If you’ve been to these 7 places, you’re more adventurous than 90% of people

Adventure doesn’t always mean skydiving or trekking through the jungle barefoot (though, bonus points if you've done that too).

Sometimes, it’s about the choices we make about where we go, and why we go there.

If you’ve found yourself in any of the places on this list—not just passing through but choosing to be there—you’ve probably got more courage, curiosity, and openness than most people even realize.

Let’s get into it.

1. A country where you didn’t speak the language

Ever landed in a place where you can’t read the street signs, order a coffee without miming, or even find the bathroom without playing charades?

Welcome to one of the quickest lessons in humility, adaptability, and creativity you’ll ever get.

Traveling somewhere where you don’t know the language forces your brain to switch into survival mode—without the stress of actual danger. It’s a high-reward challenge. You learn to read people, pick up on nonverbal cues, and laugh at yourself when you inevitably butcher a few key phrases.

I once found myself in a tiny fishing village in Japan with nothing but a paper map and some wildly optimistic body language. It was one of the most fulfilling afternoons I’ve ever had.

Not everyone’s up for that kind of mental flexibility. But if you are, you’re already more adventurous than most.

2. A solo trip to a place no one recommended

There’s a big difference between going somewhere that’s been curated for you by Instagram algorithms and picking a destination because it just feels interesting.

Taking a solo trip, especially to a place that your friends haven’t been raving about, is next-level bravery. You’re trusting your instincts, not the crowd.

I met a guy in northern Albania who told me he picks his travel spots by spinning a globe. That’s a bit extreme. But honestly, even choosing a quiet inland city instead of a beach resort says something about how willing you are to explore on your own terms.

Most people want a “sure thing.” You? You’re okay with a bit of uncertainty—and that’s what makes it an adventure.

3. A region in political or social flux

I’m not talking about war zones or dangerous places (let’s not confuse recklessness with adventure). But visiting a country in the middle of real change? That takes guts.

Maybe it’s post-revolution, or coming out of decades of isolation, or shifting politically in a way that makes people nervous. A lot of travelers skip these places entirely. But if you’ve gone—carefully, consciously—you’ve seen a version of the world that few are willing to face.

As noted by travel writer Pico Iyer, “The traveler is the one who can see something before it becomes obvious to everyone else.”

Seeing a country in transformation shows you the raw, unfiltered side of humanity. And it makes you think twice about your own assumptions back home.

4. A silent retreat or remote monastery

If your idea of a thrill involves not speaking, not checking your phone, and not constantly seeking external stimulation, you’re in the 10% club already.

I’ve mentioned this before, but spending time in silence—especially somewhere intentionally remote—completely recalibrates your nervous system. It’s the kind of place most people avoid because, well, it’s uncomfortable. Being alone with your thoughts? For days?

As meditation teacher Jack Kornfield once said, “In the end, just three things matter: how well we have lived, how well we have loved, and how well we have learned to let go.” These are the kinds of places where that learning happens. Slowly. Quietly. But deeply.

And if you’ve chosen to go to one? You’re more adventurous than any adrenaline junkie I know.

Research supports that silence—particularly when paired with reflective practices—helps reset the nervous system.

5. An underground music venue in a foreign city

You haven’t really tasted a city until you’ve gone underground—literally or figuratively.

I’m talking about those basements-turned-bars, half-legal punk shows, or tiny jazz joints that require a password or a lucky conversation with a local. These spaces are the beating heart of a culture. They’re where locals go to be themselves, not to perform for tourists.

Back when I was in Prague, I stumbled into a converted bomb shelter that hosted one of the best electronic sets I’ve ever heard. The crowd? A wild mix of art students, aging anarchists, and someone’s grandma. It was unforgettable.

You don’t find those places on travel guides. You find them by wandering. By asking. By following your curiosity instead of your itinerary.

6. A developing country with minimal infrastructure

Let’s be honest—“adventure” often starts where paved roads end.

There’s something deeply raw about being in a country where the buses run when they feel like it, electricity is a suggestion, and every meal feels like a gamble (in the best way).

These trips aren’t about comfort. They’re about adaptability. You get mosquito bites, bad directions, maybe even a mild stomach rebellion. But in return, you get stories no one else has.

You also build resilience fast. There’s a quiet confidence that comes from figuring things out in unfamiliar systems. It's the kind of travel that makes you better—not just more adventurous, but more human.

7. A place that challenged your worldview

This one’s less about geography and more about experience.

Maybe it was a country where religion is expressed in ways that made you pause. Or a neighborhood where your assumptions about wealth, happiness, or justice got flipped upside down.

True adventurers aren’t just chasing pretty views—they’re chasing perspective.

As sociologist Brené Brown has said, “People are hard to hate close up. Move in.” Traveling to a place that shakes your worldview? That’s moving in. That’s adventure.

Research supports that cross-cultural travel can enhance empathy, cultural understanding, and intellectual flexibility.

It’s easy to surround yourself with familiar. It’s much harder (and braver) to put yourself in situations where your beliefs are challenged, your comfort is stretched, and your identity gets examined from the outside in.

Final thoughts

Adventure isn’t measured in frequent flyer miles or how many flags are on your backpack.

It’s measured in moments of discomfort, curiosity, openness, and awe.

If you’ve been to even a few of these places—not just physically, but mentally—you’re already more adventurous than most people.

And if you haven’t yet? Well, maybe this list is your nudge.

Go somewhere that makes you a little nervous.

That’s where the good stuff lives.