The Five Emotional Phases We Experienced on Our 17-Month Journey
In an age of social media, where you’re flooded with images of the perfect vacation, the perfect meal, and perfectly behaved children, smiling in photos, we’re often asked, “What’s it REALLY like travelling the world as a family?”
Over the seventeen months that we were gone, we experienced incredible highs and some low lows. Like everything else in life, there are good days and bad.
But along the way, we also noticed that we transitioned through a variety of emotions that could be categorized into what we called: The Five Phases of Travel.
The Five Phases of Travel
The transitions from one phase to another are unique to each individual and family. You may experience phases at different times and in different orders, or not at all. What we noticed was that the phases were more fluid than linear, and it was common to move back and forth between phases rather than move through linearly.
1. Adjustment Phase
2. Discovery Phase
3. Waning Desire Phase
4. Re-evaluating Phase
5. Reflective Phase
The Adjustment Phase
The transition to full-time travel takes time, so be kind to yourself. In the beginning, you will likely feel out of your comfort zone as you adapt to long travel days, find your way in new cities, learn different currencies, navigate language barriers, and adjust to local cuisine. Doubts may creep in as you question whether extended travel is for you. This is normal. There is a lot of change at the start, especially for kids.
Our longest Adjustment Phase was at the start of the trip, but we often found ourselves moving back to this phase when we travelled to a new country or region. In our second year of travel, we visited Asia after several months in Europe. In the first few weeks, it felt like we were starting out again, rather than being experienced travellers. Although uncomfortable at times, the Adjustment Phase will pass, and the memories you create as a family will last a lifetime.
Learn More: One Month Check, Tips on Transitioning to Life on the Road
The Discovery Phase
Hopefully, you will spend most of your time away in the Discovery Phase. After all, the desire to learn, explore, and discover is often the driving force behind travel.
At this point, you will be settling into life on the road, beginning to feel like seasoned travellers, and ready to immerse yourself in the travel experience. Feelings of homesickness are less, replaced by a new desire to discover, embrace the adventure, and absorb the learning that goes along with it.
Learn More: Six Months In: How to Make the Most of the Discovery Phase
The Waning Desire Phase
After months on the road, you might find yourself unexpectedly hitting a wall. It’s a phase that can sneak up on even the most enthusiastic travellers. You may feel burnt out from constant planning, tired of living in close quarters, or notice that your kids are craving more space and independence. What once felt exciting might start to feel like a grind.
That’s exactly what happened to us around the six-month mark. The constant movement was wearing us down, and tensions began to surface. Our boys bickered more, and our eldest wanted more freedom. When we arrived in Italy—one of my bucket list destinations—I had no energy or desire to explore. That’s when we realized we had slipped out of the Discovery Phase and into what we called the Waning Desire Phase.
It’s hard to imagine, after all the dreaming and preparation, that you could feel this way—but it’s normal. And it doesn’t mean the magic is gone for good. If you find yourself here, don’t feel guilty. With a few intentional changes, it’s possible to reset and reconnect with the joy of the journey.
The Re-evaluating Phase
This phase doesn’t happen to every long-term traveller, but if it does, it can surface at any point in the journey. The Re-evaluating Phase is sparked by a moment that causes you to pause, reflect, and reconsider your next steps.
Sometimes it’s small: adjusting your itinerary, extending or shortening a stay, or adding a country you hadn’t planned to visit. Other times, it’s bigger—like deciding to return home earlier than expected.
Triggers can vary: financial pressures, family or work obligations back home, or simply homesickness. It’s not a failure—it’s part of the journey. The key is being flexible and honest with yourself about what you and your family need.
Read about how this phase showed up for our family. The Reevaluating Phase of Travel: When It’s Time to Pivot
The Reflection Phase
As your trip comes to a close—or even after you’ve returned home—you may find yourself entering the Reflective Phase. This is a time of looking back, processing everything you’ve experienced, and recognizing how much you’ve grown.
Gratitude often surfaces during this stage—gratitude for the time, the memories, the challenges, and the lessons learned. You might notice that your values have shifted, your priorities are clearer, and your family dynamic feels different in the best way. Long-term travel changes you, and the effects can linger long after the backpacks are unpacked.
This phase often unfolds slowly, as you transition back to “normal” life and begin to understand just how much this journey has shaped you. For us, it came with a mix of appreciation, growth, and a bit of nostalgia—sometimes even a longing to be back on the road. That feeling of freedom and togetherness is hard to replicate, and we often found ourselves reminiscing about the simplest moments from the journey.
Here’s a glimpse of our thoughts as our trip came to an end: Reflecting on 17 Months Around the World
Living Abroad
Long-term travel isn’t just about seeing new places—it’s about growth, challenge, and transformation. It’s about the hard days, the magical ones, and everything in between.
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Check out these related posts to help plan your World Trip:
• Building a World Trip Itinerary
• How much does a World Trip cost?
• This or That? Saving to Make it Happen
