Travel is life-changing; it leaves a lasting impact on whoever is lucky enough to experience it. Yet, it can be the travelers themselves that change the face of the tourism industry. That’s what has happened in the last few years, and it’s women who have paved the way for a new trend in travel: the female solo traveler. 

You don’t need to take my word for it, either. As per reliable statistics, Internet searches for “female solo travel” increased a whopping 62% between 2016 and 2019. Irrespective of their relationship status, an ever-increasing number of women are beginning to travel solo, and frequently.

It’s not uncommon to hear phrases like “it’s dangerous to travel on your own,” “you’re stupid to travel solo as a female.” Except that choice is yours and mine to make and shouldn’t be subject to judgment. Growing up in the South-Asian culture, I often saw how women are told by others how best to live their life, which makes me all the more proud to watch women around me question the norm, advocate change and take back control.

But how has travel changed my life? Firstly, let me give you a brief overview of myself:

I am Indian, though I grew up in Dubai. I completed a bachelor’s degree in Visual Communications, and since then have pursued photography as a full-time career. To combine my love of travel and photography, I recently started a travel vlog and travel blog.

As I’m sure most of the kids raised in the ’90s would agree, I always thought travel was about paying a tour company to book your tickets, plan an itinerary, and know all there was to know about the city/country you’d be visiting. Everything else was taken care of; it had very little to do with culture, history, or involvement with the locals. In short, you were a tourist – there to see the main attractions and not much else.

Over the years, I have dedicated myself to evolving from a tourist to a traveler. And while I wouldn’t say I’m quite there yet, I certainly love the journey. Since 2013, I have personified the word ‘wanderlust,’ traveling to over 25 countries and 80 cities, with dreams of visiting many more. Travel changed my life in ways I couldn’t have imagined, but I’m so grateful.

1 – Giving me perspective: How tiny my problems are!

As I mentioned earlier, I grew up in Dubai. For those of you who haven’t visited Dubai before, it is a beautiful place to live. It is safe, comfortable, and secure, and if you earn enough, you can lead a rather luxurious lifestyle.  

In short, Dubai has the amenities to spoil and pamper you. I am not complaining, of course. Who doesn’t like luxury and comfort, right? 

However, after living a somewhat sheltered life in Dubai, I began traveling and started to notice the “real world,” which led to a massive shift in how I viewed my circumstances.

While we may learn about the geography and history of the world academically, nothing can give you a “practical education” like traveling does.

Take, for example, visiting the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial. It put me in the heart of history, immersing me in Poland’s shocking past; I recall being frozen, trying to come to terms with what the Jewish community had been through. As much as I felt rage, it sparked sincere gratitude for my upbringing, and how a country like the UAE had granted me a privileged, safe, and enjoyable lifestyle. I was swiftly reminded of how trivial my issues are.

2 – Pushing me out of my comfort zone

My life coach once said that it’s the first five years of a child’s life that are the most crucial; these years shape a person’s future health, happiness, and growth. Well, I’m lucky enough to say that not just my first 5, but my first 25 years of life brought extreme comfort, to the point that even a little discomfort to me was an inconvenience. 

Yes, yes, I will admit I was a spoilt little brat. Growing up, when I traveled as a ‘tourist’, my parents made sure our vacations were a continuation of our Dubai lifestyle. Hence, we stayed in luxurious 5-star hotel chains, safely tucked away from local experiences or interactions.

The first trip I made after my wedding was a long one, a 3-week road trip in New Zealand. The length of the journey got me out of my comfort zone, but I was also proud of the fact that we didn’t stay in a single hotel while we were away. Instead, we stayed in guesthouses and holiday parks with the locals. 

Looking back, I can vividly remember one of the guesthouses we stayed at, an elderly couple ran the place. When they found out it was our honeymoon, they gave us a souvenir from the hotel to remember them by. 

Well, it worked, as I’m writing about it now! It was the sweetest and kindest gesture I had come across in my travels. The trip was also significant because it was the first time I tried adrenaline-pumping activities like glacier hiking and white-water rafting – talk about stepping out of your comfort zone!

The first five years of your childhood may be crucial in determining your future. However, if you recognize the flaws in the years that follow, you can take charge and change your life any way you want. For me, it was travel that changed my life.

3 – Discovering my passion & boosting my confidence

Let me be honest: I fear everything. You name it, and I am afraid.

Despite feeling the way I do, I try my best to face it. Although I have been traveling with my spouse, I am the one who makes most of the decisions. Traveling has encouraged me to take bold steps and overcome my fears. 

I’ve embarked on many adventures in pursuit of conquering my anxieties: white water rafting and glacier hiking in New Zealand, forest hiking in Vietnam, or going up the Lion’s Head in Cape Town. 

They’re all experiences that have helped shape me into who I am today. During one of my more spiritual experiences in Nepal when it dawned on me just how passionate I was about exploring the world – and is there much more to life than discovering your true passion?

You may even find your new career path, as I did. If I hadn’t explored the world, I wouldn’t have become a travel vlogger or blogger. I wouldn’t be writing this now. It is a best thing that ever happened to me, travel changed my life!

In summary, traveling isn’t about switching off, it’s about switching on. As women, we have a million responsibilities – amongst others, the pressure to be a good daughter, sister, wife, mother, friend, or colleague. Amidst all these responsibilities, we can forget the biggest one of all: the responsibility we have to ourselves. 

In a world where we are always surrounded by “noise”, make sure you take the time to turn it down and tune into yourself – I promise you won’t regret it.

Check out how I took my travel experience to the next level – How Starting a YouTube Channel Helped Me?