From leaving behind full-time office life in Sydney to spending more than 200 days exploring the world, Ritesh’s (@ritto94) journey is all about adventure, connection, and saying yes to new experiences.
After booking his first 18-to-Thirtysomethings tour at 30 years old, he quickly realised group travel offered far more than just convenience — it gave him the confidence to travel freely, form lifelong friendships, and experience some of the world’s most unforgettable destinations alongside like-minded travellers. Now, after visiting 80 countries, six continents, and all Seven Wonders of the World, Ritesh reflects on how these trips and adventure tours have transformed the way he now travels and lives.
Why did you choose an 18-to-Thirtysomethings travel tour instead of travelling solo or independently?
Hey, my name is Ritesh and I am a 32-year-old Executive Coordinator from Sydney, Australia, who is currently taking a career break from the professional services industry to continue travelling the world. I have been so blessed to be able to have travelled on family holidays, getaways with friends, work trips, and solo adventures.
However, I chose to book G’s 18-to-Thirtysomethings tours as the trip style and itineraries were very appealing, it took the stress of organizing every little detail such as accommodation and transport. The locations visited aligned with the activities and sceneries I wanted to see and do, and I knew I was going to meet awesome like-minded people from all over the world with common interests, starting with travelling!
What were your expectations before joining an 18-to-Thirtysomethings trip — and did the experience meet or exceed them?
I was hoping to properly tick off exploring new countries, tasting the local cuisines in every location visited, getting to delve into the proper cultural experiences, booking activities at ease, and meeting new life-long friends that I could share all these memories with. All of this exceeded any expectations I had!
What was your favourite memory from your 18-to-Thirtysomethings trip?
As I have now done 200+ total days travelling on these G trips, I could write a novel on all the memories I have created! One of the standouts was the four-day Inca Trail hike up to Machu Picchu. Our group had become so close by the time we started the hike, and we were all super encouraging of one another, making sure we were all able to complete the hike and have the best time doing it! Our porters were incredible at getting our items and tents set up at the campsites, where our fantastic chefs cooked us delicious meals! On the last day, we all shed a few tears, not only because we made it to a Wonder of the World, but because we all uplifted each other and succeeded together – it was a feeling that will be hard to top, and it was so worth it!
Why is 18-to-Thirtysomethings group travel a great option for people in your age range and life stage?
We all come from different places, have different upbringings, speak different languages, are on different career paths, and get too comfortable in the lives we currently live. However, one common denominator is that we have the urge to travel and see more of this fascinating world.
Realistically, we may talk to our family and friends about booking a trip, and often it may not happen due to timing clashes or just life in general — somebody may not be able to get the same dates off work, others are planning their wedding, some are expecting to have children, promotions to be celebrated, and the list goes on… Time will keep passing by and we will continue missing out on amazing opportunities, which is why this type of group travel is such a great option, as you will meet people from all over who may be in the exact same shoes as you, and you will not regret it!
Was there a moment you felt outside your comfort zone — and how did the group dynamic help?
There are times when I or others in my group certainly felt out of our comfort zone, often when there was a high-adrenaline activity to tick off the bucket list. Having a group where others felt the same way allowed us to gather our thoughts, conquer our fears, and encourage one another. It gave us that extra push out of our comfort zones, and we were all able to enjoy ourselves and create core memories of a lifetime, with fun pictures and videos to look back on.
What surprised you most about the people you travelled with?
Honestly speaking, I was surprised at how quickly everybody bonded and became super close! When you are with a group that you are spending so much time with, you truly embrace everybody’s habits, catchphrases, and mannerisms. You are literally eating, sleeping, drinking, chatting, dancing, exploring, and experiencing so much with these people that they truly become your family. Seeing people come out of their shells was so special to me, especially when you can tell that they are truly their authentic selves.
I have kept in contact with most of the people that I have met on these tours, even getting to see many of them when I continued my travels to Europe, and I have been blessed to have some of them come and visit me down under in Sydney, Australia. Some of us even ended up booking more G trips together!
Why was this the right time in your life to take an 18-to-Thirtysomethings trip?
Absolutely yes! I was working a full-time professional job which I loved, however, I turned 30 and realised that I could either continue sitting in an office forever or go out and see more of the world while I had the chance. I jumped on the G Adventures website and saw their trips, ended up booking a 30-day Southeast Asia trip, and left a few weeks later! It was the best decision I have ever made as it led me to booking a 65-day South America trip, a 45-day Central America trip, a 40-day Africa trip, and a 23-day Middle East tour. I am 32 years old now and have ticked off a total of 80 countries, 37 states in the United States, six continents, and all Seven Wonders of the World. I feel like the hard work has paid off, and I am thrilled to have made so many wonderful memories with the new lifelong friends I made along the way.
Did this experience change how confident you feel about travelling now?
These G trips have reassured me that I do not need to wait around for anybody in my hometown to pack up and go. I am now more confident with the structure of the tour styles and the guidance of the CEOs, what to pack in my suitcase, and how to budget for activities, food, and tipping. I trust that I will enjoy myself whether I am joining a group experience or having a solo day to myself, and I know that I will have supportive people to come back to. It has also given me the freedom to just be unapologetically me!
What’s one misconception about 18-to-Thirtysomethings trips that this experience proved wrong?
People will think that you will just get stuck with young people who only want to party and miss out on the beauty of whichever destination you are visiting, but this cannot be further from the truth. I have had groups where the youngest was 18 and the oldest was 39. We are all on the same tour, and there are multiple activities to choose from. Some people may want a big day out, while others may prefer a night off to relax. The group dynamics challenge and complement each other, and the CEO ensures that everybody is having a good time and never feels left out. The age gaps never felt like an issue, and it was so nice how it truly felt like such a close and wholesome, family-like vibe.
Would you book another 18-to-Thirtysomethings tour — and where would you like to go next?
I would love to do another 18-to-Thirtysomethings tour! As I have already ticked off most of the places I originally dreamed of. The next destinations I would love to see are the Five Stans along the Silk Road in Central Asia, or one day Antarctica, as my last continent on Earth!
Read more stories like this:
Why I decided to take a ‘gap year’ with G Adventures in my 30s
18-to-Thirtysomethings travel diaries: Ivy’s various adventures
18-to-Thirtysomethings travel diaries: Reginald’s Galápagos adventure
