The Scenic Route: Following My Inner Compass Across 12 Countries in 12 Months

Some journeys give you answers. Others teach you how to live with better questions.

There were a few things predetermined that year for Sarah Aviram: the set itinerary of twelve countries over twelve months, the group of thirty strangers who would travel together, and her work responsibilities as a remote human resources leader.

Everything else? Up in the air.

What followed was a year shaped by unfamiliar cultures, deep friendships, extraordinary adventures, unexpected romance, and what would become a turning point in her career. Through a dozen interconnected stories narrated from each of the countries she lived in, The Scenic Route unfolds like a travel journal, capturing experiences as they happen alongside the questions and reflections they spark.

In this intimate travel memoir, Aviram meditates with a barefoot Buddhist monk in Thailand, sleds down the desert dunes of Peru, channels the fearless passion of flamenco dancers in Spain, and clings to the back of a motorbike through the relentless motion of Vietnam's streets. Emerging from these scenes is an exploration of vulnerability, identity, impermanence, and belonging--and an invitation to loosen your grip on certainty and discover what becomes possible when life's changes are met with openness and curiosity.

Sarah Aviram is a bestselling author, international keynote speaker, and leadership coach who helps people navigate uncertainty and activate their own sense of agency. A former Fortune 500 HR leader and global traveler who lived and worked in twelve countries in twelve months, she brings a unique perspective on change, identity, and what it means to follow your own path.

She is the author of Remotivation, and her insights on work, fulfillment, and personal growth have been featured in Forbes and the BBC. Her TEDx talk, "Does more freedom at work mean more fulfillment?" has inspired nearly one million viewers, and she has delivered keynotes and leadership programs to audiences around the world.

Sarah holds an MBA in Leadership and Change Management from NYU Stern School of Business, where she also guest lectures. Through her writing and speaking, Sarah uses stories of travel as a lens to explore how we adapt to change, navigate uncertainty with intention, and cultivate the curiosity, courage, and self-trust needed to create lives and careers that feel both meaningful and fully our own.