The Rise of Solo Travel: Embracing Independence on the Road
The allure of exploring the world on one’s own terms is gaining serious traction. In 2025, solo travel experienced an unprecedented surge, with more individuals embarking on journeys by themselves than in any preceding year. This burgeoning trend is being significantly propelled by women, who, according to recent research, now constitute the majority of solo travellers.
While the vast majority of these solo adventures unfold without a hitch, the way women approach travel plays a crucial role in ensuring their safety and enjoyment. They are more inclined to undertake thorough pre-trip planning, meticulously organising travel insurance and keeping physical copies of vital documents. Furthermore, women often opt for flights and trains that arrive at their destinations during daylight hours, a seemingly small detail that can significantly enhance a sense of security.
The proactive approach extends to avoiding potential risks. Women travelling solo are more likely to steer clear of exploring unfamiliar areas at night, walking back to their accommodation after dark, or initiating conversations with strangers. This constant, often subconscious, adjustment of behaviour, made to navigate the world more safely, is something many men rarely consider. Despite these precautions, a startling statistic reveals that nearly one in four women (23 per cent) report experiencing inappropriate behaviour or sexual harassment during their travels, even after accounting for all these safety measures.
Personal Journeys: Tales of Adventure and Resilience
My own solo travel experiences, spanning from my university days until the arrival of my first child, have furnished me with a treasure trove of memories. These vivid recollections often resurface during long train journeys, particularly when my phone battery has depleted or I’ve inadvertently left my book behind.
Among these cherished moments are my early twenties backpacking trip through Nepal, where I forged new friendships that led to shared trekking adventures, and a captivating journey through Morocco. There, I navigated bus routes from the coast to the majestic Atlas Mountains and back. My most extensive solo expedition occurred in my late twenties, a six-month odyssey that began in India, wound through South-East Asia, and culminated on the awe-inspiring Karakoram Highway.
While I’ve shared countless wonderful experiences with friends, there’s an undeniable and unique excitement, a palpable adrenaline rush, that accompanies solo travel. It is, in its truest sense, a profoundly liberating experience.
Navigating Challenges: Lessons Learned on the Road
However, my solo adventures, like those of many others, haven’t been entirely without their challenges. In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, I became the target of an elaborate scam, involving an exorbitant restaurant bill presented by a rather intimidating owner.
Another memorable, albeit terrifying, experience was a bus journey in China. As we hurtled at breakneck speed along a mountain road with vertiginous drops, I found myself closing my eyes, unable to bear witness to the perilous scenery. There were also numerous instances of stomach ailments that left me feeling profoundly lonely, lacking anyone to fetch a simple bottle of Coke. These, I often reflect, are all part of the rich tapestry of experience.
Yet, one particular incident in Morocco still resonates with me. After striking up a conversation with a young man in Fes and accepting his invitation for tea at his home, I found myself being persistently followed around the city. My initial naivety led me to believe this was an opportunity to glimpse Moroccan family life, and I was hesitant to decline what seemed like a kind gesture. While his behaviour at his home was entirely appropriate, his subsequent actions – waiting outside my hostel daily and shadowing me – began to feel unsettling. At the time, I may not have fully recognised it as stalking, or perhaps I was consciously trying to avoid causing offence to someone who had shown me hospitality.
Consequently, I didn’t directly tell him to leave, nor did I seek assistance. The thought of who to approach for help never truly occurred to me. Instead, I opted for a swift departure. I booked the earliest bus ticket out of the city and felt an immense wave of relief when the individual, who had appeared at the bus station at midnight to witness my leaving, did not board the bus.
Empowering Future Travellers: Advice for the Road Ahead
Reflecting on that experience, I often ponder what advice I would offer my younger self. I would unequivocally state that accepting an invitation to a stranger’s home in a foreign country, where the potential for misinterpretation is amplified, was a miscalculation. In my own country, the UK, I would never have entertained such a proposition.
My recommendations to that 20-year-old traveller, and indeed to all solo adventurers, would be threefold.
- Trust Your Gut Instinct: Be acutely aware that your “holiday head” can sometimes cloud your perception of risk. If a situation feels off, or “creepy,” it almost certainly is. Honour your intuition and find a polite yet firm way to decline or disengage.
Seek Assistance When Needed: If a person or a situation feels threatening, do not hesitate to ask for help. There is absolutely no shame in doing so. In fact, most people are more than willing to lend a hand to someone in distress. Reach out to your hostel manager, fellow travellers, or even the local authorities. It’s always prudent, however, to research Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advice regarding the likely response of police in your specific destination.
Embrace Bystander Intervention: I recently completed street harassment training, which introduced me to the five D’s of bystander intervention: Distract, Delegate, Document, Delay, and Direct. These are all effective strategies for supporting someone experiencing harassment. According to the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, while only a quarter of those who experience harassment report receiving assistance, over 80 per cent stated that when intervention did occur, it made a significant positive difference.
My final piece of advice to my younger self, and to anyone contemplating a solo journey, is simple: “Go for it!” Solo travel offers profound enrichment and invaluable life lessons. It is humbling, thrilling, and ultimately, reassuring. The world is teeming with extraordinary places and remarkable people. Don’t let fear hold you back. Instead, be prepared and empowered.
Katherine Atkinson, CEO of the Safer Tourism Foundation, is dedicated to highlighting the disparities in travel experiences between women and men, and the unique risks women often face. For further insights and resources, visit safertourism.org.uk/she-travels-safe.
