This one is for all the girls in their 20s or 30s who dream of travelling but are too scared to take the leap on their own, even though you’ve probably followed over 100 female travel accounts on TikTok and already looked into things like SafetyWing for peace of mind.
I get it. I’ve been there.
When I told a colleague back in 2017 that I was quitting my job to travel the world, the response I got was, “You’ll be back in 2 weeks.”
I’m not going to lie, the comment disheartened me. It was frustrating that this was what she believed. And it was annoying that a part of me agreed with her.
On the outside, I was super chilled about going travelling, but on the inside, I was petrified.
I’d never been outside of Europe on my own. (Apart from a work trip to New York a year earlier, but I wouldn’t exactly call that “travelling” as NYC is so similar to London).
But I wasn’t about to let someone else’s belief hold me back from my dreams.
Those estimated 2 weeks turned into 5 months in Southeast Asia and another 12 months in South America. I’ve since built myself a digital nomad lifestyle and have been travelling full-time since October 2021.
And there’s no way I’d be where I am today if I hadn’t overcome the fear that was holding me back in the first place and taken that leap.
Here are the exact ways I made it happen and how you can too.
Is fear holding you back? The signs to look out for
Do you ever feel like you’re holding yourself back from what you truly want, but can’t quite figure out why?
You keep putting off big decisions because the thought of change is overwhelming.
You’ve stayed in the same job, relationship and routine for years, even though deep down, you know it’s no longer aligned with what you truly want.
You’ve got BIG dreams, but they feel too risky, so you keep putting them off.
You settle for what feels “safe” because making the wrong choice puts you in a freeze response.
I hate to break it to you, but fear is quietly holding you back.
Fear can look like:
- Always second-guessing yourself
- Saying ‘no’ to incredible opportunities because they scare you
- Worrying too much about what others think
- Self-doubt
- Procrastination and putting off important decisions
- Settling for less because it feels “safe”
- Avoiding risks even when they align with your goals and dreams
- Resisting change and staying stuck in a life that sucks
If you’re experiencing one or more of the above issues, just know that you are not alone.
There are a lot of other women out there going through the motions, too. I was one of those women. But I managed to overcome the fear I was facing, break free from my comfort zone and go after my wildest dreams.
Here’s how…
5 ways to let go of fear and travel solo
We all know that leaving your comfort zone can feel scary and overwhelming.
In fact, it’s one of the main reasons why we stay stuck.
We fear being judged, so we play it safe and hold ourselves back from what we truly want.
We fear financial instability, so we stay in a job that drains us.
We fear being on our own, so we settle for unhealthy relationships.
But once you ease the fear and embrace the unknown, you grow so much as a person. I believe it’s where the magic happens. The magic is getting to a place where you feel completely and utterly at peace within yourself.
Besides, I don’t know about you, but when I do stuff that scares me, I feel so much more fulfilled.
So trust me when I say this…
Life looks totally different when you finally step out of the comfort zone holding you back and take the leap towards your wildest dreams.
I’m not an expert in overcoming fear.
To be honest, I don’t think anyone is, as we all experience fear differently. For me, I struggled with a fear of failure, judgment and doubt.
The tips below were the exact steps I took to help ease this fear.
I now share them with you in the hopes they will help you in some way. Whether that is to inspire you to solo travel in your thirties and twenties, offer support or help you feel less alone.
Feel free to bookmark this page so you can come back to it whenever you need to.
1 | Identify whether you actually want to travel
Unpopular opinion, but solo travelling is not for everyone.
No matter how tempting it is to quit your 9 to 5 and travel the world solo, you need to 100% trust that you are making the right decision.
Because let me tell you, solo travel is not as easy as it looks.
You need to have the clarity and confidence it takes to stop questioning whether you’re on the right path or not.
You need to have the courage and resilience it takes to tackle any obstacles or setbacks that come your way.
You need to have a belief in yourself to make it happen.
So do not skip this step.
Before you commit to an around-the-world trip, I encourage you to first explore whether it’s something you truly want.
To do this, I suggest getting clear on your core values.
This will allow you to uncover the truth of whether you truly value things like adventure, freedom and discovery or if you just like the idea of them.
2 | Do the mindset work
I’ve heard a lot of stories from women saying how much they hated solo travel. They spent their entire trip crying because they couldn’t handle being alone.
And I get it. Solo travelling can be daunting, overwhelming and exhausting. Like I said above, solo travel also isn’t right for everyone.
That’s why once you’ve established whether travel is the right path for you, it’s then essential to cultivate a healthy mindset to go with it.
Without the support of a positive and resilient mental space, you will simply crumble under the pressure of the daily challenges and obstacles that come with solo travelling.
Journal, practice gratitude, repeat affirmations, get comfortable with being by yourself, build self-confidence and lean into your strengths. Do what you need to do to mentally prepare for your trip and get the most out of solo travel.
Future travelling you will thank you for the work you put in now.
3 | Find the root cause of your fears
Fear of solo travel holds so many of us back. It even held me back for a while.
But what I did to break through my limiting beliefs was to journal.
Journaling is one of those simple practices that has powerful results.
It helps you make sense of your thoughts and feelings while giving you the space to open up without judgment. Think of it as having a conversation with yourself, where you can safely explore your fears and doubts.
When I was experiencing fear back before I took the leap, it manifested as inaction, procrastination and resistance. To uncover the root cause of this fear, I journaled it out.
First, I identify the initial obstacle and then dig deeper.
I repeatedly ask myself, “And then what would happen?” until I get to the core issue behind my fear.
From there, I can come up with a solution rather than continue to cover it up and hold myself back
HOT TIP 🔥 Ease the fear with the right travel insurance
One of the most common fears about solo travel is something going wrong when you’re far from home. That fear is real — and valid. But it’s also something you can prepare for.
In my case, having a safety net made all the difference. I use SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance Complete, which covers both unexpected medical needs (like accidents or illness) and ongoing health support — things like mental health, maternity care, and routine checkups. It also includes travel protection for lost luggage, delays, and more.
It’s built for long-term travellers and solo adventurers, so it actually fits this lifestyle, not just a 10-day holiday.
No insurance will remove all your fear, but the right one can help you stop overthinking the “what-ifs” and start focusing on the adventure ahead.
4 | Get comfortable spending time with yourself
Self-love is the foundation for everything. Without it, nothing else makes sense.
There is no point going halfway across the world to travel solo if you hate your own company. You’ll just spend the whole time panicking about making friends and fall apart from loneliness in the quiet moments.
Solo travel becomes so much easier when you wholeheartedly accept who you are.
Learning to love yourself involves peeling back the layers of external expectations and getting to know your authentic self. It’s about knowing your true worth so you no longer need to look to others for validation.
So, whatever you do from this moment forward, do not skip this step.
Take yourself out on solo dates and get comfortable spending time with yourself.
Before you know it, you’ll be stepping into a new, fearless version of you.
5 | Go on small solo trips
Travelling solo becomes a heck of a lot easier the more you do it. I promise.
And we all know confidence comes from doing, not from sitting and waiting for the right time.
So practice. Practice some more. And practice again.
Before you commit to a 5-month long-distance trip, I suggest starting small.
Head on a day trip somewhere local, or take a weekend trip to somewhere you’ve already been.
Group trips are a great way to ease into long-term travel since they take the pressure off planning and finding people to hang out with.
And before you head off on that first solo trip, one thing worth sorting out is your data.
The last thing you want is to land somewhere new with no signal and no idea where you’re going. I switched to an international eSIM recently and it’s honestly one of those things I wish I’d known about sooner.
10/10 recommend.
Bonus | Reframe “I’m travelling by myself” to “I’m travelling with myself”
Because there’s a big difference.
Your mind believes what you tell it. So if you constantly tell people you’re by yourself and hanging out by yourself, you’ll forever believe you’re by yourself.
But if you start telling yourself that you are fearless, worthy and capable, then you’ll start believing this too.
If you’ve done the inner mindset work from step 2 and love the thought of your own company, then you’re basically travelling with your BFF—You.
So why not start calling it that?
It’s a simple shift that will work wonders on your self-esteem and confidence.
I’m travelling with myself, not by myself.
Final thoughts
Solo travel is an intentional choice.
It’s about standing up and showing the people around you that you are capable. Instead of putting your dreams on hold out of fear, you’re prioritising your own happiness.
Negative comments and self-doubt can hold us back, but the only real limits are the ones we place on ourselves. If you wholeheartedly believe in yourself and stay focused on your why then you can make anything happen. Trust me.
Remember, the only person who needs to recognise your greatness is you.
Do what makes you feel alive, and never settle for anything less.
You are more than capable of far more than you realise.
Let go of outdated beliefs that subconsciously tell you otherwise and build the BIG life you deserve.
Now is the time. Take the leap. Book that flight.
You’ve got this,
Thalia xx
