Solo travel is a truly life-changing experience.

I honestly believe it’s something that everyone should do at least once in their lifetime. And once you’ve got the bug, you’ll want to solo travel again, and again, and again.

It’s a time of personal development. Yes, you get to learn about new places, see new things, try new food… But, more importantly, you get to learn about who you are, who you really are. You become stronger, more resilient, and more independent. Nothing will faze you when you get back from your travels… because you had to face it all alone when you were away. Sure, there are downsides to solo travel, but the upsides completely outweigh them, in my experience. See what lessons I learned and how I changed during my solo travel experience here.

So, let’s say you’ve decided to solo travel – I’m so happy for you, it really is going to be the best time of your life! But…

Where do you solo travel to first?

Where’s safe? Where’s close? Will I meet like-minded travellers? Can I solo travel with a low budget?

To inspire you, I’ve put together a list of places that I’ve solo travelled to, or places that I would like to solo travel to at some point. Catering to a variety of locations, budgets, and time-frames, hopefully you’ll be able to find something to inspire you to plan your solo adventure!

What to do if you're travelling and you feel homesick

EXPLORE SOLO TRAVEL TIPS & ADVENTURES ON MY BLOG HERE

Here are 14 solo adventures you must go on in your lifetime…

1. Backpack the East Coast of Australia

A very popular solo destination, and for good reason. Australia is a safe destination full of solo travellers alike, and no language barrier, Australia is a great place for beginner solo travellers. Check out my complete guide to solo travel in Australia here.

A roadtrip from Sydney to Newcastle... Stockton Sand Dunes and Mount Tomaree | Where's Mollie? A travel and adventure lifestyle blog

The Perfect Coastal Bike Ride Melbourne, Australia, St Kilda | Where's Mollie? A Travel and Adventure Lifestyle Blog

A GUIDE TO THE WHITSUNDAYS – WHICH BOAT SHOULD YOU BOOK?

Exploring Australia with WMGT adventures

A 1-day roadtrip from Byron Bay: Minyon Falls, Lake Ainsworth and Lennox Head

6 walks to go on in and around Sydney, Australia

EXPLORE AUSTRALIA ON MY BLOG HERE

My good friend Sammy owns RatPack Travel (a discounted booking platform). The team at RatPack are ready to help you plan and book all your trips and transport for your adventure down under. Click here to send RatPack a WhatsApp message (+61 450381801) and start planning your trip today. Don’t forget you can use my code MOLLIE10 for 10% off any trip or transport booking you make.

2. Marvel at the Northern Lights in Iceland.

I imagine this is on most people’s bucket lists… and I’m not surprised! I did a 4-day road trip in Iceland a couple of years ago but I never actually saw the lights so, at some point, I’d love to go back. Iceland hosts some of the most surreal landscapes I’ve ever set my eyes on, and it’s a wonderful place to get some perspective and to get inspired.

Check out Iceland on my blog here.

3. Take surfing lessons in Portugal.

We develop our sense of self and our personalities through exposing ourselves to new experiences. This could be solo travelling for the first time, getting to know a new culture, learning a new skill… or all three combined!

4. Go on safari in Kenya.

An amazing place to catch the Big 5! Honestly, going on safari is not as expensive as I once thought. There are affordable ways to do it and I’ve shared all my tips and tricks in my Kenya blog posts linked below.

Check out my Kenyan adventures here.

Five days, three national parks, one epic safari in Kenya| Where's Mollie? A travel and adventure lifestyle blog

Travelling in Kenya: Top tips, visas and taking Malaria tablets | Where's Mollie? A travel and adventure lifestyle blog

5. Go Christmas shopping in New York.

Visiting New York would be an unforgettable experience at any time of year… but imagine how magical it would be at Christmas! Lights, trees, and Christmas cheer all round… yes please!

6. Interrail through Europe’s major cities.

I’d love to do a trip that includes (in no particular order):

Paris. Check out my Paris bucket list here.
Berlin. Check out my 48-hour Berlin guide here.
Brussels. Read about my solo trip through Belgium here.
Amsterdam. Get Amsterdam inspiration from my complete guide to the city here.
Copenhagen. See what I got up to in Copenhagen in this blog post.
Vienna
Budapest
Athens
Rome. Have a look at my weekend guide to Rome here.
Sevilla

Get your Interrail pass here.

SIX CITIES IN SEVEN DAYS: STOCKHOLM, COPENHAGEN AND OSLO

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7. Try a staycation in the UK!

Whether you’d prefer a city break in London or a breath of fresh air in the countryside, we really do have everything right under our noses! Adventure is right on your doorstep… you just have to find it!

A weekend at Hawkchurch Resort and Spa, South Devon

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Top tips for travelling solo as a female

EXPLORE LONDON ON MY BLOG HERE

8. Volunteer.

Volunteering in the Philippines was a life-changing point on my solo travels in 2016, and I’d encourage all of you to do the same! Find an ethical way to volunteer (rather than giving into voluntourism) and give something back to the community we are fortunate enough to travel in. Check out Robyn’s experience volunteering in Thailand here.

9. Visit the Emerald Isle, Ireland.

Close enough to home to go for the weekend, far enough away that it feels like a holiday, Ireland is a great destination for your first solo trip!

Check out Ireland on my blog here.

The ultimate guide to a Dublin city break

10. Island hop in Thailand

The Thai islands are stunning, and offer everything from a night of partying to some quiet beach time.

Check out Thailand on my blog here.

11. Take on the world’s best day hike in New Zealand.

New Zealand in general is a great place to explore solo, but I’d definitely recommend booking onto the Tongariro Alpine Crossing hike! I completed it during my solo travels in New Zealand. It’s the best hike I’ve ever been on and I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Check out my experience here.

Lessons I Learnt And Ways That Solo Travel Changed Me | Where's Mollie? A Travel and Adventure Lifestyle Blog

EXPLORE NEW ZEALAND ON MY BLOG HERE

12. Breathe in the mountain air in Canada.

A place I would love to call home, Canada really does have it all. Cities, mountains, lakes, wildlife and more, all itching to be explored.

A 1 week road trip itinerary through the Kootenay Rockies, Canada

A 7-day Canadian Rockies road trip itinerary

EXPLORE CANADA ON MY BLOG HERE

13. Get involved with the hustle and bustle in Hong Kong.

A city full of energy where east meets west, you won’t run out of things to do in this vibrant city! From the night street markets, to the amazing food scene, and walks in nature just outside the city centre, there’s plenty of opportunity for adventure.

14. Enjoy a luxury beach break in Indonesia.

Indonesia is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been to, and has something for every traveller, whether you’re someone that wants to meet other solo travellers on the ever-busier island of Bali, or would prefer to go somewhere off the beaten track.