It's Like a Trust Fall, But in Travel
From the Substack Mindful Travel Confessions by Camila Castro
In about 10 days, I’m getting on an international flight and, until 48 hours before departure, I’ll have no idea what country I’m landing in. All I know for now: I’ll be on a 10+ hour flight, followed by a 2-4 hour connection. I should pack layers for daytime temperatures in the 50s-60s°F, with evenings dipping into the low 40s. I’ll need footwear for both hiking and dinners in town.
That’s it. That’s everything. Until two days before departure, when I’ll get on a call and finally learn where I’m going. Until then? Complete mystery.
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For someone who used to plan every detail of every trip to feel safe and in control, this is ... well, it’s something very different.
Destination: Unknown
The mindful travel space is still pretty niche, so when I find others whose travel philosophy aligns with mine, I pay attention. A few years ago, I came across Explorer X, a travel design company whose mission, “travel deeper, live better”, resonates deeply with me.
I was interested in the way they approach planning mindful travel experiences for their clients, but what really caught my attention was their Destination: Unknown adventures. It was the first time I’d encountered the concept of having someone else plan the entirety of a trip for you, leaving you completely in the dark—even about where you were going—until the very last moment.
I was immediately intrigued. The exhilaration. The thrill of not knowing. The surprise. It all appealed to me in some visceral way.
But something held me back.
I’ve written here before about being a former Type A traveler. Back then, I had just recently started learning to let go, and I knew I wasn’t quite ready for this kind of adventure yet. Still, it stuck with me, and I kept coming back to it over the next couple of years, knowing that one day, I would take the leap.
The Call to Let Go
Fast forward to early 2025, and a rough start to the year. After a heavy couple of months that felt chaotic, I felt desperate for an escape; for time and space away from my usual environments and routines so I could recalibrate, settle back into myself, reconnect, and feel grounded again.
Travel has always provided that space for me… So a trip was the obvious answer. But I didn’t have it in me to plan anything. I was burned out and exhausted. Just the idea of having to organize and book anything felt like too much.
And yet, I wanted to do something that would zap energy back into me, reawaken the spark that had been considerably dampened by those heavy months. Something that felt a little reckless, in the safest possible way. Something that let me relinquish complete control while also giving me the choice to do so on my own terms. Something that would pull me completely out of my daily routine and drop me into the unexpected.
And in my experience, nothing does that more effectively than stepping way out of your comfort zone.
Next thing I knew, I was filling out the interest form on the Explorer X website and scheduling a call to discuss the possibility of organizing a Destination: Unknown experience for myself.
The Moment I Said Yes
I came away from that initial call buzzing with possibility.
Part of me wanted to leave tomorrow. To escape into the unknown as soon as possible. But I quickly learned that a trip like this couldn’t be rushed. The design process alone would take months. Add in coordinating flights, securing accommodations, timing it with my schedule... we were looking at close to a year out.
At first, that felt like forever. But then something shifted. The anticipation itself became part of the healing. Having this grand adventure on the horizon that required nothing from me except showing up gave me something to hold onto.
So I leaped. I paid the deposit, and the process got underway.
It started with a comprehensive questionnaire. Everything from travel preferences to weather tolerances and activity levels. I shared where I’ve been, where I dream of going, where I absolutely didn’t want to go. How much time I wanted in cities versus nature. How off-the-beaten-path I was willing to venture.
Then came the back-and-forth with their travel design team. Conversations about whether I wanted packed days or spacious ones. My preferred airline alliance. My tolerance for long flights and layovers. The balance between novelty and comfort I was seeking.
With each exchange, they were building a picture of who I am as a traveler and what I needed from this journey. And the entire time, I knew absolutely nothing about the actual trip. Not the destination. Not the activities. Not where I’d sleep or what I’d do when I woke up.
Complete surrender.
And honestly? It was starting to feel incredibly liberating.
Beyond the Escape
I’ve spent the last few years learning to travel with less certainty—letting go of rigid itineraries, trusting the journey to unfold, embracing spaciousness over structure, leaning into a more gentle type of travel.
But I still had some control. I chose where I’d go, what I’d do while there, how I’d get around. Even when I let someone else plan the itinerary, I knew the destination, where I’d be staying, what to expect. This? This feels like the next edge of growth for me as a traveler. The ultimate practice of everything I’ve been learning and teaching about mindful travel.
And there’s something else too. Something almost nostalgic about this experience.
Before the internet, before social media, before we could Google every corner of the planet and scroll through thousands of photos before arriving at our destination, travel was inherently mysterious. You showed up somewhere and discovered it. You couldn’t research every restaurant, preview every view, or read every review. You explored.
Destination: Unknown brings that element of surprise back into travel. The joy of not knowing. The thrill of genuine discovery. And it’s something I find myself craving.
How I’m Feeling
What’s surprised me about this experience so far is that I feel completely calm. There’s anticipation, of course, and curiosity. A lot of excitement bubbling under the surface. But anxiety? None.
A few years ago, this would have terrified me. Not knowing where I’m going? Not having contingency plans? Old me would have spiraled into worst-case scenarios and obsessive research. But now? I’m genuinely excited. Eager, even. That shift alone feels significant and tells me how far I’ve come. It’s surprising to recognize that I am now the kind of traveler who can sit with complete unknowing and feel... peaceful.
I think it’s because of everything I’ve been learning through mindful travel. The trust I’ve built—not just in travel companies or itineraries, but in myself. In my ability to handle whatever comes. In my capacity to be present, to stay open, to adapt, and find meaning regardless of where I land.
I trust Explorer X to have designed something aligned with who I am and what I need. More importantly, I trust myself to show up fully for whatever unfolds.
And maybe that’s the real journey here.
Your Turn
So, where do you think I’m going?
Based on the clues—10+ hour flight from Los Angeles plus a 2-4 hour connection, temperatures in the 50s-60s°F (dipping into the low 40s at night) in April, a mix of hiking and city exploration—take a guess. Drop your theories in the comments, and I’ll confirm if anyone was right once I return.
I’ll be sharing snippets of my Destination: Unknown trip on Instagram @bejourneyful as it unfolds (so if you’re dying of curiosity, that will be the place to get timely updates), and when I return, I’ll be back here with the full story. Where I ended up. What I discovered. And what this experience taught me about trust, surrender, and what happens when we finally stop trying to control the journey.
For now, I’m packing my bags, practicing patience, and leaning into the unknown.
With love + curiosity …
Camila
About Mindful Travel Confessions by Camila Castro on Substack
For seekers bridging who they've been with who they're becoming, one journey at a time. Writer & Mindful Travel Coach sharing honest stories from the road, frameworks for intentional travel, and updates from my creative journey.