My first real travel experience was backpacking the Kalalau Trail along the Nā Pali Coast of Kauai. I landed in Lihue and hitched hike to Ke'e Beach, which is near the trailhead. Most backpackers will hike this relatively easy trail in the summer, as the rivers and tropical storms have dissipated. In the backdrop of Kalalua is Mount Waiʻaleʻale, meaning ‘overflowing water’ in Hawaiian, the second rainiest spot on planet Earth.

Being young, inexperienced, and knowing nothing about seasonal tropical rains, I decided to backpack this trail in February, when the rivers are flowing/raging at their highest.

This ‘relatively easy’ trek took me 3 days, as the trail had more in common with a Slip N Slide than the Kalalau Trail that I would be acquainted with come summer. 

River crossings took hours, as I had to ford rivers, pack-less, then run a rope from tree to tree, re-cross the river, and secure my ‘beginner pack’ to the rope and ford the river once more. 

So what is ‘the beginner pack?’ The largest backpack available on the market then packed full of mostly useless items, none of which are lightweight or practical, resulting in a pack that weighs as much as the human-mule voluntarily packing it.

After 3-days, I finally reached the secluded and picturesque Kalalau Valley, which is only accessible by the trail I just hiked, during the winter months.

As I roamed through a mostly empty camp, I finally came to the famed Kalalau Beach, where I joined a dozen fellow hikers along with the most beautiful girl, skinny-dipping solo in the Pacific. Being from Wisconsin, I learned how to tolerate cold water through a ‘special technique,’ known as just jump in.

This valley is home to several year-round settlers, who over the years have packed in some interesting gear. The most memorable was a huge cast iron pot, where a few of the ‘locals’ would make chocolate pancakes and cowboy coffee in the morning. 

One afternoon, after adventuring around with the solo skinny-dipping French Canadian girl, we walked back into camp to find that most of the camps had been robbed. Our tent/gear was left untouched, most likely because we set up camp away from the others. 

The next day, ‘Crazy Karl’ came strolling into camp sporting new socks, boots, pack and machete, all matching gear that was stolen the previous day. Kekoa, a mainlander, who gave himself the Hawaiin name ‘Kekoa,’ which means ‘the brave one’ spotted his backpack instantly. Kekoa jumped out of his reading spot and charged Crazy Karl, knocking the machete out of his hand, which he then picked up.

As Kekoa began raising the large knife to strike Crazy Karl, the skinny-dipping French Canadian girl sprung from her hammock and launched herself onto Kekoa, wrapping herself around him in an attempt to avoid the violent conflict that was playing out.

Kekoa went down and threw the machete, in an attempt to avoid inflicting harm to himself or the girl wrapped around him.

This memory is just one of many unforgettable moments that I have experienced while traveling. This particular saga is the brief version, leaving out numerous details, but showing the unforgettable power and magic of travel.

Why do we travel?

“Tourists are often seen as ‘travelers for pleasure’; however, though, sufficient for some purposes, this is a very superficial view of the tourist.” This is the reply from Professor Erik Cohen as he answers his own question.

Professor Cohen penned this monumental paper in 1979, which featured his 5-types of tourist experiences. This paper ushered in an era of tourist research which today is primarily focused on how to maximize profits as opposed to the experience as tourism has become a multiple trillion dollars a year industry.

However, what is known, is that connecting with people increases our level of happiness and improves our memories.

Not only do we get to experience the moment directly, but we can relive new versions as recollected through the lens of our companion.

connect with people

Social belonging and connectedness are central to being human and are essential to providing life with meaning. There is a universal need to ‘belong’ and to interact with others, that modern society has made challenging as technology has created a culture of individualism and competition. 

The need to escape, to re-focus on relationship building and social connectedness have gained vital importance in our time.

As I look back on all my solo travel experiences, the most memorable have been the trips where I connected with people that I would never have had a chance to meet in my ‘normal’ life.

The trips where I went with a friend or in groups offered us unique experiences and challenges that forced us to bond and interact in more meaningful ways, and at a deeper level. The memories that have been created during these trips not only last a lifetime, but the bonds that these trips formed turned friendship into family-ships.

Experiences brings greater happiness than possessions

Human happiness is a complex and an ever dynamic experience, however, what remains consistent is people are happier when purchasing experiences compared to material purchases.

Studies reveal that life satisfaction resulting from travel purchases is significantly higher than satisfaction derived from non-travel experiential and material purchases.

Why do experiences make us happier than possessions? Because experiences provides us with a social aspect, since most experiences involve others.

Some possessions can play an important role in experiences though, an example is a mountain bike. Many people go on group rides, which is a great bonding experience. Often times the group overcomes obstacles and mechanical failures where sharing and group cohesion create lifetime friendships and memories.

Deep down people known when they purchase experiences they are really purchasing a sustainable mode of happiness, as the experience itself is less important than the connectedness that is brought about from the experience.

The ‘selfie’ & happiness

Vincent Van Gough painted over 30 self-portraits over a 3-year span, many art experts believe that the Mona Lisa is a self-disguised self-portrait.

Rembrandt painted close to 100, and Pablo Picasso painted over a dozen self-portraits, yet the ‘selfie’ is somehow a modern-day invention? Hardly. 

The number of famous self-portraits that are sanctified in museums from the Louvre to the Met is staggering, and uncountable, unless you have a modern-day smartphone, in which case, selfie - a fast self-portrait - can be readily taken and cataloged.

Numerous studies have researched photography, selfies, and life satisfaction along with positive emotions.

The results generally conclude that more photographs, which include selfies and groupies, equate to higher levels of happiness, life satisfaction, and positive emotions.

Travel photos also contribute to our level of happiness, and in many cases, they become our most cherished artifacts.

Why is this so? Is it because people that are taking pictures are taking them while doing something fun, whether that is traveling, hanging out with friends and family, or simply enjoying a delicious meal….

I used to travel without a camera since I thought that picture-taking would distract me from ‘living in the moment.’

However, the few photographs that I do have act as a time-machine bringing me back to my former self by providing a physical snapshot of a perfect moment.

Today, I only wish I had more of these captured memories, instead of my immature notions of what constituted as an ‘authentic experience.’

novel experiences

As we ‘do things’ that break the mold from ordinary living, these memories become permanently imprinted in our minds. 

Adaptation to the ever-changing world is/was critical for survival, and our brains evolved to remember events that differ from our previous experiences. 

New experiences cause the body to release dopamine, which creates feelings of pleasure and reward.

Travel is a dopamine super releaser as sunlight, movement/exercise, mediation, and new experiences all individually release this chemical messenger, together forming a powerful happiness concoction…that will remain with you forever.

I started this piece by sharing with you my first travel experience. While we all don’t need to witness a machete fight on a tropical beach to have a memorable experience, something as simple as tasting a new dish will amplify your memories.

Getting out of your ‘comfort zone’

‘Getting out of your comfort zone’ is a cliche, but this is distinct from novel experiences. By this, I mean, ‘breaking down barriers.’ As you leave home, you leave behind the mental shackles that tie you to that reality. 

On vacation/traveling you have a chance to be a better version of yourself. No one knows jane/joe version 1.0. You have a chance to be whoever you want to be and that means doing things that you have always wanted, but were too afraid to do. Here, you are free and unencumbered by social expectations and norms. 

Trying ‘new things’ is a physical act, as opposed to a shift in your present state of mind. As you get out of this ‘comfort zone’ you realize hidden talents, untapped potential, and unexplored personal dimensions that have remained undeveloped. 

As you explore yourself and our global society, your understanding shifts. A cascading effect of epiphanies penetrates you, leaving your mind transfused in thought for years.   

Final Thought

Try something new, take some pics, break down barriers, and do it with someone else are all ways to make your next trip more memorable and happier.

My favorite aspect of ‘adventuring’ is that it gets us out of our heads and into the broader world around us.

Nothing is as exciting and humbling as putting yourself out into the universe to experience the infinite possibilities. 

Jesse is the Director of Pedal Chile and lives in La Patagonia (most of the year). Jesse has a Master of Science in Health and Human Performance and is an avid mountain biker, especially the trails near Pucón. Hobbies: Sliding down the side of mountains, reading and writing.

Related articles from Pedal Chile

• READ: Where is ‘La Patagonia’?

• READ: Most affordable countries in South America to Travel

Sources for How to Make your Trip More Memorable:

• Cohen, E. (1979). A Phenomenology of Tourist Experiences. Sociology, 13(2), pp.179–201.

• Duszkiewicz, A., McNamara, C., Takeuchi, T. and Genzel, L., 2019. Novelty and Dopaminergic Modulation of Memory Persistence: A Tale of Two Systems. Trends in Neurosciences, 42(2), pp.102-114.

• Gilovich, T., Kumar, A. and Jampol, L. (2015). A wonderful life: experiential consumption and the pursuit of happiness. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 25(1), pp.152–165.

• ‌Rosenzweig, E. and Gilovich, T. (2012). Buyer’s remorse or missed opportunity? Differential regrets for material and experiential purchases. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 102(2), pp.215–223.

• Fuchs, G., Chen, P.-J. and Pizam, A. (2015). Are Travel Purchases More Satisfactory Than Nontravel Experiential Purchases and Material Purchases? An Exploratory Study. Tourism Analysis, 20(5), pp.487–497.