I love travelling alone.
I have been on many solo adventures over many years, to all kinds of places around the world. I tend to classify these trips as being under one of two categories:
Solo Group Trips - The kind where you travel there alone, but you meet and join a group of people you don't know when you arrive and spend your trip with them. These kinds of trips can be so much fun and you get to meet like-minded people of all ages, nationalities and backgrounds!
Completely Solo Trips - The kind where you travel there alone and plan the activities etc just for you. I love the total freedom of these kinds of trips. You can literally do whatever you want, whenever you want - no compromises or adjustments for another person.
I was young when I went on my first solo trip - just 17! This was a solo group trip, a 5 day bushcraft course in a Derbyshire forest. I was the youngest person there by about fifteen years! Sadly I wasn't able to complete the training because as hard as I tried, I couldn't make fire with sticks and a bow drill, but I had a great experience and learned a lot.
This is one of my all time favourite photos of me.
It was taken in 2010 during my first big solo trip - a year backpacking around Australia when I was 18/19.
This trip had a huge impact on me, and I think it really helped to shape me as a person. I remember a year full of fun, adventures, new people, new experiences, and of course lots of Goon! (cheap boxed wine).
Of course in a trip that long, when you're young and naive, the experiences weren't all positive. But this trip really brought me out of my shell. It taught me independence, how to look after myself, how to travel and fly by myself, how to manage money and live cheaply, how to meet and make new friends, and many more things besides!
I have such huge admiration for that baby version of me who was brave enough to take herself on such a big adventure like that.
I know that travelling alone isn't for everyone.
But I really believe that it's something that everyone should try at least once in their lives, even if it's just a weekend somewhere locally. There is such a wealth of experience that can come from doing things alone, that it feels like such a shame to me that many people never try it.
Many people are shocked, in fact, when I tell them of some of the trips and things I have done by myself. While I am designed to naturally have more independence and enjoy more solitude than many (you can read my post about my Human Design chart here), that doesn't mean that other people can't have incredible solo experiences too!
I am going to share some answers below to some questions which I often get asked about my trip - I hope these are helpful to anyone who is thinking about trying it but hasn't taken the plunge yet.
Don't you get scared?
Rarely. Occasionally I may feel a little unsafe if I am somewhere unfamiliar with a lot of men around, especially if I don't speak the language. But mostly, no. I have been on enough trips on my own to know how to look after myself and I don't take risks with my safety. I don't tend to drink much alcohol when I am alone too so I can keep my wits about me.
Don't you get lonely or bored?
On solo group trips hardly ever - there are usually plenty of people around to chat to and lots of activities going on! On completely solo trips I sometimes get a little bored or lonely in the evenings as I don't feel comfortable going to bars alone, but I always make sure I have things to do when I travel. I always carry books with me, so I might spend my evenings reading or watching a movie, or take myself out for dinner, or if I'm somewhere pretty I might go for a walk and watch the sunset, enjoy the time alone in nature.
Don't you get homesick?
Honestly? Never. I miss my pets but I usually have the opposite problem of being so absorbed in my trip that I completely forget about the people at home, and they message me asking if I'm still alive as they haven't heard from me in weeks! But I understand that other people will have other experiences with homesickness.
The idea of travelling alone feels overwhelming to me, I don't know how to go about it!
I usually suggest to people that they start small. Start with a meal in a restaurant alone (I find taking a book feels less awkward while you're waiting for your food), or going to the cinema, or a museum - anything you want to do that you haven't done because no one wants to do it with you!
Then build yourself up slowly. Try an overnight or a weekend somewhere local to you, then try a weekend somewhere a little further. Allow your nervous system to gradually get used to doing more and more things alone, so eventually you will feel confident enough to go on a larger trip on your own.
Solo group trips are especially great for people who are nervous about travelling alone, as you only really have to do the travel part on your own. When you get there you will be able to meet other people and do things with them. I often find that because you spend so much time with these people, you can develop really close bonds and friendships with them during the trip!
If you have any comments or additional questions for me about my experiences with solo travel, I'd love to hear them in the comments below.
Happy Adventuring!
Emily
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