Solo Travel as a Woman: My Honest Experiences After 10 Years of Travelling Alone
I’m currently sitting in an Airbnb in Mozambique. It’s one of those moments when two feelings spread through me at the same time: I deeply enjoy the peace of being completely with myself — and at the same time, I would love to share this moment with someone.
I have been travelling a lot on my own since 2016. I cycled more than 10,000 kilometres, including 5,000 kilometres completely alone. I have wild camped by myself, hiked through mountains, experienced backpacking adventures, taken on Workaway projects, and travelled across several continents.
And honestly? I was rarely truly alone.
Still, that feeling of loneliness sometimes comes up. And I think it’s something people talk about far too little. Everyone talks about how free you feel, how brave it is, and how much you grow. And yes — all of that is true! But nobody tells you that you also have to make every single decision on your own. That sometimes you simply don’t feel like going somewhere. That you have moments when you think: It would be nice not to experience this alone right now.
Travelling Alone Doesn’t Mean You Are Always Alone
You set off on your own — but you are rarely alone for long. Throughout my travels, I have met so many wonderful people. Sometimes just for a conversation, sometimes for a few days — and sometimes these encounters have turned into genuine connections.
Especially in the beginning, I often organised things through Facebook groups, looked for travel companions, or simply let myself go with the flow. And that is often when the most beautiful encounters happen.
And something else happens too: you often meet exactly the right people when you need them most. It might sound a little cliché, but I have experienced it so many times that I cannot describe it any other way.
For example, during the Tour du Mont Blanc: I was travelling alone, had already had a long day behind me, and suddenly found myself standing in front of several large snowfields. I had absolutely no experience with this and, honestly, I was intimidated — especially because I had seen other people already struggling in those areas. For a moment, I didn’t know what to do: turn around or continue?
And then, out of nowhere, a trail runner appeared. He stopped his training and simply said: “Come on, I’ll help you.” He crossed all the snowfields with me, showed me exactly where to step, gave me confidence, and stayed with me until the path was clear again. Afterwards, he continued on his way.
And I just stood there thinking: How is it possible that someone appears at exactly this moment?
Or in Chile, in the north of Patagonia: I arrived in the evening, it was already dark, my host wasn’t there, and we had clearly misunderstood each other. I couldn’t speak Spanish, I was alone in a small village, and at first, I had no idea what to do.
Then I saw a man with a laptop. I thought: Okay, he has internet.
Of course, there was caution on both sides at first. But eventually, we started communicating — somehow with gestures, a few words, and a translator. At some point, his wife joined us. They took me to their home, his mother eventually knew where I was actually supposed to go — and in the end, they drove me there during the night.
Just like that.
And situations like these keep happening.
You think: I won’t be able to get any further here.
And then suddenly, someone is there.
Not because you were searching for them — but because you are open to allowing it to happen and because you trust your intuition.
Freedom vs. Responsibility: The Other Side of the Coin
I know both worlds: travelling alone and travelling with others. I haven’t only travelled by myself. I have also spent a lot of time with other people or travelled certain parts of my journey together with others.
Both experiences feel completely different.
When you travel with others:
You make decisions together
You automatically have someone to share experiences with
But you also have to make compromises
When you travel alone:
You don’t have to compromise
You can make every decision completely freely
But you also carry everything on your own
And that is exactly the point many people underestimate.
Freedom also means responsibility.
Travelling alone sounds like absolute freedom — and it is. But this freedom has another side: you are responsible for everything.
Where will I sleep?What will I do today?Will I go out or spend time by myself?Will I move on or stay a little longer?Where will I eat?
There is no one else who takes these decisions away from you. No one who says: “Come on, let’s just do this.”
You are that person.
And sometimes, that is really exhausting.
You are your own guide, your own safety manager, and your own motivator.
It is an incredible exercise in building self-confidence — but it is also, simply put: exhausting.
Travelling with others | Travelling alone |
Shared decisions | Complete freedom without compromise |
Automatic exchange and companionship | Responsibility for everything |
You have to adapt | You decide every step of the way |
Is Travelling Alone as a Woman Dangerous?
This is the question I get asked most often. My answer: It is often much less dangerous than many people from the outside assume.
I have never been in a situation where I genuinely felt seriously threatened. My most important tool? My intuition. If something doesn’t feel right, I leave. Immediately. Without discussion.
My little “safety hacks”:
Research: Find out about the culture and the country before you arrive.
Clothing: Adapt your clothing choices when necessary.
Awareness: Stay mindful, but don’t be afraid.
The little trick: In some countries, I wear a ring or say that my partner is already there. Not out of shame, but because it makes me feel safer.
Loneliness is part of the journey — and that’s okay.
You are rarely alone — and yet you can still feel lonely. These two things are not a contradiction; they are human.
Sitting in a breathtaking place and having no one to share it with does not mean you are doing something wrong. It simply means you long for connection.
And that is completely okay.
Why I keep travelling alone anyway. Because I have learned that I can do it.
Because I don’t want to wait for someone else to have the time, money, or desire to go. And because I know: the most difficult moments are often where the greatest growth happens.
How You Can Get Started (Even If You’re Afraid)
You don’t have to book a round-the-world trip right away. Start small:
A weekend trip by yourself.
Go out for a meal alone.
Spend two days exploring a new city.
Discover that you are not alone just because you are travelling by yourself. It simply means that you are enough for yourself to take the first step.
💡 Pro Tips for Your First Solo Trip
To make the beginning easier, here are my personal “survival hacks”:
The “Arrival Rule”: Never arrive at a new destination after dark. This takes away the stress of finding accommodation or navigating your way from the train station.
Offline Maps & Power Bank: Your phone is your most important tool. Download the region on Google Maps for offline use. A dead battery in an unfamiliar city is one of the biggest stress factors.
Documents in the Cloud: Scan your passport, vaccination certificate, and insurance documents and store them online (e.g. Google Drive). If your phone gets lost, you can access them from any internet café in the world.
The “Free Walking Tour”: Almost every city offers these. It is the easiest way to meet other travellers within a few hours without having to arrange plans in advance.
Trust, but Verify: Most people are good. But if your instinct says “no”, listen to it — even if it might seem rude in that moment.
What I Would Like to Tell Every Woman (and Every Man)
Travelling alone does not mean that nobody is accompanying you. It simply means that you trust yourself enough to take the first step.
You will meet people. You will have experiences. And you will get to know yourself in a completely new way.
A note at the end: If you are currently not feeling emotionally stable, this might not be the right time for a solo adventure. And that is completely okay too.
Conclusion: Travelling alone is not perfect — but it is real. It is free, challenging, and sometimes lonely. And that is exactly why it is so incredibly rewarding.
*Have you ever taken a solo trip, or are you currently planning your first adventure? Tell me in the comments — I would love to hear your thoughts and share this journey with you!
