The Rise of Ancestry Travel

Have you ever pondered over the mysteries of our origins, identity, and family lineage? 

A new wave of travel trends has emerged to address these profound questions and make them into a transformative journey for the mind, body, and soul. 

Heritage travel, also known as ancestry or roots travel, is gaining popularity as more and more travellers seek to explore the lands of their ancestors in order to rediscover their past and retrace the steps of their forebears. This growing trend, sometimes referred to as genealogy travel, involves individuals embarking on pilgrimages to their ancestral homelands in a quest to unravel their family history and delve deeper into their roots.

Engaging in heritage travel requires a significant commitment of time and effort. It is essential to be willing to dedicate both resources and energy towards delving into one’s ancestral background in order to properly plan a journey that allows for a reconnection with one’s heritage. 

A growing number of individuals, particularly those belonging to the Generation X and millennial demographic, are increasingly drawn to a novel form of travel known as DNA tourism. This emerging trend sees individuals flocking to the lands of their ancestors in pursuit of a deeper understanding of their familial origins. Essentially, DNA tourism offers travellers a unique opportunity to unearth their own cultural heritage, thereby enriching their overall travel experience.

I personally discovered a strong connection to my mother’s genetic makeup and family history, feeling more attuned to her than my father. I frequently found myself posing unusual questions to my elderly mother, delving into her past, her roots, and our living relatives in Delhi. I was particularly curious about her experiences during the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947, when she migrated to Pakistan under British rule. I was amazed to learn that my grandfather had once been a driver for Winston Churchill, a detail that piqued my interest as I had never met him and wished I could have learned more about his life. So travelling to India is for sure on my travel bucket list too. 

Lineage tracing platforms like Ancestry dot com offer the opportunity to access professionally curated online resources, allowing individuals to uncover their familial connections in a matter of minutes. Known as “ancestral” journeys, travellers are combining elements of leisure and heritage travel to create a transformative and enriching experience.