From the words of travelers, the finding seems unanimous. To savor solo travel is to embrace it, so the experience of freedom is complete. Walking around cities, villages, letting yourself go on dates… For some, going alone is obvious, almost a mandatory way to follow your desires. However, clichés are persistent. Whether a woman can explore the world on her own without feeling afraid or threatened continues to raise questions. In an ideal world, the question of safety or insecurity would not affect the willingness of some to venture out to sea. Leaving would not be a brave thing to do. It would be a simple display of curiosity. We are not there yet.
However, backpacking is a more feminine activity than one might think. In 2021, the travel agency Tourlane, which specializes in customized travel, noted that women booked 54% of individual trips in its structure over the past four years. The observation is simple: more and more women are going on the road. And why not you? Our tips for getting started.
Learn from the experiences of other travelers
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For a long time, travel literature was mostly about men’s perspectives. With brave explorers willing to take all risks to complete their expedition. However, examples of female explorers abound: Nellie Bly (journalist who undertook a solo world tour in 72 days in 1889, beating that achieved by Jules Verne’s famous character Phileas Fogg), Alexandra David-Nelly (who in 1924 was the first Western woman to reached Lhasa, the capital of Tibet) or more recently Sarah Marquis (an adventurer who did not hesitate to travel through the most hostile areas on the planet). As many routes as Lucy Azema mentions in her book Women also travel. Leaving for release (Ed. Flammarion, 2021). Journalist (1), a long-distance traveler herself, has undertaken a whole body of research for this book. “To read about women who travel a lot is to downplay their existence. This contributes to their representativeness.explains the author Figaro.
This women’s literature also provides an opportunity to address topics that have been put aside until now, such as the management of periods in certain areas, but also the fear of aggression. These feedback loops are all tools that can help them overcome their fears. So the Dare to Travel Alone blog and its variation on the Facebook group of the same name, both produced by web content creator Melanie Couillard, help those who have already launched as those who haven’t yet ventured. “I wanted to build a caring community. Women find themselves facing several issues, such as safety, fear of being alone, travel arrangements or having a budget., introduces us to the founder. Other groups such as We are backpackers. On Facebook, they also offer to gather exclusively around the female community.
Trust your instincts
“My personal rule is this. will the man ask the same questions as you? If the answer is no, then you should go.trusts Lucy Azema. “Trusting each other means taking the journey into the realm of possibility”, the author continues. For some, this ability is not innate, it is the result of a long journey. Traveling is one way to get it. “We are rediscovering the feeling of freedom. We will get to know each other and engage in activities that suit us.adds Mélanie Couillard.
Developing your instincts also means knowing how to perceive your future environment and the people in it. A faculty that can be nurtured, paradoxically, by preparation. For example through good information gathering upstream but also on site. “My bias is that there is no country more dangerous than others. You should familiarize yourself with the habits and customs of the area. You can get information from youth hostels, hotels or tourist offices to find out which places you shouldn’t go alone. You also need to have certain reflexes, such as the fact that you don’t have expensive things.explains the founder of Dare to travel only, who especially traveled alone in South America.
Don’t be afraid of loneliness
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Finding yourself isn’t always easy. The fear of not being able to return to your hotel room at night, to eat in a restaurant, to share what you have discovered… If loneliness is frightening, then it is by no means inevitable. It can even become a traveling companion, encouraging you to discover a little more about yourself and push yourself beyond your limits. To understand this, Melanie Couillard offers advice like no other “Method of small steps”. “First you should try to go to a restaurant or a cinema alone, then go on weekends not far from home. We go further and further and longer. This lets you know if you value solitude and letting go“.
Some times can be tough. But contrary to what one might think, this loneliness will be more of a choice than an affliction, as Lucy Azema reminds us. “When we travel alone, there are always people who come to talk to us.” There are many meeting places: excursions, tourist activities, youth hostels or public transport. Do not hesitate to use social networks, where groups allow travelers to discuss with each other, but also to organize meetings. The site NomadSister, formerly known as La Voyageuse, offers a 100% female wetsuit formula, for example. Travelers interact with hosts previously verified by the platform. For those who want to go on an organized trip, several agencies offer packages designed exclusively for single women.
go to another
It’s hard not to mention the issue of security, which is so deeply ingrained in the collective imagination. Always be careful, don’t allow yourself to be careless… The clues are numerous, sometimes exhausting. “Little girls are socialized with fear. We learn not to trust things anymore. If there is no legal ban for women to travel, restrictions are created under the guise of charity.analyzes Lucy Azema.
However, the journey is fueled by the encounters that can happen there, chance or arranged. “One must leave room for others, for the sake of otherness, but also for compassion. It also allows you to detach from the idea that the other is a threat.– he continues. It is not about evacuating the idea of bad meetings. They can happen. But they are more often the exception than the norm. For those who have tried it, solo adventure allows you to assert your instincts and gain confidence. And some tricks allow for pleasant encounters, such as learning a few words of the local language, and getting off the beaten track when possible.
Free yourself from the gaze of others
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“You are very brave”, “Isn’t it very dangerous”, “What about your children”, “What about your husband” travel plan. Because depending on the chosen directions, the reaction of those around you can slow down certain desires. “The gaze and pressure of others is difficult to manage. One day a woman told me that she could not afford to take time for herself. Getting rid of this logic is sometimes very difficult.explains Mélanie Couillard.
So she notes that the profile of female travelers who seek her advice varies dramatically, between women in their 20s and 35s and early retirees. The period in between, which for many is marked by motherhood, is often an empty period. “The image of a father who goes on a trip has always been there. We need to explain to young women that leaving does not prevent them from taking on their motherhood.emphasizes Lucy Azema.
Don’t fall into performance worship
There is no big or small journey. The only thing that matters is what you want to achieve. “The part of dreams, but also of fantasy, is important. it all starts here. You have to dream places”, emphasizes Lucy Azema. As such, Instagram has shaken up practices… sometimes in the wrong direction. “It’s important to take a step back from your Instagram practice. Travel is supposed to be the place where you are most free.”says the author. “However, Instagram promotes the concept of performance. There are unsuccessful trips, it happens. Sometimes you get bored while traveling, and that’s okay.”
Jump without looking back
Have you reached the end of the article? All you have to do is grab your bag and go.
(1) In October 2022, Lucy Azema published her second book, The Use of Tea, a sensitive story from the end of the world (Ed. Flammarion, 2022).
Source: Le Figaro
I’m Ashley Mark, a news website author for Buna Times. I specialize in writing articles about current trends and breaking news stories. With my passion for uncovering the truth behind every story, I strive to bring readers the most up-to-date information available.