I went on Contiki to gain confidence. I never expected what would happen next

In 2016, at the age of 21, I embarked on my first overseas trip: I travelled to Europe to meet my cousin to explore the continent together for four weeks. It awakened a desire in me, and I booked an extra 2 weeks of solo travelling around Portugal and Spain. I was filled with confidence and a sense of adventure. I was much younger then and hadn’t yet experienced the trials and tribulations of life that life would later throw my way.

Looking back I reflected on how much of a kid I was, I surely didn’t feel like it at the time, but looking back as I approached my late twenties, I realised I would do anything to go back to feeling that sense of innocence.

Conquering the new of solo travel: ‘Terrified me’

In 2018 with a little more life experience, learning to deal with life’s ups and downs and living out of home with my best friend, I found myself lacking self confidence and questioning my future. The thought of travelling alone again terrified me. I was stuck in a rut, working full time, studying full time, all with the looming question: what will my future be?

At 23 I needed something to inspire and motivate me. So I decided to be spontaneous and book a Contiki in Northern America. It was the one place I was dying to travel to for the longest time and I thought it would be the best opportunity to motivate, inspire, and start a fire inside me that I hadn’t felt since the time I stepped on that plane for Europe two years earlier. 

Hello America!

Once the trip was booked, it was up to me to gain the confidence to commit to the experience. I contemplated cancelling my trip but a voice inside my head continued to tell me to go. It also helped that I had convinced a friend to come along with me for the start of my trip. The first few days travelling around San Francisco and Los Angeles, began to ignite something inside me and provided a sense of comfort that I wasn’t alone.

However when we parted ways to embark on our separate trips, I found myself in Los Angeles alone, scared, nervous and apprehensive. I thought it’s not too late to turn around, my parents could come and get me. I could book a flight home and be in my safe space, but I continued on and told myself to stop being crazy. How many people get to do this?

North American culture is completely different to Australia, the country I lived in for 23 years. I was accustomed to our own traditions and I knew the lay of the land. Now, in this new place, I had to challenge myself to understand the environment and people in an unfamiliar place. I caught a train to the Griffith Observatory, where I got to look through the telescope and explore the Hall of the Sky exhibit, stare at Hugo Balloons mural on the central rotunda and admire the view of Los Angeles. At the base of the telescope was this quote: “If every person could look through that telescope, it would revolutionise the world – Griffith J. Griffith.” 

The view and the quote paired together finally made something click within me and I realised… I’ve got this. 

The time alone in LA built my resilience and it challenged me physically and emotionally. I was faced with language barriers, (the cilantro vs coriander debate), unfamiliar foods (the very bad coffee debacle), and unexpected circumstances that pushed me outside of my comfort zones (like trying to find my way out of LAX and getting lost on the trains).

Next stop… CONTIKI!

With a boost in my confidence, I headed to the first Contiki meeting, an opportunity to meet everyone before the trip started.

I used to enjoy meeting new people, however this time around I was nervous. I entered the building alone and took a seat next to a group of girls. I listened as they talked, contributing to the conversation here and there, terrified to look around the room at everyone else.

The next day, I hopped on the coach and found a seat next to a girl; Emma. I had met her the night prior. You never really understand the comfort of travelling with someone until you travel alone. She exuded confidence, she was chatty and made an effort to speak with everyone, her laugh was incredibly infectious and I was in awe of her. She had already travelled six months prior and explored several countries, so she knew what she was doing. We made friends fast and got along instantly. As it turned out, she was from my hometown and we quickly worked out that we knew some of the same people. She helped me start to feel confident and comfortable within myself.

The drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, instead of sleeping, I was making a new best friend. Once we arrived at our destination we told the Trip Manager that we knew each other and arranged to swap rooms so we could be with one another, a decision I later realised was one of the best decisions I made on the trip.

You don’t realise it at the time, but your Contiki roommate is so valuable and becomes a person you are the most vulnerable with. You sleep in the same room as them, share your own personal space with them and form the most incredible bond. Emma boosted me up, challenged me and she ended up being the catalyst for an event that would change the course of my life. 

If I thought the Griffith Observatory would shift my point of view of the world, I had another thing coming. The next stop, the Grand Canyon, is a historical place where 1.2 billion year old rocks sit next to 250 million year old rocks. Some say that the Grand Canyon has magical powers and now I believe it truly does.

The Grand Canyon is the place I met my now husband. 

How Contiki led to my forever love

After a full day of exploring, the Contiki crew met up for the night to indulge in some food and drinks and get to know each other. I had begun to make some friends thanks to my roommate and with my confidence building, as the night went on I started to speak to more and more of the people on my trip. Many laughs were had and the environment was relaxed and electric. We all played some games with one another and listened to the music. I moved from my chair to the floor to sit next to Karl. 

Karl and I sat there laughing and speaking with one another for what felt like hours. I couldn’t tell you what we spoke about but I knew I just wanted to keep talking to him. It was a feeling I hadn’t had in a very long time but I was drawn in by his presence.

As we got up to go to the bathroom we ended up in my room, and there in this room Karl kissed me. A kiss I had never felt before. Turned out that my roommate had followed us, as she saw the connection we had. She pushed Karl into the room and ordered him to wait for me like a true gentleman.

Throughout the trip Karl and I became closer and closer. After that night at the Grand Canyon, Karl saved me a seat next to him on the bus and from then on we sat on the bus next to each other every time. It gave us an opportunity to get to know each other on a deeper level.

It wasn’t always easy, but I challenged myself to open up more and more to him. I found myself in an unfamiliar situation, but the challenge and potential outcome was worth the risk. At the beginning of my trip I questioned myself at every stop, but following my instinct got me this far and I had to continue to do so.

Meeting the new version of yourself

Throughout my Contiki trip, my point of view began to shift. I entered the trip unsure of who I was or what I wanted but it provided me with the opportunity to develop a sense of self confidence, believe in myself, and enhance my self identity.

Once I overcame the doubt of travelling alone, my world opened up and I was able to experience the magic and uniqueness of the tour. I could let go, have fun and allow for new opportunities to enhance my experiences.

As I reflect back on my time before travelling, I feel like I was a shell of who I turned into after this trip. The experience allowed me to grow more than I ever anticipated or expected. Travelling provides us with the time and space to reflect on our own thoughts and emotions. It provides the opportunity to take a step back from our daily lives and really think about what we want out of life. If you’re feeling lost or unsure about your path in life, travelling can help you gain clarity and perspective.

Throughout my Contiki trip, I was able to step outside my comfort zone. From trying new things like helicopter rides over the Grand Canyon or Swamp tours in New Orleans, I learned to navigate unfamiliar territory and feel more independent.

I haven’t lost the travel bug – now my husband and I prioritise it together

Travel is an important part of my life now. My husband and I plan a trip at least every six months and each trip has brought a new memory and milestone.

We said ‘I love you’ in Washington, celebrated Christmas in Tokyo, and got engaged in Edinburgh. Now, I’m writing this on our honeymoon in Bali.

So it probably comes as no surprise that I urge everyone to take a Contiki tour once in their life. It will provide you with the utmost appreciation of yourself, the ability to recognise shared humanity with others and give you a rewarding sense of self-reliance and self-confidence that will ultimately influence the person you become in the future.

I was able to gain a clear direction of the person I wanted to become and stand strong on my own two feet when I arrived back home. Plus, I met my soulmate. So you never know what may happen!

Feeling inspired? Browse your 2026 Contiki trip here.