How to Overcome Travel Fears: 9 Bucket List Adventures that Expanded My Comfort Zone
Are you ready to see the world, but feeling nervous? Learn how to overcome travel fears with these 9 bucket list adventures that expanded my travel comfort zone.
Travel fears can look different for everyone. Maybe you’re nervous about traveling alone, worried about safety, afraid of the ocean, uncomfortable in unfamiliar places, or simply hesitant to do something outside your normal routine. I’ve dealt with many of those fears myself — and some of the experiences I was most nervous about became my favorite travel memories.
Most of my favorite travel memories started with the phrase, “I never would have done that… until I did.” Conquering these fears gave me a sense of accomplishment that I carry into my daily life.
Want to see which adventures pushed me the most? Use the links below to jump directly to a specific story. Or read on to see how I transformed my travel fears into my favorite memories.
- Solo Travel in Asia: Facing the Fear of Loneliness
- Diving with Sharks Without A Cage: Facing My Biggest Underwater Fear
- Volcano Boarding in Nicaragua: Overcoming Travel Fears
- Desert Camping in Jordan: Swapping Hotels for Stars
- Wildlife Photography in Borneo: A Week in the Jungle
- Whale Shark Snorkeling in the Philippines: Swimming with Giants
- Multi-Month Trips: Traveling for Half a Year
- Learning to Snowboard in My 30s: It’s Never Too Late
- Visiting “Scary” Places: Why I Often Ignore the Warnings
1. Solo Travel in Asia: Facing the Fear of Loneliness
Traveling alone was something I used to avoid. It can be isolating and lonely. Some people hate the idea of eating every meal in silence. The idea of navigating a new country by myself felt scary. Everything changed when I landed in Bangkok.
I realized that traveling solo does not mean being alone. In fact, it forces you to meet new people. When solo traveling, you’re more likely to meet other travelers and locals. It forces you to be social. I’ve met so many more backpackers as a solo traveler.
The Lesson: I went from being afraid to being free. Traveling alone is now one of my favorite ways to see the world. It turns out the world is great company!
2. Diving with Sharks Without A Cage: Facing My Biggest Underwater Fear
I used to be terrified of sharks. The idea of swimming with sharks without a cage was WAY out of my comfort zone. It was my biggest travel fear. For a long time, SCUBA diving was on my “never” list because of it.
Everything changed when I got my PADI SCUBA certification in Bali, Indonesia. I learned to trust the gear and my own breath. Most importantly, I learned how sharks actually behave. I realized they are not the monsters we see in movies.
Since then, I have been diving with sharks many times without a cage! Facing that fear turned a nightmare into a highlight of my Visit50 journey. Now, I specifically look for shark dives when I plan a trip.
After a few dives in Bali and the Philippines, I was ready for more. Next, this passion even led me to a live-aboard boat trip in Thailand. I spent an entire week living on a boat just to dive. The underwater photography was world-class. The community of divers was amazing. It is now one of my favorite ways to travel.
I’ve had quite the transformation on sharks. I went from being terrified of sharks to learning about them and getting SCUBA certified. Then repeatedly dove with sharks, and even went on a liveaboard trip with nothing but diving.
The Lesson: Education and experience are the best ways to stop being afraid. What used to be “scary” is now my favorite part of the trip.
3. Volcano Boarding in Nicaragua: Overcoming Travel Fears
Imagine hiking up a massive volcano just to slide down the side on a board. It sounds like something for adrenaline-seeking adventurers, but not me! That’s what I thought at first. I’m glad I did it. Volcano Boarding was both terrifying and exhilarating. And I’d do it again!
I never thought I would be comfortable hiking a volcano. When I reached the top of Cerro Negro in Nicaragua, I looked down. It looked like a vertical drop! I was so scared that I wanted to walk back down. But there was no other way.
Volcano boarding is #2 on CNN’s “Thrill seekers bucket list: 50 things to do before you die.”
I had to overcome my travel fear. I sat on the board and started to slide. Volcano Boarding was a unique experience that I will never forget.
Since then, I have visited other famous peaks, like Haleakala in Hawaii. Watching the sunrise above the clouds there was breathtaking.
The Lesson: Sometimes the scariest path is the most rewarding. Every time I face a “vertical drop,” I expand my travel comfort zone.
4. Desert Camping in Jordan: Stepping Outside my Comfort Zone, Swapping Hotels for Stars
Growing up, I heard plenty of stories about how dangerous the Middle East was. For a long time, that perception made the region feel completely outside my comfort zone. My trip to Jordan changed that dramatically. It completely shattered those misconceptions. I found Jordan to be filled with some of the kindest and most welcoming people I’ve met anywhere. Experiences like spending the night in Wadi Rum pushed me far beyond the travel boundaries I once had.
For a long time, it sat firmly on my “never visit” list. However, my trip to Jordan. I found kindest, most welcoming people I’ve ever met.
Before this trip, I never would have imagined camping in the desert. However, spending a night in a tent in Wadi Rum was transformative. Stepping outside of my climate-controlled comfort zone allowed me to witness a sunrise that remains one of my absolute favorites. Jordan is filled with some of the nicest people I’ve met.
The Lesson: Don’t let broad, unfair statements about a region keep you from experiencing its heart. Jordan didn’t just expand my comfort zone; it reminded me why I travel—to replace hearsay with firsthand experience. That’s how to expand your comfort zone.
[Explore my Jordan travel stories →]
5. Wildlife Photography in Borneo: A Week in the Jungle
The “pre-passport” version of me would never believe that I’d spend a week deep in the jungle. However, the isolation of Malaysian Borneo was far beyond my early travel boundaries.
It can be scary. Being in a boat smaller than the crocodile beside you can be intimidating. Wildlife are unpredictable. I needed to overcome travel fears.
However, my passion for travel photography pushed me to take the leap. I love zoos, but those are in captivity. Capturing Orangutans, Monkeys, baby elephants and other wildlife in their natural habitat was an unforgettable experience.
Lugging my Digital SLR gear through the mud was a small price to pay for the shots I brought home.
Why it worked: That week in the jungle proved I could handle a rugged trip. I learned that I actually enjoy an “unplugged” version of travel. It turned a week of potential discomfort into a highlight of my journey toward 50 countries. It expanded my comfort zone
6. Whale Shark Snorkeling in the Philippines: Swimming with Giants
Imagine slipping into the water and coming face-to-face with a creature the size of a small school bus. Snorkeling with whale sharks was a massive leap outside my comfort zone. Their size is incredible. It is hard not to imagine one flick of a tail sending you flying.
Being right next to a massive creature can be terrifying! In reality, the experience was incredibly peaceful.
I was expecting the whale shark’s size to be intimidating. Despite having hundreds of teeth, I relaxed a bit after learning that these “gentle giants” are filter feeders. They have no interest in anything other than plankton. Seeing them up close through my lens was a masterclass in staying calm under pressure (and in the water!).
The Reward: Conquering the initial “fight or flight” response allowed me to capture some of my most prized underwater shots. If you’re planning a trip to Southeast Asia, don’t let the size of these animals intimidate you. Whale shark snorkeling was an unforgettable experience for me.
Check out my post on Whale Shark Snorkeling in the Philippines.
7. Long-Term Travel: Leaving Home for Months
Pausing your career can feel terrifying. What if you can’t find another job? What if the job market has changed while you’re away? Ahhhhhh! And then there is the financial question of traveling without a regular income.
Can you imagine traveling for months at a time? That’s a really long time to live out of your suitcase. You might miss home. Many people miss their family and friends. Or you may miss your local foods.
Most people only take one week off. I decided to do something much bigger. I have traveled for at least two months in a row twice now. Love!
Now imagine doing all of that solo. It might be what scared me the most.
During my trip to Asia, I paused my career. I planned to travel for just a few weeks. But I loved it so much that I stayed for six months! That half-year backpacking trip changed my life.
I went to the Philippines, Hong Kong, Macau, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, mainland China, Brunei, and more.
I later paused my career again, this time for a trip across Europe. It was quite the adventure! Here’s my post on my Europe Trip (“Eurotrip”).
The Lesson: Traveling long-term is a great way to grow. It gave me the confidence to keep chasing my Visit50 goals. You don’t have to quit your job forever to see the world. Sometimes a “pause” is exactly what you need.
8. Learning to Snowboard in My 30s: It’s Never Too Late
For years, I avoided snowboarding. Winter sports are cold! I let my fear of injury, and “looking like a beginner” keep me off the slopes. There were countless opportunities to learn with friends back in high school, but I passed on every single one. I was convinced that I’d never be comfortable on a board. As I got older, that “mental block” only got stronger.
Finally, in my thirties, I decided to stop making excuses. I overcame my fears. Taking that first lesson was a lesson in humility. I was terrible! However, I got better, and eventually found this to be exhilarating. Pushing through the many falls and the steep learning curve opened up a completely new way to experience winter travel.
The Lesson: It’s never too late to learn a skill that gets your heart racing. Whether you’re chasing the Visit50 Challenge goal or a new hobby, just start. Snowboarding went from something I feared to a genuine passion. This proved that expanding your comfort zone doesn’t have an expiration date.
9. Visiting “Scary” Places People Told Me To Fear
(and why I often ignore the warnings).
Finally, let’s talk about so-called “scary” places. People often warn me about “dangerous” countries. But I have learned that fear is usually based on stories, not facts.
Why I Ignored the Warnings and Fell in Love with the Philippines
First, I was warned about visiting the Philippines. My Filipino friend said, “don’t go to the Philippines. You’ll die!“
I went anyway and loved it. Read about why visiting the Philippines was a great decision here.
I loved the Philippines so much that I wrote a Philippines Travel Guide, featuring everything you need to know. Learn from my mistakes!
Booking a Mystery Layover: Discovering Bahrain by Accident
Would you book a trip to a country you hadn’t heard of? While shopping for flights from Malaysia to Jordan, I found a deal. However, it had a 19 hour layover in Bahrain. This is embarrassing, but at the time, I couldn’t even find Bahrain on a map. Was it safe? After a little research, I decided to visit anyway. So glad I did! I loved exploring the local culture! You can learn how I made the most of my day trip to Bahrain here.
Ditching the Resort: Finding the Real Dominican Republic
Next, the DR. In the Dominican Republic, people told me, “Don’t leave the resort.” But I didn’t even book a resort! I stayed with locals and saw the real country instead. I will share that full story in a new post soon.
The Lesson: To see the world, you must overcome travel fears. Every time I ignore a scary rumor, I expand my comfort zone.
Would you do these?
How to Overcome Travel Fears: Start Small
Learn before you leap. See my story about sharks and scuba diving.
Start with a manageable version of the fear.
You don’t have to begin with a six-month solo trip. Try to incrementally expand your comfort zone.
Expect to feel uncomfortable.
Being nervous doesn’t mean you’re making the wrong decision.
Separate real risks from imagined ones.
Research the destination rather than relying entirely on stories from other people.
Let yourself be a beginner.
My snowboarding experience might be the perfect example.
Final Thoughts: Ready to Expand Your Comfort Zone?
I didn’t become fearless by traveling. I became more comfortable with being uncomfortable. Every time I tried something that scared me — traveling alone, diving with sharks, camping in the desert, spending months on the road or simply learning a new sport — my definition of what felt possible got a little bigger.
Growth doesn’t happen when we stay inside our bubbles—it happens the moment we push past the hesitation, book the ticket, and dive into the unknown. You don’t have to tackle a shark-infested ocean or hike an active volcano on day one. Just pick one small thing that scares you, take a deep breath, and go.
Which of these 9 adventures or fears resonates with you the most? Drop a comment below and let me know what is currently sitting on your “never” list!
Follow my adventures, including how I overcome travel fears, here and on my Visit50 Instagram.
