Her first Dragon Trip came in 2019, when her closest friends encouraged her to take a break after a challenging divorce and go somewhere beautiful. She didn’t have a huge travel fund or plan. She simply started looking.
“Even without a penny in my pocket, I decided to look at possible trips, and together with my best friends we chose Japan.” The Dragon Trip made Japan feel possible, even on a tight budget. What she did not know was that Japan would become the first chapter in a much bigger travel story.
She certainly stuck to her word. Since then, Svetlana has travelled with The Dragon Trip through Southeast Asia, China, Brazil and Argentina. She has walked along the Great Wall, encountered the Terracotta Warriors, taken in Patagonia’s epic landscapes, felt the force of South America’s waterfalls and tasted sushi that has ruined all other sushi for her.
One Dragon Trip became another, then another. At this point, Svetlana is not just a traveller. She is a fully fledged Dragon Trip regular.
The Dragon Trip That Started It All
Despite everything she has seen since, Japan remains the trip that set the standard. It introduced Svetlana to group travel, gave her an unforgettable first Adventure Leader and brought together a travel crew that has remained part of her life ever since.
“The best Adventure Leader we ever had was in Japan. We even became friends on Facebook.”
The group proved to have some serious staying power too. “Funny enough, the best group I ever travelled with was the one in Japan.
They arrived as strangers and left with a group chat that has now survived seven years, multiple reunions and several more stamps in the passport. Not bad for a friendship formed somewhere between hostel check-ins and figuring out who was always running five minutes late.
Japan also gave Svetlana one of her most enduring travel obsessions. “I will never forget the taste of sushi in Japan. I want to go back just so I can eat it every single day. It was an incredible experience.
A bold claim, but one Svetlana seems more than willing to fly halfway around the world to defend.
Working Her Way Around the World
Once Svetlana knew she wanted to keep travelling, she focused first on the Asian destinations that had always interested her. “There wasn’t any specific logic behind it. I simply wanted to visit all the countries in Asia that excited me before moving on to another continent.”
That took her from Japan through Southeast Asia and China, where history stopped feeling like something contained inside books and documentaries. “Standing on top of the Great Wall of China, I felt the presence of the historical giants who built this magnificent treasure.”
The Terracotta Warriors delivered a completely different kind of wonder. “The Terracotta Soldiers looked as if they belonged to another planet entirely.”
After exploring Asia, Svetlana turned her attention towards South America. Argentina brought one of those rare moments when a landscape completely drowns out every other thought. “The sheer force of the waterfalls showed me the true power of nature.”
Each trip has added something different to her collection: extraordinary food, ancient history, surreal landscapes and the slightly strange thrill of finally standing somewhere that once existed only on a wish list.
Why She Keeps Choosing Group Tours
With so many Dragon Trips under her belt, Svetlana knows exactly what she values about travelling in a group.
“For me, it’s all about feeling secure and handing over the pressure of arranging everything from my shoulders to the agents’
especially since I already handle so much planning at work.”
Having the logistics taken care of gives her more room to enjoy what is actually happening around her. Instead of juggling bookings, transport and daily plans, she can focus on the places, people and experiences unfolding in front of her.
That combination of freedom and reassurance is also what she would highlight to anyone considering their first group adventure. “Only on group tours do you truly feel more secure and safe, which is why I especially recommend this type of travel for young people.”
The first booking can feel like the biggest leap. Once the journey begins, though, there is a whole group taking it with you.
Honest Feedback From a Veteran
Travelling with The Dragon Trip several times has given Svetlana a clear sense of how much an Adventure Leader can shape the experience.
Japan remains her standout example, but repeat travel has allowed her to experience different leadership styles across different destinations.
“Since then, some Adventure Leaders have been better than others, but I believe my feedback after every trip helps The Dragon Trip as a company improve in this area.”
That honesty is part of being a genuine fan. Svetlana does not simply return trip after trip, smile politely and disappear until the next airport meet-up. She pays attention to the details, shares what worked and speaks up about what could make future adventures even stronger. She wants the experience to keep improving for the travellers who come next.
The Freedom of Being Somewhere New
Svetlana’s favourite parts of travelling are not rooted in luxury. She is more interested in experiences that make a destination feel real.
“I loved every single day of freedom and the simplicity of travelling across the globe. I’m not fussy about what I eat or where I sleep. As long as the sightseeing is meaningful and enriched with real historical facts, I feel grateful just to be there, touching the place with my own hands.”
For her, the magic is in the closeness of it all: walking through a place, understanding its story and watching something once distant become tangible. “And taking a photo to share with others becomes the perfect final moment of the whole journey.”
Her Travel List Is Still Growing
Multiple continents later, Svetlana is nowhere near finished. Her current mission is to continue exploring South America before turning towards the remaining African destinations on her list. Antarctica is waiting at the very end, although it is difficult to imagine Svetlana treating any destination as a genuine finale.
“Now my goal is to explore all the South American countries on my list. After that, I only have a few destinations left in Africa, and the final one in my travel bucket list is Antarctica.” A fairly casual final entry for the travel list.
There are also places she has already visited that continue to pull her back.
“The Dragon Trip gives you a taste of each destination, with the intention that you’ll return to the places you fall in love with. I definitely want to go back to China and Japan. There is still so much more I want to see, and my list keeps growing.”
That may be the secret behind Svetlana’s status as a true Dragon Trip fan.
Every adventure answers one question and creates five more. Every destination crossed off the list seems to add another underneath it. Every flight home comes with the suspicion that the suitcase will not stay unpacked for long.
It began with one affordable trip to Japan. Then came Southeast Asia, China, Brazil and Argentina.
Next up: The rest of the world.
