First Solo Trip Guide: How to Start Solo Travelling When You are Scared

Going for your first solo trip can be scary.

If you are reading this, you are one step ahead of your peers. You are taking steps to conquer your fear and going for your first solo trip. I’ve shared the best reasons to solo travel here.

Being based in Malaysia, solo travelling is unusual. I often get asked, “Are you not scared?”

I can tell you, fear is normal. I have been solo travelling since 2012. Even after being inspired to visit less-known countries, I still fear.

Hiked up Mount Tampa in Brasov, Romania with a group of solo travellers I had just met!

So, here’s an 8-step guide for you to embark on and start solo travel.

DISCLOSURE
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First Solo Travel Guide: 8 Steps to Start Solo Travelling When You are Scared

Step 1 – Identifying the real source of your fear & Know your WHY

Grab a pen and paper and list down all the reasons that scare you for your first solo travel.

Then, write down the reasons you want to solo travel.

My advice to you: identify your top fear for solo travelling and the main reason why you want to solo travel.

For an individual travelling solo for the first time, common questions may include:

Is solo travelling safe?
What if something happens and no one is there to help me?
What if I overspend and regret it?
What if my family does not approve?

All your questions are valid. However, notice that these are all “what if”. So, follow through this guide for a successful solo trip.

Despite solo travelling since 2012, I still fear for my safety. I tell you, it is normal as a human. However, the more experience you have, the more confident you are in handling the next situation.

With a 9-5 job, I make it a point to solo travel annually. It rejuvenates. It inspires. It gives me the opportunity to meet people I would not be able to meet if I had not travelled solo.

Coffee and writing my thoughts and fears on my notebook.

Step 2 – Identify your Budget, Travel Availability and What You Enjoy Doing

Knowing your budget, travel availability and what you enjoy helps you in your planning.

This is why:

Budget – With your fixed budget, you can be confident that you can afford this trip and avoid overspending
Travel availability – work duty calls. You will seek endorsement from your boss to request vacation days
What you enjoy doing – I believe that if you enjoy doing an activity, then time will pass so quickly that you will not even notice it! This will guide you when planning your itinerary and narrow down the potential destination list.

For me, I enjoy the outdoors and hiking. To date, joining the Ha Giang Loop tour in Vietnam, and hiking the highest peak in Nong Khiaw, Laos and watching the sunrise are my favourite experiences.

Budgeting and planning may be intimidating at first, but you will get through this!

Step 3 – Search For Destinations

In this step, be open-minded and keep your options open.

Open a browser and look for flight options on Skyscanner. Skyscanner is my best search tool when looking for flight opportunities.

In the destination search box, select “explore anywhere”.

In the departure and return date search box, select “flexible” and the months you intend to visit.

Once you’ve selected the above, your screen should be similar to my screenshot below.

This is how our screen should look

Based on the flight options available and your budget, select 2 countries that catch your attention. Do not fear if the countries do not speak English; you will be fine.

From my experience of solo travelling since 2012, I recommend some places in Asia:

Thailand – Bangkok and Chiang Mai
Vietnam – Da Nang, Hoi An and Hanoi
Malaysia – Kuala Lumpur, Penang
Singapore

These places are safe, tourist-friendly and have a large backpackers and Expat community.

Bangkok at sunset! One of my favourite views in the city

Step 4 – Do A Vibe Check

Open a new tab in your browser and do an image search of the 2 places you selected.

If you begin to become curious about what else is there to do and envision yourself when you’re there, then you have selected your solo trip destination!

WOOOHOO!!! I’m happy for you.

VIbe checking out Hoi An, Vietnam when planning my first solo travel after the Covid-19 pandemic

My first solo trip was to Singapore in 2012. I took the long distance bus and bought the ticket through Trip.com. This app has been my life saver for last minute flights and ground transports.

Step 5 – Read Travel Blogs

Reading through articles on travel blogs, just like this one gives you an idea on what to expect. Itineraries in the travel blogs are done and tested, which you can confidently trust.

On my recent trip to Seoraksan National Park in South Korea, I read an article that informed me step-by-step on what to do. However, there was some information that we still missing upon arriving in South Korea. This leads me to further share with you what I learnt to help you with your planning.

My favourite hike in South Korea! It was the best decision I made to visit Seoraksan National Park

Step 6 – Use AI to Craft Your Itinerary

Open another new tab in your search browser and go to your favourite AI tool.

For me, it is ChatGPT.

Copy this prompt into the search engine: “Act as a travel advisor, create a travel itinerary to [insert your selected destination’] for [travel availability] for a solo traveller”.

In bullet point form, include the following information to aid ChatGPT to provide a more crafted itinerary just for you. Doing this step will significantly reduce your fear and you will definitely feel more excited!

What you enjoy and dislike doing – such as hiking, shopping, eating, outdoors, visiting country landmarks, cafe hopping
Travel pace – such as always moving to different cities every few days or staying for a long time in the same location

Here’s an example of how I add my prompt to plan a solo travel itinerary.

Here’s me asking my travel advisor, ChatGPT

Here’s my valuable advice to you – do not fully pack your itinerary to maximise your time. Only have a maximum of 3 activities per day.

My reason is that with solo travelling, you never know who you will meet, and the next thing you know, you will be travelling together for the next few days.

Step 7 – Make Your Booking

Two important items to book: flights and accommodation.

Once you’ve booked your flights and accommodation, I’d like to wish you – CONGRATULATIONS!

This means two things:

You’re now going on your first solo trip!
You know how much budget you have left during your trip

My go-to search engines for booking flights and accommodation:

Flights

Trip.com
Skyscanner
Google Flights

Accommodation

My tips when booking your first accommodation after your arrival – check available transport options. If you flight arrives after sunset, I recommend booking an airport transfer through Trip.com to keep you safe

Booking my airport transfer from the airport to my home after arriving past midnight

Step 8 – Create A Packing List & Pack your Bags!

Grab a notepad and a pen. List down all the items that you have in mind to bring along for your solo trip. You need not finalise the packing list in one go. Take your time to list any items that come to mind.

This is my list of what I always bring on my solo travel.

My advice to you – from your packing list, do not pack 30% of the items listed. You may think that you need it, but you actually don’t.

Before you leave home, I recommend doing the following:

Take a photo of the picture page of your passport
Purchase a SIM card – so you’re connected and safe
Purchase travel insurance

Just a small backpack for my 3 weeks solo travel in Laos