Why Solo Travel?
I mean why not?
I waited for a few years to go travelling with friends overseas but none of them were that interested or wanted to visit destinations that I did. So I told myself why not go alone?
My first solo overseas trip was to Africa for 5 weeks… Probably not the best destination to experience solo travelling and my dad thought I was crazy. But I am so glad that past me made that decision because it led me to experience the one thing in life that brings me more joy than you can even imagine. And yes, it is that amazing but it can also be hard and challenging at times, I don’t want to paint this perfect picture that everything is fantastic when solo travelling. It can be lonely sometimes, you can get homesick too especially so when you get sick overseas… this is always a shitty time when travelling solo.
The positives outweigh the negatives by far and when you are faced with those hard times it makes you realise how strong you are and how much capable you ever thought you could be.
Why Solo Female Travel is a Must
So why solo travel? There are a few big reasons why. To challenge yourself, make yourself enjoy your own company, and get out of your comfort zone. Here are my favourite reasons to solo travel:
Rediscovering Yourself: Every time I travel, I learn more about who I am and who I want to become. I find strength within myself that I didn’t know was there and openly heal myself from things and situations that I was suffering from. When we travel alone, we rely entirely on ourselves to navigate unfamiliar situations, make decisions, and solve problems. This independence reveals strengths about ourselves that we might not have realised we had and fosters a sense of resilience. We begin to trust our instincts and understand what truly makes us happy, away from the influence of others. I know that like most females, when we go through heartache like a breakup we find the strength to test ourselves and to go and solo travel. This has been me plenty of times, I always seem to book a trip after a breakup for something to look forward to.
When I booked my Africa trip, I was in a deep depression after losing my grandfather and getting broken up with a guy that I didn’t really like on my birthday (Still sucked!). I saved and saved for months, slowly paying off my trip until the time came. That trip I took by myself changed my life for the better and that’s where I discovered my love for solo travel.
I was so scared the first time I flew overseas by myself and to a country that was known to be dangerous. If this is you if you want to go on a solo trip but you are scared or your parents are telling you not to… Please just do it. Honestly, it’s the best thing you can do to discover who you truly are and what you want from life.
Connection with the World: The reason I chose Africa as my first solo destination was because it was somewhere that I had been dreaming about as a child. I remember my dad taking my brother and me to cash converters (Like a Pawn shop in the US), and there was this book about Africa; I wanted it so bad, and Dad brought it for me. I looked at that book every week for years, the photos of the Elephants and lions, the villages and the different way of life here in Australia. I felt like I had always had this calling to visit, and writing this now brings tears to my eyes because I never felt more connected to the world than when I was in Africa. When we are home life is busy, and we are always on the go, it’s hard to take time out to see the small joys and beauty in life. But when we travel solo, we’re more attuned to our surroundings. We notice the subtle hues of a sunset, the sounds of a bustling market, the elderly couple holding hands or the young love that we wish we could be feeling. Without the distraction of companions, we fully absorb these details, creating an intimate bond with the places we visit.
Stepping outside of your comfort zone: I believe that this is the biggest fear we have when we think about solo travelling. It can be hard to step outside our comfort zones and change our surroundings. We start overthinking and questioning everything, “what if I get lonely”, “What if I don’t meet anyone”, “What if something bad happens”, All the “what ifs” float around in our minds and we can spiral and deter us from actually taking that chance on a trip of a lifetime. Don’t worry, you aren’t the only one to think these things, I have been there multiple times, and you aren’t alone.
Change can be scary, but there is nothing better than the feeling of stepping off that plane in a new country alone and ready for the adventure you’re about to have. Stepping outside your comfort zone through solo travel is transformative, well, it has been for me. It’s pushed me to embrace uncertainty, rely on myself, and adapt to unfamiliar situations. We discover hidden strengths, build confidence, and learn to find joy in challenges and small victories. Solo travel fosters personal growth, expands our horizons, and empowers us to navigate life on our terms—all while creating unforgettable memories.
When we travel alone, every decision is ours to make. This freedom can be intimidating, but it’s also incredibly empowering. It reinforces that we are in control of our journey, not just on the road, but in life. Stepping outside our comfort zone through solo travel is like unlocking a new dimension of ourselves. The initial discomfort is temporary, but the growth, confidence, and memories we gain are lifelong. I always find this hard when I go on trips with friends or family, that I don’t have the freedom to make every decision on my own. I love solo travel for this!
Freedom to be Authentic: Something that always makes me laugh is that I find it so intimidating to go for dinner or out somewhere by myself when I’m in my home town but when I travel somewhere new and have no idea of any of the people around me, I don’t give a shit! I live life large and take myself out alone all the time and enjoy it so much! Solo travel permits us to be unapologetically ourselves. Whether it’s trying something new, embracing our quirks, or making spontaneous choices, we are free to live authentically… Without the influence of familiar faces.
I love this feeling so much, and I always seem to take it for granted when I solo travel, but I do appreciate being able to be my authentic self in the truest form possible where I don’t have to worry about seeing anyone I know. Solo travel offers us a rare opportunity to strip away the expectations, roles, and routines that often define us in our everyday lives. And it’s a breath of fresh air that I never knew I needed until I got a taste for it.
Time for Reflection: I reckon that if you were to ask a group of solo female travellers what encouraged them to solo travel… 80% of them (me included) would say because they just went through a breakup. A lot of us choose to try and heal our hearts by travelling and allowing us time to be with our thoughts. Solo travel allows us uninterrupted time to reflect on our lives, priorities, and the world around us. Without the distractions of daily responsibilities or the presence of others, we can engage in deep introspection and gain clarity in ways that are often difficult in a fast-paced, connected world.
Plenty of my healing journey has happened when I have been overseas, where I can slow down and be present with my emotions and how I feel. The changes I want to make in life to live more fulfilling and know what I truly want. Time alone provides the mental clarity to sort through our emotions and ideas. Whether we are navigating a life transition, resolving a lingering question, or simply processing past experiences, solo travel gives us the quiet needed to think deeply and untangle complex feelings.
As we experience the beauty of new places and cultures, we’re often reminded of the things we might take for granted back home. This reflection fosters a sense of gratitude and a deeper appreciation for the simple joys in life. My mindset has changed over the years in regards to things that I am grateful for, seeing the world is eye-opening and teaches us what is important in life.
Solo travel gives us time to dream and plan. Whether it’s imagining our next adventure, setting new personal or professional goals, or envisioning the life we want to lead, these moments of reflection can serve as a powerful motivator. When I am home and in my normal environment I can get lost at times about my path and my dreams, but every time I travel I feel like it clears that path and leads me directly to where I am meant to be heading.
Solo travel is a rare opportunity to press pause and reconnect with ourselves. It’s a chance to embrace stillness, explore our thoughts, be authentically ourselves and emerge with a clearer sense of purpose and direction. It shows us sides to ourselves that we never knew existed and how incredible we are! You might cry a few times along the way, but those tears are to show us that we are growing and becoming who we truly are meant to be. So go out there and experience the greatest feeling in the world… To travel solo. And just know that I’ll help guide you anyway I know how!
Jules x
