Top 5 Travel Goals to Set Before You Hit 30

Your twenties are the perfect time to have bold adventures and build stories you’ll tell for a lifetime. By the time 30 rolls around, you’ll want to look back and feel you made the most of your youth on the road.

In fact, many people later wish they had traveled more when they were younger - one survey found 35% of travelers regret not traveling more in their youth. Don’t let that be you!

Here are the top five travel goals to aim for before you hit the big 3-0, guaranteed to enrich your life and banish future FOMO:

1. Take a Solo Trip

Nothing builds confidence and self-discovery like solo travel. Whether it’s a weekend in a neighboring country or a month-long backpacking trek, traveling alone at least once is a must.

You learn to rely on yourself, make decisions on the fly, and meet amazing people along the way. It might be daunting at first, but navigating a new city or dining solo in a foreign cafe will prove you can take on anything.

Plus, solo trips often lead to meaningful encounters - without a companion to fall back on, you’re more likely to strike up conversations with locals and other travelers. Before 30, gift yourself at least one “just me” adventure. You’ll return more confident, independent, and with stories only you can tell.

2. Visit a Far-Flung Destination

Pick a place that’s far outside your comfort zone (geographically or culturally) and make it a goal to get there. It could be an entirely different continent or just a country vastly different from your own. The idea is to experience a culture and environment unlike anything you’ve known.

If you grew up in the city, maybe it’s a remote mountain village in the Andes; if you’ve only seen the tropics, maybe it’s the icy beauty of Iceland. Pushing your boundaries early not only broadens your perspective, it also proves that distance and unfamiliarity won’t stop you.

Many older travelers regret not having visited more distant or off-beat places, so seize the chance now. That trip to a far-flung corner might just spark a lifelong love of exploring the unknown.

3. Achieve a Meaningful Travel Milestone

Set a specific travel benchmark to hit before 30 - something tangible and fun to strive toward. For example, “30 countries by 30” is a popular (if ambitious!) goal that motivates you to constantly seek new destinations.

Or you might aim to visit all seven continents, or all the states/provinces in your home country, or perhaps all the UNESCO World Heritage sites on your bucket list.

The number isn’t as important as the purpose: having a travel milestone gives you a sense of progress and accomplishment. Each new place you check off becomes a celebration.

Just be sure to value quality over quantity - it’s not only about counting countries but also about the rich experiences in each. By setting a travel goal with a number or list, you’ll push yourself to keep exploring whenever you get the chance.

4. Try an Adventure Activity

Add a dash of adrenaline to your travels while you’re young and (hopefully) free of serious obligations. Before 30, challenge yourself to do something adventurous in your travels that scares or excites you.

Think of things like skydiving over a stunning landscape, bungee jumping at a famous bridge, scuba diving to see coral reefs, summiting a challenging mountain, or even camping solo under the stars.

Adventure means different things to different people - the key is to pick one that gives you butterflies. Not only will this create an unforgettable memory, it can also build courage and resilience.

Many young travelers later regret not being more adventurous when they had the chance. So go paragliding, take that multi-day trek, or zip-line through the jungle - you’ll always remember the thrill and pride of conquering it.

5. Immerse Yourself in Another Culture

Travel is not just about ticking boxes; it’s about connecting with the world. Make it a goal to have at least one deeply immersive cultural experience abroad.

This could mean living in another country for a few months (study abroad, remote work, or volunteering), or staying with a local family, or simply dedicating a trip to learning the language and customs of a place.

The idea is to go beyond the tourist perspective and see the world through locals’ eyes. You might learn to cook Thai food from a street vendor, dance tango in Buenos Aires, or participate in a community project in a small town.

These experiences enrich you far beyond the vacation snapshot - they teach empathy, communication, and understanding. By 30, aim to have one experience where you truly lived the local life somewhere. It will shape who you are and how you appreciate other cultures going forward.

Bonus: Capture Your Journey

While you’re busy accomplishing these goals, don’t forget to document your adventures (journals, photos, videos) for your future self. After all, the experiences you have now will be the stories you tell later - and you’ll want some evidence to back up the epic tale of that time you slept under the Sahara stars!

Every traveler’s journey is unique, but these five goals are a great starting point to inspire your own list. Your twenties are a time of freedom, energy, and curiosity - the perfect mix for travel.

So set your sights on these goals, start planning, and make the next trip happen. That way, when 30 comes knocking, you’ll know you’ve lived it up around the world with no regrets.

Happy travels (and ticking off those goals)!