, and hottest factors.
✅ Lengthy-term objective: Compile a document referred to as “The Fringe of the Earth: My Excessive Adventures.”
Examine my 7 Finest Locations for Excessive Journey
16. Observe the World’s Volcanic Ring of Fireplace
Go to volcanic hotspots like Hawaii, Iceland, Japan, and Chile, witnessing Earth’s rawest energy firsthand.
✅ Lengthy-term objective: Create a journey documentary titled “Dwelling With Fireplace.”
17. Journey by Historic Commerce Routes
Observe historical commerce paths just like the Silk Street throughout Central Asia, the Spice Route by means of the Indian Ocean, or the Amber Street by means of Europe.
✅ Lengthy-term objective: Construct an academic weblog referred to as “Routes That Formed Civilization.”
18. Dive the World’s Finest Coral Reefs
Scuba dive or snorkel by means of the Nice Barrier Reef, Raja Ampat, the Maldives, and the Pink Sea to witness marine biodiversity earlier than it disappears.
✅ Lengthy-term objective: Curate a conservation-focused photograph sequence “Beneath the Floor.”
19. Go to the World’s Nice Wine Areas
Tour iconic vineyards from Napa Valley to Bordeaux to Mendoza and South Africa’s Stellenbosch.
✅ Lengthy-term objective: Create a tasting journal referred to as “The Grand Wine Tour: Sipping Throughout the World.”
20. Monitor Endangered Animals within the Wild
Search out the world’s rarest creatures — mountain gorillas in Rwanda, snow leopards in Mongolia, orangutans in Borneo, and polar bears in Churchill, Canada.
✅ Lengthy-term objective: Develop a conservation storytelling mission titled “Wild Encounters: Saving the Final Ones.”
Tremendous Area of interest Cat Journey Initiatives
As you all know, I’m a cat lover. So, after all, I’ve give you just a few cat journey tasks for the cat lover on the market. Or you’ll be able to be a part of me on my Cat Tour of Japan to get began! Plus – if you would like extra cat journey concepts – take a look at my CatLadyTours.com (coming quickly) web site for all cat journey!
Right here’s a deep dive into cat-themed journey tasks that might be each long-term and travel-intensive, not simply “go to one place,” however a actual private mission:
1. The International Cat Cultures Undertaking
Journey to nations the place cats are deeply woven into the tradition — Japan (cat cafés, shrines), Turkey (avenue cats of Istanbul), Egypt (historical worship), Greece (island cats), Morocco (medina cats), Russia (Hermitage cats).
✅ Lengthy-term objective: Doc the other ways cats are revered, protected, or built-in into on a regular basis life all over the world.
2. Road Cats Documentary Journey
Journey to cities with giant, seen avenue cat populations (like Istanbul, Marrakech, Rome, Athens) and {photograph} or movie their every day lives — their interactions with folks, how they’re cared for, or not.
✅ Lengthy-term objective: Make a heartfelt mini-documentary “Road Souls: Cats With out Borders.”
3. Cat Islands and Sanctuaries Tour
Go to well-known cat islands and main cat sanctuaries:
- Tashirojima, Japan
- Aoshima, Japan
- Lanai Cat Sanctuary, Hawaii
- Rome’s Largo di Torre Argentina, Italy
- Greece’s Syros Island
- Kalkan’s KAPSA group, Turkey
✅ Lengthy-term objective: Create a photograph sequence, weblog, or perhaps a documentary referred to as “The place Cats Rule the World.”
4. Rescue Across the World Undertaking
Volunteer with or go to cat rescue organizations globally — from neighborhood cat initiatives within the U.S. and Europe to temple cat caretakers in Asia. Possibly even companion with small rescues to focus on their work.
✅ Lengthy-term objective: Create a worldwide community of cat rescue tales, increase consciousness, and even begin a small basis.
Journey Motivation Initiatives
Possibly these concepts are extra journey than what you are able to do at the moment, or possibly you’re simply on the lookout for a non-traveling mission to maintain you ‘journey motivated’. Listed below are just a few tremendous artistic methods that will help you keep enthusiastic about journey and discovery, even between journeys! I name these ‘journey motivation tasks.’
1. “Across the World” Studying Problem
Learn one guide from each continent — bonus factors should you learn novels set in a selected nation or written by authors from there.
✅ Aim: See the world by means of native voices.
2. Bucket Checklist Delicacies Problem
I really like cooking, and I particularly love cooking completely different ethnic cuisines. Choose a rustic every month and grasp a dish from there. Publish a photograph diary, weblog, or mini video sequence.
✅ Aim: Journey by means of your style buds!
3. Microadventure Undertaking
Not each journey must be distant! Set a objective to do one native “microadventure” a month — climbing a path, visiting a cultural neighborhood, exploring a close-by small city.
✅ Aim: Keep adventurous at dwelling.
4. The Nation Alphabet Problem
Choose a rustic for each letter of the alphabet (A for Argentina, B for Botswana, and so on.) and study one thing about every: a recipe, a chunk of historical past, a film, a pageant.
✅ Aim: Increase your world information one letter at a time.
Additional Studying: Books That Encourage Significant Journey & Private Quests
If The Happiness of Pursuit sparked one thing in you, these books will gasoline your fireplace to tackle a journey mission that goes past the extraordinary:
1. Vagabonding by Rolf Potts
A timeless manifesto for long-term journey
Explores how journey isn’t an escape from life, however a deeper dive into it. Encourages gradual journey and intentional wandering, supreme for anybody beginning a journey quest.
Vagabonding By Rolf Potts
Vagabonding is about taking day off out of your regular life–from six weeks to 4 months to 2 years–to uncover and expertise the world by yourself phrases. Veteran shoestring traveler Rolf Potts exhibits how anybody with an unbiased spirit can obtain the dream of prolonged abroad journey.
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08/29/2025 06:02 am GMT
2. A Sense of Course by Gideon Lewis-Kraus
A memoir about strolling pilgrimage routes in Japan, Spain, and Ukraine
A reflective and generally humorous take a look at how journey quests assist us wrestle with identification, function, and spirituality.
A Sense of Course: Pilgrimage for the Stressed and the Hopeful
A Sense of Course is Lewis-Kraus’s dazzling riff on the perpetual battle between self-discipline and want, and its attendant casualties. Throughout three pilgrimages and plenty of a whole bunch of miles – the thousand-year-old Camino de Santiago, a solo circuit of 88 Buddhist temples on the Japanese island of Shikoku, and, collectively together with his father and brother, an annual mass migration to the tomb of a well-known Hasidic mystic within the Ukraine.
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08/29/2025 06:02 am GMT
3. Tracks by Robyn Davidson
One lady’s journey strolling solo throughout the Australian desert with camels
A uncooked, empowering story that demonstrates the transformative energy of committing to an excessive journey objective.
4. Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
The story of Chris McCandless and his quest for that means in nature
A cautionary however inspiring story in regards to the extremes of self-reliance and the deep craving for an genuine life path.
Into the Wild
Into the Wild is the mesmerizing, heartbreaking story of an enigmatic younger man who goes lacking within the wild and whose story captured the world’s consideration.
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08/29/2025 06:02 am GMT
5. Journeys of a Lifetime by Nationwide Geographic
A visible dream board for journey quests
Options 500 of the world’s biggest journeys and concepts, good for sparking your individual long-term mission.
6. Alone Time by Stephanie Rosenbloom
A delicate, fantastically written celebration of solo journey
Displays on how solitude in cities like Paris, Istanbul, and Florence creates area for introspection and transformation.
Alone Time: 4 Seasons, 4 Cities, and the Pleasures of Solitude
Stephanie Rosenbloom considers how being alone as a traveler – and even in a single’s personal metropolis – is conducive to changing into aware of the sensual particulars of the world – patterns, textures, colours, tastes, sounds – in methods which are tough to do within the firm of others.
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08/29/2025 06:02 am GMT
7. The Artwork of Non-Conformity by Chris Guillebeau
One other highly effective guide from the writer of The Happiness of Pursuit
Encourages readers to design a life round their passions — and never accept the default path.
Let Your Travels Turn out to be Your Legacy
The fantastic thing about a journey mission is that it retains you linked to your passions whereas opening doorways to sudden adventures. Whether or not you full the mission or not, the journey itself turns into your private masterpiece.
Prepared to choose your mission?
👇 Inform me which one you’re dreaming about — or share your individual artistic concept!
