From international adventures to solo road trips through my home state of California, traveling alone has shaped me in ways I never expected. While the idea of traveling alone can feel intimidating for many people, it just might be one of the most rewarding things you ever do.
Here are the top eight reasons why you should consider taking a solo trip of your own.
#8 Solo Travel Let’s You Make All the Rules
Ever been on vacation only to find yourself less than thrilled when no one wants to (or is excited about) doing that one specific thing that you really want to do?
(hand raised)
Been there, done that more times than I can count.
A huge reason I love solo travel is that 100% of the itinerary is up to you.
That’s right YOU get to make the rules!
You get to do what interests you without worrying if someone else is going to want to buy a ticket to that attraction you want to see, try out that unique café that caught your eye, or check out that spectacular view that you know is going to be amazing.
You don’t have to compromise what you really want to do or miss out on anything when you decide to travel solo.
When you solo travel the world is your oyster! No one gets to veto your dream itinerary or put a damper on your desires.
Stay at the hotel that piqued your interest, book the activities that call out to you, eat what you want, when you want, and go at your own pace.
When you make all the rules, your travel experience is perfectly tailored to suit you—guaranteed!
#7 Traveling Alone Allows You to Go at Your Own Pace
Let your schedule suit you. Ahh… doesn’t that sound nice?
Schedule the things you know you want to see and approach each day in a way that matches your energy and what you feel like doing.
For instance, do you want to get an early start or sleep in that extra half hour? There is no one to seek approval from other than yourself.
It’s a refreshing way to approach travel.
You are not on anyone’s schedule but your own. Perhaps as the day unfolds you choose to take a long lunch, eat slowly, and enjoy the view as you people-watch at your leisure.
Or maybe you opt to forgo lunch altogether and instead grab a quick snack here or there because you’re immersed in sightseeing and taking in new experiences, trying to pack in as much as you can before nightfall.
Personally, I like a combo of relaxation and staying busy exploring. I find value in incorporating both.
It’s refreshing to choose what you want to do based on how you feel instead of rigorously sticking to a preset schedule, and solo traveling allows you to do just that.
Choose your own adventure.
Do it at your own pace.
#6 Solo Travel Causes You to be Present
When you travel solo, you are naturally more aware of your surroundings—you kind of have to be. You absorb everything on a deeper level than you normally would.
You take in all the moments, notice all the details, and become more aware of your thoughts and feelings.
It causes you to be present on a level that you can’t fully understand until you’ve experienced it for yourself.
When there is no one to distract you with conversation or the built-in sense of security that is inherently assumed in the presence of company, then what are you left with?
The essence of you exploring somewhere new, taking in all the sights, the sounds, the colors, and the feelings in a more heightened way than you typically would.
You notice people and things you wouldn’t typically pay attention to—at least not in the same way. You find yourself having conversations and interactions you might never have had otherwise.
You pay attention to the details in your environment—the little things that catch your eye and come from being very aware of your surroundings. In the absence of company, you have the space to notice your thoughts and the way you feel about what you are experiencing in a profound way.
These are the things that stand out as you explore life from the perspective of a solo traveler.
Joshua Tree National Park, California
#5 Traveling Alone Lets You Truly Savor the Moment
This is your personal invitation to soak up life. Now is the time.
Walk slowly, notice your surroundings, savor that last flavorful bite of your meal, or warm sip of coffee, and take as many extra pictures as you want.
Stop and look at the beautiful cityscape, architecture, ocean view, or sunset for as long as you like.
No rush.
It’s just you relishing the moment, making a core memory in a way that only you can do.
These are the types of memories that stick—that last. The ones we’ll remember at random moments in the future, that will warm our heart and fill our soul with awe and a deep sense of satisfaction.
One time, while on a solo trip in Bali, about an hour before the sun was going to set, I arrived at Tanah Lot, a beautiful temple nestled next to the crashing waves of the ocean. I wandered around the tidepools taking pictures and enjoying the scenery before mustering up the courage to ask a stranger to take my picture with the temple in the background. This was before I knew how to use a tripod—or how handy they were.
Afterward, I found a vantage point on higher ground where I watched the sun set behind the sacred Balinese water temple while crowds of people swarmed below taking pictures.
I can still feel the way it felt to be there in that moment… the cool but comfortable temperature of the air, the bright pink-streaked sky, the slick wet surface of the rocks and how the natural green surroundings stood out in contrast, because I was deeply present.
When you embrace the moment by being fully present with your experience, it has a way of leaving a lasting impression on you.
Bali, Indonesia
#4 Solo Travel Helps You Face Your Fears
This wouldn’t be a true description of solo travel without addressing the topic of fear. So, let’s talk about it.
Fear is one of the biggest things that holds people back.
For many people, their biggest concern about whether to solo travel or not, is fear. Fear of being alone, of feeling awkward without company, or of not having someone else to rely on…
And it’s a valid concern.
Fear is one of the biggest reasons people don’t follow their dreams and the most authentic desires of their hearts.
Want to know the truth?
The truth is, there will always be fear of something.
And this doesn’t just apply to travel, in reality it applies to just about anything in life. There might be fear of failure, of not being good enough, of not being capable enough, fear that things won’t work out, and so on.
Fear is a trap. It’s the illusion that we can’t do something.
It’s also just a feeling.
Think about that for a moment. If fear isn’t actually a real roadblock—or anything tangible stopping you at all—but instead just a feeling, do you think you could face it?
Or is a mere feeling allowed to dominate your life?
The answer: you are the only one who gets to decide.
What’s on the opposite end of fear?
One thing I’ve learned is that when I encounter a difficult feeling and face it, then it clears—poof. It no longer has control over me, and there is always an amazing (I’m talking top-notch) emotion waiting on the other side.
Example: You face your fear or doubt about traveling solo by booking that trip you’ve been thinking about. As a result, you begin to feel excited about what’s to come—like butterflies fluttering in your stomach.
The more you think about it, the more excited you begin to feel. Your fear has transformed into the true emotion hiding behind it all along, which was actually excitement. Next, you show up and have an amazing time—maybe it even turns out to be one of the best experiences of your life!
#3 Solo Travel Gives You a Sense of Adventure
Making the decision to solo travel can feel both exciting and intimidating—and that’s exactly where the adventure begins!
When life starts to feel predictable and each day seems to blend into the next, traveling solo offers a chance to break free from your daily routine and reconnect with your curiosity.
It’s an opportunity to follow interests you may have been putting off and say yes to experiences that genuinely intrigue you.
There is a natural sense of accomplishment that comes from acting on your excitement and turning something you previously only dreamt about into your lived reality.
That way you can look back and say that you did it—you traveled solo! You allowed your curiosity for adventure and for a life that feels truly rewarding to outweigh your fear or hesitation.
One of the most meaningful and beautiful parts of living is following our passions and the things that truly excite us.
Let’s face it, at the end of the road, when we look back on a full life, we will never regret taking that trip, exploring that destination, experiencing that culture, meeting those people, taking in that once-in-a-lifetime scenery, and learning something new about ourselves in the process.
Experiences like these are priceless and are why we feel called to them on a deep soul level, because somewhere inside of us we already know they are going to significantly shape our lives.
Traveling has a way of invigorating our spirit and breathing new life into us. It transforms us into a new version of ourselves. We become someone with a fresh perspective, with a newfound love for a place or a culture that remains in our heart and leaves a lasting impression.
Even after the trip ends, the experiences and memories that remain are irreplaceable and become gifts that we get to carry with us for a lifetime.
Jeju Island, South Korea
#2 You Gain Confidence in Yourself
Traveling solo—whether a few hours from home or to another country entirely—enables you to develop confidence in yourself.
Need I say more?
It allows you to build trust in yourself and your ability to navigate life.
Why?
Because when you travel solo, you learn to rely on yourself. You learn to trust your own abilities.
You have no other choice.
You are the one who dreamed this dream, and you are the one seeing it through—from beginning to end, it’s all you.
This is a beautiful thing.
You get to plan your experience and show yourself that you are capable.
Want to know a secret? Half of it is simply showing up. As soon as you get in your car, board that bus, or step onto that plane, the journey starts to unfold from there.
When you show up, things have a way of working out—almost like magic.
When you take a big leap, the universe catches you and supports you.
As a bonus, when you look back on your experience, how proud of yourself are you going to feel? Let that sink in.
In my experience, it’s not hard—it simply takes the courage to show up.
Sedona, Arizona
#1 Why Traveling Solo Is Worth It—If Not Now, When?
We always think there will be a tomorrow, another time to do what we already know we want to do today.
Maybe we’ll… just wait.
Wait for the right time, wait for the right conditions, wait for someone to join us, wait until we have more time to prepare or to figure it all out.
The truth is… The “perfect time” doesn’t exist. It’s just a matter of making a choice.
If you can make it happen now, do it. Show up. Say yes.
Why? You’ll never be as young as you are now (no matter what your current age), you’ll never be in the exact position in life you are now, with the dream that you have in your heart right now.
What if it were a matter of doing it now, or not doing it at all? When you have the health, the means, the time, or the freedom.
If you have the opportunity, why not now?
What if your life looks different a year from now, and the opportunity has passed you by? Would you regret not choosing to say yes today?
Don’t let your desires die with you—I know this sounds a bit morbid, but it’s true. We don’t want to look back and regret not doing the things that sparked joy in us, things that we knew would have taken us on a journey and lit up our soul.
Every trip I have ever taken has positively altered my life in some way. I have never returned from traveling as the same person I was when I left.
What if that one trip you had a burning desire to take you never went on because you were afraid to do it alone?
Who might you have met, what might you have seen or experienced?
One thing I can tell you is that doing it solo is far more fun and fulfilling than not doing it at all.
Why You Should Travel Alone At Least Once
Traveling solo is easier than you think.
Life is about following what excites us and honoring our unique desires. It’s about doing the things that fill us with curiosity, wonder, and joy—something solo travel allows us to experience fully.
When that excitement shines through us first—when we choose traveling alone as a way of honoring ourselves—it radiates outward. We benefit, and so does everyone we encounter along the way.
So fill yourself up. Choose the adventure. Live a life you are going to love, remember, and feel proud of from beginning to end.
If you’ve been waiting for a sign to travel solo, this is it—choose yourself and book the trip.