10 Reasons Why You Should Try Solo Traveling
Did you ever think to try solo traveling? But felt scared? I mean I’ve been there too! But then I did it anyway! In 2016, it was my first time going abroad but not alone. I went with a friend. At that time, I was still a university student in Indonesia. One of my friends invited me to go to Singapore, so Singapore became the first country I ever visited. I knew Singapore was much more expensive than my country. However, surprisingly, flights from Jakarta to Singapore were very cheap compared to domestic flights in Indonesia.
Long story short, after that trip to Singapore, I felt like I had to explore more countries but this time, I wanted to do it alone. Solo traveling.
Since I was still a student and didn’t have a job or income, I tried applying for scholarship programs like student exchanges and conferences. In 2017, I finally got two scholarships. The first one was to the United States for a 5 week student exchange program called YSEALI Academic Fellowship, a program created by the U.S. government for young people in Southeast Asia, including Indonesia. The second scholarship was from the United Nations for an international conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Besides the U.S. and Malaysia, in 2017 I also went to Nepal to trek to Annapurna Base Camp alone. I saved money, sold T-shirts on campus, and even asked my parents for some extra support (haha). From those three trips in 2017, I realized that traveling is addictive. I kept wanting to explore new places again and again and that feeling has stayed with me until now. The difference is, now I already have a job and income, so I can travel abroad more often using my own money.
From all the countries I’ve visited mostly alone I want to share my perspective: solo traveling is something you should try at least once in your life. Here are 10 reasons why:
1. You discover your limits
Sometimes we’re afraid to try new things because we imagine the worst-case scenarios even though they haven’t happened yet. And even if they do, that’s life. Not everything will go the way we want. I used to be a homebody and always depended on my parents. But when I pushed myself to solo travel, I learned to be more independent. The things I used to fear? I could handle them. Solo traveling challenges you in many ways planning itineraries, taking your first flight, asking for help, and more. I even used to be afraid of hiking, but once I tried it, I got hooked.
2. You learn to ask for help
I used to hate asking for help. But solo traveling taught me that asking for help is not a weakness it’s part of being human. In fact, it can lead to unexpected friendships. For example, when I was hiking to Tsergo Ri in Langtang, Nepal, I struggled because of the thick snow. Four locals helped me when I asked for help and we ended up becoming friends.
3. You learn to set priorities
In life, many of us struggle with prioritizing. Solo traveling teaches you how to decide what matters most where to go, whether it fits your budget, and if you have enough time. These limitations push you to think more critically.
4. You realize not everyone is bad
I used to think humans were mostly bad destroying the environment, committing crimes, and so on. But during my solo trips, I met both good and bad people. It made me realize that not everyone is bad. Even in a messy world, there are still kind and genuine people out there.
5. You learn financial management
Solo traveling is also about managing money. It’s not always cheap you need to prepare for emergencies, especially when you’re alone. From traveling, I learned how important it is to manage my finances wisely.
6. You learn to understand differences
If you stay in one place, you won’t see much diversity. But when you solo travel and meet people from different countries and cultures, you start to appreciate differences more. It teaches you tolerance.
7. You understand the meaning of “home”
I used to think home was just a building. But after traveling solo, I realized home is more about the people around us. You can live in a beautiful place, but if you’re surrounded by toxic people, it won’t feel like home.
8. You realize the world is complex
Solo traveling exposes you to different cultures, economies, and perspectives. You start to see that the world isn’t just black and white it’s often gray. Everything can look different depending on your perspective.
9. You discover your strengths and weaknesses
Through solo traveling, I learned what I can and can’t do and what I’m still working on. I used to think I couldn’t hike mountains, but I proved myself wrong by reaching Tsergo Ri in the Himalayas at 5,000 meters above sea level. I also discovered that I’m actually good at connecting with new people. I used to think I couldn’t but during my travels, I’ve never truly felt alone.
10. You don’t have to follow society’s standards
People my age often already have houses, cars, marriages, and children. But solo traveling made me realize that life doesn’t have to follow that path. We have the right to choose our own way of living based on what we want and need. The more places I visit, the more perspectives I gain, and many of them shape my life today.
That’s why I believe solo traveling is something you should try at least once in your life. I guarantee once you try it, you’ll get addicted (haha).