Traveling with friends and family has its perks. You always have a companion and benefit from not having to make every decision on your own.
But, you also have to compromise on where you go and what you do. The focus will never be on just your needs.
An alternate approach is to embrace a growing trend in the travel space: traveling solo. It might seem scary (or lonely) at first, until you try it.
I’ve taken over 30 trips by myself, and once you see the freedom and joy of solo travel, you might never want to go back to group trips.
When you travel alone, you get to pick dates that work for you, choose the destination, and talk as little (or as much) as you want with people you meet.
And on that note, some of my best conversations I’ve had were with strangers I met while traveling solo. As someone who enjoys solo travel as much (if not more!) than family/friends travel, I’ve also learned a lot about myself when traveling alone.
If you’d like to try it, here are the destinations I’ve enjoyed the most as a solo traveler.
In this article
1. Camino de Santiago, Spain
The Camino is the holy grail of pilgrimage treks and it attracts solo travelers from all over the world, including those who are going through spiritual or personal changes, which is often one of the biggest reasons why people travel solo.
It’s a collection of ancient routes through France, Spain, and Portugal that converge at the Shrine St. James in northwestern Spain.
Due to its popularity, accommodations should be booked well in advance (often a year). If you want to go sooner and have someone else plan the logistics, EF Tours offers highlights from all three distinct Camino paths. There are challenging hikes through the Picos de Europa mountains, scenic coastal paths in Northern Spain, and walks through medieval Galician villages and alongside terraced vineyards in Portugal.
Along the way, travelers can talk and interact as little or as much as they choose.
2. Shikoku, Japan
A more under-the-radar but equally moving pilgrimage is found on the island of Shikoku, home to the 88 Temple Pilgrimage.
The entire trail usually takes six to eight weeks, but most people do a highlights tour (visiting the temples at the start and end of the circuit), which lasts about 10 days.
Many solo travelers find that the walks, temple visits, and time in nature creates space to think clearly, and can be especially welcome after a major life change such as a new career, emotional burnout, divorce, or grief.
Walk Japan has a tour that includes highlights while handling all the logistics (accommodations, meals, and route guidance) for solo travelers. Spring and fall are the best times to visit when the weather is cooler, but still nice enough to enjoy the hiking.
Nightly stays are in temple lodging (shukubō) or traditional inns (ryokan) that have onsens, which is a communal bathing experience that is deep-seated in Japanese culture.
Temple stops typically offer incense, coins, and a prayer, making it a good place for reflection and contemplation.
3. Nepal, Asia
While most people think of Mount Everest when they think of Nepal, there’s plenty to explore outside of base camp.
The country is ideal for solo travelers because the Nepali people are so open and welcoming, and the country combines adventure, affordability, and spirituality, as there are many Buddhist and Hindu temples.
G Adventures has a tour specifically for solo travelers looking to immerse themselves in the culture. Highlights include going on safari in Chitwan National Park to see the rhinos, exploring the lakeside town of Pokhara and visiting the famous Peace Pagoda, and learning about the rich history of Kathmandu and Bhaktapur.
4. Kenya, Africa
One might not automatically think of an African safari as a place to go solo, but safari camps make it easy with all-inclusive packages that start when you step off the plane.
All the logistics are taken care of so you can enjoy the animals, including close encounters with the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and Cape buffalo). These once-in-a-lifetime animal encounters are also paired with built-in social opportunities on game drives and at meals, while also including a safety net (there’s always a guide with you).
Hemingways Ol Seki Mara in the heart of the Maasai Mara, is a good place to start if you want to see the Great Migration.
5. Antarctica
The White Continent is a once-in-a-lifetime trip for most people and seeing it on your own can be a unique way to take in the vastness of the continent.
As a solo traveler, you'll be integrated into the experience in a way you might not have otherwise, had you came with a friend or a distracting group.
Abercrombie & Kent leads expedition cruises full of guides with PhDs, which allows this solo trip to become a personal learning moment. Dive deep into science, geology, and animal life while also immersing yourself in nature. Surrounded by icebergs, humpback whales, penguins and elephant seals, traveling here is like traveling to another planet.
Activities include kayaking among icebergs, hiking up snowy vistas and, if you’re daring enough, doing the polar plunge in the icy waters. Plus, as a solo traveler, you can decide how much you want to interact with others during meals vs. how much you want to be alone in your own company.
The Shortcut
A solo trip can be a healing experience for people experiencing grief, divorce, burnout, or other major life changes.
Several tour groups specialize in solo-ish travel (small groups made up of other solo folks). This makes it less scary, but still freeing.
Traveling on your own is empowering and you’ll be surprised at how easily you’ll meet other like-minded people.
.jpg?width=640)
