'Counting countries' but making it count- How many countries have you 'truly' travelled to?

15 countries and counting. That’s how many countries I have stepped foot in. But here’s the real question: how many have I truly experienced? Is it enough to simply cross a border, snap an aesthetic photo for Instagram, record a TikTok at a trending landmark for likes and views, and tick a box on a checklist to mark the country as visited? Or does travel mean something deeper than just stepping foot in a new place?

What Does “Truly Experiencing” a Country mean to you?

For many travellers, the first instinct is to keep count: 1 country, 10 countries, 20 countries, 30 countries before 30, 50 countries and maybe the rare but coveted 197 countries. And there are plenty of reasons why. Sometimes it’s genuine excitement at the privilege of visiting a new place and seeing the world. Other times, it’s about appearing interesting in conversations, projecting an aspirational lifestyle, or simply showing off on social media. But if all you did was transit through an airport, spend a rushed 24 hours in the capital, or visit a single trending landmark, can you honestly say you’ve experienced that country? “Truly experiencing” a new destination goes beyond ticking boxes on a list. It’s about spending more than a fleeting moment, and long enough time to see beyond the surface. It’s learning about the culture, values, and even contradictions of local life. It’s tasting the cuisine, listening to the music, and immersing yourself in the language and traditions.

You could argue that travel is incomplete without some form of interaction with local people. If you travelled to China but stayed only in a British hotel, ate English breakfast and fish and chips, and spent the entire trip indoors with no intention of returning to engage with local communities, can that really be called travel? These elements are what transform a trip into a meaningful journey. Without them, you may have visited, but you haven’t truly travelled. Of course, there are exceptions: if your goal is pure rest and relaxation, that’s perfectly valid. But if the aim is exploration, depth matters.And this is where the idea of “counting countries” becomes more complex. The number itself is not the problem. There’s immense joy and pride in tracking where your passport has taken you, especially if you do not have passport privilege. But if the focus stays only on the total, you risk reducing your travels to a scoreboard. Making it count means shifting the perspective to the experiences from each country. Instead of asking, “How many countries have I been to?”, the better question becomes, “How deeply have I experienced the places I’ve visited?” . When we travel with intention, seeking culture, connection, and meaning, every country, no matter how many, leaves a lasting mark. That’s when counting countries becomes less about the numbers and more about stories worth telling.

At Naija Girl Abroad, our focus is on creating rich, meaningful travel experiences. Whether you’ve only ever travelled to three countries or plan to explore many more with us when we start organising group trips, our goal is the same: to ensure every journey, whether short or long, is unforgettable, immersive, and truly memorable.