Solo Travel: Lonely vs Alone ?

Travel alone. Sounds scary, hm? Is it really time of loneliness?

Australia was my first destination I chose to travel solo 4 years ago. The trip was a life-changing experience for me. It was terrifying and I had to face lots of fears. But did I feel lonely?

Let’s talk first about the meaning of loneliness and being alone. Two different words and two completely different meanings.

Being alone doesn’t mean you are lonely and being lonely doesn’t mean you are alone.

Why? Because you can travel alone and enjoy the moment to the fullest without feeling lonely. On the other hand, you can have lots of friends around, a partner standing next to you, be in the spotlight, but still have the feeling of loneliness and isolation.

Did I ever feel lonely traveling solo? Well, when moving halfway around the world, I was aware that the hard days are going to come. I will be on my own all day time.

The longing for family, moments with friends, favorite food cooked by my granny or simply talk in my mother language. I did miss having someone, I love and care of. I had all of these feelings, but not necessarily because I traveled alone.

So, does the feeling of loneliness depend on our approach to life?

Many people think that travel alone contains plenty of gloomy, sad days and the time alone is quite boring. Nothing could be more wrong!

Solo journey provides you with more opportunities than traveling with a group of friends. Travel alone to a new place means that you have to depend on strangers. And interacting with locals can completely change your travel experience! They keen to help you, show the right direction, invite you for a dinner or even offer accommodation.

When interacting with local people, you receive kindness and a good word. And that good word can give you lots of positive energy. You learn more about culture and how people live in different countries.

When traveling solo, you can focus on what you really interested in and what you want to experience. You walk your own path, no matter how fast or slow. It’s yours.

Of course, it can seem twice harder, because you don’t have anyone next to you. But isn’t that wonderful, that YOU can make YOUR independent decision and learn to trust YOUR intuition, instead of always seeking for advice?

Traveling alone can be a wonderful journey within your own imagination, your own body, which helps you to know yourself better!

Travel alone is a rare occasion to unravel yourself from expectations of your daily circumstances. You can discover a part of your character, that you were never aware of. Being alone gives you a moment to stop and reflect.

Solo travel has taught me a lot! I realized that I am the only person responsible for my own happiness! I overcame my shyness and I opened up myself to others.

It was a good life lesson. I became stronger and braver and all my dreams seem to be reasonable now.

I hope I managed to show you that travel alone can bring plenty of positives to your life and most importantly, it doesn’t have to be lonely.

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