At least once in your life, maybe a few times, I encourage you to travel solo. There are countless psychological benefits of traveling alone.

Certainly, traveling with others is fun and rewarding. It is an awesome feeling when you see something insane and can glance over at a friend and immediately know you’re both thinking the same thing. It can be comforting to have someone to process and make sense of your new surroundings with.

But traveling alone will change who you are down to your very core. You will never look at the world or yourself in quite the same way again, and I promise you it will be worth it.

If you’re scared or have anxiety about traveling alone, know that’s okay and completely normal. I can’t think of a single solo trip I’ve embarked on where my heart wasn’t racing on the plane thinking of all the unknowns.

Start small. Go somewhere on your own for a weekend or a week to build the muscle. Move in the direction of your fear, test your resilience, and evolve into a stronger version of yourself.

HERE ARE 7 PSYCHOLOGICAL BENEFITS OF TRAVELING ALONE:

1. You become more sociable

Making new friends is one of the top benefits of solo travel: on a train in Yangon, Myanmar

Wherever you go, you will find friends. Traveling with a companion puts a barrier around you that makes it harder to truly connect with new people. Going into the world alone and vulnerable can be intimidating, but this is when the real magic happens.

You will be brave and introduce yourself to strangers, and learn how to have meaningful conversations with people who don’t speak the same language. And one of the top perks of traveling alone is that people will be much more welcoming to an individual traveler than a group.

Travel allows you to interact with people you would have never crossed paths with otherwise, and some of them will stay in your heart forever. Something about the misty air and new surroundings of a foreign land facilitates communication of the truest form.

People feel safe sharing their biggest dreams, most paralyzing fears, and deepest wounds with each other only hours after meeting, and this forges bonds that make a lasting impact. You will meet all types of characters on your solo adventures and ultimately realize that you are never truly alone no matter where in the world you are.

I remember meeting an older Dutch man in Myanmar. He told me tales about working on cargo ships and getting shot at by Somali pirates. He had been to Myanmar before the borders were opened in the 80’s as a broke 18-year old sleeping on park benches and being invited into the homes of locals. That man had lived the type of life I had only read about in novels, and I never forgot him and the windows to adventure and possibility he opened up for me.

I also recall the girl I met in Italy who told me that the year prior, her father had shot her mom, sister, and himself in a fit of madness, and how she had walked in on it right after it happened. Meeting her put my problems back home in perspective, and when I returned I clung to my family a little bit tighter.

2. You overcome your fears

traveling solo at Perito Moreno Glacier — Traveling solo at Perito Moreno Glacier in Patagonia

Maybe you are already the type of person who pushes yourself, but solo travel opens up new pathways to understanding what you are capable of and what your personal limits are. It’s not measurable in the conventional measures of success because nothing about it is conventional. Travel isn’t always glamorous, often times it’s far from.

Your patience will be tested, like when you wait alone for four hours for a bus that never comes. Your fortitude will grow, such as when you are stuck on a non-air conditioned train with broken windows that won’t open and it’s 105 degrees outside and no one else speaks the same language as you.

Your squeamishness will dissipate after you see the hundredth bug in your room and are bitten yet again, or when leeches crawl onto you while you’re trekking through the jungle. You will question why you decided to do this to yourself when you are curled over a cracked toilet puking for the sixth time that day. (All true stories!)

You will learn to give up control and just roll with it, maybe even laugh at yourself and the ridiculous situations you find yourself in.

Going alone means no one is there to save you- you have to figure it out on your own. And you will. And you will realize what a badass you are, feel truly accomplished, and love yourself so much more.

3. You become less materialistic

When I was younger, I used to spend all of my disposable income on things- clothes, shoes, makeup, tech gadgets, etc. The first time I left for an extended solo backpacking trip, I packed way too much stuff because I had no idea what I was getting into. What I learned was that I had to carry every single thing that I brought in a super heavy backpack all by myself, that I had to take that bag everywhere I went, and that often I wasn’t sure if it would be safe or not when I left it unattended because I had no one else to watch it.

My things became a huge liability, and so I took an inventory to figure out what I really needed for my trip and discarded everything else. And I felt so much better not having that stuff weighing me down- I felt truly free.

In the months that followed, I barely accumulated any souvenirs, but I had more awe-inspiring experiences than I could count. And I felt truly, blissfully happy. I realized how little I needed to get by, and that ethos never really faded even after I came home.

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4. You gain perspective on the world around you

solo travel benefits — Traveling alone in Death Valley National Park, California

Traveling alone makes you humble. You realize how small you are and how meaningless your problems are in the face of what others are enduring.

You will see poverty and suffering so heartbreaking that you won’t be able to sleep for days. You will see the best and worst of humanity. You will realize how privileged you are, and you may even feel a responsibility to help others that don’t have as much as you do.

I have memories from solo travel that are forever emblazoned on my mind.

In Cambodia, I remember seeing beautiful children walking barefoot on the scorching pavement and digging through trash bins. It wasn’t much, but I bought them all ice cream and juice to try to overcome the helplessness I felt in that moment.

In India at the Taj Mahal, I saw a gardener ask tourist after tourist if they wanted his help to take their pictures. I saw people brush him off over and over as he maintained a smile on his face.

I went up to him to ask him for help with my picture and gave him a $20 bill to thank him. He broke down crying when he understood that it was the equivalent of one month’s pay for him, and I felt tremendous guilt for having so much.

It is hard to make sense of the vast disparity in this world. When you are traveling with others, it can be easy to miss these subtle lessons because you are busy having fun. Seeing and experiencing these things can be confusing and hurtful, but it gives perspective that can’t be undone and helps you figure out how you fit into the larger picture.

5. You learn TO LOVE YOURSELF

Traveling alone can be lonely, and homesickness aches. But these emotions are fundamental parts of the human experience, and with them come important lessons.

You realize who and what matters most to you in your life, and that gives you the chance to prioritize them when you come home. Things that you once took for granted will mean so much more to you (like sushi and hot running water!) filling you with gratitude for life’s simple offerings.

Being alone provides the space and time to be introspective. You learn to enjoy your own company, and no longer need people around you to feel whole. You learn how to truly love yourself.

You realize how hilarious you are. You finally have time to journal and process that breakup from years ago.

You can evolve into a better version of yourself because no one from back home is pushing old paradigms onto you. And through it all, your self-love will blossom.

6. you learn how to follow your heart

When you are traveling with other people, you always have to take their desires and needs into consideration. You have to coordinate travel dates with their work schedule, think about their dietary preferences, and make sure you are getting along. This often ends up with you adjusting your needs, doing things to appease them, and even missing out on the stuff you really wanted to experience.

One of the best advantages of solo travel is that you are free to follow the whims of your heart. If you want to have a lazy day in your hotel room, there is no one there to make you feel guilty. If you had booked a night train to Laos but just met a really interesting new friend who wants you to join them in Vietnam, you can pivot last minute.

Traveling alone allows you to set your own schedule and answer only to yourself, and that is truly a rare thing in today’s world.

7. You get better at trusting

solo travel in Goa India — Pure joy while traveling solo in Goa, India

When you are in familiar surroundings, you understand the lay of the land. If someone tells you where they went to school, you immediately make judgements about them. You know which parts of town to avoid, and have a general sense of who and what to trust.

In foreign lands, you lack any external barometers to size people and situations up. This means you have to rely solely on your intuition to keep yourself safe. As a result, your radar gets stronger.

In my personal experience, solo travel has helped me grow my trust in the overall goodness of humanity.

You also augment your trust in the universe. When travel plans fall apart, somehow new and better ones always seem to come along.

When you say goodbye to special people you bonded with on the road, there are always new friends right around the corner. You somehow tap into this larger presence that is looking out for you, and you learn to trust in it and in yourself.

*******

Solo travel gives you the freedom to truly follow the calling of your heart. It can be challenging, but every pain and annoyance will be worth it in the end, and you’ll look back on it all and smile because you’ll know that you truly lived this life with everything you had to give.

Get out there and explore. Finally start crossing items off your bucket list. Meet people who will change your life forever, and do the same for them.

The world is waiting for you.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT SOLO TRAVEL:

Absolutely! Traveling solo allows you the freedom to explore destinations at your own pace, indulge in your interests without compromise, and immerse yourself fully in the experience. You're not bound by anyone else's schedule or preferences, giving you the opportunity to truly connect with the places you visit on a personal level.
On the contrary, solo travel is anything but boring! Without the need to compromise with travel companions, you have the freedom to pursue activities and experiences that truly excite you. Whether it's exploring hidden gems off the beaten path, diving into local culture and cuisine, or engaging in adventurous pursuits, solo travel offers endless opportunities for excitement and discovery. Additionally, the sense of independence and empowerment that comes with navigating new destinations solo can be incredibly invigorating and fulfilling.
While solo travel can sometimes lead to moments of solitude, it doesn't necessarily equate to loneliness. In fact, many solo travelers find that they have more opportunities to meet new people, whether it's fellow travelers, locals, or even just striking up conversations with strangers. Additionally, solo travel provides a chance for introspection and self-discovery, which can be incredibly enriching and fulfilling.
Not at all! In today's interconnected world, solo travel is becoming increasingly common and accepted. Many people choose to travel alone for various reasons, whether it's to seek adventure, recharge, or simply enjoy some time away from the routines of everyday life. Embracing solo travel allows you to step out of your comfort zone, challenge yourself, and create unforgettable memories.

Have you ever experiences the psychological benefits of traveling alone? I’d love to hear! This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. I donate 10% of all proceeds made from this blog to charity. Find out more about the charity I am supporting here.