So, you had the time of your life, traveled many countries, met so many people, lived an extraordinary life and it’s time to return home. As the end is approaching, a question emerges: what happens next? What does going back home look like? Is everything different or the same? Are you the same person? When you return, will everything just go back to normal and you will be left only with glimpses of memories from the life you once had… or was that even your life or just some parallel world you dreamed?

Let’s be honest – post travel depression is real! The journey doesn’t end when you board that return flight. In fact, for many of us, it’s just the beginning of a new chapter – one marked by the bittersweet taste of post-travel blues.

Here is how it was for me returning home after one month of solo travel. Can’t even imagine how it would be if it was way longer.

Same but different

Returning home after an epic journey is a bit like stepping into a parallel universe and experiencing cultural shock. Your hometown, once so familiar, suddenly feels different – smaller, older, almost strange. You will start comparing and noticing how things work in your country, things you were not noticing before. And you? Well, you’ve definitely changed. Even if it’s not immediately apparent to those around you. It’s a silent transformation, so don’t try to explain. It’s enough that you know the truth. 

Forgetting you are back

You might find yourself slipping back into habits formed abroad – trying to converse money in your head or speaking in English to clerks at the supermarket. Those will pass quickly, but they are a reminder that the habits of your adventures still live in you. 

Becoming a storyteller

While you are on the road, you will imagine telling everything to your friends and not really everything to your family. But once you’re back, you’ll find yourself recounting these stories repeatedly to different people in your life. Whenever someone sees you will ask you: “How was it”? You might start losing enthusiasm but remember you dreamed of this. After all, isn’t sharing our experiences one of life’s greatest joys? 

People will be proud of you

Even if you didn’t do anything special, you’ll find that others are genuinely proud of your boldness and willingness to embrace the unknown. To be honest, you just wanted to be young and stupid, nevertheless you will hear so many – “I’m proud of you”. But it will not be by your mom, don’t fool yourself. She knew from the beginning that’s absolutely ridiculous, unnecessary  and dangerous and why the hell would you want to do it when you can just stay at home and buy something nice for all that money you will throw away on some traveling. 

No. Your mom will never say she’s proud of you for doing such a stupid thing, but all other people will. They will congratulate you for being brave, tell you how you inspired them and that will reaffirm the value of your journey. 

What about people you met while traveling?

All those amazing people… what about them? For some, you knew from the beginning you will never hear from them again. But there were some really cool people that you had the most spontaneous moments with, and did some crazy things (like borrowing a 2 meter long sign from the street and carrying it home… no worries it’s back on the street again!). Those moments can’t be forgotten. And they shouldn’t. You may try staying in touch with people you have met. But don’t force it. Most of the time you will never see them again, they have their own lives. It is ok to meet people just to have unforgettable moments and then to remember them as someone who was part of your trip and made it even more epic. 

How much you (don’t) need

After living from a backpack for a while, we tend to forget about all the stuff we have at home. After returning back and opening the closet, you will be in shock by how much stuff you own. The minimalist in you will urge you to declutter your life and make space for what truly matters. But don’t rush, wait a bit to get back to normal life and then decide what is really not needed and if you want to sell it. That way you can earn some money for your next trip! 

Want to do it again

It is inevitable to say that most likely you will want to do it again. The post-travel blues may linger, but beneath lies a hunger for the next great adventure. It’s the traveler’s paradox – the more you see, the more you yearn to see. And so, with each journey’s end comes a desire for a new beginning. 

Indeed, life often feels like a cycle of departures and returns, we go between exploration and familiarity. And sometimes, the most profound journeys are the ones where we venture out and never quite return the same. Regardless of what happens when we return, what truly matters is that initial step into the unknown. After all, it’s in the act of going that we discover the essence of who we are meant to be.