Hi, I’m Ben CG. 👋

I’m an autistic and inattentive-ADHD Travel Creator from the UK. 🇬🇧
I’ve been travelling solo since 2014, but I have a lifetime of experience in travel, and of the ups and downs of living with AuDHD.
In 2015, I started a travel YouTube channel, armed with a good ol’ camcorder, and I started to share my travel vlogs from Japan and Europe. I never monetised my channel; I preferred instead to maintain raw honesty and creative freedom. I also found it really hard to get my content out promptly and regularly.
Executive Dysfunction, amirite? *sitcom laugh track*
But let’s rewind. I grew up mostly in Hertfordshire, England, (just outside of London.) But, because of my Dad’s job, I also spent a good chunk of my childhood in New York City; Geneva, Switzerland and Tokyo, Japan. I’ve visited Japan 7 times in total to date, and I think of Tokyo as my unofficial second home. It’s my favourite city on the planet. I’m lucky and grateful to say that family holidays abroad were a regular thing for me growing up, so I’ve had the travel bug my whole life!
However, even though I looked like a normal little boy, I always felt quite ‘different’ from others around me. I spoke very clearly and used formal words or carefully structured sentences in casual conversation. Sometimes, I said things where I meant well, but were inappropriate for the situation; which offended others, or made them scoff and laugh like I was hinting at something not very nice.
I started reading early; and preferred to keep to myself and watch videos at get-togethers. I was a fussy eater. I entertained myself at school break time (recess) alone, with my hands and my imagination. I was sensitive and a little bit eccentric. I said and did things I copied from TV or video games that came off as weird in real life. I tried and failed to fit in at multiple schools. I didn’t share many hobbies with other kids, and I loved Sonic the Hedgehog. (I still do!)
I’m not sure what exactly led my parents to get me assessed, but when I was around 9 or 10 years old, my Mum told me I had “mild Asperger’s Syndrome.” I wasn’t upset, though, I was actually curious. I even read the report the clinic had given to my parents!
Since then, I’ve fought my way through countless challenges; being bullied, teased, humiliated, yelled at, misunderstood, misrepresented, harshly criticised, expelled… *inhale*… set back, fired, rejected, dismissed, invalidated, taken advantage of, unsupported or insufficiently supported and suffered too many wasted years. *exhale*…
On the other hand, I’ve also been given so many compliments about my intelligence, articulation, passion, determination and good-hearted nature.
But, actual success, security, self-sufficiency and a real feeling of belonging? That eludes me to this day.
All because so many things in society and the world that we consider reasonable; or just take for granted, work against the way my mind works. That’s so much more debilitating than even I realised.
It wasn’t until I was in my 30’s that I started seeing content on social media raising awareness of ADHD; it changed my understanding of what ADHD was. I related to quite a lot of it, and I started to connect the dots. So, I went to my doctor, and after the inevitable bureaucracy, I was on a 2-year waiting list for an assessment. Finally, in the summer of 2025, I was diagnosed with predominantly inattentive ADHD, and I’m still autistic too.
I hope it will explain why it’s so hard for me to just get stuff done, and that the treatment makes it easier. I don’t want sympathy, though. Even with the paradox of a privileged, worldly upbringing; alongside the deep disadvantages of being neurodivergent and partially late diagnosed, I’ve made so many amazing memories through travel! People always tell me how brave I am to travel solo and I’m just like… what? It’s no big deal, it’s great fun!
I understand, though, that there must be loads of neurodivergent people out there who haven’t got as much travel experience as I do.
Some of us might even have never left our home country, (although that’s a lot more common in the USA, for better or worse.)
There could be so many reasons why people like us don’t feel able to travel:
• Lack of money, lack of confidence, lack of the extra care and support you might need?
• Maybe you love the idea of travelling, but you feel like you can only just about get by at home, and going somewhere so unfamiliar would just up-end all of that?
• Maybe it’s just not knowing how to travel, not knowing how to find out; and then you get overwhelmed by the sheer volume of advice that isn’t made with people like you in mind; and then brain go farty bye byes? 🧠💨
I get it, believe me. I’ve faced the same barriers in other areas of my life. I’ve adapted and found coping mechanisms and workarounds, as we all do.
But, travel has always been my escape; my way of exercising my liberty and exerting some control over my own life and environment. I’m at my best when I travel.
So, if you want some of that too, I’m here to help. 💙
About Afterlight Travel
I started Afterlight Travel to inspire and empower people who face similar challenges as me, to find their freedom, happiness and peace in travel; because I know what a difference it can make to our quality of life.
But I’m gonna be very real with you; I started it as my own business. I’ve only ever been able to hold down one full-time employed job for longer than six months in my whole life. I’ve spent years being unemployed; rejected and ghosted from countless applications, and very depressed – particularly since the pandemic. So yes, I started Afterlight Travel to make my own money, take control of my own life and build my own future; while doing something that I’m passionate and knowledgeable about, to help people like me.
I hope you’ll agree that’s both valid and worthwhile, and frankly, I don’t know why I didn’t do this years ago.
Here, I’ll be sharing travel guides, practical tips, personal stories, creative inspiration and exploring an autistic approach to travel, to give you the confidence to enjoy travel comfortably and on your own terms.
There are a lot of online resources to educate neurotypical people about autism, ADHD and AuDHD. There are many corners of the travel industry where some great work is being done on making travel more accessible for neurodivergent people; with autistic help! There are also specialist travel agents and tour operators who can help plan trips with autistic support needs in mind.
But, I’ve noticed there really isn’t enough out there by autistic/AuDHD travellers, for autistic/AuDHD travellers.
Even generally, places for us to learn from each other, feel validated, and explore topics we feel out of our depth trying to get into; nervous to ask silly questions.
Afterlight Travel is a tranquil haven for us to do just that; and to use travel to enjoy our time in this world to the fullest.

FAQs
Why is it called Afterlight Travel?
It’s a lovely word, isn’t it? Just like the photo above, (I took that!) “Afterlight” conjures up images of a peaceful, calming experience at sunset or twilight, where there’s a gentle, serene glow. It evokes a sense of safety, mindfulness and being present in the moment, where we can enjoy nature and be at peace with ourselves. It allows creativity and inspiration to flourish. It’s otherworldly, because travelling on our own terms allows us to leave behind our everyday worlds that cause us stress and anxiety, and go someplace that doesn’t. It creates space for us to be ourselves, unwind, reflect and achieve personal growth. All of these things can be hugely beneficial to autistic and ADHD travellers.
Why does the tagline say this is a travel blog for Autism and AuDHD, but not ADHD?
This is a question I’ve anticipated and given considerable thought. It’s important to me to share information I can stand by, from my personal knowledge and lived experience. I went through most of my life identifying with Asperger Syndrome, and only became aware that I also have ADHD in my 30’s. Separating them is hard, because there’s a lot of overlap. I have no lived experience of ADHD without autism, so I don’t want to overstep the mark by claiming to serve people whose experiences I don’t know enough about. However, since AuDHD is implicitly a combination of autism & ADHD, there will be content here that I hope people with ADHD alone find relatable and helpful; even if it’s just the chill vibes. Through this blog, I’m looking forward to learning more about our shared experiences together, and empowering our community to travel on our own terms.
