Why solo travel?
Stepping out into the world on your own can seem intimidating and uncomfortable. Many may choose not to travel at all because they are waiting for someone to join them. If you recognize yourself in this, but really have a desire to test solo travel, then this is my advice to you: JUST DO IT! 💛
If I could talk about all the experiences and the wonderful memories I have because of solo travel then there wouldn't be any room for anything else. Having only yourself to think about and total independence to manage and decide your everyday life will give you more personal development than any other course could ever offer. Especially traveling at an early age can help shape your self-confidence, independence and teach you so much about yourself.
Bunker bar in Budapest with strangers<3
Solo traveling is a passion of mine, and I firmly believe that anyone can embrace it with a little practice. I went on my first trip without my family when I was 15 years old. Together with my best friend we spent 3 weeks on Malta, and it was a hit to say the least. Since then, I've embarked on extended solo journeys spanning over 2 years, exchange in Africa, backpacking in Asia and been on numerous getaways across Europe, which I will get more into later, but first! Here are the most important reasons why you should invest in solo travel:
Freedom to explore: When you travel alone, you have complete freedom to explore the world on your own terms. You don't have to compromise or take other people's preferences into account. You can choose your destinations and spend as much time as you want in each place, without having to follow someone else's schedule.
Self-discovery and personal growth: Travelling gets you into all kinds of situations, both fun and exciting, and some more stressful. Where you have to be flexible, solve problems and overcome challenges you have never faced before. When you face these situations and experience new cultures by yourself, you learn a lot about your own strengths, weaknesses, desires and ability to solve problems. And it will make you discover a sense of self-confidence and independence that will come in handy in many other areas of life.
One crucial lesson I have learned from navigating unfamiliar situations, and feeling stuck at times, is the importance of persistance and patience. To not stop moving even though things feel overwhelming or uncertain, but to always keep moving forward. And I know that without all the growth from these experiences, I would not have managed to deal with the life situations I have faced the last years in the same way.
Openness and connection: When it comes to travelling alone, one of the biggest concerns are: "What if I don't make any friends?" or "How will I meet others?". I can tell you right now that most people who chose to travel solo share the same desires as you do, to travel and connect with like-minded people. And the person sitting alone in the hostel common area might just be hoping to start a conversation with a stranger. For those who identify as shy or introverted, stepping into this realm can feel intimidating, but with time and practice it will come more naturally to start conversations with someone in the kitchen area, use apps to join events, or just talk to a random person who looks as lost as you. Coming from Norway(🇳🇴), a country where people can seem skeptical to strangers, it felt a bit unnatural to talk to random people at first, but doing this more and more has made it natural for me to talk strangers I am curious about, learning about their lives, what they do, and where they want to go.
Get comfortable being alone: If the reasons above are not enough to convince you to go solo travel, here is a last one. Mastering the art of solitude and feeling at ease with yourself is a valuable skill often overlooked in today’s society. Most people don’t understand how dependant we can be on others to experience things, simply because we don’t want to look stupid or lonely doing it by ourselves. While some experiences can be more enjoyable with other people, learning to embrace solitude is not about aiming to become isolated or alone, but to cultivate self-assurance and being comfortable enough with yourself to pursue your interests, without being reliant on someone else.
Solo travel is not just about exploring new destinations, but also about discovering yourself along the way. So trust in yourself, your abilities, and know that everything will work out in the end.
Near Sunshine Coast
Fun fact: This picture was taken by a random woman I met on the hike. We started talking and she took me to her cafe for lunch and a good conversation.
