Travel light | Travel solo | The 5 Kilo Traveller

Hi, I'm Katherine, your guide to light and liberating travel!

Kia ora and welcome from Aotearoa New Zealand.

I was approaching 50 in 2017, when I ventured on a solo trip for four weeks in Croatia and Italy.

This picture is me with all my belongings - just over 5 kilos (11 pounds) in my carry-on day bag about to depart Charlotte, North Carolina, bound for Dubrovnik in Croatia, while my family flew back to New Zealand.

I was all set to head off on my very first midlife travel adventure. At this point I was so nervous!

What was I doing leaving my family behind?
Would I survive?
Did I have enough gear?
Had I gone completely mad??!!
Had I really thought this travel light thing through??

The freedom I experience when I travel lightly is unbelievable.

Escaping the normal routines of parenting and nursing life I relished every opportunity that came my way. It is so hard to express the joy I felt.

I met amazing locals and travellers of all ages and stages. I became a surrogate Mum to the young female travellers. I avidly listened to their stories and their zest for life. I think I inspired them to keep travelling.

I wrote a book on my solo travel adventure!

Exploring Croatia and Italy with a light carry-on bag and a ton of determination.

It's about stepping outside your comfort zone, believing in yourself, and making your dreams happen. Plus, you'll feel like you're on holiday as you read it!

This trip was the gift that keeps on giving. I started to believe in myself, found an inner strength that had diminished over the years, & have absolutely flourished since!

The book is just the beginning of a huge life transformation.