Our Biggest Travel Lessons of 2025 – The Broke Backpacker Reveal All!

What Are The Broke Backpackers Team’s Best Travel Experiences of The Year

Alright, so let’s get down to it and check out the lessons and experiences this year that the team felt they learnt the most from.

Will Hatton – Get off your fucking phone.

This year really hammered home to me the importance of disconnecting from my phone to reconnect with myself. Spending time motorcycling through Peru with my brother, and then doing a plant medicine retreat in Ecuador, I was reminded just how powerful and useful it is to sit, journal in hand, without my phone anywhere near me… 

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Let’s be honest, phones are fucking addictive and are the number one barrier to being in the now, connecting with thyself, introspecting and making smart decisions. Phones flood us with FOMO, making us think the grass is always greener in some other part of the world, they tempt us with distraction, enabling us to procrastinate on the self-work or money-work, we could instead be doing. 

To truly experience a country, to truly connect with yourself and others around you, ditch your phone… make a commitment to get off it in the mornings and the evenings, and perhaps do a full 10-day detox – it can truly change your life and make everything seem brighter, more engaging and more interesting.

Will: Founder & Chief Adventurer

Whilst in French Polynesia, freediving with whales, I spent a week with my phone off and in my bag… it was one of the best weeks of my life.

Samantha- Never give up on a travel dream 

In 2019 on my first trip to Pakistan, I became oddly infatuated with a place called the Karambar Lake near Broghil Valley that I read about online. As the 34th highest lake in the world and the most biologically diverse, I think the photo says more than I ever can of this alpine beauty queen. Noted for being one of the least visited places in the country (due to being on the border of the Afghan Wakhan Corridor), I was drawn to it immediately.

Yet I soon learned that it was nearly impossible to visit as a foreigner. After hitchhiking for two days to reach it in 2019, I was given the unwanted gift of my first rejection at a military check post in Yarkhun Lasht. 

But it only fueled my desire to see this stunning alpine lake even more – in 2021, my now husband and I tried on a motorbike only to be denied again at the same check post. 

In 2022 we got the closest yet – we entered the Broghil Valley after trekking over a mountain pass that led there. We did get to spend one night in a lovely family home, but again, were forbidden from going to the lake of my dreams.

In 2023 I have to say – I was done. As August rolled around, I decided that I just didn’t want to waste my time on Karambar that year. This came after we went to the office that supposedly “issued permission letters” three days in a row to find the guy in charge “not there”…

So I figured why not visit similar locales that weren’t restricted? 

And so we did – cycling through the Tajik Wakhan which is also home to the same people (Wakhis) and very similar landscapes. We even visited a super remote lake that lies directly in line with Karambar. In many ways, my thirst for this destination felt … quenched. But I knew even cycling through the significantly Zorkul Lake wouldn’t erase my dream, which was sitting a mountain range some 50-ish miles away in Gilgit Baltistan. 

In the summer of 2024, we actually planned to trek abroad again, until that enticing destination suddenly and indefinitely closed to tourists. By this point, I’d mostly resolved that Karambar Lake wasn’t going to work.

Until this closure made me realize that perhaps we should try again… just one more time.

And so we did – with an NOC (permission letter) granted we headed out on a dirt mountain road, passing a “foreigners not allowed beyond this point” sign. But this time the letter actually did what it was supposed to do.

On a cloudless, blue sky day in mid-August, the dream merged with reality. 

Well, dear reader, five years later, I finally made it to Karambar Lake and the entire Broghil Valley. And I can say without a shred of doubt both were the most incredible pieces of this planet I’ve ever had the privilege of being in. So far beyond expectations and the photographs, and 100% worth the wait.

Favourite Destination of 2024. (Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan) 

Gilgit Baltistan (where the iconic Karambar Lake was) is no doubt the most underrated mountain destination on the planet. I mean… it’s super safe, home to 5/14 peaks on the planet that are over 8000 meters, and the Indigenous people and cultures are incredible. Get here before everyone else does!

Read More About Pakistan

• Backpacking Pakistan
• Best Hikes in Pakistan

Samantha: Travel Writer & Adventure Expert 

So the moral of this story is that if you have a single travel (or any!) dream you can’t let go of – don’t give up on it. 

But always look for new solutions – the route we ended up taking hadn’t really been on my radar, yet I can confidently say it was the best trek I’ve ever done in my life. And the best alpine lake dip too 😉

Dani –  Let Go of Expectations & Embrace the Unexpected

These past 12 months have been a wild ride – I’ve visited 12 countries across three continents and to say I’ve learned a lot is an understatement. Upon reflection, my biggest travel lesson from this year is to let go of expectations and embrace the unexpected.

Let me explain.

Expectations can often cloud the joy of an experience, especially if we’re focused on comparing it to something we’ve seen or imagined (bloody social media, eh?). When we let go of the pressure to “make it perfect” or measure up to our mental checklist, we open ourselves up to the magic of what is, rather than what we thought would be. 

I had this realisation recently whilst doing the Valbona to Theth hike in Albania (which had been on my bucket list for a while). This hike was the main reason we travelled to Albania – I’d researched the shit out of it and planned it all to a T. I’d spent hours scrolling photos and reels of other travellers’ adventures and my expectations were HIGH. We went on an eight-hour journey across three modes of transport just to reach the start of the hike. 

Don’t get me wrong, the hike was epic! But after all of that, I bloody expected it to be. Anything less would’ve left me pretty disappointed. Fortunately, my expectations were met on this occasion – which was great. However, this isn’t always the case.

I compared it to a hike Harv and I had done a few weeks earlier. We were on a van trip that had to be re-routed due to a road closure – so we parked up to figure out what to do next. While we were parked, we noticed there was a trailhead right next to where we had parked. We had no idea where it went but thought fuck it and decided to go for it. 

The hike was just as breathtaking as the Valbona to Theth trek, but it blew my mind in a completely different way. I had no expectations – no photos on Instagram to compare it to. I couldn’t even tell you what this hike was called. There were no social media expectations to compare it to; the bar was set a lot lower. Going in with no expectations meant that there was so much space in my mind to be completely and utterly blown away.

This doesn’t just go for hiking – it could be the Instagram famous cafes, restaurants, gyms, beaches – whatever it is, social media can HYPE it up, set your expectations unrealistically high, and if it doesn’t match up, it can be pretty shit.

So, instead of scrolling – why not ask a local for a recommendation? Ask others in your hostel? Embrace the unexpected adventures, they are often the best 🙂

Favourite Destination of 2024 – Siquijor 

This is a tough choice, I’ve been to some absolutely incredible places this year. But Siquijor has a special place in my heart. It’s a relatively small island, just out of Cebu in the Philippines. Harvey and I spent a month living out there, we got to know the locals (including a few special puppies), made friends, eat delicious local food on the beach.

Not only that but the island itself is one of the most beautiful places I’ve seen. It’s an adventurer’s dream. From the best snorkelling and diving EVER (in marine protected areas!), insane waterfalls, cliff jumping, pristine white sand beaches and so much more.

Read More About Siquijor

• Where to stay in Siquijor
• Best hostels in Siquijor

Dani: Editor & Oceanic Explorer

So, the lesson? It is often the unexpected, unplanned moments that leave the deepest impressions. Obviously, a plan can be extremely helpful, especially if you’re travelling for a limited time. But I encourage you to roll with the punches! It’s often when the most magic happens.

Rhenzy – Do it afraid

I am new to solo traveling, and my first international solo trip was this last February in Osaka, Japan.

Since it was my first solo travel experience internationally, I wanted the trip to be relaxing and comfortable. I booked myself a nice hotel close to everything I wanted to visit and arranged for a luggage transfer from the airport to the hotel so I could comfortably explore the area while making my way there.

I also booked a round-trip bus transfer from my hotel to Universal Studios Japan (USJ), as visiting USJ was a major reason for taking my trip in the first place. The day before my USJ visit, I received a message from Klook stating that the bus transfer I had booked would be cancelled due to low participation.

Reading that message sent chills down my spine. I felt really anxious because I hadn’t prepared a backup plan, assuming the bus transfer would be available. I wasn’t prepared to navigate the public commute to USJ on my own.

That night, I told my sister I’d decided not to go. I was truly afraid of commuting alone and worried about getting lost in an unfamiliar place on my very first solo trip. However, part of me still wanted to go, and I knew it would be a shame to miss out because 1) I was already there, 2) I had already purchased my USJ ticket, which wasn’t cheap, and 3) visiting Super Nintendo World was one of my main reasons for choosing to visit Osaka.

Before going to sleep, I prayed and asked the Lord for guidance and courage. I told Him that if I woke up early, I’d take it as a sign to go. To my surprise, I woke up at 5 a.m. feeling braver—still anxious but with 60% of me ready to give it a try.

In the end, I made it to USJ!

Favourite Destination of 2024 – Japan

I travelled to a few places this year, but my favourite was Japan. It left me in awe. Their transportation system is top-notch, with no cars honking. People are so disciplined, and when you ask for help, they genuinely go out of their way to assist you. plus, the airport process was seamless!

The food is incredibly delicious, and I love how they embrace their culture and share it with others. They keep up with trends but still honour their traditions.

Read More About Japan

• Japan travel tips
• Solo travel in Japan guide

Rhenzy: Empress of the Virtual Assistants 

There were a few hiccups along the way, but I safely arrived. This experience taught me that sometimes you just have to push through your fear because you’ll never see the rainbow on the other side if you don’t try.

Harvey – Trust the Process

Now, I’m sure you’ve heard every self-proclaimed ‘life coach’ on Instagram say ’trust the process’ a million times before. But if you’re like me, I never actually understood what it meant. I’d heard it endless times but always thought it was a BS slogan that sounded good in self-help books…until I experienced it for myself. 

This year has been full of uncomfortable challenges, forcing me out of my comfort zone and causing me to grow. When you’re in that uncomfortable place, when things aren’t going your way or when you feel like shit and wonder why the fuck is this happening, having someone say ‘trust the process’ is like being told to ‘chill out’ when you’re pissed off… It’s not fucking helpful!

However, trusting the process is the exact thing that you need to do. You’re in that place for a reason and more often than not it’s the precise place you need to be, to get to the next destination on your journey.

The only way is through. Nobody is coming to save you. Both of these statements are scary, yet completely empowering. Because once you realise YOU are your own hero and the captain of your own ship, suddenly you regain the control and strength to push through. 

Favourite Destination of 2024 – Italy

A remote ski town in Italy, I can’t even tell you the name because I don’t know it. Me and our resident Kiwi were on a van trip, driving from Spain to Germany venturing through the Alps. Snowy peaks, twisting roads, and breathtaking landscapes surrounded us. 

After a big day of driving, we pulled up for the night, we arrived late, it was dark and there were some spooky vibes. The town was abandoned, we were the only people for miles, with one road in, one road out. After successfully not being murdered in the night, we woke up to the most incredible view of the towering peak of Mount Blanc. 

We packed up and headed into the little Italian town that stole my heart. There were three shops open at 9 am, the bakery, the cafe and the wine shop, what more do you need in life? We walked into the bustling cafe filled with locals, drinking espressos and kissing cheeks. Hearing the Italian chatter, and sipping my first Italian Dupio Espresso, made me fall in love with the country and although it was brief, this beautiful, unexpected town in Italy has taken the pole position of my favourite travel destination of 2024. 

Read More About Italy

• Hidden gems in Italy
• Backpacking Italy

Harvey: Editor & Double Protein Champion

So, enough waffle, what’s my biggest travel lesson for 2024?

Well, when you’re in that uncomfortable place, trust the process. You may not understand why at the time but you’re exactly where you need to be and once you’re through it, and you WILL get through it, on the other side is the greatness that you are destined for.

Nic – Live In The Now and Just Do It.

Over the last few years, I’ve had some of the wildest ups and downs that life can throw at you. After losing my Grandad and my dog within a few months of each other in 2023, I wasn’t sure I could go on without two of the most precious souls I’ve known in my life. I’ll be honest, last year was a bit of a blur and even though I did do a lot of travelling, I wasn’t able to let myself really BE there.

In 2024 I decided to use those losses to inspire me to live more in the moment because we never know when our time might come. I’ve realised that in the past I have been often times too hung up on what comes after or planning too much. As a result, I wasn’t enjoying or living my life to the fullest.

My first trip of the year was a solo journey all the way to Bali to meet most of my work colleagues in person for the first time. Though I’d done a lot of travelling before, I hadn’t really done much without my partner, and I hate flying! So, it was a pretty big deal to fly almost to the other side of the world by myself.

But, I did it! And I had the most amazing time and made sure to live in the moment, appreciate it all and soak it in. In fact, the trip was so much more incredible than I had ever imagined it to be. I felt like allowing myself to get out of my comfort zone like that gave me this boost in confidence I never even realised I needed. But I also felt like after last year I had a different outlook going into it, I had a much more open mind, heart and soul and decided to just take things as they came. Not preempt and not dwell, just be in the moment.

Throughout the rest of the year, I tried to live by these ideologies. We basically said “fuck it” and followed our favourite band (Rammstein) around Europe for the summer. We visited new places, revisited some others, and generally just live life in the moment and be grateful for every second we have.

Favourite Destination of 2024 – Athens

I literally had no expectations or idea of what Athens would be like. I’d visited one of the Greek Islands before (Kos) and honestly, it was a bit shit. I knew I hadn’t seen the best of Greece and had always wanted to return but never gotten around to it until Rammstein announced they were playing a show there.

I just fell instantly in love with Athens! I don’t know what it is, but I just love grungy, grimy cities (maybe it’s growing up in Manchester, who knows), but they’re just my jam! But when combined with ease of access to Halloumi souvlakis and about 50 different varieties of Feta, then dude, I’m all in! Plus, the weather was great, you can take a short ferry and be on any number of Greek Islands that aren’t filled with British tourists and of course, there’s some pretty unbeatable history here.

Winner winner, mock chicken dinner!

Read More About Athens

• Things to do in Athens
• Backpacking Athens guide

Nic: Editor & Roaming Renegade

So the lesson? Don’t put things off and don’t dwell on things you can’t change or don’t know if they’re even gonna happen yet. Just get out there, do it and live in the moment because you never know when it might be your last chance.

Taya – You Don’t Realise How Resilient You Are

Last year I was backpacking through Indonesia and, as you do there, you have to see as many volcanoes as you can. I hiked three in a week—Bromo, Ijen, and Batur. Not exactly challenging stuff, but hey, I was a newbie, and it was an achievement in itself. Running off the volcano-fuelled high, my boyfriend suggested we hike Mount Rinjani once we got to Lombok. Yeah, sure, fuck it, why not. If I could do those three in a week, I could do anything.

After some research, I made the executive decision that I could not, in fact, do it. I could myself to be a fairly fit person, but this shit looked HARD. Luckily, it was the wet season, and the national park had closed for three months. What a shame eh?

So why, nearly 11 months later, did I return to Lombok specifically to hike said mountain? I couldn’t tell you. Was I fitter? More mentally prepared? Up for the challenge? No, no, and no. Yet I returned to Lombok for no other reason than TO hike Mount Rinjani. It just felt like this natural, preordained thing I had to do.

Backpackers I talked to warned me this was the hardest thing they’d ever done. That was the unanimous blanket statement, so I felt mentally prepped. But I showed up to the village with zero gear and no idea. I rented everything: jacket, gloves, head torch, hiking poles, and a kind backpacker lent me shoes—albeit a size too big, but better than my Adidas.

And, oh my god. I knew this was going to be the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but I cannot understate how gruelling it was. I’d love to say reaching the summit was euphoric, but honestly, I had to keep reminding myself I owned two lungs. My group were speed demons, and I did most of the ascent alone, with my guide AWOL somewhere up the mountain. The kindness of strangers hyping me up, my AirPods blasting Can’t Stop by Chilli Peppers (fitting, eh?), and sheer stubbornness kept me moving.

It was three relentless days of ascents and descents and far tougher mentally and physically than I expected. Even now, thinking about it stirs some serious PTSD. But I did it. I was the slowest and most wrecked in my group, but I achieved what I set out to do.

Favourite Destination of 2024 – Komodo National Park

After Rinjani you just KNOW all a gal wanted to do was drink Bintangs and snorkel on a boat for four days—and that’s exactly what I did. Komodo National Park had been sitting pretty on my Southeast Asia bucket list for ages, and I finally got my shot. And it absolutely lived up to the hype.

Padar Island offered some of the wildest views I’ve ever seen—black, white, and pink sand beaches all in one spot. We explored remote islands, snorkelled in waters with the healthiest coral I’ve ever seen, and hung out with the loveliest bunch of backpackers. However, the real highlight of Komodo National Park for me was the diving. I finally ticked off an even bigger bucket list moment…diving with manta rays. Unreal, unreal stuff.

Read More About Komodo and Indonesia

• The best time to visit Komodo Island
• Guide to Backpacking Indonesia

Taya: Editor & Resident Foodie

Heading into the new year, I’ve got a whole new level of respect for how much my mind and body can do for me.

Aiden – Travel and Friends Don’t Necessarily Mix…

When I first started travelling I was the archetypal ‘lone wolf’ and my self sufficiency was my superpower. I never did ‘lads’ holidays or family vacations and in fact the only time I ever travelled with a group was when I was the leader on The Broke Backpackers Epic Pakistan tours.

But this summer, me and my girlfriend joined a friend group to celebrate my good-buddies 40th in Berlin. And to be fair, it was grand. We had fun, made lots of memories and I’ll do it all again when he turns 50. 

Yet at this same time I found travelling with other people to be hard bloody work at times. Coordinating the day’s activities became a military exercise, I almost starved to death while we debated what to eat, and to be honest, because I had brought a big old chunk of ‘home’ with me I felt less able to immerse myself in my environment.

One member got drunk in the airport meaning he was semi-hungover for the entire trip and one night we had to ditch the crew because nobody else wanted to come Techno clubbing. On this last point, another lesson I learned is that the spirit of Berlin’s SS is alive and well in a Berghain K-hole but that’s a whole tale for another time.

Favorite Destination – France

Ok so 2024 was a busy year (for better and for worse) so I didn’t actually get to do all that much travel. However I did find a renewed love for my girlfriend’s home country of France while visiting the Franc-in-laws in Nantes and Toulouse.

While the French endlessly complain about the state of their nation (they are French after all), I found it to be in rude health. In the years last since I last visited, public transport has boomed (fast, reliable and free on weekends), fashion is thriving with vintage stores popping up everywhere and joy of joys Craft Beer has finally arrived! Oh, and it now feels almost kinda cheap compared to the price of life back in Blighty.

Aiden – Snr Editor and Thayne of Todmorden

In 2024 I bought a house and lost my Mother in pretty short succession so my head wasn’t really on travel. But next year I plan to get straight outta the starting blocks with a trip to Mexico and then lets see if I can’t hit up a few of the Silk Road’ Stans once the weather warms up a wee-lil-bit.

Don’t Forget Your Travel Insurance

One of the things we also learnt this year is the value of good quality travel insurance. No one wants to be the one to find this out the hard way, so trust us, get yourself covered before your next trip so you can enjoy yourself without worry.

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

Final Thoughts On The Team’s Biggest Travel Lessons/ Travel Experiences of 2025

Alright then folks, there you have it. Hopefully, you can take some inspiration from the trials, tribulations and ultimately victories that we as a team had this year. Whether overcoming fears, doubts or governmental red tape we got there in the end to have one hell of a year of growth, development and important lessons.

Remember, these lessons sometimes come in small packages and don’t always have to be realising a lifelong dream on the other side of the world. It could be that you realise something as simple as putting the phone down and living in the moment is the key to greater happiness and inner peace… even if you learn that on a trip to Blackpool!

Peace out and we hope you have an inspiring 2025!

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