7 of the Best Travel-Related TEDTalks

Got a bad case of the travel bug?
You’re not alone. The remedy just might be included in the list below. Set aside an afternoon to take in these seven incredibly inspiring TEDTalks, all centered around the magic of travel.
Warning: side effects may include an even larger urge to book a round-the-world trip.
Learn to Travel, Travel to Learn – Robin Esrock, TEDxVancouver

Today, Robin Esrock is a well-known adventure travel writer, but it wasn’t always that way.
Esrock worked in the music industry until he was in a serendipitous—if you can call it that—bike crash. He spent the $20,000 settlement he received traveling the world for a year, capturing his misadventures on a multiplatform website that eventually launched his new career as a travel writer. His TEDTalk is one of the most popular travel-themed talks in the history of the series–watch it, and you’ll understand why.
Extreme Lifestyle Experiments, Colin Wright – TEDxPhnomPenh

Colin Wright is the man behind a blog called Exile Lifestyle, and he’s got some pretty good stories to share. Eschewing the conventional American dream, Wright instead travels the world, switching up countries every four months and tackling projects wherever life takes him. His talk explores how seeing the world can help you find perspective on your own life—see the world, see yourself.
How and Why Travel Transforms You – Francis Tapon, TEDxFillmore

Francis Tapon has done a lot of walking in his day. He’s walked across American four times and Spain twice, and has completed grueling hikes like the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail. That’s a fair bit of time for some introspective thinking.
Tapon credits his travels with having transformed his life. Through his stories and misadventures, you’ll discover how it can change yours, too.
Where is Home? – Pico Iyer, TED

Where are you from—like, really from? Some people say home is where you were born, while others base it on their ancestry. Others yet consider home to be wherever they spent those formative childhood years.
Pico Iyer’s TEDtalk explores the meaning of home and the incredible role that travel can take in shaping your identity. It’ll have you rethinking your concept of home.
The Value of Travel – Rick Steves, TEDxRainier

If you love the idea of traveling but are being held back by fear, limited resources, or something else, then this a must-watch TEDTalk for you.
When you hear about what Steves has learned throughout his travels—namely the differences and similarities that we all share—you’ll realize that travel is arguably the most valuable form of education there is.
The Anticipation of Travel, Jen Rubio – TEDxBoulder

A lot of people think that the anticipation is half the fun of traveling—but Jen Rubio has a different opinion. Type A travelers will benefit from watching this talk, learning how to let go of expectations and how to really live in the moment.
Travel Writing and Global Change, Lavinia Spalding

You can be a travel writer. Yes, you. In fact, Lavinia Spalding thinks that the world can benefit when travel stories are swapped from person to person. Spalding’s talk will have you looking through a different lens on your next adventure. Just don’t forget to pass your experiences along.
 
Magee Walker
Magee Walker was a late bloomer to the snowboard scene, but thankfully discovered the joys of the sport after moving to Vancouver and spending weekends in Whistler. She’s now lucky enough to call Whistler her full-time home and spends her days conquering the mountain, by foot in the summer and by snowboard boot in the winter.