Have you always dreamt of travelling the world solo? Do you catch yourself day-dreaming at your desk about far off places and adventures as a solo traveller? But there's one thing holding you back from booking that first trip – you're worried about feeling lonely if you travel by yourself. I mean, what is the point in travelling to amazing places if you're just going to feel alone when you're there? Surely the point is to share your life's adventures with the people you love?

Hi, I'm Lucy, I'm a solo female travel expert who has been travelling the world solo for over a decade and to 50+ countries. I'm here to help you understand that loneliness is a part of life and everyone feels it sometimes. But, there are always ways to beat loneliness as a solo traveller, and to feel happy and confident to travel the world solo. When I first started travelling – I was stuck in a life that didn't excite me and a relationship that was going nowhere. I wanted to travel, but I was nervous to do it alone – I had never even been on a plane by myself before! My former housemate from university had just started a new job, so she couldn't join me on the trip we had been planning for years. So I was faced with a choice, do I go alone? Or risk never going at all.

In the end, it was scarier to imagine missing out entirely than it was to go by myself.

Ten years later, I've learned one big lesson. That it is possible to find friendship and community anywhere in the world, if you know how to look for it. Friendship and connection can traverse across oceans, timezones, language barriers and cultural differences. In the end, we humans are all just the same – we want to feel part of something.

>> READ: 10 Lessons I've Learned From 10 Years of Solo Travel

My Experiences of Loneliness as a Solo Traveller

My solo travel journey with loneliness has been a wild ride. From learning to love my own company and realise that I thrive when meeting new people as a solo traveller, to understanding there are times when I crave time alone to recharge my social battery. I've realised that I'm not someone who is prone to homesickness, but rather a feeling of FOMO when I hear news from home and know I'm not there to celebrate (or commiserate) with those I love.

I remember a girl in a hostel I stayed at in Australia who was so homesick that she lasted only a week before her parents flew her home. In her time in the hostel, she barely spoke to anyone and instead spent all night crying on the phone to her mum, then slept and cried all day. It was sad to watch and as much as we tried to encourage her to come out and explore Sydney with us, she wouldn't. I learned a big lesson from that girl, that loneliness is what you allow it to become. You are in control of your life and you can choose to wallow and indulge yourself when you feel lonely, or you can find ways to feel okay with being lonely sometimes but to take every opportunity for adventure and connection.

Worried about loneliness as a solo traveller? I was too, but I've discovered that you can find friendship in the most remote places with just a smile and not a single word. I've found friends and kind human beings all over the world who have made me laugh, helped me when I needed it and become a kind of family. When you're far from home and travelling alone, this means all the more. While yes, I've felt lonely at times, I've also realised that my favourite humans are always only a Whatsapp message or a Facetime away.

>> READ: Yes I Still Travel Solo, Even Though I'm In A Relationship

5 Ways to Beat Loneliness as a Solo Traveller

Have a support network and a plan for lonely days

Everyone has those down days and lonely moments, so instead of worrying about them – why not plan for them? Have a plan for the days when your vibrations feel a little low and take a little extra care of yourself. Here's a plan for beating loneliness as a solo traveller:

  • Have your support network ready to go – perhaps a Whatsapp chat with your besties at home or be ready to call your mum if you need to. Take a moment to feel low or to wallow, contact home and hear the voices of your loved ones.
  • Then get yourself ready for the day, take it slower than usual and do some of your favourite things – maybe go get your favourite local food or a comfort food from home.
  • If there's a group activity – maybe a walking tour at your hostel or something – join it and challenge yourself to chat to someone new. Keep challenging yourself throughout the day to speak to as many people as possible.
  • Take the day one step at a time and do the things you love, remind yourself that by travelling solo you have the freedom to live on your own schedule, remind yourself why you love travelling alone.

>> READ: How to Prepare for First Time Solo Travel

 

Join a group tour for solo travellers!

Who says solo travel has to mean being alone?! If you’re new to solo travel, or simply want to start your adventure with a ready-made group of friends, I have the solution for you! G Adventures have just launched their new Solo-ish Adventures! The next evolution in solo group travel, it is exclusively for solo travellers and has community and connection at its core. Providing safety and security, and taking the pressure off by handling all of the booking and planning.

G Adventures leave you to focus on making friends from the moment you arrive, while still having the freedom to do your own thing. They have some amazing destinations for solo travellers with an adventurous spirit such as South Africa, Portugal and Bali. One thing I love is that they bring together travellers from all walks of life, so there's a chance to step outside your comfort zone and meet people who challenge your view of the world.

Sound interesting? Check out the Solo-ish Adventures on G Adventures now! << CLICK HERE

>> READ: 11 Best Adventure Solo Tours for Women

 

Connect with other travellers online

We live in a digital age and now there are so many amazing ways to connect with travellers through social media, apps and unique platforms. If you're visiting a destination as a backpacker or solo traveller, there are lots of great social media groups you can join for tips and advice, or simply to make friends with other travellers. This is exactly how I've managed to find road trip buddies, places to live, join fun meet-ups and meet up with a local in their home city! 

>> READ: How to Safely Solo Travel as a Woman – a Solo Travel Expert

Don't underestimate the power of a smile & making the first move

One thing you must always remember is that humans innately seek connection. We often forget that in the daily hustle and bustle of life or get distracted by our phones. Which is why I'm a big believer that a smile goes a very long way. Everyone is afraid of being rejected, so why not be brave and make the first move? I think getting over my fear of being the first person to say hi and introduce myself was one of the biggest moves towards beating loneliness as a solo traveller. Once you remove that fear barrier, it makes it so much easier! Travellers already have a shared passion so you have so much to talk about – but starting with a simple "Hi, how's your day going?" can make a huge difference to someone else's day.

>> READ: The Dangers of Travelling Solo as a Woman

 

Follow your passions with group activities

A great way to connect with like-minded travellers is to follow your passions and book group activities. One of the best ways to beat loneliness as a solo traveller is to have fun doing something you love with others who know exactly why you love it. It might be a cooking class or wine tasting, it could be a hiking trip or an epic adventure to the summit of a volcano! I've bonded with so many friends over a shared love of wild swimming, yoga or even reading. If you're staying in a hostel – you could even check what activities they provide. I've stayed at some that offer paddle-boarding or kayaking, sunset tours, art gallery or museum visits, walking tours and so much more.

 

I hope that these tips will help you to feel more confident about travelling solo, and to understand that everyone gets lonely sometimes but there are so many ways to make friends when solo travelling. I wanted to share one last travel story about one of my best friends who I was lucky enough to meet while backpacking solo in Australia. We crossed paths at our hostel in the Northern Territory and ended up living there together for five months and shared so much, even crossing paths later on in Melbourne. We had a shared energy, a spark for solo travel and a genuine love for seeing and exploring this incredible world. So much so that despite coming from completely different parts of the globe, this friendship grew and has led to us travelling to four different continents together. I know that our adventures are far from over and I hope that this shows you that travel friends are often more than just travel friends, they leave an imprint on our adventurous hearts that stays long after the jet lag has worn off.