A Life of Exploration: Daisy Dyke’s Journey Around the World
Daisy Dyke, a 34-year-old British woman, has been traveling the world for over 16 years and shows no signs of stopping. Her journey began when she was just 18, leaving her home near Bournemouth, Dorset, for Australia on a working holiday visa. Since then, she has made it her full-time job to explore the globe.
Daisy has visited 69 countries, funding her travels by working in various roles abroad and later as a content creator and travel host. Initially, she used her savings to travel and find work in different countries. Despite criticism from some who say she is “too old” to be a solo traveler, Daisy has no plans to settle down or start a family.
While she often travels full-time, Daisy uses her home in Dorset as a base to plan new adventures. She continues to push herself to try new experiences and encourages others to do the same.
Daisy shared her thoughts on the pressure to settle down as she enters her thirties:
“I don’t understand why it’s acceptable for people to travel in their twenties, but once you hit your thirties, you’re told off for not settling down. I’ve never settled down. I was born to travel. I love it and enjoy pushing myself to try new things.”
She believes that the best decision she ever made was taking her first trip, which now allows her to help other women feel safe enough to travel alone in their 30s and experience the fun of solo travel.
“There’s nothing wrong with not wanting to settle down,” she said.
Early Travel Experiences and Career Path
Daisy worked in Australia in October 2010 before starting university, but even during her studies, she constantly escaped the UK to travel between semesters.
“I went on my gap year and just kept going,” she recalled. “I worked as a cowgirl in Australia, did factory jobs, then traveled through Asia before going to Liverpool University to study psychology.”
After graduating, she moved to New Zealand, where she worked as a professional fairy, playing the role of a fairy for children’s entertainment. She also spent time in Tonga swimming with whales and in Hawaii.
“It just became normal for me to be moving around,” she said.
Daisy would save up for flights and spend her time working abroad to fund her trips. By her mid-20s, she was working as a European tour leader, taking groups across multiple countries before the pandemic disrupted her career.
“When COVID hit, everything stopped overnight. My job and relationship were affected, and I found myself back in my childhood bedroom, single and unemployed.”
At that point, she began posting on Instagram, sharing her life while preparing for a one-way trip to Mexico. Her content quickly gained traction and eventually turned into a full-time job.
Now, Daisy hosts group trips around the world, collaborates with brands, and helps women travel who may have never done so alone before.
Favorite Destinations and Overcoming Online Abuse
Daisy has visited countries such as Brazil, Nepal, Greece, Italy, Tonga, Mexico, Argentina Patagonia, and Tanzania, which she considers some of her favorite trips. However, despite helping many women, she has faced abuse online from men targeting her age and appearance.
“I started getting constant hate comments from men saying women in their 30s are ‘expired,’ that we’re ugly, that no one will love us, that we look old. It was relentless.”
At first, the comments affected her deeply. “I remember thinking – ‘why are people saying this?’” Her mother advised her that trolls wouldn’t go away, and she had to decide whether to let them stop her or grow thicker skin.
Daisy now uses these comments as inspiration for her content. “I started scripting videos using what men were saying. I turn it into humor and satire now.”
She noted that the hate comments only come when she is confident in herself. “What gets me is if you shrink yourself and say ‘I will never find love at 30,’ the men flock with pity for you – they like when you have no self-confidence.”
Daisy believes there is a clear double standard online. “Male solo travelers get praised for doing this in their 30s and 40s, but women are told they’re too old or undesirable. It’s a completely different reaction.”
Despite the negativity, she feels more confident than ever. “People act like your life is over in your 30s, but most people are still figuring things out anyway. I decided I wasn’t going to wait for permission anymore, and I learned to laugh off the men making their nasty comments.”
Future Adventures and Encouraging Others
Daisy is now preparing for new trips, including high-altitude expeditions in Nepal. “It’s going to be challenging, I’m not fully prepared yet, but I’m training. You just have to go for things even when you’re scared.”
Her group trips now attract mostly women in their 30s traveling solo for the first time. “A lot of them didn’t think they could travel alone, but by the end, they can’t believe they waited so long to try it.”
She encourages others to live their lives without shrinking themselves because of what people say. “Don’t listen to men dragging you down. Go and live your life, travel, explore, and don’t shrink yourself because of what people say.”
