Walking holidays: How to be alone without being lonely

The idea of solo travel has been romanticised for good reason. Many dream of it, but then back out when the reality of being all alone in a foreign country is too daunting of a prospect.

The freedom to wake up when you want, eat where you want, and change plans on a whim is very liberating. But the fear of loneliness is real. Do you eat in restaurants by yourself? What if you don’t understand how the metro works? What if you lose your wallet?

These fears are even more pronounced when considering a more rural trip. So, let’s take a look at how to overcome these fears when you can’t just rely on being in a city center full of police stations and tourist information kiosks.

Finding community 

The irony of walking a famous pilgrim trail like Camino de Santiago is that it’s often more social than if you go to the big city or compared to going with a friend. Because you’re vulnerable in nature or a quiet village, fellow pilgrims are eager to interact with each other. Many other walkers are solo too, and they’re quick to make friends – especially as you all have the same itinerary unlike in normal city hostels.

With the same adversities, like sore feet and rainfall, you can share experiences more easily. This is why you want to pick a fairly well known trail and avoid going off season.

Choosing the right environment 

When alone, the landscape becomes your companion, so making a good choice of backdrop is needed. For a first-time soloist, high-altitude mountain passes or dense, uninhabited forests are perhaps a bit too daunting – and for good reason.

Instead, head to open horizons where you can see your destination. The sound of water is also something you can anchor your mind to. A path that hugs the shoreline has an openness that is comforting, but it’s also easy to avoid getting lost. Is the sea still on your left? Then you’re heading the right direction.

Portuguese Coastal route is popular for solo trekkers for this very reason – and because you’re never too far from a village. It’s less of a wilderness survival test and more of a meditative stroll across the beach. 

Cutting out the logistical stress

A huge issue for solo travellers, especially if they’re inexperienced, is the mental load of getting around in an unfamiliar place. New currency, a new emergency phone number to remember, language barriers, and often unclear bus timetables.

Having an offline language pack installed on your phone helps, as does an AI assistant like ChatGPT. But using an operator like Santiago Ways can mean having your hotels pre-booked for you, as well as a 24/7 support line to contact if anything goes wrong.

Knowing that you have a guaranteed bed waiting for you and is a huge peace of mind, especially for a trail like Camino where many hostels do not take bookings. Knowing you wont arrive at 8pm in a tiny village with no spare rooms – this alone is the nudge many people need to take the leap.