That’s Why I Like To Travel Alone

If you’re anything like me, your idea of an ideal vacation is one where you get a change of scenery and can be completely unplugged. Maybe that means taking a solo trip somewhere or, better yet, going on an extended backpacking trip around the world.

For most people who are reading this post, going on a backpacking trip without knowing anyone is terrifying and maybe even downright taboo. But, whenever I think about my ideal vacation, going it alone is nothing short of seductive.

So let’s jump in and talk about some of the reasons you might consider going on a solo backpacking trip!

It’s an incredible way to travel on a budget.

I don’t know about you, but when I go on vacation, I want to spend money on experiences — not things. Since solo trips are usually a fraction of the cost of group travel, you can afford to do more and see more.

And you don’t have to worry about sharing your expenses with anyone, so it’s easy to double up your savings by adding in a few more activities (or more nights at nice hotels, higher quality food, etc.).

It’s an excellent way to learn how you work best.

Going on a trip by yourself is the perfect time to get better acquainted. And there’s no better way to do that than through experimentation — like trying out new things and seeing what works best for you.

I find that if I travel with other people, I tend to stick close to them and try things their way (because I don’t want them to be bored, because I don’t want them to worry about me, etc.), but going solo forces you out of your comfort zone in a very gentle way.

It’s a chance to see what you might miss out on if you always travel with a group.

Whether or not you travel in groups, I think everyone can learn something from trying things independently. Whether it’s the thrill of pushing yourself to do something outside your comfort zone and enjoying it or simply exploring one of your more introverted parts, going solo is an incredible way to get better acquainted with yourself.

If anything, you can use this as an opportunity to practice being alone because, let’s face it — if you’re like most people, some days you wish you weren’t.

It’s the perfect way to discover new places.

Maybe you don’t think you could ever enjoy traveling alone, but I guarantee that if you give it a try, you’ll find a whole new world out there that you never knew existed — and it might just be better than the place you left behind.

And solo trips are the perfect way to take risks and experiment with new interests and hobbies without the pressure of making sure everyone else is having fun.

You’re forced to get out of your comfort zone, so strangely, taking a solo trip is one of the best ways to push yourself to try new things!

It’s an incredible antidote to loneliness.

Loneliness isn’t just a feeling; it’s a fact of life. It’s easy to become so comfortable in your world that you risk forgetting how to live in the world, forgetting that balance and connection are at the heart of all of our relationships.

Going on a trip is an incredible way to reconnect with other people and experience what it’s like to be part of a group. Strangely, backpacking forces you to make some tough decisions about what’s most important to you, and I think those lessons are essential for anyone to learn.

It’s the perfect place to confront your fears and insecurities head-on.

At the beginning of this post, I said that traveling by yourself is an incredible way to get better acquainted with yourself — and it’s precise because of that last point that I know to confront every fear you have about being alone.

As an introvert who gets anxious and depressed, traveling alone has been an excellent way for me to get out of a terrible mood.

I find that the solitude of a tent, sleeping in the middle of nowhere, is strangely empowering. You spend so much time worrying about other people (or even yourself) that you have trouble realizing what you have to offer.

But remember: if you’re going to unplug and recharge, at least do so somewhere amazing — and it doesn’t get much better than being alone!

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This post was previously published on medium.com.

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