Arjun Malaviya started solo travel on his 17th birthday and spent 13 months visiting 100 countries. In this conversation, he breaks down the mindset and mechanics behind big, fast travel: how he planned loosely, built local relationships, and stayed on budget. We talk honestly about safety and risk, while also highlighting the kindness and generosity he encountered across the world. Along the way, Arjun shares the specific apps, strategies, and social hacks that helped him move through the world with more confidence and cultural fluency. This episode is a reminder that a gap year can be both epic and deeply formative, and that “solo” does not have to mean alone.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

  • How early travel experiences shaped Arjun’s desire for long-term solo travel
  • What it’s like to travel internationally as a minor, and the simple document he used
  • His “taste now, return later” approach: breadth vs depth, and why he chose speed
  • How he found local connection without relying on hostels (Airbnb room stays, hosts, street conversations)
  • Practical ways to find local experiences: GuruWalk, Facebook travel groups, and connecting with guides
  • How he thought about safety and trust, plus the cues he used to assess people and situations
  • The story of being kidnapped in Myanmar, what happened, and the lessons he took from it
  • Budget breakdown: how he stretched roughly $22,500 across 13 months
  • Where the budget went fastest (Pacific island flights and costs in remote nations)
  • Favorite travel tools: Rome2Rio, Google Translate (including downloading languages offline)
  • How travel impacted his college life: discipline, confidence, and instant connection on a diverse campus
  • Lightning-round highlights: hardest visa, best sunrise, most hospitable country, wildest transport, and more
  • His core advice: take the leap, trust yourself, and learn to get comfortable being uncomfortable

Resources and Links Mentioned

  • Rome2Rio (route planning and transport options)
  • Google Translate (including offline language downloads)
  • GuruWalk (walking tours, local guides, tip-based model)
  • Facebook travel groups (meeting locals, finding niche travel communities)
  • Viator (tours and discounts strategy mentioned)

Connect with Us

  • Gap Year Radio: Follow along for Season 10 episodes, student stories, and practical planning tools
  • Host: Julia Rogers, gap year advisor and founder of EnRoute Consulting
  • If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a student, parent, or educator who needs a little permission to think bigger about what a gap year can do.