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10 Reasons to Go Backpacking Alone

Solo traveling might just be in your plans after all. These are the top ten reasons to go backpacking alone.

By Kelsey LangePublished 6 years ago 4 min read
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Maybe solo traveling has never even crossed your mind before, but we're here to convince you why it's one of the best experiences you can have. These are the top ten reasons to go backpacking alone, and why it will be an experience that is invaluable.

From learning about yourself, to opening endless new opportunities, these reasons are sure to have you consider what a trip backpacking would be like alone.

You will have utter freedom.

Have you ever experienced a vacation or travel time in which you had complete control over any of your decisions? First on our list of the best reasons to go backpacking alone is the fact that you will have utter freedom to do whatever you choose during your time abroad.

There is no pressure to please anyone else but yourself, especially when it comes to expectations. So wake up late, take a three-day hike, whatever your heart desires, it's all up to you.

You'll meet friends along the way.

Though traveling alone might seem lonely, it's really not. And as one of the best reasons to go backpacking alone, you will make friends along the way.

There are so many people to meet as you travel the world, and doing so alone will open even more opportunities to connect with others. You might even find other backpackers to relate to. You time traveling "alone" will never truly be alone.

Decision making is a breeze.

Decisions are often difficult to make because you consider the other person's preferences. While you're alone, you can be honest with your own preferences, and make decisions with ease.

Plus, this will even strengthen your decision-making abilities, and with time, you'll be able to make one in a matter of seconds. Being able to put trust like this in yourself is an invaluable quality.

You'll leap outside of your comfort zone.

Next on our list of reasons to go backpacking alone is that you will proudly be able to leap outside of your comfort zone. What might not be easy from the start, being able to take this step in your life is an incredible feat.

Pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone is always a great act, but traveling alone will allow you to do so each and every day. Allowing you to become ultimately fearless, your comfort zone will soon expand.

You can be whoever you want to be.

Traveling on your own allows you to be the person you've always wanted to be. With entirely new surroundings, new people, and a new you, you can pretend, or take on the lifestyle of someone that you have always wanted to.

Without judgment or fear holding you back by someone accompanying you, you can give yourself the opportunity to create a new life for yourself, even down to erasing your past.

You'll learn a lot about yourself.

Being alone allows you to learn about yourself, but traveling alone is a whole other experience. As one of the best reasons to go backpacking alone, this process will include getting inside of your mind, confidence, hopes, dreams, etc.

An extremely therapeutic way to travel, you'll learn what makes you nervous, excited, happy, and frustrated with ease. As you step outside of your comfort zone, you gain a new understanding of who you are.

You'll gain confidence, empowerment, and respect.

Gain confidence, empowerment, and respect for not only yourself, but for the world as a whole. Stepping into a new place filled with entirely different culture and history will fill you with respect.

And through your travels alone, you will discover a certain feeling of empowerment, a feeling that is indescribably powerful, that will stick with you for the rest of your life.

You'll be able to travel during the time that is best for you.

One of the most simple reasons to go backpacking alone, being able to travel during the best time in your life is done much easier without having to compare schedules with a travel buddy.

We know how hard it is to get together with friends as it is, let alone schedule an entire backpacking trip away from home for an extended amount of time. So instead of wasting time doing this, or being stuck with a schedule that isn't so great for the time in your life, go alone!

There is always possibility of romance.

Possibly finding someone of interest while you are traveling is much more likely when you are alone, especially if you are willing to give the relationship a fair shot.

This could include altering your traveling plans and even extending your trip for a love affair. So instead of feeling guilty for bringing someone else along while you fall head of heels with someone you met abroad, going alone will eliminate this problem altogether.

Also, you could even fall in love with a place, and never want to leave. This is just as possible for any traveler, and being alone will allow you to better make decisions, and be more spontaneous.

There is zero possibility of a fight.

We have all been there; the tensions are high, the frustration is real, and you snap at your travel buddy, because, well, they're there. It is inevitable to catch an attitude with someone you are spending every waking hour with, and as one of the best reasons to go backpacking alone, this will never happen, unless you like to argue with yourself.

Eliminate the possibility of fighting during your trip, clashing heads, and simple disagreements by traveling on your own.

solo travel
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About the Creator

Kelsey Lange

Passionate about writing, animals, makeup, movies, friends, family, learning, exercising, and laughing!

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