Have you ever dreamed of quitting your job to travel the world? Are you craving your own Eat, Pray, Love experience? That was me, a few years ago.

I’m Claire, and I left behind my corporate career in London for a year to do just that. I put my life in a backpack and booked round-the-world flights from Europe to embark on beautiful adventures, including to Goa, Malaysia, Thailand, Bali and Chile.

Australian adventure

I decided to launch this blog to get back in touch with the writing I always loved to do when I was younger and find my voice again. Sometimes you forget about these things that used to make you feel good.

Why the name Backpacking Bella? Backpacking because there’s something special about carrying all your belongings on your back and venturing beyond your comfort zone, just you and the world. My first backpacking trip was in Italy and Bella in Italian is the feminine word for ‘beautiful’. This reflects my style of travelling: appreciating the beauty and art of the places I’m visiting and keeping a mindful perspective.

Travelling brings such an inspiring sense of joy, freedom and possibility. You get to meet fantastic people, experience things you could never have imagined and learn so much about yourself along the way. Sometimes you have to pinch yourself that you’re actually in this moment, doing what you’re doing, halfway around the world from home.

What would your dream trip be filled with?

Perhaps you are interested in being a solo traveller in Goa

Maybe you’d like to try a yoga retreat somewhere exotic

How about crossing Canada without a car?

You could explore magnificent Malaysia

Discover a picture-perfect route around Portugal

Or the beautiful island of Bali

For me, it has been indulging in my love of adventure and filling my days with all my favourite passions: food, yoga, dancing until the sun comes up, music, art, nature, beaches and learning about the wonderful world that surrounds us.

Join me for the ride: follow my blog, post your comments, and I will share my advice and tips of things I’ve learned along the way, as well as my latest blog posts.

If you’d like to see regular photos and inspiration, you can like my Facebook page, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram or Twitter. Feel free to get in touch by sending me an email.

Enjoy your own adventures, wherever they may lead you…

If it’s your first time here, head straight to this post about the surprising benefits of travel.

Bon voyage, bellas!