I met today’s guest, Katey, while backpacking through Vietnam. We crossed paths on the infamous Ha Giang Loop and ended up travelling together for a while — sharing countless special moments and thought-provoking conversations. It didn’t take long for me to know I had to bring her onto the podcast to share some of those wonderful insights, reminisce on our adventures, and document the experience.

In this episode, we explore the real side of solo travel — from the expectations and reasons we set off in the first place, to surrendering to spontaneity, embracing solitude, and navigating the not-so-glamorous realities of budget backpacking.

We dive into the emotional load of long-term travel, the lessons in resilience and adaptability, and how adventures abroad can completely reshape your values and priorities. We also talk about the often-overlooked “post-travel come down” — that bittersweet return home where the world feels unchanged, but you know you’re not the same.

Overall, it’s a wholesome, giggly conversation where we reflect on our highlights, those magical unplanned moments, how we’ve grown and evolved, and the relief we feel at having taken that leap to book a one-way ticket. Our hope is that it inspires you to take yours too.