4 Essential Travel Lessons from Rick Steves’ New Book

In 1978, Rick Steves had a great situation at his place in Edmonds, Washington — until he ruined it all.

Recently graduated from college, he had already embarked on several influential journeys through Europe. As an active piano instructor, his schedule was filled with a substantial number of pupils. Additionally, he was in a flourishing relationship with his girlfriend.

We both owned a grand piano," Steves stated. "We planned to move in together and create a space for our grand pianos — but eventually, I decided to let that dream fade away.

He similarly released his pupils and transformed his recital hall into a space for instructing individuals on traveling techniques.

The trigger for his sudden change was the grand expedition detailed in Steves’s latest book
In "The Hippie Trail: From Istanbul to Kathmandu and the Birth of a Travel Writer," Steve recounts an adventure that was highly favored among the countercultural movement during that era. This journey had been beckoning him for years but simultaneously filled him with fear. Despite planning numerous times, he kept postponing it. Eventually, Steve and his companion Gene Openshaw—who would go on to be his long-term co-author—set out on this perilous 8-week odyssey involving risky international transitions, grueling bus journeys over precarious routes, and encounters with Nepal's notorious leeches. Through these trials, they emerged not only unscathed but enriched with fresh perspectives on living.
Steve aspired to inspire others to embark upon similarly profound travels where they could transform their lives. Alongside gaining firsthand experience, he realized he possessed both the knowledge and ability needed to lead such expeditions successfully.

Unlike his guidebooks or his series of essays titled “ Journeying as a Revolutionary Act ," "On the Hippie Trail" is a slightly revised edition of the 60,000-word diary he penned during his journey. It serves as both a time capsule and a tribute to exploration. and Type II fun) .

It’s definitely not politically correct either. Steve aimed to maintain the "honest, raw depiction" of his young adventure, including references to seeing topless women, his digestive issues, and everything else.

In honor of the book's launch this week, The Washington Post interviewed the author and travel mogul about the significant insights gained during his expedition across Asia.

1. Maintaining an excellent travel diary requires discipline.

To chronicle the Hippie Trail, Steves brought a durable one. hardcover journal (now he remembers thinking that the other travelers with their spiral-bound notebooks seemed inexperienced) and carried sufficient film to snap nine pictures each day. Initially, Steves did not harbor any aspirations of getting published; rather, he mentioned that he penned his thoughts primarily for personal reflection and to share with his family. After returning home, he stashed the diary away in storage. It was only during the pandemic that he rediscovered this journal once more.

Steve was astonished by the thorough notes taken by his younger self.

It was like an anthropological excavation of this 23-year-old, transitioning adult who eventually became a successful travel writer," Steves stated during a video call from his home office in Edmonds. "However, I didn't pen my initial travel book until about two years later.

This particular piece highlights Steve’s development into a travel writer and his realization of the importance of recording observations promptly.

"It strikes me how, being current, diary writing can be more vibrant... how one can perform admirably," he penned as he awaited crossing into Afghanistan.

Each day, he penned approximately 1,000 words detailing his journey through various means of transport such as planes, trains, boats, horses, and bicycles. He also shared stories about the trinkets he collected along the way—like a mink hide he affectionately called "Ringworm"—and mentioned drinking Fanta beverages. Additionally, he recounted trying marijuana for the first time and discussed the intricate political landscapes of each location he visited.

2. Discount fares enhance life's thrills

Even though he has built a brand focused on Europe, Steves mentions that his favorite nation is India, possibly due to the fact that it presented the biggest challenge.

India is deeply personal," he stated. "Certainly, everyone aims to visit the Taj Mahal and some iconic spots, but truly experiencing India means wandering around, engaging in conversations, stopping by spontaneously, savoring scents and tastes... It’s about squeezing into a crowded train and embracing that kind of chaos.

In the book, Steve explores both the allure and suffering found in India. He is captivated by the vibrant hues of Jaipur, having lodged at an establishment frequented by nobility. Yet just a few pages ahead, he comes across individuals who were deliberately injured during childhood by their own parents to increase their earning potential through begging on the streets.

During their journey through various nations with Steve and OpenShaw, they encountered persistent problems such as logistical snags, exhausting sleeping conditions, and dubious individuals. Despite these unfortunate incidents—though he did mention feeling "eager for this whole thing to be over" one tough afternoon in Afghanistan—he doesn't feel sorry about the expedition. Rather, these challenges only enhance his appreciation for the joyful times.

Witnessing severe poverty made him realize how fortunate even his relatively simple life in the U.S. seemed. The experience of spending a restless night on an uncomfortable bus deepened his appreciation for the comfort of a tidy hotel room. Being confronted with perspectives different from his own increased Steve’s empathy and gratitude; he hoped more tourists, especially well-off Americans, would undergo similar transformations through their travels.

"Perhaps I integrated that mindset during my initial tours when I genuinely believed that experiencing challenging moments would help individuals better cherish the positive ones," he remarked, rubbing his beard thoughtfully. (During the 1980s, when Steve started leading American groups through Europe not only as their tour guide but also as their bus driver, he occasionally wouldn’t secure accommodations until the very last moment, causing his clients to feel anxious about where they'd stay. This was one of several educational strategies he employed at the time.)

In these times, guests booking a Rick Steves Europe tour receive dependable meals and accommodations, yet Steves encourages visitors to embark on journeys that challenge their comfort zones.

“Many individuals escape to La-La Land and embrace it. ... There is where all the effortless adventure lies,” he commented about conventional American getaways. “However, I prefer experiencing the development from expanding my viewpoint.”

3. Slow down for deeper connections

From his vantage point aboard a houseboat in Kashmir, as detailed in a journal entry, Steves found himself overwhelmed with thankfulness, sipping tea. He reflected upon the arduous journey covering 25 days and countless miles that lay behind him.

“I have never exerted myself so much or journeyed for such a long time just for one instant,” he penned. It seemed to him that he had truly deserved this moment of bliss in heaven.

About four decades later, Steve maintains that he still feels taking the longer route brings more happiness than reaching a destination with utmost speed.

If you travel to four different nations and journey by air from the capital city of one to another, that's excellent—but you. could do much better "If you spent a few additional days and traveled over land," he mentioned.

As Steve points out when we travel by air, we overlook the transition from the urban edge of one civilization blending into the countryside, along with "the undefined territory between two cultures." Our sensitivity to this "graceful interchange of cultural elements" diminishes as a result.

Reducing your pace offers more chances to interact with local people, which Steves believes is the greatest aspect of traveling. What made his trip to India truly remarkable wasn’t simply ticking the country off his checklist; instead, it was experiences like riding along with amiable bus drivers (often squeezed together on the small front seats) or completely reassessing his understanding of music theory following a mesmerizing sitar concert.

"You should ensure that recognizing what makes the experience vibrant comes from interacting with genuine individuals rather than encountering stale stereotypes onstage, as this allows you to gain insights from them," Steves emphasized, gesturing emphatically with both hands.

4. Your journey could appear distinct

Steve and Openshaw embarked on their adventure during the last hurrah of the Hippie Trail. A year following their expedition, the Soviet Union launched an invasion into Afghanistan, coinciding with revolutionary upheaval in Iran. Since then, the area has grown increasingly intricate over the years.

This doesn't imply that you can't experience an equally profound journey. As suggested by Steves, you could recreate the transformative trip of revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara. motorcycle journey from Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, and Panama all the way to Miami. Alternatively, embarking on some treks through Trans Canada Trail by cycling through each region, or exploring the American South on bike.

The Hippie Trail represents venturing away from home and embracing cultural disorientation, viewing this experience as a positive force for personal growth through expanded horizons," Steve explained. "It embodies freedom; it’s about acting without restraint.

Steve was 23 when he embarked on the Hippie Trail, but age shouldn’t deter you from following in his footsteps — despite it possibly feeling more intimidating for those who aren’t as young.

Venturing so freely is something we tend to move past as we become more cautious, accumulate wealth, prioritize our luxuries, and focus on capturing the perfect selfie," he explained. "Everything becomes planned out. Everything is meticulous.

Steve says that's unfortunate, especially at this time.

I share the same fears as others when it comes to cultures, people, and forces on this planet," he stated. "However, I believe that if we venture out and familiarize ourselves with them, we will become more resilient, secure, and less apprehensive.