TRY TRAVELING TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE.

• Position: Brief Article

More and more people are traveling these days, and not just because the economy is booming. "Transformative travel"--traveling to change one's life--is attracting the interest of many individuals who want more than a temporary escape from their daily lives, Jeffrey Kottler told the World Future Society, Bethesda, Md.

Travel puts people in novel situations and requires them to respond creatively to challenges they face, he explains. Those who enter a new environment often can learn more about themselves than by reading a book or talking to a therapist.

Adventure-based travel appeals to people who crave a big challenge, like climbing a mountain or backpacking for weeks at a time. They smile broadly while telling you stories about the pain and hardship of their adventures. For them, meeting a goal that appears out of reach is profoundly satisfying.

Some transformative travelers are motivated by intellectual curiosity. They follow a keen interest to learn about many aspects of the world and are likely to do extensive research before their trip. They...