Travel Journal Prompts

What to write when you don't know what to write

During my time abroad, I haven’t done much journaling. Real journaling. The majority of my time has been spent chronicling my adventure on my blog at a surface level rather than reflecting and exploring my inner world. And while I cherish this documentation—knowing these stories will likely be the ones I revisit most often— I realized what I lack is the private journal entries where I can track and reflect on the growth I have experienced during this ever changing time of my life.

For the past few weeks, Jordan and I have been staying at a Scottish castle up in the highlands of Scotland. Due to the remoteness, and the lack of wifi and cellular connection, we have been mostly cut off from the outside world and the work we are used to doing on our computers daily. This isolation has left us with other meaningful pursuits. We’ve been reading, playing sudoku, learning Spanish from our fellow world packer volunteers, and very importantly, I’ve been doing a lot of journaling. Real reflective journaling, pen to paper.

And sorry blog readers, I am not sure too much of my recent writing will ever make it off the page, through my computer and into your inboxes. It’s a little bit too personal to share with anyone, even though most of my blog subscribers are friends or family. But that’s the beauty of journaling, isn’t it? It’s a private conversation, an exploration of one’s own mind that is meant only for the self. A safe place where you can release emotion of thought without fear of judgement, because nobody but you will ever have access.

As I’ve leaned deeper into journaling, I began jotting down prompts that come to the mind for days when inspiration doesn’t strike but I still have the urge to write. Not every prompt will work for every moment, but by having them in your mind, you will start looking for more than just events, but the emotions, reflections, and transformations that happen along the journey. By remembering these prompts, I can ensure my writing is not entirely a catalog of what I have done. Instead, my journal can become a deeper record, a map of how I’ve changed with each new place.

Though these prompts were created with travel journaling in mind, many of them could easily be adapted for everyday reflection. After all, the same wonder and self growth we find while traveling can be found in the everyday, if we’re willing to look. I hope that by staying consistent with my journaling now, I’ll carry this habit with me even when I am at home. Too often in my life, journaling gets pushed aside in the busyness of a day, but by cultivating a practice I hope to bring about clarity that will stay with me as long as I keep up the act of journaling.

I’ve tried to organize these prompts into something of a logical order, but my thoughts rarely follow neat lines so bear with me.

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Before You Leave

• Alongside your luggage, is there any emotional “baggage” or a certain mindset that you are carrying with you? How do you hope to “unpack” or change that mindset by the end of the trip?

At Your Destination

• Describe your initial first impressions, thoughts and feelings upon arriving to your destination. Use your five senses—what did you see, hear, smell, taste, and feel? How did this place match or differ from your expectations?

• Reflect on your parting thoughts or feelings as you prepare to leave a destination? What will you miss the most about this place?

• Have you stumbled upon any hidden gems while traveling? Describe how you discovered it and what made it meaningful or special to you.

• Have you collected any souvenirs that hold a special significance for you? What about it captures the essence of your trip and how will it serve as a reminder of your travels?

Personal Growth

• What mistakes did you make during this journey that turned into unexpected lessons or blessings?

• How has this trip pushed you out of your comfort zone? What skills or strengths have you discovered in yourself because of these challenges?

• Looking back, how have you grown emotionally or mentally from the start of this trip to now?

If You’re Feeling Homesick

• Write a letter to someone back home describing an experience that reminded you of them. Describe why this moment made you feel connected to them despite the distance.

• Is there anywhere that you have been that reminds you of home despite being hundreds or thousands of miles away? What about it felt so nostalgic?

• Have you experienced any moments of complete stillness or peace? How and where did you find it? Reflect on what made it special.

Experiencing Culture

• Describe an especially memorable meal. Where did you enjoy it, who were you with, and what made it so unique? How did it make you feel? Did the flavors, setting, or cultural context add to the experience in a surprising way?

• What cultural differences have you noticed while staying in a new place. Did any surprise you? How did you adapt to or interact with the differences?

• Are there any local legends, stories, or folklore that you have come across? What do you make of them? Reflect on what they reveal about local culture or values?

• If you learned how to cook a local dish, describe the process and ingredients. Include the recipe if possible, and reflect on what it taught you about the culture and its cuisine.

People You’ve Met Along The Way

• Describe the impact someone you met has had on you, might be another traveler or a local resident.

• How has traveling impacted your relationship either with your traveling companion or with yourself? What have you discovered about them or yourself during this journey, and how has it influenced the way you travel?

• What lessons have you learned from the people you’ve encountered on this trip? How have their stories, advice, or ways of life broadened your understanding of the world?

Creative Ideas

• Sketch the inside of your room or the view out of your window.

• Draw or print a map of the places you visited and mark your path with colorful doodles. Add small sketches of memorable landmarks along the route.

• Collect leaves, flowers, or feathers, and either press them into your journal or create a rubbing with a pencil or crayon.

• Create a scrapbook page out of ticket stubs from trains, planes, buses, or any museums or shows you have been to.

• Collect cutouts from magazines, pamphlets, or brochures of your destination and create a mood board that captures the essence.

• Create an entire journal page without using any words—use sketches, colors, photos, or textures to tell the story of your day.

After You Return

• What was the first thing you did upon returning home? Did it feel the same or different as before you left?

• Did you experience any culture shock upon returning back home?

• Write about the souvenirs you chose to bring back with you. What do they symbolize, and how will they remind you of the trip?

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Not every single one of these prompts will work for everyone, these are just the ones I have come up with for myself. Though they may work for me, you may need to switch up the prompt a little bit to feel inspired.

Let me know if you use any of these, or if you have any prompts you like to use for journaling!

xx abby