Tag Archives: travel

Travelling Alone: how & why it can be inspiring

Many of us long to be free, to be liberated and embrace life in the most fulfilling way. But many get stuck on how to do so. They lack the courage to push themselves in doing what’s best for them.

Well if you have restless feet and crave the chance to wander around this magnificent planet; adventuring out alone and embracing a life of discovery might give you the ultimate freedom that you desire.

Solo travel means that every decision you make is for you, you do what you want, you go where you want, you eat what you want. As you discover each new place, you learn more about what you like. The ability for you to experience infinite possibilities gives you the chance to meet yourself. Your real self.

People have said that traveling alone reveals to themselves what they’re really like. This is so unbelievably true. It brings out the real you. You’ll learn how to survive on your own, you’re more aware of everything around you, and in each day that goes by you become more independent. It’s an experience like no other, being alone as you become a globe-trotter is about as self-indulgent as it gets. It’s a truly inspiring journey that I suggest every person does at least once in their life.

A great adventure like this one is nothing without its fair share of challenges. At times you feel vulnerable and isolated, potentially homesick. But you will persevere, and the challenges you experience and the strength that comes about because of them pushes you to interact with those around you. It’s at this point where you most crave that meaningful connection in such a foreign setting, that you’ll come across some truly amazing individuals. You’ll meet like-minded travellers, eager to make that unique bond only shared between wandering souls.

When you travel with family or friends, it’s easy to hide behind what you find comfortable. You naturally rely on those around you and can be easily negotiated to doing what they want on occasion. Not that being comfortable is a bad thing, you’ll just find that your journey will be more inspiring and refreshing when you step outside your comfort zone.

There have been many courageous people to take the leap before you, to dive into the great big world and come out on the other side, a better, more cultured individual because of it. So we thought we’d share with you some inspiring solo travellers who’ve left us with that all consuming travel bug. Matt Kepnes, better known as Nomadic Matt, is a backpacker and solo travelling extraordinaire, who’s been travelling the world for over a decade. His blog and Instagram are renowned in the travelling world, and provides an amazingly unique insight into how to live an inspiring adventure filled life.

Then there’s Kristin Addis, creator of Be My Travel Muse, her platform shows her dedication to solo travel and showing others how to do it fearlessly. Her followers get a look into her colourful adventures through her blog, Instagram and beautifully montaged Youtube videos. Third and finally, we have Alice Teacake, of Teacake Travels, her quirky nature and bubbly outlook on life and pushing boundaries leaves something to be admired. Each photo she posts or blog post she writes are aimed at inspiring girl power and people’s belief in themselves to be able to adventure out alone.

The list could go on forever, there are so many inspiring people out there, that have conquered their fears of the unknown and become advocates for the nomadic life. And there’s something to be said on the growing number of people taking a chance on such a life changing journey.

“Solo travel is such a gift because it gives us all a chance to be totally selfish for a while..it’s taught me that I’m resourceful, braver than I thought, more capable than I imagined.”

–  Kristin Addis.

Not only does travelling alone open up your journey to limitless spontaneity, but it allows you to better appreciate your surroundings. You’ll find yourself passing the point of being scared of the solitude, and come out feeling remarkably strong. It’s an incredible moment, discovering that you are at ease with yourself and where you are. To be okay with whatever gets thrown at you because you’ve learned to acknowledge the happiness found through being one with yourself.

And when it’s all said and done, the truly inspiring people you’ve met, the colourful and unique places you’ve seen, and the accomplishment of sheer and utter freedom will leave you with the most memorable experiences that will stay with you for the rest of your life.

Check out the upcoming adventures on our calendar!

Being a Responsible Traveller: Gift Giving Abroad

As part of our commitment to responsible travel we ask that the participants of our adventures do not give gifts to the communities that they visit, or to the individuals they encounter.

We know what you’re thinking…why? What’s wrong with giving a small gift?

The act of gift giving and donating is a tricky one. It’s a universal practice not bounded by barriers of language or culture so we assume it is a great way to show our appreciation or to help someone in need. But even the most well-intended gifts or donations present some complex issues. These include donating to beggars or those living on the street, giving to children and making donations directly to the communities you may visit.

This is because gift-giving can:

  • Entice children and their families to beg when they should be receiving an education or seeking work.
  • Encourage an unreliable dependence on tourism.
  • Create tension if there is an uneven distribution of gifts within a community.
  • May cause cultural misunderstandings that all visitors give gifts.

You might think you are helping someone in need but sadly, these kind of small gifts rarely result in any significant improvement in these people’s lives. We want to make sure we are doing our best to be socially responsible – both as travellers and as global citizens.  

If you are thinking about gift giving on your adventure, consider these things first;

Consider your motives.

For what reason are you giving? Travelling to less-developed countries can be a confronting experience, especially if you haven’t travelled to regions like it before. The short amount of happiness afforded by giving a gift does not erase the potentially harmful consequences.

It’s okay to give to people who provide a service for you.

Tipping is a common practice all over the world and is an appropriate way to show your appreciation and to give back to the local community. For example, this might include gifting your unwanted clothing or trekking equipment to porters and guides. We also suggest combining tips as a group to ensure they are more evenly distributed.

Give donations directly to community leaders.

It’s more appropriate for any goods to be distributed by locals, rather than by tourists. Once again, this helps to make sure they are distributed fairly. This might be the case if local communities request resources such as pens or books for schools.

Make a donation to a reputable NGO or foundation.

The best way to responsibly donate or gift give is via a reputable source who can assist in the sustainable distribution of your donation. They will consider the broader impact of your donation in order to empower local communities in the long-run.

Discuss any concerns with your local guide.

If at any point you have concerns about giving gifts, discuss it with your local guide. They will be able to give you the advice you need to give back to the local community in the most ethical way possible.

Check out the upcoming adventures on our calendar!

Meet Our Local Guides: Tanzania

Together with our Team Leaders, our local guides play a fundamental role in the success of all our adventures.

They come from a myriad of backgrounds and experiences so with their expert knowledge we know our adventurers are in the right hands to complete their charity challenges and achieve something they never knew they could.

The Mount Kilimanjaro Trek is an immense physical and mental challenge but the sense of accomplishment when you reach the summit of the world’s highest free-standing mountain is completely unrivalled! As one of our most challenging treks, the role of the local guides cannot be underestimated!

Emmanuel

Mount Kilimanjaro won over his heart pretty early on – Emmanuel started hiking as a porter in 2011, and did 17 hikes before he decided he wanted to study to be a mountain guide.

He says he is very proud to be a guide in his home country – the natural scenery and mind-blowing cultural and historical attractions are what he loves.

Emmanuel thinks Mount Kilimanjaro is a beautiful place to work and what he likes about leading the trekking groups is ‘surprising and being surprised by others’.

Antipas

Similar to Emmanuel, Antipas started hiking Mount Kilimanjaro as a porter and after six years, he decided he wanted to become a guide and took a guiding course run by the Kilimanjaro National Park.

He says he loves his country because it is endowed with many attractions such as Kilimanjaro, Serengeti and Ngorongoro.

What makes Antipas such a great guide, is his appreciation for the mountain – he believes it is among the most beautiful and peaceful places on earth.

Check out the upcoming adventures on our calendar!

Meet Our Local Guides: Nepal

Meet Our Local Guides: Nepal

In our series on our Local Guides, today we travel to Nepal!

We have two amazing adventure experiences in Nepal – trekking to Everest Base Camp and travelling through the foothills of the Annapurna region. The unique views of the Himalayas are the star of these two treks and our local guides make sure they don’t go unappreciated.

Meet Kalpana

Kalpana is from Sindupalchowk, a mountain village in central Nepal.

She leads treks through the foothills of the Annapurna region, introducing her group of adventurers to the majesty of the Himalayas.

Always up for a challenge, Kalpana says trekking the foothills of Annapurna has made it her favourite destination.

She also likes to think of herself as a lifelong learner and loves the idea of being “like a chameleon” to her natural surroundings.

For Kalpana, it is the rich geographical and cultural diversity of Nepal has always fascinated her.

But exactly why does she do what she does? Kalpana feels she can inspire others to fall in love with Nepal just as she has.

Meet Gopal

Gopal is from Nepalgunj in Nepal.

It was an interest in mountaineering and trekking that inspired Gopal’s career as an adventure guide, having worked as a trekking guide since 2005.

He has completed some amazing climbs in his lifetime, including some of the highest peaks in Nepal – Island Peak and Mera Peak.

This passion is the reason he continues to successfully guide groups to Everest Base Camp and across the Annapurna region –  so the adventurers in his group can experience the raw beauty of the Himalayas.

Find out more about our upcoming Nepal adventures here.

Interview with Justine: 15 years of Inspired

I sat down with Justine, the driving force behind Inspired, to have a look back at what she’s achieved since we opened our doors fifteen years ago. Had the pleasure of discussing her outlook on the growing popularity of ethical travel, her desire to create a company for social good & the bright future of Inspired Adventures

So Justine, have you always been impacted by companies preaching social good?

When I was about 14 I remember going into town with my Mum and seeing The Body Shop for the first time. I’d never seen anything like it before. I loved the fact that they were talking about community trade, ethically sourced ingredients, recycling the plastic bottles – and this is mid 80s. Anita Roddick was at the forefront of this movement, they were discussing women’s issues, no cosmetic testing on animals. It really struck a chord with me.

How does Inspired's adventures impact the lives of the participants?

It is often declaring that you’re going to do something out of your comfort zone; a fundraising challenge requires a lot of preparation and the confidence to go away with people you don’t know and actually completing that is quite transformational. It  can often make a difference in how they live their lives thereafter as they suddenly know themselves to be a bit of a local hero. It is the concept of ‘ordinary people doing extraordinary things. 

15 years of incredible work - What is there to celebrate?

We’ve raised – and counting – about $33 million dollars. I think it’s really wonderful to imagine the impact of that money and what it can and has achieved.

For example: We’ve funded a Kids Helpline counsellor on the phone for an entire year.

&  

We funded a piece of video equipment for rural hospitals so they could video conference in with bigger Children’s hospitals in the cities and help pioneer life-saving operations for kids.”

“It’s hard to comprehend what we’ve actually raised.  I say to the team often that it is the butterfly effect of that money that is often quite extraordinary.

Equally worth celebrating is the people are the 6,000 or more who have been on our adventures & the amazing people who sign up to; pledge a minimum amount, spend a year fundraising and getting fit & healthy, going to join a group of strangers and go somewhere in Australia or International, probably somewhere I’ve never been to trek, cycle or run a marathon and put myself out there.  It changes lives. For that year or so it gives people a goal and gives their lives meaning.

 

As a society the idea of sustainable and socially conscious travel is becoming increasingly popular and supported by the masses - Why do you feel that society is coming round to this phenomenon?

It’s very exciting that we finally are. It’s come an incredibly long way in the last 10 years. For many people it starts with diet and nutrition – avoiding processed foods and eating clean – thinking about different ways of approaching diet. Starting from the ground with not shopping at your local supermarket with plastic bags – making a commitment to the environment at home, one that is very manageable and achievable for us all to begin. It’s a natural progression for people to think about how they travel.

There’s been a real increase in smaller, niche, boutique travel agencies that really have a focus on ethical, sustainable & responsible travel practices. I think it’s become a lot more accessible and as the popularity increases it becomes a lot easier to travel that way. Following the sentiments of “Leave only Footprints”.

I’m really pleased the world is wising up, it seems a natural shift between how we live our lives and how we want to see & travel the world. As a parent as well it’s wonderful to be a good example to kids. Provide those insights and environmentally responsible practices, community education done in a really responsible way and keep educating the next generation.

What do you see as being the future of Inspired?

Creating extraordinary travel and fundraising for the younger generation.We’d like to place a focus on Australian travel, exploring our own backyard. We have an extraordinarily diverse and wonderful country with a lot to learn about the community and our history. Equally growing our New Zealand operation, which is exciting, and looking further afield. Working with other charities in the Asia-Pacific region and constantly look into new destinations & itineraries such as those this year to Costa Rica & Japan.

We’re running lots of Corporate adventures so that’s a wonderful opportunity for development too. It’s important that team-building and Leadership development for staff and inter-company relations to aid Corporates in being better global citizens and having an awareness of responsible travel & ethical practices.

What would you say to inspire other women who look up to you and have similar dreams?

Never give up!

Follow your instincts and listen to your heart, whatever feels right. If it doesn’t feel right, don’t do it. Stay very true to yourself and find time to connect with the inner you – your creativity and your passion.

We as women are incredibly creative and passionate. There’s an opportunity to constantly be listening, looking and exploring. Tap into that inner-goddess.

Check out the upcoming adventures on our calendar!

Origin story: Mount Kilimanjaro summit

From Inspired Adventure’s CEO and founder Justine Curtis first climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in 2004 to our current figures – presently having over 500 adventurers partaking in this climb – it’s remarkable to see just how far the company has come. Reaching the summit of the world’s highest freestanding mountain, Justine gave herself only 3 months to raise $30,000 and attempt the biggest challenge in her life thus far.

This increasingly popular climb is an incredibly challenging 12-day trek through Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro National Park. Trekking from the rainforests of the East African plains, through five different climatic zones, to the final awe-inspiring glacier at the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Mount Kilimanjaro 

Our founder Justine Curtis made the decision to climb as part of a management training course intended to forcibly get you  of your comfort zone. She created the immense challenge for herself to raise $30,000 within 12 weeks and with very little training or research to climb the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. Raising the funds for a water pump for an orphanage in Zimbabwe. Whilst having being given the opportunity to climb before and rejecting it through fear, fitness and lack of preparation – Justine decided enough was enough and that no matter what she was going to reach the summit.

Our CEO tells a wonderful story of reaching the summit, saying that; “We got to the point where it was dusk, we were above the clouds and there was this tiny little orange dot on the horizon. This pinprick where the sun was going to come up and burst into the sky. It was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.”

Known as the rooftop of Africa; the climb can be completed without ropes or extensive equipment, the adventure is not one for the faint hearted. Justine has said that this climb was the “catalyst for me to create an exciting fundraising agency and share the opportunity with other people”.

Mount Kilimanjaro

As it currently stands Inspired Adventures has a 95% summit success rate which is extraordinary. For people who are of an average fitness level it’s surprisingly very achievable. Through Inspired Adventures the participants have been eclectic, from young teenagers trekking with their parents to the more mature 70s and 80s age range successfully climb it.

Justine tells us that; “The camaraderie is incredible, others empowering you with their commitment and hard work to get you to the top. There’s nothing better than that connection.” 

Interested in participating? See our website for further details.

Check out the upcoming adventures on our calendar!

Choosing The Right Gear For Your Adventure

Planning on embarking on an exciting adventure off the beaten track? Congratulations! There’s no better feeling than swapping the hustle and bustle of the city for the fresh, invigorating air that Mother Nature has to offer. But first, you will need to invest in some key items to ensure you have a comfortable and safe trip.

Here, we’ve provided some essential tips to ensure you have the right equipment for your epic outdoor escape.

Boots

There is nothing worse than blisters on a trekking adventure. They are painful and can lead to more serious injury if left untreated. Possibly worse is enduring the pain of breaking your boots in, only to have them fall apart halfway into your trek. Ensuring your boots are well-made and are the correct fit is imperative before setting off on your Inspired Adventure. Be sure to check the seams of your new boots, including the stitching and shoelace eyelets. These areas should be reinforced and the stitching should appear solid. Next, inspect the area where the sole meets the upper material. There should be no gaps! Gaps equals water, water equals soggy socks and soggy socks equals unhappy trekkers.

Whether you’ve purchased your boots especially for your adventure or you’ve had them for years, how you care for them primarily determines how well they will hold up as you take on the world. Chris Mein from Paddy Pallin shares his best tips for keeping your boots in tip top shape:

  1. Clean your boots thoroughly after every trek. Many foreign substances can affects the rubber, glue and leather of your boots.
  2. To dry your boots, stuff them with newspaper and let them air dry. Store them in a dry place, away from direct sunlight.
  3. Treat your boots with a conditioner before and after long treks to keep them supple and protected.

Trekking Poles

There are many benefits to using trekking poles. They significantly reduce the pressure strain on the opposite leg and allow you to lengthen your stride while protecting your knees. While the use of trekking poles is a personal decision, using them correctly is imperative.

The number one reason for complaints about trekking poles is that most people do not know how to use them. As a result, it is easy to believe there is no benefit to them or that they get in the way. Fortunately the proper technique is easy to pick up and can be mastered with a little practice. So how do you ensure you are getting the most from your poles?

  • Set the correct height: Stand up straight with your shoulders relaxed. Place the pole under your arm, then adjust it so the top of the pole is halfway between your armpit and your elbow. You will find that generally this height will work for the duration of your adventure.
  • Wrist straps: To get the maximum efficiency from your poles, you should place your hands through the loop, your thumb and forefinger forming a “U” or an “O” shape around the grip.
  • Terrain: Terrain impacts the way you will position your poles while trekking.

Hydration

There’s not enough and there’s too much. So how do you know how to maintain optimum hydration while trekking? Adventurer, Lucas Trihey explains how you can achieve the perfect balance:

  • Dehydration seriously affects performance and if not rectified can lead to fatigue, heatstroke and tissue damage. Taking small sips of water before you become thirsty and adding electrolytes will assist in preventing dehydration.
  • To avoid water intoxication, don’t drink more than your thirst level indicates and remember that the maximum amount of water that your gastrointestinal tract can absorb is about 800 mls per hour.
  • The right fabrics and garments play an important role in keeping your body temperature and fluid balance right. Covering up with technical fabrics on hot days helps conserve your fluids and using wicking fabrics helps your body’s evaporative cooling mechanism.

 

Feeling inspired?

Check out our calendar for your chance to take on an incredible adventure!

Best Australian Walking Trails

Covering 7,692,024 million square kilometers, Australia is the world’s 6th largest country – offering trekkers of all experience levels endless opportunity to slip on those trainers and hit the ground to get in those training miles. How lucky are we? From mountains to seaside, Australia offers some amazing opportunities to get your heart pounding, whilst enjoying stunning vistas that are so characteristic of Australia.

New South Wales

Wentworth falls (Blue Mountains)

Bordering metropolitan Sydney, this iconic section of Australia’s Great Dividing Range is one of our favourite weekend getaways for training – an easy train ride from the CBD sees your landscape change from city skyline to mountain hues. The Wentworth Falls area offers trek variations ranging from 30 minutes to 6 hours. The classic Wentworth Falls Loop (6 hours) offers a moderate-challenging trek with LOTS of stairs – no matter which direction you tackle the hike, your legs will feel the inevitable burn that comes with stair training. With sweeping views of the valley, and multiple waterfall stops to encourage you to keep going, this trek is the perfect opportunity to train your leg muscles for those of you who are setting off on step-heavy adventures – Great Wall of China & Machu Picchu trekkers we’re talking to you!

Distance: 10.2km
Time: 6 hours
Track Condition: Steep
Difficulty: Moderate-difficult

Victoria

Kokoda Memorial Walk (1000 Steps)

With 1000 steps to traverse on this trek, you can experience a tiny sense of the exhaustion felt by the soldiers who battled the Kokoda track in World War 2. This makes it the perfect opportunity to test those knees in preparation for any upcoming adventures that involve steep inclines and declines, especially the Great Wall of China, and the Kokoda track itself!

Distance: 5km
Time: 2 hours
Track Condition: Steep
Difficulty: Moderate

Northern Territory

Litchfield National Park

The beautiful Florence Falls in Litchfield National Park, with cool swimming hole at base. Northern Territory, Australia
An hour and a half drive from Darwin, Litchfield National Park offers a variety of day walks ranging from 30 minutes to 2 hours, taking trekkers down winding paths to waterfalls and plunge pools, and back up again to tabletop plateaus and outback views. Most tracks found in Litchfield National Park are very exposed to the elements, and as such provide the perfect opportunity to practice trekking against the elements, especially prolonged cardio in hot conditions. For those of you cycling through SouthEast Asia, this could be the perfect opportunity to practice getting your heart rate up while battling hot and muggy conditions. Try completing a number of the different walking tracks in succession to create a longer workout!

Distance: 1-3.5km
Time: 30mins-2 hours
Track Condition: Steep
Difficulty: Easy-moderate

Tasmania

Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park

The iconic image of Tasmania, Cradle Mountain

Tasmania – it’s a hiker’s paradise. It’s hard to pick just one trek, but we have to say Cradle Mountain is definitely up there with our favourites! Rising graciously over Dove Lake, Cradle Mountain boasts many different treks which allow you to challenge yourself whilst taking in the wonders of the ancient rainforest and alpine heathlands, buttongrass and beeches, icy streams and glacial lakes. We’ve narrowed down our recommendations for treks in the area:

  • Marion’s Lookout (3 hours)
  • Crater Lake (3 hours)
  • Dove Lake (2 hours)

And for those of you up to the challenge:

  • Cradle Mountain Summit Bush Walk (5 1/2 hours return)

Distance: Varies
Time: 2 hours-5.5 hours
Track Condition: Steep, rocky
Difficulty: Hard

Western Australia

Eagle’s View Trail, John Forrest National Park

Located in the John Forrest National Park just 30 minutes out of Perth, Eagle’s View Trail offers a moderately challenging loop trail, with some steep gravel sections breaking up the flatter ones, to keep you on your toes.

Distance:  15kms
Time:  6 hours
Track Condition: Steep, rocky
Difficulty:  Moderate

Queensland

Whitsunday Great Walk

The Whitsunday Great Walk takes you on a 28km journey through Conway State Forest, starting at Brandy Creek, and finishing at Airlie Beach. While designed to be undertaken over 3 days – with camping facilities along the way – you might choose to tackle just one stretch.

South Australia

St. Mary’s Peak, Wilpena Pound, Flinders Ranges National Park

scene in Flinders Ranges Australia
St. Mary’s Peak is the highest mountain in the Flinders Ranges National Park and the second highest peak in South Australia. Soaring to 1171 metres, St Mary’s peak offers breathtaking 360-degree views of the Flinders Ranges, Wilpena Pound and surrounding plains.

To get to the summit you have two options:

  • Direct route: 14km, 6 hours return
  • Inner trail: 21.2km, 9 hours return

Both trails are challenging, with steep inclines – requiring serious hiking experience. Appropriate footwear is must for this adventure – ankle support please!

 

Feeling inspired?

  • Keen to tackle an Inspired Adventure’s trekking challenge? See our adventures here.

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Why we love our sunburnt country

With most Australians living within 50 kilometres of the coast, it would be easy to assume that seaside wonders are Australia’s greatest natural asset. However, turn 180 degrees and start heading inland and you’ll soon discover a vastly different beauty: the uniquely red, undulating desert that is Australia’s Red—and it will leave you breathless.

australia

From Uluru to Kakadu, the Australian Outback is staggering, its stillness and grace bringing peace to even the most frenzied traveller. The unique red rocks that are so distinct and iconic to the Outback are humbling, both in size and their seemingly random occurrence; you sense the power of nature, as well as the history and culture behind this vast landscape.

australian-highway

Anyone who has walked the base of Uluru will tell you how overwhelming small you begin to feel ­­– not in an insignificant way, but rather as part of a realisation that we as human beings are a small part of an enormous and beautiful picture. For anyone who travels to Uluru it is an awe-inspiring experience. For Australians, it’s an even greater honour to stand at the base of a stunning formation that holds so much significance to modern Australians, as well as the traditional owners of the land.

Natural beauty aside, the Australian Outback gives an unparalleled insight into the original custodians of this land. I found my first trip to the Outback both revealing and touching – what I thought I knew about our Indigenous Australians was overtaken by reality as I realised how little I knew about this amazing culture and their history. Not only did I learn about the Dreamtime, the significance of rock paintings, artistic expression, and the connection to land, I also came to understand the modern reality of many Indigenous Australians for whom life is rapidly changing, and rarely easy. This is an idea that I took away from my Outback experience and something I will never forget.

australian-mountains

There are many ways to experience the Australian Outback, from guided tours to creating your own bespoke adventure. Some of the best journeys include trekking the Larapinta Trail, trekking in Kakadu National Park, visit the Kimberley or travel from south to north Australian on The Ghan.

And once you’re there ­­– how do you make the most of your Outback adventure? Approach it without any expectations, breathe in the beauty of this breath-taking land, and make sure to engage with the wonderful local communities!

Feeling inspired?

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11 Tips for a more comfortable flight

We love a good challenge, but flights can certainly be gruelling. Whether you’re flying for an hour, or 37 hours, there are simple ways to improve your flight experience and arrive fresh and energised. Here are our top 11 flight tips:

Set your watch

Set your watch to the time zone you’re going to enter. This helps your body and mind prepare. Pro tip: Work out a sleep schedule for your flight. If you’re going to arrive late at night then try to stay awake towards the end of your flight and vice versa.

Water over wine

Nothing beats a glass of wine to calm the nerves before a flight… except being adequately hydrated! (You will thank yourself later). The free alcohol on international flights is a lovely perk. In saying that, you need to stay hydrated if you want to feel okay the next day. Also try to avoid coffee and carbonated drinks whilst in the air. Pro tip: Take your own water bottle. This way your hydration isn’t dependent on the refreshment trolley.

Pole position

Ask to sit at the front of the plane, this means you’ll be fed first (and have a choice of meals before the good option runs out). It also means you’ll be able to get off the plane first!

Moisturise, Moisturise, Moisturise

Do you suffer from dry skin and chapped lips on the plane? It can get uncomfortable after a while! The air that is circulating through the plane can be quite drying on the skin, so be sure to have chapstick and moisturiser on hand and apply every few hours.

Reclining etiquette

When flying in cramped economy, that recline button can be an absolute savior. However, there are rules to follow. Sit back up at meal times and if the person before you is using their tray, let them know you’re about to push back; this avoids squished hands and you also get to meet your neighbour.

Compression socks

This might seem like a strange survival tip, but these socks are amazing! Say goodbye to swollen legs and feet after a long flight. You can pick up a pair at most chemists and you won’t regret it.

Move it!

Get up and keep your blood flowing! It doesn’t need to be much; just have a little wander on your way to the bathroom and then a nice stretch before going back to your seat.

Plane clothes

Yes, this is a category of clothing and I encourage you to fall deeply in love with it. Say no to jeans and tight jackets. Now is the time for you to bring out your comfortable pants and settle in. Pro tip: If you’re going on an adventure make sure to take your trekking boots on the plane with you. That way, even if your luggage is delayed your adventure is not!

Dinner time

Unlike many people, I actually enjoy plane food. I think it’s the surprise of what the food trolley holds. However, if you are like the masses make sure that you bring a few of your favourite snacks for the flight. This is especially important if you have any special dietary requirements as we all know those meals can be less than desirable.

Control your sound

The headphones provided by the airline are always notoriously bad, so I would encourage you to invest in a good pair of noise cancelling headphones before you fly. Pro tip: Earplugs are a great investment to block out background noise whilst you’re trying to sleep.

Carry a pen and take a photo of your important documents

This will make those pesky arrival cards all the more easier to fill out. Pro tip: fill the cards out as soon as they are handed out. This way you won’t be scrounging around for your flight number whilst you’re going through customs.

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