TEGS | YEG TRAVELER 🇨🇦

I still remember the first time I seriously considered traveling alone. The idea was both thrilling and terrifying. My inner monologue was deafening: Would I feel lonely? Could I navigate unfamiliar cities on my own? Would I be safe? What if – blah, blah, blah.  

But something inside me knew that solo travel was exactly what I needed—a chance to challenge myself, grow, and experience life from a new perspective.

The Moment I Decided to Go Solo

It wasn’t a dramatic epiphany, but a quiet realization that I needed space to explore the world on my own terms. Maybe it was a certain life transition (lol, breakups do it!), or just a craving for adventure—I don’t remember the exact moment—but I do remember the feeling: a mixture of fear, anticipation and joy all in equal measure. Booking that first solo trip felt like stepping off a cliff, unsure if I’d soar or stumble (or completely chicken out and cancel the ticket!) 

Forcing Myself to Face My Fears

People routinely ask me: “Aren’t you scared to go alone?”

Uh, yeah! I have just learned to go ahead (with my scared-y pants on!) anyways.

Traveling alone comes with its share of fears. I will always have an undercurrent of worry about being lonely, getting lost, or being scared of wandering an unfamiliar city.

At first, every decision felt overwhelming: which train to take, where to eat, how to meet people safely. But as soon as I stepped off the plane, the fear began to fade. Each small success—figuring out a bus route, navigating a crowded street market, ordering coffee in a foreign language—built my confidence. What felt terrifying at first gradually became empowering.

My fear of not experiencing grand adventures merely because of self doubt now runs much deeper than the fear of getting lost or being lonely. I’ve also realized that when I step onto unfamiliar ground – it’s not that deep. Just try and find the best coffee of the day (and if not, try again the next day), use a smile to show gratitude (that’s a universal language), be self-aware to local customs, be gracious and kind – you don’t have to have it all figured out.

Lessons I Learned Along the Way (& I hope you get to experience one day!)

1. Confidence and Self-Reliance
   Navigating airports, bustling streets, and unknown destinations alone taught me to trust myself. I learned that I am capable of making decisions under pressure and handling situations I might have once relied on others to solve. Being able to trust your judgement and critical-thinking while in unfamiliar places is a freedom that is hard to explain. 
2. Embracing Solitude
   Being alone doesn’t have to mean being lonely. Solo travel gave me the rare gift of time with myself—to think, reflect, and really listen to my own thoughts without distraction. It’s in those quiet moments that I discovered what truly matters to me. Every travel day, the choice is mine with no pressure from others.
3. Connecting with People Differently
   Traveling alone forced me to reach out and connect with locals and fellow travelers in ways I might never have otherwise – I am naturally introverted and this is the hardest part – but has become my super power. Conversations that began as casual greetings has allowed me to collect friendships worldwide.
4. Flexibility and Adaptability
   Things rarely go exactly as planned when you’re traveling, especially solo. Delays, cancellations, or missed connections could have been frustrating—but instead, they became opportunities to go with the flow, explore unexpected paths, and learn resilience.

How Solo Travel Changed My Life

Solo travel didn’t just teach me about destinations—it taught me about myself. I have become more confident, adaptable, and willing to step outside my comfort zone. Through my travels, I have discovered a sense of freedom I hadn’t known before, and I learned to trust my instincts and decisions. Life has richer, and more full of possibility.

Advice for Anyone Considering Solo Travel

• Start small: Even a weekend trip or a nearby city can help build confidence. It does not have to be a trip abroad to start falling in love with the feeling of solo travel.
• Do your research—but leave room for spontaneity: Plan enough to feel safe, but let curiosity guide you. Have a plan, share it with your emergency contact back home and allow yourself space to wander.
• Book with a trusted travel company for a solo-ish experience: This is a great way to have a safety net, meet new people and get the most out of your first experience abroad. (G-Adventures is my go-to tour company!)
• Prioritize safety: Trust your instincts, stay aware, and take common-sense precautions. Don’t let the fresh air and freedom cloud your judgement, become familiar with local customs, laws and risks – don’t forget you are a guest in a country that may not reflect what you are used to. (Also, a shoutout to my Mama who remains my emergency contact with a digital folder of all my travel information!)
• Document the journey: Keep a journal or take photos. Reflecting on your experiences amplifies growth and memories. Being able to share with my friends back home (typically via Instagram) is the ultimate gift of connection. When I book trips now, my close friends and family comment “Yay, we get to go to “X” this year!” as so many follow along and live vicariously through my mash up of updates.

Solo travel isn’t just about seeing new places—it’s about discovering yourself. That first step into the unknown might feel scary, but it has the power to change your life in ways you never imagined.

Traveling alone taught me who I am, what I value, and that sometimes, the best adventures are the ones we take for ourselves. In the quiet moments of travel days I often think [of my late grandparents] “Wow, wonder if Grandma and Grandpa would ever have believed this would be my life?”.

I have deep gratitude for the life that I’ve created, for the calculated risks I’ve taken, the people I’ve met along the way and most of all – the privilege of our generation, to see and experience so much that other before us would not have dreamed possible.

It’s a big world, if your curiosity has been gnawing at you – I encourage you to book that ticket, sis!

Now, I should probably go pack as I prepare to jet off to Bolivia!

Photos in this blog post are from trips on G-Adventures tours – in Ecuador, Zanzibar, Tanzania & Zambia!