Ever noticed how the world’s gotten smaller, yet somehow… louder?
We scroll through sunsets, eat vicariously through other people’s brunches, and can “visit” almost anywhere with a few taps. And yet, for all our convenience, something vital has slipped quietly overboard, that raw, unfiltered wonder of discovery.
That feeling of standing somewhere you’ve never stood before and thinking, I’ve no idea what happens next.
That’s what true travel gives you. It’s not just about the destination, it’s about shaking loose from routine, from the illusion of certainty. It’s the gentle, humbling reminder that there’s always more to learn, see, taste, and feel.
Travel Has Changed — And So Have We
Once upon a time, travel was a slow affair. Journeys took time. People savoured them.
Now, it’s easy to tick off cities like items on a shopping list, quick stops, picture taken, box ticked, next.
But something beautiful is happening in response to that. There’s a growing tribe of travellers who are done with the conveyor belt version of travel. They want depth, not speed: connection, not consumption.
They want to feel small again in a world that’s become too convenient.
That’s where expedition travel comes in, not as a trend, but as a quiet rebellion.
The Rebirth of Expedition Cruising
Forget what you think you know about cruises. This isn’t karaoke bars and all-you-can-eat buffets at sea. Expedition cruising is something else entirely.
It’s waking up to the sound of ice cracking on the hull as you glide through Arctic waters.
It’s standing on the deck in borrowed silence, watching penguins waddle along the shore like a living postcard.
It’s sipping coffee while scientists onboard talk about the changing climate, not in theory, but in the place where it’s happening.
Small ships. Small groups. Big experiences.
It’s not about luxury (though there’s comfort, certainly). It’s about immersion. The kind of travel where you learn, feel, and return home changed, with a notebook full of wonder instead of selfies.
Adventure Isn’t About Distance — It’s About Depth
Of course, not everyone’s ready to don a parka and head to Antarctica. That’s fine. Expedition cruising is just one form of something bigger: a mindset.
To travel well, whether that’s across the ocean or across your own country, is to stay curious. To ask questions. To talk to locals. To notice the small things: the texture of the bread, the sound of church bells, the rhythm of the market.
Adventure doesn’t demand a passport stamp. It starts when you decide to see differently.
That’s what “Beyond the Tourist Trail” really means. It’s not about avoiding people, it’s about avoiding autopilot. It’s about finding those corners of the world (and of yourself) that don’t make it onto postcards.
Meet Karen — A Guide for the Curious
That’s where Karen Lockwood, Independent Travel Advisor and founder of Beyond the Tourist Trail, comes in.
Karen’s passion lies in helping people travel more meaningfully, whether that’s through expedition cruises to the wildest parts of the planet, or simply by curating journeys that trade clichés for authenticity.
She’s part explorer, part planner, part storyteller. The kind of person who knows the difference between a “trip” and a journey.
Karen works with travellers who want something more personal, who want to go where curiosity leads, not where the crowds do. She’s a certified Independent Travel Advisor with InteleTravel, which means you’re not just booking a holiday; you’re connecting with someone who’s been where she sends you.
Her speciality? Expedition Cruising, those once-in-a-lifetime experiences that blend exploration, comfort, and discovery.
But more than that, she believes in travel that transforms. Travel that teaches. Travel that restores our sense of wonder in a world that sometimes feels too predictable.
You can learn more or contact her directly via her listing here on EnSuCasa:
👉 Beyond the Tourist Trail — Discover Expedition Cruising with Karen
The World Is Still Wild — If You Let It Be
Maybe that’s the heart of it.
We live in a time when everything’s mapped, reviewed, and filtered — but real discovery still exists. It’s just waiting for those willing to go a little further, ask a few more questions, and say yes to the unknown.
Whether that’s aboard an expedition ship sailing past the glaciers of Svalbard or wandering through an Andalusian village where time forgot to modernise, the spirit is the same.
It’s curiosity. It’s courage. It’s connection.
Travel, when done right, doesn’t just take you to new places. It brings you back to yourself.