Traveling opens up a world of stories, learning, and transformation. Every seasoned traveler knows that it's the "why" behind your journey that matters, not just the "how." Stepping out of your comfort zone and embracing new experiences can be physically and mentally challenging, but these moments create lasting memories that bring smiles to our faces. If you're not yet convinced of the importance of travel, here are five TED talks that will inspire you to pack your bags and embark on new adventures.

Not convinced with our explanation of “why” you should travel, here is the list of 5 best TED talks on travel which will surely compel you to leave that couch and get going.

1.JD Lewis: On Travelling and How to Just Do It

Actor, musician, and father JD Lewis shares the story of how his son Jackson inspired their family to make a difference in the world. This led to the creation of the Twelve in Twelve Foundation. Watch their journey and learn how travel can transform lives.

Relatable, Quotable, Travel Gyan from the story

“Behind every no you get, there’s always a yes. There’s always a way and an alternate route to get where you’re going. All you have to do is claim it and go do it.”

“We are insecure in moments and we take on information from people that is not ours. It’s someone’s belief system that doesn’t belong to us because they live in fear.”

“There are two kinds of people – the people that succumb to their fear and the people that go: ‘I’m just gonna do it because I have to. It’s my calling, it’s my mission.'”

“When you put a pen point on the horizon and you make a choice and a statement and you claim it in front of your friends and family, amazing things occur. Things that you would never have imagined come to the forefront.”

“Run as quickly as you can from Middle America thinking. … I was raised in a country where we were taught to live by the straight and narrow, be part of the status quo, to get the corporate job for the insurance.”

2. Francis Tapon: How and Why Travel Transforms You

Francis Tapon, once a project manager at Microsoft, left the corporate world to discover how travel could transform him. His three-year odyssey through Africa, spanning all 54 countries, offers a poignant reflection on the profound impact of travel. Tapon's journey, encompassing 111 countries in total, serves as a beacon of inspiration.

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“Travel below your means. Don’t necessarily always go to Paris and London. Don’t always stay at the fanciest hotel you can stay at. Maybe do some Couchsurfing.”

“Pilgrimages are another way to find the truth.”

“What would you do with your time if you had a billion dollars? Whatever the answer to that question is, that’s probably your passion.”

“The prophets are teaching us that perhaps some of the answers to life’s most profound questions lie in the wilderness.”

3. Robin Esrock: Learn to Travel, Travel to Learn

Robin Esrock, a global adventurer, travel writer, and TV personality, embarked on a life-changing journey after a near-fatal accident. His subsequent travels across 24 countries highlight the educational power of travel, underscoring how it can broaden our horizons and deepen our understanding of the world.

Relatable, Quotable, Travel Gyan from the story

Get off the couch, switch off reality TV and start participating in reality itself.”

“I smile when I’m nervous and I laugh when I’m scared because it sure beats screaming and crying.”

“Don’t panic, surround yourself with good people and just know that people would rather help you than hurt you. Listen to your instinct, smile”

4. Tony Wheeler: The Road Less Traveled

In the 1970s, Tony Wheeler embarked on the "hippie trail" through Asia, an adventure that led to the creation of the iconic travel guide, "Lonely Planet." Having sold millions of books and transitioned to digital platforms including websites, apps, and in-flight infotainment systems, Tony Wheeler now reflects on his journeys to the world's more 'edgy' locales. His tales of venturing off the beaten path reveal the allure and transformative power of traveling the road less traveled.

Relatable, Quotable, Travel Gyan from the story

“I think it’s terrific, where we are in the world today, that you can still go to places which you may have heard about, but you haven’t actually seen pictures of.”

“A few years ago, Mr George W. Bush came along and gave me a reason for some travels. When he said there was an Axis of Evil, I thought – ‘Well, I wanna go there!’”

5. Rick Steves: The Value of Travel

Renowned travel expert Rick Steves, known for his show "Rick Steves' Europe," delves into the deeper value of travel. Through his insightful reflections, Steves reveals how travel dismantles fear and fosters a greater understanding between diverse cultures.

Relatable, Quotable, Travel Gyan from the story

“I learned once again that fear – and there’s a lot of it in our society – fear is to me for people who don’t get out very much.”

“A third of the people on this planet eat with spoons and forks like you do, a third of the people eat with chopsticks and a third of the people eat with their fingers like I do and we’re all civilised just the same.”

“There are so many misunderstandings between people and when we travel, we straighten them out.”

Travel wallops my ethnocentricity and I’m very grateful for that.”

“I’m going here because I think it’s a good character to know people before you bomb them.” (on why he travelled to Iran)