My Solo Travel Story

At the age of 18, I got my first taste of freedom on a trip to Greece with friends, and I was instantly hooked on travel. Even though money was tight during university, I learned to budget and managed to take four holidays a year, all in pursuit of my dream to see the world. While solo travel seemed out of reach back then, I channeled my passion into writing, creating a travel magazine for my dissertation and volunteering with House of Coco. Seven years later, writing for them has taken me to places like Italy, Greece, and Spain. But at 25, I finally took the leap to travel solo. With confidence built from group trips and solo flights, I bought a one-way ticket to Bangkok and embraced the adventure I had always dreamed of.

The moment I stepped off the plane in Bangkok with a one-way ticket in hand, I knew my life was about to change forever. The thought of traveling solo was both thrilling and terrifying - I had never explored a country on my own, stayed in a hostel, or navigated the languages of Asia, but I was determined to make it work. I arrived organised with the right apps for booking transport and hostels, plus Google Translate and a currency converter, just to cover all my bases. After a 15 hour flight, crossing multiple time zones, I was completely wiped out - and it was only 9am in Thailand. Unable to check in until 3pm, I quickly freshened up, stored my backpack, and, of course, made a beeline for 7/11 to get a Thai SIM card. Hours of waiting later, I finally checked in, but the overwhelm was real: a shared room with strangers, exhaustion from sleepless travel, and a whole new world to navigate. Yet, in just three days, everything began to click. I started connecting with fellow travellers, finding my rhythm, and watching my confidence grow with every small step I took.

Along the way, there were definitely moments of culture shock and testing times. Like the time I woke up at 5am to catch a 10 hour coach from Luang Prabang, Laos, to Sa Pa, Vietnam, only for the coach to never show up. Or the time I found myself showering outside with bugs in a rural Cambodian village - far from glamorous, to say the least. However, these experiences, as uncomfortable as they were in the moment, shaped me in ways I never expected. They taught me to let go of rigid plans and embrace the flow of things. So what if I missed a coach to another country? I was in a beautiful place, living in the present with all the time in the world. There’s always another way, always another opportunity. My backpacking journey through Southeast Asia didn’t just change my travel style - it transformed me into someone more laid-back, more open, and infinitely more grateful for the little moments.

Throughout my journey, I knew there would come a time when I'd miss home and family, but I wanted to challenge myself. So, I made a bold decision - not to FaceTime anyone for three weeks. It felt like a test to see if I could truly embrace being away from home without the constant contact. After all, I’d lived away before and felt confident I could handle it. The truth is, I was so caught up in the excitement of my travels - exploring new places, meeting new people, and trying new things - that I rarely found myself thinking about home.

But then I arrived in Australia, and something shifted. Despite how similar it felt to the UK, I suddenly found myself craving the simple comforts of home - a home-cooked meal, a bubble bath, my cosy dressing gown. I think part of it was the realisation that my adventure was winding down, and that thought brought on a bit of homesickness. Oddly enough, it was the similarities between Australia and the UK that made me miss home even more! It was a reminder that while travel can be liberating, there’s always a part of you that longs for the familiar, especially when you're nearing the end of such a life-changing journey.

I wrapped up my four month adventure in Bali, and if there’s one thing solo travel taught me, it’s this: nothing comes from staying in your comfort zone. Be brave, be bold, and just go for it! When you're traveling alone, you quickly realise that fellow explorers share a similar mindset. No matter where they come from, there's a deep connection with people from all walks of life. Solo travel isn’t just about seeing new places; it’s about discovering parts of yourself you never knew existed and connecting with the world in the most unexpected, beautiful ways. From eating a scorpion on Khao San Road or conquering my fears while snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef, I gathered memories that I will cherish forever.