Solo Travel: Where To Go On Your Own
Traveling alone can be one of the most exciting and rewarding ways to see the world. Whether you would rather spend it on a desert island or exploring a new city, it’s such a fantastic experience where you get to be your own boss, and the only person you need to worry about is yourself. You can wake up whenever you want, eat where you want and stay in each place as long as you want. If you’re going to see something, you see it; if you want to have a lazy day on the beach, you can do just that. You don’t have to think about anyone else. But you get the best of both worlds because there is no doubt that you will make friends along the way because even though you’re a solo traveler, you are never really on my own. There will always be people you can turn to them if you need help or just go to them if you need company, but ultimately, you rely on yourself more which is excellent, and you will know that you can look after yourself but can always find people to hang out with if you want to, or just chill by yourself if you wish to have your own space. Going traveling with your friends might sound like great fun, but in reality, many people end up getting annoyed with each other, spending too much time together and not always wanting to do the same things.
Solo travel will make you become a more self-confident person, have more independence, and be more self-reliant. You will find that it makes you challenge yourself more and you start to have a go at things, where before you might have been scared of failing and not even tried. You will gain people skills, become friendlier and more open, because you’ll realize that you can talk to anyone. You will also become more aware and sensible, and generally, gain life skills, and ultimately you will increase your self-esteem, through knowing what you have achieved which should give you a real sense of pride. Traveling alone will change your life.
So, where should you go? There are so many places to explore in the world that you are spoiled for choice. However there are some places you might feel concerned about going alone, so here’s a list of places which you might not have thought about going to alone, but you should consider:
Cuba
Now is such a good time to visit the Cuban capital of Havana and explore all the tiny back street restaurants and artisan shops. Not only is it quirky, fun with plenty to do, but Cuba also boasts a low crime rate, means going it alone is safe and rewarding. Just be sure to work with a travel agent that is familiar with the laws and rules for visiting Cuba as an American – as of June 2019, many laws have changed.
Ends Of The Earth
Want to go somewhere far, far away, somewhere like you’ve never been before and really feel like an explorer. Check out Wild Frontiers’ brand-new Siberia Explorer recce which will take you to one of the most sparsely populated places on the planet. Starting in the Altai Mountains, where you might find shamans and snow leopards, you will then ride the Trans-Siberian Express to Irkutsk, visit Unesco-listed Lake Baikal and then travel the Chuysky Tract road. More than 70 percent of people who go on this tour are single travelers so that you won’t be alone and you’ll meet a ton of likeminded people who are up for a bit of adventure.
The Arctic
Traveling alone can be pricey and especially if you want to go as far and wide as the polar regions. So check out companies such as Aurora Expeditions which partners you up with a cabin mate, so you don’t have to pay single supplements. You will then set sail on its new Iceland, South Greenland, and East Coast Canada tour to discover the Inuit culture and Viking history, and have a good chance of seeing Aurora Borealis.
Kenya
Kenya is the place for safaris, and if you go alone, you can easily join a big group or arrange for a guide to take you out into the wilderness alone. The country has an excellent infrastructure, and it’s easy to get around and find accommodation – and it’s not uncommon to get offers to stay in people’s homes too. Take care of your belongings, particularly in Nairobi; but don’t hide away in your hotel when it gets dark or you’ll miss out on the city’s burgeoning nightlife scene.
South Island, New Zealand
The list of solo activities you can do on New Zealand’s beautiful South Island is endless: zorbing, horse riding, skiing, hiking, kayaking, bungy jumping, skydiving, jet boating, and whitewater rafting jaw to name a few. And to top it off, you can do all these activities against a backdrop of amazing scenery. While New Zealand is a small country, it is just one big outdoor playground. Mountains, glaciers, lakes, and jagged coastline form the backdrop somewhere that is regularly voted one of the most beautiful places in the world.
Ireland
Famous for being so friendly and welcoming to strangers; pull up a stool in a traditional Irish pub, offer to buy your neighbor a pint and you’ll have a friend for life – or at least the evening. Stay awhile, and you might get lucky and catch a traditional Celtic music session. If you don’t have your transport, then it can be tricky to get out to the remote west coast, though some people still hitchhike (of course not without its dangers). Here you’ll find some of the country’s most sacred sites including Skellig Michael, Rock of Cashel and Croagh Patrick.
Ecuador
Ecuador should be on your bucket list as its four regions hold amazing and biodiverse wildlife and rich culture expressed lively by its many ethnic groups and Colonial heritage. Check out Voyagers Travel in Quito and see the abundance of animal and plant life which is quite impressive considering the small territory that the country has; also its gastronomy is well known in the Region for its uniqueness and diversity provided with love by the Pachamama (Mother Earth).
Botswana Wildlife Safari
A trip through Botswana’s remote wilderness to track Africa’s most magnificent animals, stay on a houseboat on the delta, sleep under canvas in the bush and visit the Smoke that Thunders – Victoria Falls. You’ll get to explore Botswana’s most beautiful game reserves during seven days of safari, search for water-dwelling wildlife and exotic birds in the remote area of the delta and visit the Chobe National Park which is a remarkable wildlife sanctuary, world-famous for its huge elephant population.
Deep South USA Adventure
Music and food lovers are in for a treat on this Deep South USA adventure. From getting stuck into a chocolate and wine tasting masterclass in Nashville and feasting on flame-grilled ribs with a sizzling Memphis barbecue, you can also enjoy wild nights in the downtown bars of Beale Street and the Honky Tonk Highway, grooving to the tune of some of the best live bands in town.
Along the tour, you’ll also go an experience a French-Creole fine dining experience in the French Quarter of New Orleans before going on to a live jazz performance on legendary Frenchmen Street. As well as this, you’ll also learn about the Civil Rights movement with a visit to the Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated, and you can embrace all things Elvis with a VIP tour of Graceland. If you fancy traveling the deep south but don’t have anyone to go with, then this tour will be perfect.
Denmark
Denmark frequently appears on top 10 lists of the world’s happiest and safest countries. If you don’t know why then perhaps it’s time you went and found out. Because of this, traveling solo, there is a breeze as most Danes speak English and are glad to help tourists find their way around. If you love history, you can enjoy Viking ruins and medieval castles, or if you’re a more outdoorsy type, you can join the locals on the thousands of miles of bike paths that crisscross the country.
Thailand
It’s quite an obvious one which many people go to, but it couldn’t be ignored from this list because it is such a wonderful place to visit and is great for solo travel. With unforgettable sights and a well-established backpacker trail, you can make your solo trip anything you want from an urban adventure in Bangkok, a week on the beaches of Koh Samui, a homestay in a northern hill town, a yoga retreat on a remote island—or a mix of all of the above.
Japan
With a low crime rate and respectful locals, Japan is an ideal place to go it alone. It’s easy to get around if you buy a rail pass and hop aboard the country’s clean, fast bullet trains and explore temples and teahouses in Kyoto; you can go on hiking trails and visit the hot springs in Hakone, then, of course, hit the bustling neon streets of Tokyo. Finally, make sure that you spend at least one night in a traditional ryokan, where you’ll sleep on a tatami mat and enjoy a typical Japanese breakfast.
