Travelling the world is one of the most exciting parts of life and arguably solo travel teaches you more about yourself and the world around you than any other kind of travel. It’s thrilling to explore the world but you might not have considered doing it alone.
Solo travel offers benefits and experiences that differ from travelling with a group. It’s a unique way to see the world and experience unfamiliar cultures.
This article takes a look at some of the ways solo travel teaches you about yourself and the world around you.
1. You Have the Freedom to Truly Be Yourself
One of the great joys of travelling solo around the world is having the freedom to let down your guard and be yourself. This might not sound like a big deal for some, but for others this might be unknown territory.
After all, much of your life is focused on listening to the opinions and preferences of those around you. Whether in the workplace or in a relationship, much of life is about making compromises between people. And yet when travelling alone, there’s no need to make compromises with fellow travellers. In fact, you get to do whatever you wish at all times.
2. It’s a Chance to Reinvent Yourself
Have you ever had the desire to reinvent yourself? When you travel alone, you can be anyone you want to be. This is an exciting part of venturing out into destinations where you don’t know anyone.
Keep in mind that reinventing yourself doesn’t necessarily mean pretending to be someone you’re not. It might simply be your opportunity to be the kind of person you’ve always wanted to be. And yet this type of reinvention can be difficult when surrounded by people you’ve known for many years.
Reinvention is a liberating experience that can lead you in directions in your life that you never imagined possible.
3. Overcome Your Fear of Loneliness
Everyone feels lonely from time to time. You can even feel lonely in the most crowded city or when surrounded by loved ones.
Travelling alone is the ideal way to confront your fear of loneliness. It provides the chance to realise that loneliness is nothing more than a state of mind. Travelling alone forces you out of your comfort zone to talk to other travellers or locals.
4. You Don’t Have to Please Anyone But Yourself
Travelling with companions is certainly a great way to see the world, but it also forces you to make compromises, such as where to explore during the day, choosing a restaurant for dinner, or even what time to go to bed.
When you think about it, much of your life is likely consumed with making sure that the people around you are happy, even if you aren’t. Travelling solo eliminates the need to worry about anyone but yourself. This doesn’t make you selfish. Solo travel teaches you that it’s simply an opportunity to focus solely on your wants and needs for a change.
Read: 5 Ways To Support Local Communities When Travelling Abroad
5. Make New Friends Outside Your Social Circle
When you look at your daily life, your various friend groups likely overlap to a certain extent. Men and women travelling alone get to enjoy the pleasure of making new friends that are completely independent of your typical social circle. This can be liberating and exciting and is a great way of expanding your social footprint in the world.
Going on a yoga retreat can be a great way to meet people from around the world. Lotus Shores in The Philippines offers a 3-day retreat where you are encouraged to have ‘family’ style meals every night. They also organise group trips around the island so you can explore as well as practice yoga. Strong bonds are formed over this time with many booking their return trip as soon as the retreat is over.
Read More: How To Make Friends When Travelling Solo
6. Explore New Cultures
There’s really nothing more invigorating than exploring new cultures. Especially when travelling by yourself. It allows you to meet people and have conversations in ways that might not be possible when distracted by travel companions.
Going solo provides the opportunity to immerse yourself in cultures that are very different from your own, thus experiencing them as fully and genuinely as possible without having to worry about anyone else.
7. Develop Greater Independence
Solo travel teaches you to be totally responsible for yourself. This level of independence helps build self-confidence as you begin to realise that you’re capable of doing anything you want without relying on anyone to take care of you. There’s also nothing quite as fun as having the power to make every decision for yourself and to go wherever the spirit leads you.
8. Learn to Trust Yourself
Learning to think for yourself and trust your own instincts doesn’t come naturally to everyone. Travelling solo is ideal for developing this particular muscle. If you’ve never been one to branch out and go your own way, going solo will help you grow in this area because every decision will be up to you alone.
9. Be as Casual as You Want
Tired of wearing makeup? No worries, you don’t even have to pack your makeup kit. If you’d prefer to wear shorts and tee shirts, there’s no requirement to pack a suit. Just keep things casual and have the time of your life.
Packing lighter also allows you to help the local economy by buying clothes from a small business in your destination. Not only does it serve as a great memory of the trip but the conversations you have with the owners could lead to new discoveries. Take a company like Jam Industries in Cornwall, a surfing lifestyle shop that doesn’t just sell clothes but they also recommend the little known places that only locals frequent.
10. Make Memories that are Yours Alone
Sometimes you want memories that you don’t have to share with anyone. After all, this is your life and it’s a great big world out there. So embrace everything it has to offer and fill your days with adventure and excitement that you alone can cherish and remember with a smile.
An Explorer’s Guide to the Benefits of Solo Travel
If you’ve been dreaming of going on a solo travel adventure, there’s no better time to pack your bag and get going. After all, if you don’t take that dream holiday this year, you’ll just be another year older when you do.
Feel free to contact us today to learn how we can make your dreams a reality.
