My First Solo Trip Through Southeast Asia

Why I Finally Chose to Travel Solo

Southeast Asia has always felt like a second home to me.⁠‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‌⁠ Two years ago, I backpacked this region with a mixed group of friends, the kind of trip where you hop on night buses half-asleep, eat street food at 2am and laugh at things that make no sense. We visited temples, beaches, mountains, and chaotic cities, and I remember thinking the entire time “One day, I want to see this place through my own eyes, not through a group.”

There was a freedom in Southeast Asia that stayed with me long after I returned home. Life went back to normal, but the feeling never left, So two years later, I stopped overthinking, booked my flight, and committed to one full month alone. Just me, my backpack, and the person I was about to become.

The Reality of Solo Travel as a Woman

Before the trip, I was excited, but also terrified, I had so many questions:

Would I feel lonely?
Would I make friends?
Would I be safe?
Would I even enjoy my own company for that long?⁠‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‌⁠

I didn’t tell many people how nervous I actually was. But something inside me reminded me of how comfortable and safe Southeast Asia felt the first time, but I told myself “If I’m going to do this anywhere, it’s here.”

What surprised me was how quickly everything clicked into place.
When I travelled with friends years ago, I relied on everyone else without realising it. But travelling solo forced me to step up in the best way.

One of my first solo wins was navigating a huge airport alone in a different country with a huge language barrier. Another was taking public transport in Beijing which was complete unfamiliar city and I realised I didn’t need to panic because I could figure things out step by step. Even small moments, like ordering food in a new language or asking a stranger for directions, became tiny reminders that I’m more capable than I give myself credit for.

And that’s the secret of solo travel:
Your confidence doesn’t arrive before the trip it grows along the way.

What This Taught Me

1. You learn to trust yourself
It sounds cliché until you’re actually in a different country making decisions completely alone.⁠‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‌⁠
On this trip, I had moments where I had to trust my gut, like choosing which boat to take, which tour company looked safe, or which hostel felt right and who to trust around me.

There were moments where I thought, “I hope I’m doing this correctly,” and then I would figure it out. Every small win adds to your confidence.

2. You’re stronger than you thought
Solo travel forces you to handle situations you’d normally rely on others for.
I realised this the first time I arrived somewhere after a long journey, exhausted, hungry, and carrying my backpack in the heat. Instead of waiting for someone to help, I checked in, sorted my things, showered, and went out for food.

Even doing something as simple as walking into a restaurant alone made me feel proud.
You become stronger without noticing, it becomes your daily routine.

3. Freedom hits different when you’re alone
One of my favourite moments of the trip so far was deciding to wake up early without anyone complaining about it. I booked activities last-minute, extended stays when I loved a place, and moved on quickly when I didn’t.

When you travel solo, nobody rushes you.
Nobody slows you down.
Nobody questions your choices.
You get to live exactly how you want and that’s a feeling every woman deserves.

4. You make deeper connections
Funny enough, I’ve met more people travelling solo than I did on group trips.
You naturally open up because you have to. Other solo travellers do the same.

I’ve shared meals with travellers from all over the world. I’ve had long conversations during tours, met new friends at hostels, and experienced those beautiful “strangers who feel familiar” moments that only happen when you’re travelling.

When you’re alone, friendships become stronger and easier, everyone is on the same wavelength.

Why Every Girl Should Travel Solo at Least Once

This trip has already changed me in ways I didn’t expect and I’m still in the middle of it.⁠‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‌⁠ But one truth has become so clear.

Every woman deserves to experience solo travel at least once.
Not to prove a point.
Not to be “brave.”
Not to escape life.
But to meet herself.

You learn real confidence

Not the kind you pretend to have, the kind you build through small victories, independent decisions, and taking responsibility for your own journey.

The Start of Something Bigger

This solo journey is only the beginning for me.⁠‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‌⁠ It has already given me confidence, peace, clarity, and a renewed sense of who I am. And I truly believe every girl deserves to experience that feeling, even once.

Whether you’re curious, nervous, excited, or unsure, here’s what I want you to know:

If I can do it, you can too.
And the world is far more ready to welcome you than you think.

@roamwithfabs

More reading to help you plan: 16,095KM Away From Home, UK to Southeast Asia and China’s Travel Comeback.