Why the emphasis in the OP and your comment on travelling? I'd say it depends on what you want out of life, and in what order. I'm happy to go see the world when I'm retired.
Everything shapes who you are from then on, and an experience like travelling may have a big effect on your later life. But so does being a parent, or starting a company, or any number of other big experiences. You just have to make a judgement as to which you want to experience first.
You could make a similar argument for having kids later in life - to some it doesn't any sense to wait until you're old and tired to have kids.