If you had asked me a few years ago what I thought about solo travel, my honest reaction would have been:
“Have you lost your mind?”
The idea of travelling alone to a foreign country — with no familiar face, no safety net, no one to lean on felt unnecessary, risky, and completely unimaginable.
And yet, here I was.
Six days into my first solo trip to Thailand, sitting by the water with a cocktail in front of me, realising just how wrong I had been.
Solo travel is difficult to explain. Words don’t quite do it justice. The only way to understand it is to experience it for yourself.
The Fear Before the Freedom
The first few days were overwhelming.
I was anxious, hyper-aware, and constantly alert. From checking in at my departure airport to navigating unfamiliar layovers, languages, and systems, I had to rely on myself — fully and unapologetically.
There was no friend to double-check directions.
No one to reassure me I was in the right queue.
No backup plan if things went wrong.
I worried about missing flights because I couldn’t ask for directions. I worried about being overcharged when finding transport. I worried about standing out.
And then, slowly — something shifted.
Lesson One: Trust Yourself (Even When You’re Scared)
Solo travel forces you to trust yourself in ways everyday life rarely does.
Every decision — big or small — was mine. Every mistake, every win, every moment of courage belonged to me alone. That responsibility was terrifying… until it became empowering.
Somewhere between airports, taxi negotiations, and hotel check-ins, I realised:
I am capable. I will figure it out.
And that confidence didn’t come from perfection — it came from showing up, even when I felt unsure.
Lesson Two: Humanity Is Bigger Than Difference
Being a Black African solo traveller in Thailand meant I stood out. There was no hiding that.
But what surprised me most was how curiosity replaced judgment. People asked where I was from. They listened. They welcomed me. They invited me into conversations, meals, and moments.
I met strangers who quickly became friends — people who reminded me that kindness still exists, and that being human transcends language, race, and borders.
Solo travel stripped away assumptions — mine and theirs. It reminded me that difference does not mean division.
Lesson Three: Solitude Teaches You to Love Yourself
This was the most powerful lesson of all.
For years, I had sought validation externally — from friends, achievements, approval, and noise. Thailand gave me something quieter and far more confronting: time alone with myself.
In the silence, I faced my insecurities.
In the solitude, I learned to accept my flaws.
In the stillness, I started appreciating my strengths.
Travelling alone forced me to be comfortable in my own company — not distracted, not performing, not explaining myself. Just being.
And that kind of self-acceptance changes how you move through the world.
Presence, Perspective, and the Power of Travel
Thailand’s islands and oceans offered more than postcard beauty. Diving beneath the water, surrounded by fish moving freely and effortlessly, reminded me to pause — to breathe — to be present.
Travel has a way of resetting your internal compass.
It shifts your perspective. It slows your pace. It teaches you that life doesn’t always need to be rushed, explained, or controlled.
A Note on Hospitality and Humility
One of the most humbling parts of this journey was the hospitality.
Tour guides who showed up fully — professional, kind, intentional — and asked for nothing more than a modest tip. People who genuinely cared about ensuring you had a good experience, simply because that’s who they are.
It reinforced something I deeply believe:
Travel and tourism are about people — and when done well, they can change the world.
Would I Recommend Solo Travel in Thailand?
Without hesitation — yes.
Thailand is welcoming, vibrant, reflective, and deeply human. It’s a place that holds space for discovery — not just of destinations, but of yourself.
Looking back at my earlier question — “Have you lost your mind?” — I smile now.
Because solo travel doesn’t make you lose yourself.
It helps you find yourself.
So if you’ve been waiting for a sign — this is it.
Be bold. Book the trip. Go alone.
Thank you, Thailand — and here’s to many more intentional escapes.
About Escapes with TKay
Escapes with TKay explores the intersection of finance, travel, and becoming — offering practical money insights, honest travel storytelling, and reflections on designing a life of intention, freedom, and sustainability.
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Travel gently. Spend intentionally. Live fully
