healthy active living

Guide to backpacking alone

To set out on a backpacking trip alone is a very bold step, and one that is simply not for everyone. Sometimes solo travel is borne out of choice, for others out of necessity because they haven’t got a travelling companion. It is often quite difficult to find someone in the same boat as us, who has either the time or the money to set off on that (usually) once in a lifetime trip.

There is no denying, travelling solo can be daunting as we lose the security of a familiar companion. However, if you’re waiting for a like-minded companion to accompany you, chances are you’ll never get around to it.

Going solo isn’t necessarily better or worse than going with others – it is just a different experience altogether. Backpacking with others is a social event which allows us to get to know our friends or partners in a different setting, while going it alone can be a liberating experience and offers a chance to meet completely new people.

As with most choices we make, there are pros and cons to consider. So here’s the low-down on the good and bad side of backpacking solo, so you can make a reasoned choice about whether it really is for you.

Pros...

Backpacking solo is liberating. You are free from everything and start from a clean slate with everyone you meet.
No need to compromise. You can have the freedom to choose when, where and how you travel without having to consult anyone else.
Being alone on the road forces you to lose many of your inhibitions to get out and get chatting to completely new people.
If alone, you generally find that you become more approachable to others too, and they will come to you, whereas if you were in a group, they probably would not.
Solo backpacking is often life-changing, immersing you in many cultures, and gives you quality time to think and get to know yourself.
You don’t get fed up with hanging around with the same person months on end!

Cons...

You will be lonely at one point or another.
A solo backpacker is more vulnerable. You could be an easier target for someone unscrupulous, or if you have an accident while in an isolated area, there is no-one to get you out of the situation but yourself.
You will have to take extra safety steps, such as letting people know where you are planning to go next.
When alone, you lose the efficiency of load sharing for carrying items such a tents or other shared items.
Your trip can work out more expensive as you have no one to share costs with.
You may miss out on sharing remarkable moments with someone you know well.

It is worth bearing in mind that if you set out alone, you do not have to be alone for long. There are websites that can put fellow backpackers in touch with one another, so they can arrange (if they wish), to meet up at a particular location during part of their itinerary.

It is really your choice about how much time you want to spend alone, so you can tailor your trip to include elements of spending time alone and with others.