People ask me all the time when I’m about to leave again: don’t you feel terribly lonely? I get it. It looks like I’m always wandering around by myself, having to figure everything out on my own, with nobody around to help.
But that’s exactly where the thinking goes wrong. Because that is one of the best things about solo travel.
Everyone wants to help you. People share ideas or invite you along. If you’ve lost a bit of faith in humanity, traveling alone is the best remedy. There are so many more people with good intentions out there than the other way around. You only really see that when you head out on your own.
Sometimes it’s actually more about learning to enjoy a little time alone. To finally just do your own thing. These days I’m busy making videos, writing up experiences, and sharing stories before I’ve even made it back home.e alone and do your own thing. I am also busy making short clips and I want to write down my experiences along the way.. And then I want to share things already with my family and friends at home..
How I Meet People on the Road
The best way to connect with fellow travelers? Book a trip at the destination itself, together with others. At most small local travel agencies you can easily say you’d like to join an existing group rather than book a private trip. They’ll always find a way to make it work. The worst that can happen: they ask you to wait a day because the next group going your way leaves tomorrow.
That’s how I met the American Babette on the sand dunes in Mui Ne, Vietnam — still a friend today. And Greg from New Zealand I ran into years later completely by chance on Sumatra, without us ever having been in touch in between. The world is sometimes very small.
Do not want to be alone? Go visit Roberto Escobar.. Yes… The brother of Pablo 🙂
Other trips where I met amazing people:
- Walk the Camino. You’ll meet an incredible number of wonderful people along the way.
- Climbing an ancient glacier in Iceland is not something you do alone.
- Good food, soaking up the culture, and great conversation — what a combination! I did exactly that in Mumbai… Indian food is genuinely one of my favourites.
And then there are the activities you can book in advance:
- A cooking class in Bangkok is a perfect mix of food, culture, and new people. I did the class at Silom Thai Cooking School — book it in advance.
- A glacier hike in Iceland — book in advance and you’ll guaranteed end up in a group of like-minded adventurers.
- I got my diving certificate on Koh Tao, Thailand. A multi-day course means you get to know your fellow divers really well. Book your diving course in advance to make sure you get a spot.
Multi-day trips are always a good idea. Three days in the Thai jungle with four great travel companions. Two days spotting orangutans in Sumatra. Climbing Mount Pulag in the Philippines.
Making the First Move
You can absolutely ask someone if you can join them when you notice they’re sitting alone too. No problem at all — they’re free to say yes or no. In every case I can remember, it led to a great day.
Like:
- That time I overheard the American Marisa planning a trip at breakfast in the Peacock Lodge in Myanmar. I jumped in and we ended up spending a lovely day together.
- The American Mike asked if he could sit at my table one evening, and the next morning we hiked up Mount Masada in Israel together.
- Or when I asked Amadou in The Gambia if he’d come along with me to Wassu and Kuntaur for a few days — it just seemed easier to explore the interior together.
Learn Something New and Meet People Automatically
On one of my trips I did a surf weekend in Kartong, The Gambia. I learned to surf and shared travel tips with people from all over the world. Getting my diving certificate on Koh Tao, a cooking class in Bangkok, a yoga session at Khao Sok — these are all activities where meeting people just happens naturally.
Volunteering: Actually Becoming Part of a Community
Volunteering is one of the best ways to get to know a country from the inside. Not as a tourist, but as someone who gives something back.
I volunteered at the Juara Turtle Project on Tioman Island in Malaysia. And soon I’ll be spending seven days working in a national park in Kenya, searching for poachers’ traps and helping injured animals. What an opportunity.
Hotel or Hostel for Solo Travelers?
In hostels, making contact is so much easier than in hotels. There are communal spaces, people hang around, and there’s always someone else traveling solo who’s happy to chat.
You don’t have to book a dorm either. Lots of hostels have private rooms with all the social benefits of the communal atmosphere. I regularly book a private room in a hostel — I get my peace and quiet, but still have access to the shared spaces. Check Hostelworld for hostels with good reviews for solo travelers.
There are also plenty of Facebook groups ( Travel Europe, Australia, America and Asia (Backpackers), South East Asia Backpackers tips ) where you can find fellow travelers. Not just for a night out, but to travel together for a stretch or book a multi-day trip.
Read also: Solo traveler 40+ in hostels? Yes!
Eating Alone: Less Awkward Than You Think
Honestly, it felt a bit strange to me at first too. You get the feeling everyone is staring at you. But you’re doing that far more yourself than anyone else actually is. And if they do look? That’s on them, not you. You’re on holiday in an amazing place, eating something you could never have ordered back home.
And you always have plenty to do: figuring out which bus you need tomorrow, looking up what else is worth seeing in the city, writing down the day’s experiences, picking the best photo for Instagram, or just people-watching from a terrace.
I never get bored on the road.
Staying in Touch With Home: Free and Always Possible
If you want to talk to someone you know: calling over the internet costs nothing. Video calls, messages, a quick chat. A cup of coffee and a catch-up. You’re not cut off from the people you love.
Solo Travel: Lonely or Not?
After reading all this, do you still think solo travel is the same as lonely travel? That feeling of “being alone” is almost always about the absence of someone you already knew. But on the road, you meet people you never would have encountered if you’d stayed in familiar territory.
Want to try solo travel but not sure where to start? I’m happy to help. Or take a look at the small group trips from me: Zinvol Reizen — you leave as a solo traveler and arrive with new friends. The groups are small and intimate, and you can ask me anything to prepare for your next real solo adventure!
On every trip I bring my own refillable water bottle #ad My mission is to eliminate single-use plastic, and refilling instead of throwing away is one of the easiest ways to contribute as a traveler. A foldable bag #ad for small purchases also cuts down on unnecessary plastic waste on the road.
Would you like to read more about my travels?
- It sounds scary! Not having a hotelrom during the day!!
- Yes, I travel Alone, I’m single
- How do you do it? Backpacking..
- Responsible Tourism. Get off the elephant!!
- Why Travelling makes me happy
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