Why everyone should take a solo backpacking trip at least once in their lifetime
The idea of solo travel often fills people with trepidation. It seems that many people dismiss it as something they would never be able to do, thinking it's something only for the bravest adventurers among us. Really, though, travelling on your own isn't that hard. Having set off on many solo adventures around the world over the past few years, I am living testament to the fact that anyone can do it.
When I talk about going travelling alone, many people tell me that they wish they were brave enough to do it. One of the amazing things about solo travel, though, is that it makes you brave. I travelled completely alone for the first time out of necessity; I really wanted to go to Israel, but I was single, and as Israel is kind of a niche travel destination I didn't know anyone who also wanted to go and had 3 weeks spare to make the trip with me. It was then that I realised that I was waiting around for some phantom companion to go with me, when really the only one who could make it happen for me was myself. There was definitely an element of girl-power in my revelation, I am an independent woman and I certainly don't need a man to look after me on holiday! I do believe that so many women fall into the trap of waiting for a man to take them on an adventure, when the adventure is already out there, waiting for them to grab it! You never know how brave you are until you put yourself in a situation where you need to be brave, and solo travel is definitely a situation that will bring that bravery out in you.
It also teaches you to be independent, you can't rely on anyone else to sort you out when you're on your solo adventure, the only one looking out for you is you. Travelling solo has made me very self-reliant; I think that's important for everyone, not just women, because in the end you can't rely on anyone else to make your life exciting, if you want something you've got to make it happen yourself. You are the only person who has the power to make your life what you want it to be, you don't need to wait for anyone else to want to join you before you set out on your dream trip.
However, travelling solo isn't just a decision you make because you don't want to wait around for someone to go with you, I regularlly choose to go solo because I actually enjoy it. I enjoy it because you can do whatever you want whenever you want; if you want to get up early and watch the sunrise over Angkor Wat, you can, equally if even though you know that's something everyone says you should do, you can't be bothered to get up that early when you're on holiday, (guess which camp I fall in to) you don't have to. The point is, when you're travelling solo you don't feel obliged to do anything. You don't have to compromise on what you want to do, or make your plans fit around anyone else's. Equally you don't have to fit your mood around anyone else's; if you're tired and grumpy that's ok, and you don't have to worry about ruining your travelling companion's day by acting the way you feel. Basically solo travel gives you the freedom to be selfish, which is a good thing when you've spent loads of money to go on the trip of a lifetime!
Also by going travelling on your own you are opening yourself up for so many new experiences that you would never have if you were with someone else. Because you are on your own you will be forced out of your comfort zone, you will meet really cool people from all over the world because you will start conversations with strangers out of necessity. Hanging out with people from different cultures is awesome, swapping stories and sharing travel tips will teach you so much, but more importantly making random new friends that you've met by chance is fun! Most likely these people won't become your friends for life (although I am still in contact with a few people I've met while travelling) but there's something cool about making friends for right now and sharing adventures with strangers. I'm naturally quite shy, but I actually find that these brief friendships make it easier to be myself, I guess because you feel less of a subconscious need to impress people you'll never see again.
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| Always making new friends on my solo trips... |
With that in mind, travelling solo has made me a much more confident person. I know this sounds cheesey, but you learn so much about yourself; who you are, what you like, what you want, when you're travelling alone. I think because you are pushed out of your comfort zone, can't rely on anyone else, and have to make every decision for yourself you become a much more self-assured person. You also gain some pretty solid problem-solving skills - that's something for the CV!
I don't want to sound like I'm bashing travelling with someone you're close to, by the way, I have had some super awesome trips with friends, and it's lovely to share experiences with people and make memories together. Travelling with someone for a long period of time is pretty intense though, and it can make or break a friendship. If you do have relationships that could survive a backpacking trip together, then that really is something to be celebrated. My reason for writing this is to show people that they don't need to wait for someone to go with, and hopefully inspire some who read this to think about taking that dream trip on their own. Solo travel is honestly amazing, and really not as scary as it may seem. So if you want to go somewhere, don't wait anymore. Make your dreams happen.
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