More often than not, people like to relate solo travelers as being introverts, people with no friends, or just outright crazy. It's like when we judge a person because he/she went to a cinema alone. I know this because I was one of them until I saw my dream of traveling around the world shattered in front of me and because of that, began the life of a solo traveler.
After a year of traveling alone, what I discovered was the opposite of what I thought a solo traveler's life would be like. Is traveling alone lonely? Far from it.
We have Passionate Friends
As I traverse alone around the world, I met more people than I could ever have met while living at home. Passionate people from all walks of life with great stories, who engage in deep conversations with me about culture, life, and everything in between. Conversations that captivate me from start to end. A feeling I haven't felt in ages when I was living a day-to-day life.
We Trust Each Other
I started to learn that the general kindness of humanity still exists today, despite whatever the media has painted about each country. People are generally good once you get to know them.
We are in this Together
Solo travelers have a connection with each other. When we are all alone in a strange place and we see someone who shares that same feeling, a chemical reaction takes place that pulls travelers together like magnets.
We Are Open to Others
People approach me more when I'm alone. You may think that approaching a stranger is awkward. It's true, in the environment you are in, but not in the environment I was in. When you are traveling alone, nothing matters. Your ideology, your dignity, and your pride are nothing to anyone. So, what if that stranger didn't talk back to you? No one cares. Move on.
We maintain friendships
Even though our friendships may seem short, I'm willing to bet that I'll keep contact with many of the people I met on the road for many years to come. We all shared a part of our lives, after all. The likelihood of this happening is almost zero, and yet our lives miraculously intersect.
It might have been hard before, but now technology has enabled us to follow people we find interesting, stay in touch, and maybe travel together again someday.
We are Everything, but lonely.
It's not that we travel alone to be alone in the world and not care about anyone. We travel alone because we realize how small the bubble we lived in was, and all our problems were. Oh, how uninteresting we have become.
Is it so wrong for us to seek out new friendships?
Traveling alone and meeting new people have opened us to the world we thought was lost in this modern age. The world of passion, excitement, and danger. The world that brings out the best and worst in all of us. The world as authentic as it is supposed to be.
Traveling alone is lonely? It will depend on your preferences in the end, but I'm sure as hell it feels much better than going to a restaurant with your friends and staring at their phones all night.
The life lesson I wish you to take from this post is that life is what it is. It's risky, it's dynamic, it's out of your control, but we, as a society, insist on building this wall that surrounds ourselves so we can feel safe and secure. Don't let that wall prevent you from doing what feels right. Before you judge and rule out the possibilities because that's not what "normal" people do, try it for yourself and then be the judge.
Further Reading for Inspiration
Looking for more articles to help inspire you to travel more? Here is a collection of articles you might like:
- Hiking to the Everest Base Camp is one of the most memorable epic moments of my life. Here's a long-read piece about my experiences hiking the Everest Base Camp: On My Way To Everest Base Camp.
- Ever wondered what it's like to travel the world with a third-world passport? Check out: Traveling The World On A Third World Passport.
- Here's why I always celebrate turning a year older with a hike: Climbing Kilimanjaro On My 33rd Birthday.
- Are you currently planning a trip around the world and looking for cheap countries to visit? Here are the 13 Cheapest Countries To Visit in the World.
- Traveling in Europe can be cheap, really cheap. These are the 12 Cheap European Countries to Visit.
- Looking for the most beautiful travel blogs to follow? Here are the 24 Most Beautiful Travel Blogs to Follow.
- For adventurers and backpackers out there, here are the 10 Best Adventure and Backpacking Blogs You Should Follow.
- I truly believe we need more Asian representatives in the English-speaking travel blogging industry, especially for blogs about Asia. Here are the Top 10 Kick-Ass Asian Travel Bloggers To Follow.
- Did you know that you can travel without leaving your couch? Here are the 8 Great Travel Books You Should Read.
- For the best travel videos to inspire you to travel even further, here are the 20 Most Creative Travel Videos of All Time.
- If you are looking for travel vloggers to follow on YouTube that aren't cringeworthy, check out: 10 Best Travel Vloggers to Follow On YouTube.
- The best way to improve your photography skills is to learn from the best. Here are the 10 Best Photography YouTube Channels to Follow.
- A photo is worth a thousand words. Here are the 25 Most Beautiful Travel Photos I Ever Took From Around The World.
- Ever wondered what it is like to be a travel blogger during COVID-19? Check out: Being A Travel Blogger During COVID-19 - What Is It Like?
- Looking for off-the-beaten-path destinations to visit this year? Check out: 8 Best Off-The-Beaten-Path Destination to Visit.
- Can't travel internationally for the time being? How about travelling in your own country? Here are the 7 Reasons Why You Should Travel in Your Own Country.
- To find the most inspirational travel quotes and captions to go with your photos on your Instagram, check out 34 Short and Unique Traveller Quotes for Instagram.
- We often hear bad stories about locals from travelers, but what about the other way around? Here are some of the notorious stories of terrible backpackers.
- If you lost your bag while traveling, here is how to deal with the situation: My Bag Was Stolen In Germany.
- Have you ever felt that you do not belong in a place you were born in? Read this: Where Is Home? - My Quest In Search Of Where I Belong.
- People often preach about how important it is to live in the moment, but sometimes, that may not be such a good idea. Here is The Problem With Living In The Moment.
- Want to embark on your first solo trip but not sure where to go? As a long-time solo traveler, here are my favorite places based on real experiences: 10 Incredible Travel Destinations for Solo Travelers.
- Solo traveling is not for everyone, and even though I love it to death, it is not always flowers and sunshine for solo travelers. Here are the 10 Things I Hate Most When Traveling Solo.
- Travel friends come and go, but that may not be such a bad thing. Here is why you should embrace your travel friends: A Life Of Brief Encounters.
- Hiking is life. Here's why: One Year Of Incredible Discomfort - 10 Things I've Learned From Climbing Mountains.
- Here's why having no plan is the best plan: Magical Things Happen When You Have Nothing To Do - The Art Of Doing Nothing.
- Is life getting you down? Here's why you can't always blame life for everything: Life Doesn't Suck. We Just Suck At Living It.
- For a meaningful solo trip, you need to share it with someone. Here is why Happiness Is Only Real When Shared.
- Traveling is no longer for the rich. Here is why: "People Think I'm Rich".
- The Himalayan Mountain is one hell of a teacher. Here are the 7 Life Lessons The Himalayas Taught Me.
- Want to travel alone, but scared that you might get bored out of your mind? Here is How To Enjoy Yourself And Have Fun While Traveling Alone.
- Want to start traveling solo as well? Here is What It's Like to Travel Alone.
- Here is a simple story on how I started traveling: F*ck It, I'll Do This Alone.
- For more inspiring articles like this, visit my Inspiration page.
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3 Comments
"Traveling alone is lonely? It will depend on your preferences in the end, but Iām sure as hell it feels much better than going to a restaurant with your friends staring at their phones all night."
So true. In fact you end up making heaps more friends traveling alone.
I am absolutely in love with your blog. Can definitely relate in every way as I have just returned 'home' after 9 months travelling Europe on my gap year. You learn so much about yourself and the world when you are travelling alone. You learn about the important but yet simple things in life.