Solo travel is where you truly meet yourself – Old Soul Explorer

Travel is one of modern life’s great luxuries. It’s never been easier in human history to traverse new worlds and explore foreign cultures, to catch glimpses of daily life in a different corner of the globe.

There are many styles and preferences when it comes to travel. Some people enjoy staying at all inclusive resorts to truly disconnect from life’s constant rushed pace. Others prefer guided tours, which eliminates the extra work it takes to plan trips independently. Many people like to travel in groups, with friends and loved ones, to share memories and split expenses. For me though, I have fallen in love with the art of solo traveling and I’ll explain why.

Solo traveling gives me the flexibility to discover places and chase experiences that I find the most meaningful, enriching, and impactful. It has led to personal growth I can’t fully describe and broadened my horizons. Although I’m often seeing the world alone, I don’t feel lonely. In fact, I prefer it. You meet locals in unexpected places and write stories that will last a lifetime. Solo travel builds confidence, creativity, and problem solving skills. For anyone compelled to go on an adventure by themselves, I encourage them to do so, even if just once.

I have included everything I’ve learned from my many solo trips traveling Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, along with safety tips, and recommended countries for planning your first solo adventure.

Intention and Goals of Solo Travel

I think a good place to start planning your first solo trip is defining the reason you want to go on a new adventure by yourself.

Do you want to foster newfound creativity, immerse yourself in foreign cultures and exotic landscapes, or meet other like-minded travelers. Maybe it’s a combination of factors.

Asking yourself why you want to solo travel will establish intentionality and purpose behind your trip.

Benefits of Solo Travel?

There are countless benefits of solo traveling that I’ve personally experienced.

I still remember how I felt getting ready to embark on my first solo trip at 22 years old, sitting in DFW’s international terminal and looking down at my passport and my Turkish Airlines boarding pass. I waited in what sat between curious anxiety and childlike excitement as I boarded the fourteen hour flight to Istanbul all by myself.

Solo travel shows you things about yourself you never knew and grows you into a stronger, more conscious, and well rounded person.

Here are the top benefits I have experienced while solo traveling:

Increased Confidence

Solo travelers quickly become decision makers. They decide which flights to catch, how long to stay at each destination, and the overall feel and goals of traveling alone. The feeling of accomplishment acquired during these milestone experiences will leave solo travelers with greater overall confidence that carries into everyday life.

Broadened Horizons and New Perspectives

Solo traveling has made me overall more well rounded and open to the world, which is why I encourage all people, especially young adults to try solo traveling.

New Found Creativity

Some of my biggest and boldest ideas, business and personal, have come to me while solo traveling. Exposure to unfamiliar architecture, foreign languages, and exotic terrain have led to heightened moments of creativity. It’s a unique chance to tap into the power of thought while free from daily routine and a busy world that demands undivided attention.

Allow yourself to explore new hobbies, contemplate new businesses, and draft lofty goals from the creative energies that flow while solo traveling.

Freedom to Travel How, Where, and When You Want

One of my personal favorite benefits is the flexibility to be able to travel how I want. Travel is a luxury. For me, having the freedom to decide what I want to see and where I want to visit on my trip is crucial. Close friends may plan an expensive trip and have the possibility of being left disappointed because they have different goals, perspectives, and preferences while traveling. Solo travelers isn’t for loaners, it’s for those who are intentional in the experiences they want to have while traveling the world.

Controlled Pace and Budget

Solo travelers control the schedule, mood, and the bill. This has helped me avoid awkward money talks while allowing me to travel more efficiently and maximize personal value.

//Note: Solo travel doesn’t have to be more expensive than traveling in a group. Airbnbs, hostels, street food, and budget flights help balance the cost of traveling alone.

Fosters Appreciation for Home

I’ve noticed whenever I come back from solo traveling I’m filled with more gratitude. I’m thankful for the safety, comfort, and overall beauty of life under big Texas skies. It makes me romanticize the small things in my everyday surroundings.

Helps Introverts Come Out of Their Shell

Traveling alone helped me expand my comfort zone, build social confidence, and interact with locals while giving me the flexibility to engage or retreat. It’s been a great way to experience internalized growth and be energized from short but genuine conversations with new, lifelong friends.

How to Solo Travel | Essentials and Tips

The hardest part about solo traveling for the first time is organizing and planning all the logistical aspects. It’s easiest to start with the essentials and work your way down to smaller details. Here is a brief list of essentials to start planning your first solo trip:

• Have a valid Passport (check the expiration date)
• Visas: Some countries issue Visa on arrival for specific nationalities. Other countries require a Visa be obtained before entering their country 
• Book flights, accommodation, and transportation 
• Bring a credit card but have some of the local currency. Some of the best places to shop only take cash
• Create a travel budget
• Have portable charger ready
• Consider SIM cards or an eSIM
• Download Offline Google Maps for navigation (directions further along below)
• Vaccinations if doctor recommended 
• Share your travel plans with loved ones back home 
• Keep copies of passport, visas, and other important documents 
• Document a personal list of reservations 
• Bring TSA approved travel locks for your bags

Safety First | Trust your Instincts

When traveling alone, safety takes on a new urgency. You’ll be in a foreign country all by yourself. It’s essential to stay aware of your surroundings and trust your judgment at all times.

To make yourself more at ease before your trip, do research on the country and area you’ll be visiting. Read other travelers’ reviews and opinions on safety. Book reputable hotels, hostels, and Airbnbs and arrive during daylight if possible. Always share your accommodation locations with family or friends.

Keep Your Money and Belongings Secure

Wear a money built under your clothes in crowded areas and make sure your passport is always secured. Make sure your valuables where you are staying are safe and secure with locks or in safes.

Stay alert in cities

In cities, try staying in areas frequented by travelers. These areas tend to be more upscale and developed. For example, cities like Athens, Amman, and Palermo all have historic city centers with monuments, restaurants, shops, and attractions. These cities also have slums and even refugee areas which aren’t the safest for solo travelers.

Blend in For More Conservative and Traditional Environments

If appropriate, consider wearing local clothing or following unspoken dress guidelines for settings where culture and modesty are extremely important. This can include many countries in the Middle East along with regions in Africa and Asia.

When I solo traveled Oman, I watched a traditional Omani bullfight in the village of Liwa near the UAE border. All of the men in attendance wore the dishdasha, the traditional thobe of the region. This was not a tourist attraction. To respect the local feel of the event and to both blend in and feel more safe, I wore a white dishdasha to the fights, a small effort to try and blend in.

Create An Itinerary But Leave Room for Spontaneity

I start planning my solo trips by building a rough itinerary.

I use Google Maps and start pinning important destinations and places that peak my interest. Sometimes, I organize by color or by neighborhood. Having a rough map allows me the structure to save my most important priorities while leaving space to wander and get lost.

Here are some of the common topics I use when organizing my maps?

• Monuments and top sights
• Personal places that peak my interest
• Nature: mountains and beaches
• Restaurants and cafes
• Lodging (hotels, hostels, airbnbs)
• Transit points (airports, subways, ferry ports)

Really, any place you want to visit can be saved to your map.

Here is an example of how I structure my itinerary with Google Maps when I was planning my trip to Sicily and visiting the capital Palermo.

Download Offline Google Maps

If you plan to travel without an international phone or data plan, I suggest downloading the offline version of Google Maps before you leave.

You can download offline Google Maps by:

1. Open Google Maps with reliable Wifi
2. Select your map and tap the three dots in the upper right corner
3. Choose “Download offline map”
4. Adjust the map to your needs
5. Tap the “Download” button

Don’t Overbook and be open to Unexpected Experinces

While I suggest having a basic itinerary to guide your solo-trip, I highly recommend leaving room to wander and find hidden gems and be ready for unexpected adventures. I find that having daily highlights helps give my trips direction, but leaving room for unplanned experinces sometimes leads to the best stories.

When I visited Jordan and the ancient city of Petra in Wadi Musa, I meet bedouin cousins who invited me to their weekly Friday chicken bbq. We collected water to put out the fire from a well struck by the Prophet Moses staff housed in an old shrine. We ate chicken and drank whiskey while watching the sunset fall over the valley during the last call to prayer. It wasn’t anything fancy, just plastic lawn chairs overlooking Wadi Musa and sharing stories between new friends.

Another time, on my trip to Oman, I left one of my travel days more open and got to explore different seaside neighborhoods I hadn’t planned on visiting. This widened my perspective of Muscat, only knowable through the many distinct but seperated quarters of the coastal capital.

// Couchsurfing is a great platform to meet locals who can share more authentic experinces with

Solo Travel Activities

Below are some of the things I enjoy doing while solo traveling. They include a balance between exploration and relaxation. Ultimately, the magic in taking a solo trip is you get to decide how you travel and what you do.

• Go swimming in the sea or lay by the pool
• Rent a bicycle
• Take a roadtrip by renting a car
• Explore photography
• Wander lively souqs and bazaars
• Walk the historic center to get a feel for a new city
• Journal on the beach or mountain peaks
• Discover archeological and historical sites
• Visit churches, mosques, and temples to understand local views on religion
• Attend local events for cultural immersion
• Go to smaller museums and art galleries
• Watch sunrises and sunsets
• Try street food and local dishes
• Engage in conversations with locals to learn about the country

Best Countries for Solo Travelers

Not all countries are created equal when it comes to solo travel potential. Some destinations naturally call those seeking personal exploration and independent travel. They offer safety, hospitality, cultural depth, and accessible transportation. But above all, they create spaces to learn more about yourself and the world. Here are a few of my favorite countries I’ve solo traveled to and why I think they would make a great choice if you’re looking to go on an adventure by yourself.

Greece

Greece was the first country I ever solo traveled to and will always hold a special place in my heart. Sitting in the southeasternmost corner of Europe, Greece is the rugged, breathtaking last frontier of the “West”. It’s where mountains, seas, and myths merge. 

Greece has over 200 inhabited islands for solo travelers to discover. From the jagged mountainside villages of Karpathos that plunge vertically into the Aegean Sea, to the volcanic moonscape beaches of Milos, and the wild, expansive terrain of Crete, the Greek Islands are one of the most special places on earth.

Besides Greece’s islands, the Peloponnese in the South of Greece is truly extraordinary and is dotted with ancient ruins, sandy beaches, and cultural treasures. In the north, Thessaloniki, Meteora, and Mt. Athos offers more off the beaten path experiences with Greece’s historical, archaeological, and spiritual heritage. Athens is an underrated European capital with lively nightlife, cafes, and tavernas. It has a special energy that can’t be found anywhere else.

Greece has expansive ferry connections and regular daily flights to larger islands, making transportation cost effective and efficient.

Jordan

Another great country for solo travelers is the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Jordan is a great country for those seeking outdoor desert adventure and the chance to explore historical and archaeological marvels, beautifully weathered by the sands of time. Jordanian hospitality is unmatched. Wherever you visit, you will be welcomed with a steaming cup of tea or Arabic coffee and a smile. From then on, you are no longer a stranger but a friend.

Exploring the sandstone cliffs in the vast orange desert of Wadi Rum, wandering the ancient carved streets of Petra, and floating in the middle of the Dead Sea are truly once in a lifetime experinces. It’s the perfect setting to foster creativity or seek a new perspective. Amman is an exciting city, the heart of Jordan, with a suprising creative side and up and coming art scene.

Highways in Jordan are in excellent condition and remarkably safe for solo travelers.

Italy

Italy is one of the most special countries in the world. Filled with mouthwatering food, jaw dropping art, and dreamlike landscapes, a solo trip to Italy will leave you rejuvenated and inspired. From the green rolling hills of Tuscany to the azure coasts of Sicily, time moves remarkably slower in Italy.

The cobble-stoned streets or Rome is the perfect starting point for solo travelers discovering Italy and will transport you back in time. Day trips to cities like Venice, Florence, and Naples are easy and quick thanks to Italy’s modern train system.

My favorite part of Italy is the south, especially Sicily. Palermo is an underrated European city, full of culture and character. The Valley of the Temples sits in an ancient olive grove and offers panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea. Taormina, under the watchful volcanic eye of Mt. Etna feels like Italy’s own Hollywood hills.

No matter how many times I visit, Italy will always have something both new and timeless to show me.

Turkey

At the crossroads of East and West, Turkey ignites all the travelers senses. Situated between both Europe and Asia, Turkey is the meeting point of the world. It’s the intersection of religions, cultures, and ethnicities. It has always been a nation at the nexus of both geopolitical coexistence and tension.

Istanbul is a historical and cultural mosaic. The complex layers of past empires and nations that have come and gone give the city its distinctive beauty. The Hagia Sophia is a sight to behold sitting proudly on the Bosphorus. The energy in Sultanahmet during the call to prayer is ancient and electric.

Besides Istanbul, Turkey has remarkable off the beaten path destinations, many of which can easily be visited on a road trip through Anatolia or along the Turquoise Coast.

Oman

Oman will reshape the way you see the world. It is one of the most peaceful, traditional, and orderly countries I’ve ever solo traveled. And at the same time, it has embraced the benefits of modernization. Yet, while neighboring countries like the UAE and Qatar have shifted deeper into futuristic aspirations and towering skyscrapers, Oman has retained its deep cultural authenticity.

The sprawling capital of Muscat, walled by soaring rose-colored, granite mountains and bordered by the Arabian Sea is a compelling destination to explore. It’s appeal comes not so much from the monuments but from the port capitals chill and coastal ambiance. Muscat is best discovered slowly, the real beauty is found between old souqs, sleek corniches, and roadside beaches.

The mountains of Jebel Shams and Jebel Akhdar provide opportunities for personal reflection while watching the sunrise or climbing rugged peaks offering panoramic canyon views. Salalah is a solo traveler’s fever dream. Thousands of wild camels roam freely across roads and powdery, white-sand beaches. The otherworldy beaches are backed by soaring cliffs and tropical palm forests where bananas, mangos, and papayas are harvested. You can also catch a glimpse of local traditions at Oman’s bull fights, camel races, and Friday goat markets.

Traveling in Oman is easiest if you rent a car. Roads and highways are in excellent condition. Additionally, flights between Oman are fast and affordable. It takes less than an hour to fly from Muscat to Salalah.