Travelling solo really is the best way to travel. It is a truly magnificent and life affirming adventure that may be a little daunting at first, but really is a hugely rewarding experience that teaches you as much about yourself as it does about the world you are travelling in. Here are 10 awesome life lessons you learn when you travel alone.
Solo Travel Teaches You That You Can Handle Anything.
Life is full of ups and downs, that much is true for everyone, but travelling alone with no safety net and no one around to rely on forces you out of your comfort zone and makes you deal with things on your own. That simple fact alone shows you that you can deal with things, even things you never thought you would be able to. You can deal with them because you have to, you have no choice. So when you return home with this new found self confidence the downs that life throws at you will seem like child’s play.
Solo Travel Teaches You That You Are More Outgoing Than You Think You Are.
Backpackers who travel with partners or friends tend to be much more insular on the road because it is easy to stick to that safety net of your own social bubble, solo travellers are forced to be more sociable out of necessity. One of the biggest worries most solo travellers have before they set off on their round the world adventures is that they will be lonely and won’t mean anyone, but that isn’t the case at all. Solo travellers also find that they are more likely to be approached by other solo travellers wanting to make friends as well as being much more likely to talk to others themselves, and that goes for locals as much as it does other travellers.
Solo Travel Teaches You That You Are Braver Than You Think You Are.
This is about far more than learning that you can walk down that street alone or that you can manage the city’s public transport system without anyone holding your hand, although that can be a significant step too. This is about the absolute freedom that solo travel gives you to try new things and open yourself up to new experiences without the constraints of having anyone you know holding you back. Travelling solo means that you are absolutely free to try new things that you normally wouldn’t if you were with someone else. It means that there is no fear of being judged or ridiculed for what you really want to do or even being judged if you fail or not, because there is no one there to judge you! Solo travel is pure freedom, and embracing that can sometimes take courage, but by doing so you find that you were brave enough to do it all along.
Solo Travel Teaches You That Distance Doesn’t Always Make The Heart Grow Fonder.
At home people are often surrounded by tons of people who aren’t necessarily good for you, or some who frankly don’t matter one way or the other. Travelling the world solo teaches you who really matters and who doesn’t. Those who are really important will still be a part of your life when you return a whole new and infinitely better person, those who don’t be won’t, and that really isn’t a bad thing.
Solo Travel Teaches You That You Are Allowed To Be A Little Selfish.
Travelling alone means you don’t have to put up with anyone else’s crap. No more compromising on their stupid ideas to sit in and have a quiet night or head to that fast food place instead of the street stall. You can do what you want when you want and it is awesome! And you know what? It’s actually okay to be selfish.
Solo Travel Teaches You That ‘You’ Time Is Okay.
This is perhaps one of the biggest hits of self discovery that solo travel will ever give you. By definition solo travel means you are alone, and after all the initial fear, worry and the occasional pang of loneliness, solo travel teaches you that actually, that’s okay. It’s more than okay in fact, it’s actually pretty damn good! Too many people during the course of their everyday lives live for other people. They define themselves by their friendships, their relationships, who they are at work or who they should be around certain individuals or groups. and that is okay to an extent, that’s part of human nature.
The problem is far too many people come to define themselves by those relationships and social roles alone. They forget who they are outside of those roles they play. They forget that it is okay to be antisocial once in a while. It is okay to want to be on your own, away from other people. It’s absolutely healthy in fact.
Having a bit of you time can help you relax, destress and learn a little about yourself too. By feeling comfortable in your own company and learning to accept yourself you come back from your solo adventure much stronger and infinitely more self confident, but you also come back with an innate sense of you. Completely comfortable in your own skin and with a clear understanding of yourself and your own needs. Selfish? Maybe. But that isn’t always a bad thing!
Solo Travel Means You Can Reinvent Yourself.
When you travel solo no one knows who you are, your past or anything at all about your life. That means you can be whoever you want to be. This doesn’t mean I’m endorsing completely lying to everyone and inventing a super sexy James Bond ex MI6 persona, this means unshackling yourself from all the unimportant crap in your life. No more baggage. No more forced society roles. The only thing that matters is you and finding out what truly matters to you in your life. Solo travel really does teach you who you are and what is important, and that means you can choose to follow the things that matter to you and be whoever it is you want to be.
Solo Travel Shows You That It Is Okay To Do Things On Your Own.
Have you ever not done something you really wanted to do because you had no one to go with? Solo travel will put an end to all that nonsense! Whether it’s eating in a restaurant or going to see a show on your own, when you are at home you usually get looked at as if you are the Antichrist if you try to do anything like that. When travelling solo it becomes a necessity. Eventually you learn that it isn’t just fine, it’s actually quite fun, and you learn to stop caring quite so much about what society thinks and just go and do whatever the hell you like whenever you like without the need for anyone to be with you.
Solo Travel Means You Can Be More Creative.
Solo travel means a lot of you time, and a lot of you time means a lot of time spent trying to amuse yourself.
Get your minds out of the gutter, this isn’t that type of post.
What it means is that many solo travellers find a productive use of that sudden lottery win of free time. They find that they don’t have to fill their free time engaging with or dealing with other people and their dramas, they are free, so many find a lot of release in writing, art or other creative pursuits. Whether you have a novel you’ve always wanted to write, like the time I wrote the majority of my novel on a trip to Egypt, a blog you want to start or even thinking up new ways to make a living, solo travel gives you the time and motivation to put your efforts into it.
Solo Travel Teaches You That You Are Never Alone.
Travelling solo can open your eyes to the true wonder of humanity that is out there in the big wide world and that there are so many people out there to meet and make friends with, whether for a short time or a lifetime. As a solo traveller you are free to engage with and experience it in a way that you never can when travelling with others. Whether that is by striking up a conversation with complete strangers on a long distance journey or having someone open up their home to you with an act of altruistic hospitality, people will often open themselves up to you more if you are alone, and if you are alone you are often more receptive to that.
One of my fondest travel memories was of a conversation struck up with a Catholic Padre, a Nun and a Muslim Imam on a train … and no, that isn’t the start of a bad joke! And when you are alone, truly alone, and things go wrong – which they occasionally do – you will find that the hand stretched out to you by a stranger offering to help because no one else is there to do it can be one of the most humbling experiences of your life.
Armed with the experience of these life lessons, solo travel will change you in ways you will never imagine and will make you a better and stronger person with skills and confidence that will last far longer than your solo trip ever will.
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Michael Huxley is a published author, professional adventurer and founder of the travel website, Bemused Backpacker. He has spent the last twenty years travelling to over 100 countries on almost every continent, slowly building Bemused Backpacker into a successful business after leaving a former career in emergency nursing and travel medicine, and continues to travel the world on numerous adventures every year.
Bemused Backpacker 
Absolutely spot-on article – the vast majority of my travels have been solo and I’ve found them much more enjoyable than when travelling with a friend! Just because you get on great in your home lives doesn’t mean you want the same things in some far flung country. Plus you just end up talking and interacting with each other rather than fully immersing yourself in everything around you.
And I count ‘travelling solo’ as travelling solo in person and in cyberspace – what’s the point in spending half your trip on Facebook?? Just enjoy the experience instead of constantly telling people back home you’re enjoying it!
Thanks Gail 🙂 I totally agree. A little bit of screen time is okay, but not constantly. I try and digital detox as much as possible when I travel, not easy as a travel blogger sometimes but it just means I have to be disciplined about work time and travel time. 🙂
Very eye opening. I recently just began thinking of what it might be like to go visit somewhere by myself. Even if just a beach somewhere and to dine at a few nice places. Hopefully someday!
You should do it Pam! You’ll love it! Why not start off small and just take a weekend by yourself if the idea is still a bit daunting?
100% agree with this! I’ve done a few little trips Solo, but in a few weeks I’ll be taking a year or so out totally on my own! And I cannot wait! 🙂
That’s awesome George! Where are you heading?
Solo travel is a great experience, I have done it as well. I could be selfish for once and see everything I wanted to see. Lots of fun!
And people say selfish is a bad word! ;D Haha! It is totally fun!
Travelling solo definitely made me realise how brave I can be and I learnt to love things like eating alone. I recommend solo travel to everyone!
Totally agree! I actually prefer eating and doing things alone now because I am so used to it. Thanks for commenting 🙂
Wonderful post!
Thank you!
Brilliant, I think solo travel can reveal so much about yourself and let you really give yourself the time that you need.
It really can Julie. Thanks for the comment.
Totally agree and even reading your article reminded me of how far I’ve come since grabbing a back pack and heading for SE Asia alone. Today, three years later I’ve gained from all my experiences and am living in Bangkok. I’m teaching English for the AUA in Bangkok (American University Academy) andloving the choice I made to travel solo.
That’s awesome! Glad to hear solo travel did so well for you!