If you love the idea of solo hiking but feel nervous about being alone on the trails – I've created this expert guide from a seasoned solo hiker girlie who loves exploring. The truth is, I don't always have a hiking buddy (or sometimes I just fancy some time alone!) and I don't see why I should miss out on amazing hikes and walks around the world. I've spent a decade solo travelling the globe and have hiked through the Costa Rican jungle solo to hidden beaches, climbed a Guatemalan volcano on an overnight hike to the summit with a group of strangers, I've gone hill trekking in Thailand, solo hiked along the coastline and through the forests of Dorset, Wales, Cornwall and Devon.
Solo hiking will push you outside your comfort zone, but it will also provide a huge boost to your self-confidence and you quite literally conquer mountains alone. If you can do that – you can take on anything! This blog is jam-packed full of practical, actionable tips and advice to help you feel more confident to take your first solo hike, or to feel ready to push yourself and take on a big hike alone. Still not fancying hiking alone? That's fair – don't forget to join Solo Adventure Gals by clicking the picture below – it's a community of 2000+ women who love adventure and a great place to find a hiking buddy!
Your Solo Hiking Girl's Guide:
- How to Prepare for your First Solo Hike
- How to Choose Your Solo Hiking Destination
- Travel Insurance for Solo Hiking
- Stay Safe with eSIMs When Hiking Alone
- Safety Tips for Solo Hiking (As A Woman)
How to Prepare for your First Solo Hike
Your first solo hike is a huge milestone and will take you a huge leap outside your comfort zone. Whether you feel ready or not, sometimes it is best to just dive in and give it a try. Solo hiking might become your new passion – you may also find that it isn't for you and you feel too on edge, but you won't know until you try. If you're still wondering whether it is even okay for you to hike alone, let me reassure you that I have been solo hiking in more than 20 countries around the world and it is one of my favourite things to do when travelling solo. I have never experienced anything that challenged my love of hiking alone - nor have I ever felt unsafe while exploring the trails.
Remember – solo hiking can look different depending on how you approach it. For some, it might mean a smaller day hike completely alone – it might be hiking with a group of strangers by joining a tour, it might even involve having support from a company who organise the trek for you to take on alone. There's no right or wrong way to hike solo, as long as you are comfortable and safe.
Don't forget to read How to Safely Solo Travel as a Woman – a Solo Travel Expert
How to Choose Your Solo Hiking Destination
If you're struggling to choose a solo hiking destination, I've created these guides on the best hiking destinations (and the ones where I have felt safe and comfortable to hike solo) across the UK, Europe and worldwide to help inspire your next trip:
Travel Insurance for Solo Hiking
If you're new to hiking alone, there are a few things you can do to help you feel more prepared and comfortable. It's always a good idea to have travel insurance, particularly if you love outdoor adventures when travelling. World Nomads are my go-to for adventure travel insurance and they offer a hiking and trekking travel insurance policy with various packages available. These also cover emergency medical assistance, gear protection, trip cancellation and delayed and lost baggage cover.
Stay Safe with eSIMs When Hiking Alone
I also really recommend making sure you have phone coverage for the area where you will be solo hiking. If you're travelling, one of my favourite solo travel hacks is using eSIMs for your phone. It means you have access to Google Maps, Whatsapp, All Trails and anything else you might need to keep people updated of your location in case you need help. I always use Holafly eSIMs which are available for over 200 countries and regions.
If you're keen to save money on eSIMs but don't want to scrimp on your safety – I've got some great discount codes from my friends at Holafly for you to use today!
Save on eSIMs for Each Destination
If you just need a one-off eSIM for an upcoming trip or destination, you are best to choose their pre-paid sims which are available for a few days or weeks or a specific destination. Normally these will offer unlimited data, or plenty for during your stay. Save 5% with discount code: ABSOLUTELYLUCY
Save on eSIM Monthly Plans
Holafly Plans is a brand new monthly eSIM subscription created for global travellers who need seamless, borderless connectivity. They work in over 170 countries and mean you don't have to worry about changing SIM cards, roaming charges, or dealing with complicated top-ups. One plan, one eSIM, total freedom. These plans are ideal for digital nomads who are constantly on the move, frequent travellers, expats and anyone on a long-term trip or gap year!
Plans are available in three tiers – 10GB for light data users, 25GB for moderate data users or unlimited – which is the plan I'm using and is perfect for anyone who works online. Sound good? Join me in trying out the plans and save 10% every month (for 12 months) using my discount code ABSOLUTELYLUCY.
Read my full blog post on the Best eSIM For Solo Female Travellers To Beat Roaming Charges for more information.
10 Safety Tips for Solo Hiking (As A Woman)
Let's start by tackling the big question that lies on everyone's lips when they think about solo female travel – is it actually safe? I can't tell you how many times I've been asked this and yet, as a woman who has been travelling solo for over a decade – I'm living proof that you can travel the world safely, and have an amazing, life-changing time.
As a woman, I'll never deny that we move through this world differently to men, we face additional challenges and yes, there will always be a level of danger that simply doesn't exist for men. However, travelling and hiking solo can also be hugely empowering and a truly transformative experience. It can open your eyes to a world where you are self-confident, brave, capable and strong – where you don't just stay at home because it might be safer. Why shouldn't we be able to hike solo and travel alone around this world? As long as you are trusting your intuition, listening to your gut feeling and going prepared – there's no reason why you can't have an incredible experience. Here's 10 safety tips for solo hiking (as a woman):
- Don't be afraid to leave any situation that makes you feel uncomfortable or on edge – always my number 1 piece of advice – trust your instincts.
- Always tell someone where you are going and when they can expect you to return – you could even share your live location with a friend or family member to ensure that if anything happens, people can find you.
- Check the weather and local advice or warnings for popular hikes before hitting the trails.
- Make sure you pack for all weathers – with plenty of water, sunscreen, waterproof layers – be prepared for everything so you can look after yourself on the trails.
- Be friendly on the trails – saying hi to other hikers or having a quick chat makes you memorable and might even help you find some hiking buddies for sections of the trek. It also means that if you're in trouble, people are more likely to help you.
- Use apps like All Trails to choose your hiking route and track your progress – it can be really useful for helping you to stick to the trail if it becomes less clear which way you need to go.
- Don't waste money on solo safety gadgets – I don't really rate many of them but one item that is useful to have attached to your bag is a whistle which can be used to draw attention if you need help.
- Always make sure you know when sunset is and have left enough time to get back before darkness falls.
- Don't let laziness push you to take risks – always walk the extra to cross rivers and streams via a bridge where possible.
- If you get lost – you need to stay calm, breathe, take a sip of water. Try and remember landmarks, if in doubt, always stay put rather than getting even more lost.
