Solo travel is the most transformative thing I've ever done. It's also deeply misunderstood. This is everything I've learned from 38 countries and six years of traveling alone.

Why Solo Travel Is Different

When you travel with someone, the trip shapes around your relationship. When you travel alone, the trip shapes around you — your pace, your curiosity, your willingness to be uncomfortable. That's both the terrifying part and the point.

The loneliness is real. So is the freedom. Most solo travelers report that the loneliness passes quickly once you stop fighting it and start being present to where you are.

Best Solo Travel Destinations in 2026

For First-Timers: Portugal or Thailand

Both countries are exceptionally safe, English-friendly, easy to navigate independently, and have excellent infrastructure for solo travelers. Portugal's coastal towns and Thailand's backpacker trail both make it easy to meet people without trying too hard.

For Adventure: Japan

Japan is arguably the world's best solo travel destination. Exceptionally safe, endlessly fascinating, with a train network that makes everything accessible. The language barrier is real but navigable — Google Translate's camera function handles most situations.

For Social: Southeast Asia Backpacker Trail

Bangkok → Chiang Mai → Luang Prabang → Hanoi → Hội An → Ho Chi Minh City is a route so well-worn that you'll meet the same people at every stop. The infrastructure is designed for solo travelers.

Safety for Solo Travelers

Share Your Itinerary

Before every trip, I send a detailed itinerary — accommodation names, addresses, phone numbers — to two people at home. This takes 10 minutes and is the single most important safety habit in solo travel.

Trust Your Gut (Seriously)

The intuition that something feels wrong is almost always right. Don't override it for social politeness or to avoid seeming rude. Leaving a situation that feels off is always the correct call.

Don't Advertise That You're Alone

In restaurants, hotels, and casual conversations, I default to "I'm meeting friends later" rather than "I'm traveling alone." This is a simple precaution, not paranoia.

How to Meet People

Stay in Hostels (Even If You Book a Private Room)

The social infrastructure of a hostel — common room, shared kitchen, organized activities — makes meeting people trivially easy. You don't need to be extroverted. Just show up in the kitchen at meal times.

Take a Free Walking Tour on Your First Day

Every city with a tourism infrastructure has free walking tours. They're a good way to orient yourself and meet other travelers who are usually also alone and looking to connect.

  • Safest Solo DestinationsJapan, Iceland, Portugal, Singapore
  • Best for SocialSoutheast Asia, South America, Hostel circuit
  • Best Solo Travel AppsMaps.me, Meetup, Couchsurfing Events
  • Best Solo Travel InsuranceWorld Nomads, SafetyWing
  • Typical Solo Premium0–15% more than group travel

The Practical Stuff

Solo travel is more expensive per head than group travel for accommodation, but cheaper for everything else — you eat what you want, when you want, and where you want. The single supplement on tours is real and annoying; the workaround is booking activities individually rather than package tours.