Solo travel is an exhilarating experience everyone should try once

One of the best moments of my life was when I was standing on the deck of a ferry boat in Aurlandsfjord, Norway, travelling through one of the world’s most picturesque fjords. 

As I took a deep breath of the crisp fresh air, surrounded by snow-capped mountains with the colourful buildings of the fishing villages on the horizon, I felt incredibly grateful to witness something so beautiful. 

It was the first time I ever teared up from being so happy. I never would have had this experience if I didn’t have the courage to travel alone. 

I’m proud to be part of the growing global trend of solo-travellers. 

According to a 2018 study commissioned by Intrepid Travel, out of 1,000 Canadian travellers polled, 41 per cent said they’ve vacationed alone. 

Accommodation booking platform HostelWorld reports a 42 per cent increase in solo travel bookings between 2015 and 2017.

Solo travel is an increasing trend because “millennials are very independent,” said Donna Lee-Rosen, a professor at George Brown College’s (GBC) school of hospitality and tourism management. 

Solo travel is a great opportunity to visit destinations your loved ones might not be interested in seeing and to make the most of your school breaks, Lee-Rosen explained.

From personal experience, I learned that solo travel is also a great opportunity for growth. 

Travelling alone in my early twenties taught me the importance of independence. 

Through solo travel, I learned how to trust in my choices, listen to my intuition and make myself happy. 

Travelling solo in a country where nobody knows your name is equal parts terrifying and exhilarating, but it gives you an indescribable adrenaline rush I have since grown to crave. 

It can be daunting to be responsible for yourself when you’re in a new place, but I guarantee you’ll come back from your trip with a newfound sense of resiliency. 

This is one of the many reasons why solo travel has been one of the best investments I could make in myself. 

After all, the most important relationship you will have in this lifetime is the relationship you have with yourself.  

I was younger than most when I learned just how important it is to not procrastinate on your dreams.  

On the day before my sixteenth birthday, my dad died from a rare form of cancer. 

This loss taught me that there are no guarantees of what tomorrow might bring. Make the most of your precious time. 

If you have the financial resources to travel, don’t miss out on the endless beauty this world has to offer just because you’re afraid of exploring it alone.  After all, our health and physical stamina doesn’t last forever. 

Travel when you’re young and able: travelling as a 25-year-old is a very different experience than travelling as a 65-year-old. 

If you really want to do something, don’t wait around for others. Remember, you are braver than you think and are more capable than you ever thought possible. 

So what are you waiting for? Book that trip.