For anyone dealing with Long Covid, traveling can seem unbelievably daunting. Reflecting on my experience I want to share some thoughts in the hope that my journey, spanning nearly five years of recovery, can provide some insight and encouragement to those facing similar challenges. Each trip was its own milestone, highlighting to me where I had made progress, what I still needed to learn and what I still had to learn to manage. It’s also fair to say that not one single person I met or spoke to from my ‘old life’ understood these challenges. The only people I could discuss this with openly and honestly with were fellow Long Haulers or a therapist.
Looking back at the pics, what I notice is that I'm smiling and looking happy on all of these photos. The truth is on many of the earlier ones I was EXHAUSTED and I can see it in my eyes. But honestly I do smile a lot. I have a generally positive, cheerful outlook in life and I truly believe that this has helped with my recovery. There were so many days I cried and felt despair but there were also many moments of joy during my recovery...and the further I got on in it..the more those moments came!
Here’s how each phase of recovery felt and what you might expect on your own path when it comes to travel.
6 Months into Long COVID: Rediscovering Routine in Wales
Six months after my initial Covid infection, my family and I ventured out for a week in Wales—a modest two-hour car journey in the midst of Covid restrictions (August 2020). This was a restful trip for me. I avoided any intense activity, even the smallest responsibilities, like packing, which my partner thankfully handled (although not in the way I would!). He did all the cooking etc. My days revolved around tiny, short walks, meditation, and yoga nidra sessions three times a day. I had spent the majority of the last 6 months in bed or on the sofa.
Surprisingly, being away from home seemed to help. Changing routines and scenery brought a noticeable sense of forgetting how bad things had been and not dreading the day ahead. Although I was still navigating my "baseline" and recovering from myocarditis, I felt a little lighter on holiday, an interesting realisation in the early days of my recovery journey. I felt about 30% of my old self at this point.
Lessons - let go of ‘control’ - it won’t be perfect, that’s OK. Drop the guilt, when you are able to do things again...YOU WILL.
15 Months in: A Small Sense of Freedom in Cornwall
Fast forward to fifteen months, and we were off to Cornwall for two weeks. It was a seven-hour drive, and I gave my partner breaks by driving small stretches (progress!). While my activity levels were still low (no drinking, no high-energy outings), I managed to pack for the trip and enjoy more time with my kids.
We did gentle day trips every other day, and while I needed to rest a lot, I felt happy just to participate. This trip marked the first time I felt somewhat in control of my energy levels, even though I still struggled with Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM) after any more than an hour of gentle walking. At this stage there were lots of ‘glimmers’ of hope of recovery but overall I was still very far from my old self. The photo is me having climbed down (and up!) to a beach - the day after I was in bed. I felt about 50% healed by this stage.
Lessons - Pacing, in the early days was essential for me to be able to build up activity and feel I knew what to expect. But sometimes I chose to 'do the thing' and know I might feel bad after it, but to trust that I would recover.
18 Months: Feeling Stronger in Scotland and the Lake District
At 18 months, we traveled to Scotland as a family, where I began to feel a little closer to my former self. We added some cold-water dips, and I managed more sustained walks (gentle days out including walks up to 4-5km with the kids).
For my partner's 40th birthday, we also visited the Lake District. I even tried wake surfing, e-mountain biking, and cold-water swimming—things I hadn’t thought possible up until this time. Exhaustion hit hard afterward, but the joy of experiencing those things was worth every moment of rest I needed afterward. I was exhausted but feeling positive about my progress.
Lessons - Pacing at this stage and scheduling rest for after big events / activities is essential. Do not beat yourself up for trying stuff and suffering afterwards. Remind yourself you are ALWAYS trying your best and be your own best friend in terms of supportive thoughts. Also listen to your instincts, if something feels uncomfortable / too much, that's ok, it might not be the right time to do it (yet).
21 Months: Social Breaks and Faster Recovery
A weekend in the Cotswolds highlighted a significant breakthrough. Meeting friends, socialising, and staying active left me tired, but I noticed my recovery was getting quicker from this sort of stuff. This shift showed me I was moving towards a more sustainable recovery. About 60% healed here.
Lessons - Socialising is TOUGH! Especially when it’s not on your terms…e.g. Visiting friends for a weekend is VERY different than meeting for a coffee. I had to explain to friends that I needed to rest, I would still need to go off at least once or twice a day to meditate at this time. Or sit in the car while they walked If I needed to. At first I was embarrassed by this but when I let go of that it became easier.
Two Years: Travel Highs and a New Sense of Confidence
Around the two-year mark, we took a series of trips. First, a weekend in the Lake District to celebrate my 40th, where I enjoyed slow hikes and gentle e-biking. Next, a week in Northumberland. I began that trip feeling fatigued because we had just had Covid again (!). I remember being really scared of getting Long Covid again and definitely built in more rests and took it easy. We had considered cancelling, but by the end, I was able to visit castles, swim, and even go on a seal boat trip and see a total of ZERO seals!
Later, in June 2022, I managed my first international trip post-Covid: a glorious trip to Greece. I remember being super anxious about the flight and masking up in the airport, taxi and on the flight. But I actually found this made me feel worse. I have no judgment to anyone that masks, I always respect that decision and If I am unwell I do it myself to protect others, but, I realised wearing the mask put my nervous system into a stress state. I also noticed that when I flew my HR was very high (around 100bpm sat on the plane) and my Garmin told me I was 'stressed'. I assumed this was POTS related at this stage.
But, once we got there, the sunshine and change of environment did wonders for me on this trip. It was the first time I felt truly “normal” for an extended period of time with only minimal PEM after the initial travel.
Lessons - On this trip I learnt that I needed to let go of ‘control’. I took as many precautions as I could do (to avoid infections and to avoid feeling totally fatigued on arrival) but I learnt that often things are out of our control and that if I could get comfortable with that fact then my body and brain would be a happier, calmer place to be! I actually found wearing the mask made it hard for me to breathe fully which my nervous system disliked. We were also delayed a few hours on the way out, I hated this and felt really stressed by it which I am pretty certain made the PEM on arrival worse. For future trips I worked hard on nervous system regulation and ‘letting go’ of fear on uncertainty which in turn made those things much easier. My POTS also eased so that definitely helped too!
2.5 Years: A Big Trip to Devon with Friends
Meeting up with 25 friends in Devon felt like a victory. I participated in every activity, even if it meant sneaking away for the occasional nap and calling it a night early. It was an exhausting but fun trip—a reminder of the vibrant life I was starting to get back to. I was about 75% healed by now.
Almost 3 Years: Skiing and Resilience
In January 2023, I went on my first ski trip since Long Covid. Skiing in the mornings, resting in the afternoons—it was a dream to be back on the slopes with friends and family. Despite some delays and exposure to Covid on the trip, my immune system held strong. I realised that I was no longer destined to catch every bug, and my resilience was returning. On this trip I realised that I could push my body a bit more physically than I had been doing. I was skiing every morning and feeling ok. I did have some POTS symptoms on thiis trip on the flight (high BPM) and at altitude but overall it was relatively mild by now. Still feeling around 75% heale here.
Lessons - I can’t do what I used to but I am improving and my body can do more than I think. Maybe it’s time to start some proper exercise back at home?
3.5 Years: Island Hopping in Greece, and a New Level of Recovery
A two-week island-hopping trip in Greece helped me to reconnect with my old, energetic self. I swam, walked, lugged heavy bags, and felt about 90% back to normal. I realised just how far I'd come and celebrated every activity I could now enjoy without hesitation. I also planned this trip to be active, busy and I guess just as it would have been pre Long Covid. That felt like a major win! This was a generally active trip but still nothing intense in terms of activity. I noticed my HR stayed pretty normal on the flight - PROGRESS.
Lessons - Your vibrancy for life will return (eventually!)
Feb 2023: Solo with Kids in London
A solo sightseeing trip in London with my kids felt surreal—I clocked 16k steps in a day and managed it all. Was there PEM? Yes there was, but it felt like a background concern rather than a constant and I no longer feared it. I felt a newfound optimism in this phase that I didn’t have to rely on my partner to always be there ‘just in case I couldn’t cope’.
3 Years, 8 Months: A Milestone in America
A week-long trip to America with my daughter proved to be the biggest test yet. Between solo parenting, jet lag, and work events, I kept up with every plan we had. Even when my partner and his work colleagues got sick, I remained healthy. My immune system was stronger again, and this trip marked a significant milestone in my recovery.
Lessons - I won’t get sick from every bug I am exposed to! And If I do, I know what to do and my body will heal.
4 Years In: Adventures in Barcelona and Another US Journey
In February 2024, I managed 20,000 steps daily for three days straight in Barcelona—a feat that would have been impossible just a year prior. By May, another two-week work trip to the U.S. followed, this time with both my kids. Despite logistical challenges, delays, and absolutely scorching Texas heat, I felt good. I could go to the gym, swim, and socialise with no issues. This trip solidified my confidence that I had all the tools I needed to handle whatever came my way.
Lessons - I am strong, I can handle uncertainty - even a 24 hour delay stuck in an airport!
4.5 Years: Italy and a Return to Greece
Most recently, I’ve enjoyed a trip to Italy’s lakes and mountains, some hiking, swimming, and sweating through Venice in the heat. Then last week, we went to Athens for a work trip, just after recovering from a chest infection. Despite everything, I walked over 20k steps on two separate days, socialised, worked, was back in the gym and enjoyed every bit of the trip. On the return flight I looked at my Garmin to see that by sitting on the plane for 4 hours reading my book, my body battery had gone up several points (like a normal human!). No raised HR anymore. No strange POTS stuff and I was reminded that I have reclaimed my health.
Final Reflections
Before I got sick travelling was one of my greatest passions in life. I had travelled much of the world, partly solo in my 20s and to not have the freedom to do that whenever i felt like it felt cruel. I think the fact that Covid lockdowns prevented international travel for some time may have been a good thing for me because there’s no way I would have handled that in the first 18 months.
Traveling with Long Covid has been a long and unpredictable journey. Each trip, from the early, tentative outings to my most recent adventures, has tested and taught me something new. On the later trips it’s always that I can manage more than I think (!). I always come home buoyed with how able I am now am. When you have had your health and vitality stripped away you never take it for granted again.
For anyone struggling with Long Covid, know that recovery is possible—albeit slow and nonlinear. The best advice I can give is to;
1.) to listen to your body
2.) do the work to heal - for me, once I had got to grips with pacing, this was nervous system retraining, mind-body healing, neurolistic programming
3.) celebrate every milestone and be compassionate to yourself
This is my story and my journey, I know it’s not the same for everyone but I am sharing it for those who are worried they will never have a holiday, a trip or a journey again. It IS possible!
Want to know more or work with me? Get in touch and book a free discovery call to discuss your personal recovery.
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