If you have traveled internationally a lot then you know how difficult it can be to find a nice, interesting place to go. Of course, some of you might prefer a nice resort where you don’t have to lift a finger. That’s very nice and sometimes is adequate to enjoy this type of travel. This time around, however, is not what this post is about. I will address fearless luxury in a later post.

I believe that when one travels one does it with a purpose that involves taking the risk of traveling somewhere new, exotic, “dangerous”. This experience in turn will help you learn and gain more perspective. The time you have to experience new places is limited and the options that are being offered by travel companies are rigid and seem to be build around the availability of the boats, guides or dates rater that the purpose and needs of the traveler.

When you travel with a purpose on a limited time you need to be sure that your itinerary is flexible to rearrange it on the spot without missing out on the experience. The activities should be provided on-demand and as a easily configurable service.

Traveling with a purpose.

You want to experience things that you have never experienced before. You want to taste foreign flavors that tickle your tongue with rustic and ageless recipes perfected throughout the centuries. You want to experience the freedom of a lawless yet peaceful country where the people welcoming and expect no retribution for sharing their happiness with you. You want to be an adventurer and explore the endless Amazon jungle and swim with fresh water pink dolphins.

You want to change your daily routine from typing on a keyboard exploring the internet to feeling and seeing first hand the wonders of the world.

So, find a purpose for your trip. If you are the type of person that likes cruises then you should try to find a different purpose for your trip. Something more adventurous. After the second cruise all cruises might start to blur together.

Are you into extreme sports? Then find a country where you can push your comfort level to a new limit. Try whitewater rafting or a whitewater kayaking school. Climb a mountain, visit the Amazon.

You can participate in adventure races that range from a couple of days to several weeks. One of those is the Vuelta al Cotopaxi that Barefoot Expeditions is sponsoring in Ecuador

Traveling is all about risk.

Take a risk and get out of your comfort zone. That is the best way to gain perspective. See what Sir Richard Branson is doing. He can choose to be as stiff as Donald Trump’s hair, wearing suits and never leaving a desk chair. Instead Branson travels the world in search of adventure which is helping him build Virgin into one of the hottest and most irreverent brands in the planet by bringing people with new and fresh points of views into the mix.

Traveling is all about learning

You can be smart, quick and talented at any topic. You can be a business mogul, a smashingly successful internet entrepreneur or an accomplished suburban mom. If you have not traveled to see other cultures, hear other languages and taste other flavors then your potential might be limited to your bubble which can be a very nice one like Bill Gates’ bubble, but a bubble nonetheless. Apparently Bill did not know that poverty existed. Here is a quote from his speech when speaking at Harvard this year.

I left campus knowing little about the millions of young people cheated out of educational opportunities here in this country. And I knew nothing about the millions of people living in unspeakable poverty and disease in developing countries.

It took me decades to find out.