Hi, I’m 28(M) this year and I have always wanted to travel a country completely on my own, experience the serenity of traveling alone, not as a tourist ticking boxes, but to genuinely experience the solitude, freedom, and perspective that comes with solo travel.
What I’m unsure about is how to approach it.
Should I plan everything in advance ? Like places, activities, experiences or arrive with only a loose framework and let each day unfold organically?
I’m an outgoing person who can carry out deep conversations when the connection is right, also can just sit alone on a beach by a fire, just existing. I’m up for almost anything adventurous (within reasons haha), and I want this trip to span the full spectrum I guess, adrenaline, wildness, stillness, human connection, and introspection.
I’d say my goal isn’t just to see places, it’s to learn perspective.
I’m planning this for 2027, likely for about a week, with a budget of AUD $2–3k, so affordability matters for me.
My questions:
1.What’s the best way to approach a solo trip like this ? structured planning vs improvisation?
2.Which country would offer a true once in a lifetime experience within that budget?
- Any advice on how to balance adventure, connection, and solitude on a short trip?
I’d really appreciate hearing from people who’ve done something similar or have insights to share.
Thanks in advance.
if you're an aussie, definitely recommend going around SE asia - i'm from the UK and went to vietnam last april, absolutely awesome place.
my brother is currently in thailand at a muay thai camp - says it's also great.
i'd recommend thailand, vietnam, cambodia, indonesia, etc. they're all relatively safe (nowhere is 100% safe!) and lots of chances to interact with something likely completely "foreign" to you, as well as having a lot of people nearby who are english-speaking (lots of aussies and brits)
it's relatively cheap once you're there, and you can do all sorts. fitness/training camps, yoga retreats, hikes, motorbike tours, you name it. it's definitely the best for you with your budget and requirements! especially great for an intro to solo travel :)
Thailand's honestly perfect for what you're describing - you can literally book a hostel for the first few nights then just wing it from there. The visa situation is super chill for Aussies and you'll meet heaps of other solo travelers without it feeling like a gap year crowd
Thailand is just too good to make it a first destination. After visiting Thailand all other SE countries will make you compare and eventually be disappointed. I would recommend starting off with something else
how do you get your flair 🫨
looks like they've disabled it, but you used to be able to edit your flairs :)
i'm way beyond 21 countries now!
I am a bit familiar with SE cultures but always been a fan of Muay Thai camps. It’s one of the things i want to explore , hopefully soon. Thanks for your recommendation mate
no worries!
yeah defo recommend a muay thai camp - you can jump between them (my gfs dad does this) to see more of thailand and meet more people, or stay at the same one (my brother does this) to really get to know people and the camp
safe travels!
"serenity of traveling alone, not as a tourist ticking boxes"
these are not mutually exclusive concepts. I think you'll find that many touristy places already have the "eat pray love" branch of tourism set up for tourists.
There’s some very cheap solo travel group guided trips in Japan for that cost.
In most other countries you’d be looking at some quite drab hostels for that cost, but Japanese hostels (and Ryokens) are incredibly well done. They know their craft.
Flights need to be factored in, but I expect they’re cheaper from Oz than they are where I am (UK).
It’s a cliche at this point — and please ignore everything social media says about it — but Japan is a true eye opener. Obviously, mixed feelings for those living and working there. But as a tourist you are really well looked after, and foreign currencies converted to Yen go a long way.
Edit: forgot to add any company info. I’ve had good trips with Intrepid and G Adventures.
Last month I was seriously considering Japan for this year. Somewhere I feel like that country would be a country for me to pick as my destination. May I ask how long you spent there and what would be one thing you would definitely recommend to try over there ! Japan is going heavy on my list tbh hahha
I’ve been there twice — first time was only for a few days as I was on my way to Taiwan.
The second time I was there for 3 weeks. Met loads of Australians — got the impression it’s a pretty convenient destination for you guys if you want to travel a little further than Indonesia.
If I had to boil my entire trip to one experience, it would be Miyajima (just off the coast from Hiroshima). If you Google Image search it, you might recognise the main Torii gate immediately (in fact I think it’s the main Wiki image for “Torii shrine” lol).
It’s sounds very touristy — and it is during the peak tourism season (March/April) — but it’s quite out of the way for it to still be bearable and pleasant. It has a mountain trek called Mount Misen (only 535m), which funnily enough none of the Instagram tourists bother with, and has a cable car if the climb/climb down looks challenging. I was personally spent after the climb, so the cable car back down was like an answer from God.
I also just found Hiroshima to be a very special place given its history, and to see it thriving from the top of Mt Misen on a sunny day was quite profound. With the sun at its highest point in the sky, it’s not too difficult to image the split-second moment of an atomic bomb would look like and the scope of the devastation there.
That being said, and while it’s great to have a few focal points on your trips to aim for, my fondest memories of Japan are actually the in-between moments. Darting in and out of the Combini shops for a quick snack. Navigating around Shinkansen stations. Attempting broken Japanese to the locals and having them smile because I made some effort to use the local dialect. They really appreciate this stuff, because the bad tourists really have made a name for themselves.
Such a special place. Genuinely thinking of moving there.
Moving there ? It means you really enjoyed it aye ! I spent 6 years in china. I lived , worked there. So when it comes to blend and be with people embracing their culture , I understand the essence. I also appreciate your effort of spitting Japanese, that was a good sport of ya ! Looks like I gotta make a “plan with room” now hahah.
Thanks mate.
It’s great and you won’t regret it. Easy to get around, lots to see and zero jet lag as it’s directly north!
improvisation or strict planning depends on location and what you want to do and it's quite a big range between the two "extremes".
in theory, you can research everything but not plan anything. I like to know what are my options before I come to a place but I rather decide what exactly to do and when on the spot.
though on some occasions you'd want to books some stuff/transportation in advance if it's something that sells out and it's important for you to see.
I think your instinct is right not to over structure it, have anchors, a base, a few must sees and let the days breathe. That’s usually where perspective shows up with that budget and time, somewhere culturally rich but easy to navigate solo would work well. Japan especially surprised me in how peaceful yet stimulating it felt alone. For balancing connection, I like having the option to meet people casually, apps like Pangea app can be useful when you want a shared experience without committing your whole trip to others.
I believe for all travel it should be about planning that includes time to explore. What do you want to see in an area? I typically will allocate two, but preferably three nights to an area with one or two fixed plans with time to explore.
I like more rural travel rather than city destinations. I have found smaller towns have been some of my best trips and most unique experiences.
I'm in the US and have found some of my most rewarding travel to be within the US. That being said, I know with a shorter trip staying in Australia may be a good first solo trip. My husband and I went to North Queensland for a couple of weeks in 2019 and loved it. There is so much to explore in our own country, we forget that it is still a unique and amazing experience. Again US experience, I have found that each state has its own culture. The easiest example is that California is very different from New York. But even within that, northern California is very different from southern California and Upstate New York is completely different from New York City. From what I saw, Australia is similar.
Enjoy your travels!
Thank you
Switzerland! Stay at Interlaken Balmers hostel, amazing. I was so nervous about hostels as it was my first time travelling alone 21(F) but it was so much fun. OneFam Nottinghill is the best too. So much fun. Use hostel world it’s awesome! Great reviews and accomodation (if you’re going hostel) 🥳 hope you have fun whatever you end up doing
You need more than a week to experience a country. I’d aim for 10 days minimum and go to Vietnam, stay in the north. Ha Giang + Sapa + Hanoi + Ha Long/Lan Ha Bay. Why this area? Great backpacking trail w/ lots of nice travelers.
2 weeks would be better if you can swing it.
Book enough to feel safe, then let curiosity do the rest. Solo trips hit different when you stop rushing.
I do a bunch of researching on what I would like to do, save a bunch of places on google maps, then book a few things in advance (mainly things that you HAVE to book or you won't be able to do, or the two or three things that I would be disappointed if I didnt do).
Some people like to be a bit more free, but I typically book accommodation for the first 1.5 weeks. For longer trips, I will slowly keep booking accommodation like a week in advance for the later weeks. So by the time I start out, I have the first chunk of accommodation book and a few key sights booked. Then I just wander the favourited areas and see what I can based the day/energy levels etc.
In your corner of the world, I LOVED my trip to Taiwan, I would look into that :)
Mainly for longer trips, I try to do 70% hostels, 30% private accommodation. I have had the best luck meeting people with "free" Walking tours. It all really depends on who is there and how social I feel. Sometimes you meet people you click with and hang out with numerous times. Sometimes you just arent feeling it and dont talk for days lol.
If you live in Australia I recommend South East Asia. The only things I plan is the accommodation, flights and maybe a few places I want to see.
thailand, laos, vietnam, indonesia, sri lanka
I like to plan with a lot of detail but give myself the freedom to abandon or improvise the plan for whatever reason. I think it’s easier to plan then adjust compared to not plan and then decide to plan at the last minute.
Thailand sounds like it might fit what you’re looking for.
For a first solo trip, do “skeleton + improv.” Book flights, first 2–3 nights, and 1 anchor thing per day (hike, class, day trip). Leave the rest blank so you can say yes to people and detours without feeling lost.
With a week and AUD 2-3k, I’d look at somewhere that’s easy, safe, and dense with experiences: From Australia: South Island New Zealand (road trip, hikes, hot pools, tiny towns), or Vietnam (Hanoi + Ha Giang/Ninh Binh). Both give huge perspective for the money, in very different ways.
To balance adventure / connection / solitude: consciously alternate. One “outward” day (tour, group hike, cooking class, hostel bar), one “inward” day (solo walk, journal, read in a café, sunrise/sunset spot). Protect a couple of evenings just for you, even if you’re vibing with new people.
Have a rough idea, organise your ‘must dos’, but leave the rest flexible.