Why the Trips That Change You Aren’t Just About Destinations
By Mary Collins | January 2026
Last week, I listened to something James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, said on the Mel Robbins podcast.
He was talking about identity-based habits — how lasting change comes from focusing on who you want to become, not the external goal.
You don’t just “run a marathon.” You become a runner. You don’t just “eat healthy.” You a healthy eater.
The behavior follows the identity. Not the other way around.
And I haven’t been able to stop thinking about what this means for travel.
You’ve done your research.
You’ve read the books. Watched the documentaries. You know which sites matter and why they’re significant.
You’ve compared itineraries. Read reviews. Made sure you weren’t booking some tourist trap.
You’re choosing carefully. The same way you approached everything during your professional years.
But here’s what I keep noticing:
All that care goes into where you’re going.
Almost none of it goes into who you’ll be when you get there.
The bucket list problem.
Most travel is destination-focused.
See the Colosseum. Visit Machu Picchu. Check off the UNESCO sites.
You pick the place. You show up. You hope the experience lives up to the investment.
But the people who come home changed?
They weren’t just chasing destinations.
They were traveling as an expression of who they are.
Curious. Engaged. Someone who asks real questions and expects real answers.
Someone who spent their professional years thinking deeply — and refuses to check that at the gate.
You already know what you need.
You need more than a guide reading from a script.
You need the person who actually knows — the scholar who can answer your questions, not deflect them.
You need fellow travelers who match your curiosity. Who make the dinner conversation as interesting as the sites.
You need access to the places that aren’t in the guidebook. The back rooms. The restricted sites. The doors that stay closed unless you know the right people.
This isn’t about luxury. It’s about depth.
And you know the difference.
Here’s the paradox.
Identity-based travel sounds like it’s all about you. “Who do I want to become?” — which could be seen as self centered.
But think about what it actually requires.
If you want to satisfy your curiosity — you need someone who can answer at your level. A scholar. An expert. Someone passionate about sharing their insights.
If you want real understanding — you need access you can’t get from a guidebook.
If you want to feel connected — you need actual relationships. People who ask questions as good as yours. Communities who benefit from your presence.
The “selfish” act of traveling for who you are actually thrives on community.
Meanwhile, destination-focused travel — which looks outward — often leaves you feeling isolated, disconnected from local communities.
You check the box. Take the photo. Move on.
And you come home wondering why it felt so empty.
This is what Intellectual Travel™ actually means.
It’s not about proving how smart you are.
It’s about traveling in a way that reflects who you are.
You spent your professional years valuing depth over surface. Understanding over shortcuts. Excellence over “good enough.”
You refuse to settle for less now.
Scholar-led expeditions. Boutique groups of 10-14. Access to places and people most tourists never reach.
Not because it’s fancy.
Because it’s who you are.
The Winter 2026 catalogue is now available
25+ expeditions designed for people who refuse to check their curiosity at the gate.
If you’re done with destination-focused tourism and ready for travel that actually engages you — this is what depth looks like.
