How an Unexpected Twist Made Me Fall in Love with Solo Travel 

For many, the idea of packing a bag and heading off to a faraway land all alone is anything but easy. And honestly? I had my doubts too. A solo trip? Just me, myself and I? Seemed a bit… intimidating at first.
But I took the leap — and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

If you had asked me in the past,
“Oliver, how would you rather travel — with company or on your own?”
I would’ve always gone for the travel buddy. Always.

I used to think that solo travel meant having no one to talk to, no one to share the magical moments and epic adventures with. I imagined it being kind of lonely — maybe even frustrating at times.

This is exactly how I used to feel about solo travel—until I was forced to try it myself. Yes, I say “forced,” because it wasn’t exactly part of the plan.
It all actually started after I’d already done a legendary road trip through the western U.S. with an amazing crew in May/June 2015. By October of the same year, that familiar itch to travel hit me again.

I had always put off going to Asia, claiming the humid climate would be too much for me. But this time, I wanted to face that challenge head-on.

After chatting with a few friends—true Asia pros—their advice was clear:
If you’re an Asia rookie, start with Thailand. Why? Great infrastructure, loads of fellow backpackers, and a price-to-experience ratio that’s almost unbeatable.

So the destination was set: Thailand it is.

That same evening, I sat down at my laptop and started digging. I clicked my way through travel blogs written by people who had already explored Thailand.
And I kid you not—within minutes I was hooked. Their stories and photos completely pulled me into Thailand’s magic.

Dreamy beaches, crystal-clear water, exotic plants, and mouthwatering food – that’s the essence of every Thailand travel report I had read. With each new click, the idea of a sunny escape just before Christmas became more tempting.

So I started planning my trip through Thailand. Bangkok was meant to be the starting point, followed by the famous islands like Koh Tao and Koh Samui. Even Phuket – often seen as the heart of Thai mass tourism – was on my list. I was aiming for the ultimate beginner’s route. At the same time, I started looking for travel companions. It was mid-October, and the adventure was set to begin in mid-November.

But here’s the thing: if you want to spontaneously escape for around 16 days at the end of the year – and you’re single – you’ll often find yourself standing alone. Most people have jobs they can’t leave, partners, kids, different ideas of what a holiday should be, or simply no vacation days left. Timing just didn’t seem to be on my side when it came to finding someone to join.

So, in a moment of “whatever, I’m doing this anyway,” I booked my flight to Bangkok – solo. Five minutes later, it hit me. What had I just done? A wave of doubt rolled in.

But then something else kicked in: a voice deep inside reminded me – even if I’m going solo, this will be the most epic trip I’ve ever taken.

The Day It All Began

There I was — standing at Düsseldorf Airport, early in the morning, just me and my backpack. Ready to dive headfirst into this solo adventure. A thousand thoughts raced through my mind. I had never flown solo on a vacation before, and suddenly I was facing not just one, but three firsts:

1. My first time traveling completely alone

2. My first time setting foot in Asia

3. And my very first backpacking trip, ever

What the hell was I thinking? Respect, Oliver. Seriously — what kind of madness did I sign up for? haha

On the flight to Abu Dhabi, my first stop before continuing on to Bangkok, it finally hit me: I’m really doing this. I’m really flying alone. Sure, flying solo within Germany for business is totally normal for me — a quick hop, an hour tops. But this? This was a whole different league.

By the time I boarded my connecting flight from Abu Dhabi to Bangkok, I felt a lot more relaxed. When you’re open to people and just a bit communicative, it doesn’t take long before you connect with others — even complete strangers. Sitting next to me on the plane was this friendly guy from London, also traveling solo, heading to explore Northern Thailand.

And that was just the beginning. On this journey, I would go on to meet countless fellow backpackers — men and women from around the world — all on their own adventures, just like me.

But of course, he wasn’t the only one. Along the way, I crossed paths with lots of couples and larger travel crews too.

When I finally arrived in Bangkok, I found myself truly on my own again. But the city gave me a gentle welcome – a friend of mine, half Thai and half German, lives here and works as a model. She offered to show me around her beautiful hometown as my personal tour guide.

So, I had a smooth takeoff into this wild adventure – an adventure I had chosen for myself. And honestly? I was glad I did.

After I left Bangkok heading south by train, I suddenly found myself completely surrounded by locals—just me and a sea of Thais. But strangely enough, I didn’t feel lonely or lost. Quite the opposite, actually. Everyone was incredibly kind, offering me warm smiles that felt genuinely heartfelt. I don’t think they were secretly thinking, “Here’s another clueless tourist wandering alone.” No, I truly believe their friendliness was real. 🙂

When you travel with someone—or even in a group—you often lose sight of what’s happening around you. Your focus shifts to the people you’re with, and not to the world unfolding outside your bubble. But sitting alone on that train, something changed in me. I became a true observer. I noticed details, absorbed the atmosphere, and felt completely present. That shift in perspective was a real gift.

I didn’t feel like an outsider anymore. I flipped the script—I became part of the unfamiliar. And suddenly, traveling solo turned into something beautiful and deeply enriching. I felt euphoric, as if I could finally experience the country with open eyes and an open heart.

That moment of awareness turned me into a true believer in solo travel.

Later, in a bit of a panic trying to find a transfer from Chumphon train station to my hotel, I was rescued by a kind-hearted Thai man. He didn’t speak more than a few words of English, but somehow we still shared laughs and good vibes during the ride. By the end, we snapped a photo together—one I’ll cherish forever. That crazy little adventure? I’ll never forget it.

On Koh Tao, I quickly connected with a wild bunch of crazy, fun-loving folks from France at the Mango Viewpoint. We clicked instantly – and guess what? Most of us are still friends on Facebook today. The world really is full of unexpected friendships, if you’re just open enough to find them.

Next stop: the island of Ko Pha-ngan. While exploring a hidden waterfall deep in the jungle, I randomly stumbled upon two lovely German flight attendants who were vacationing together. A chance encounter that turned into a beautiful chapter of island adventure!

And that’s just how it goes. You’re never really alone, even when you travel solo. And those rare moments when you are alone? You appreciate them even more. You get to shape your day exactly how you want it. And when you meet new people along the way and decide to spend time with them, you decide how long that lasts. Because the beauty of solo travel is: you can always part ways and continue your journey on your own terms.

Traveling solo means freedom, independence, and diving headfirst into new worlds and cultures.

I’ve let go of the fear of venturing out alone – and I truly believe everyone should, at least once in their life, embrace this kind of adventure and take that first step toward discovering who they really are.
You’ll be amazed at what you’re capable of when it’s just you and the world.

Looking back, I can proudly say I’ve passed all three of my “firsts” with flying colors.
And then came a fourth one – on the island of Koh Samui:
For the first time ever, I went scuba diving… in the ocean, with a tank on my back and wonder in my eyes.