Where To Travel Solo

“Traveling is without a doubt one of life’s greatest adventures.”

As we get older, our time should increasingly be spent doing the things that we love to do. A considerable part of your life to date may have involved focusing on your career, taking care of your kids and spouse, leaving very little ‘me’ time. This is now the exciting chapter in your life – a time to discover and explore and being single should not stop you from getting out there and having a ball.

Traveling is without a doubt one of life’s greatest adventures. Discovering new places, architecture, food, culture and people are a tonic for the soul and as the famous quote by Saint Augustine says “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page.”

Many people, especially many mature women, are hesitant to travel alone but these days solo travel is becoming increasingly popular with more and more tour operators, hotels and travel companies catering specifi cally for those exploring on their own. Solo travel can be fantastically rewarding. It’s a great way to connect with new people, see places unencumbered by the demands of others and indulge in fulfi lling your own unique set of interests and desires. Here are our pick of interesting places that are great for women to explore solo:

Iceland

Perhaps not the first place that springs to mind for a woman travelling solo but Iceland has lots of appeal for those traveling on their own. The landscape is spectacular and with minimal infrastructure and scant population there is very little to spoil the view. It is the perfect destination for a road trip exploring natural wonders such as volcanoes, waterfalls, mountains and glaciers. If you have an adventurous spirit, then there are a wide variety of activities to fill up the solo travellers day including caving, snowmobiling, whale watching and snorkelling to name a few. Despite it’s small population, Iceland boasts a close and welcoming community of locals and visitors. They are renowned for their friendliness and as the locals put it Icelanders are “cold on the outside, warm on the inside”.

Japan

Whether it’s a skiing adventure, discovering a hiking trail, conquering Mount Fuji or possibly eating one of the best meals that you have ever had, Japan ticks almost all of the boxes for being the ideal place for women to travel solo. Despite the size of the country the Japanese public transport system is highly effi cient, extremely easy to navigate and with low crime rates, it allows women to feel at ease while exploring. Whether you visit in Cherry Blossom season, or in the Winter, Japan is a beautiful country with an array of natural and cultural treasures that are worth exploring. Also, most Japanese hotels also charge per room, not per person meaning that you are not penalised for traveling solo!

Laos

Laos is one of those beautiful parts of the world that is yet to be spoilt by hordes of tourists and full moon parties making it the perfect place for solo women to visit. Think the beautiful ornate Buddhist temples reminiscent of Thailand but without the crowds. The reserved, gracious Lao people provide a sense of calm and the distinct cuisine will delight even the most seasons of traveller’s palate. You can take a boat ride along the Mekong, visit small villages, hike in the beautiful countryside, take a cooking class or enjoy the serenity of the orangerobed monks.

Argentina

This huge nation has a plethora of places to explore and things to do. You can hike around lakes and mountain, taste wines, visit museums and churches, ride a boat to a glacier or visit some of the biggest waterfalls in the world. If you like music and dance then Buenos Aires is a must visit with its live music fi ltering the streets at every turn. If you want to escape the crowds then the pretty colonial cities of Cordoba and Salta are worth a visit. Getting around Argentina is fairly easy and if you don’t like fl ying you can easily travel by bus, which is safe, aff ordable, and comfortable.