LOVE on the move

A couple who travel together, grow together

- Words by CHARNDRÉ EMMA KIPPIE

You could simply be enjoying a dreamy weekend in the Cape Winelands, or taking a months-long backpacking tour through Southeast Asia. Either way, travelling with your significant other comes with way more than just photo-worthy moments and shared bucket-list ticks.

It’s a unique experience that can both strengthen your relationship and reveal new issues. The highs and lows of being on the road together, navigating unfamiliar places, dealing with delayed flights and discovering new cultures is an opportunity to deepen your emotional intimacy. On the other hand, it may also expose cracks in communication. But with the right mindset (and a bit of planning), even the toughest moments can bring you closer.

The Psychology of Travelling Together

According to clinical psychologist Dr Charlotte Russell, author of 'The Travel Psychologist' blog, adventures become a catalyst for couples to build stronger emotional connections.

"Travel involves spending time together doing new and interesting things, which can increase our sense of connection with each other," she explains. "It also provides the opportunity to enjoy positive experiences together, in contrast to everyday tasks that are not so enjoyable - taking out the bins and washing the dishes, for example.

“Travel takes us out of our comfort zone to some degree, and travelling as a couple is no different. While we are travelling and facing new situations, there are opportunities to support each other and to build trust. If your partner has been kind and patient with you, or if you've spurred each other on during a long delay, this builds trust. This gives us the sense that our partner is 'in our corner' and we can face the world together.”