14 Should-Hear Podcasts for Solo Vacationers

This visitor submit is by Erin Hynes, a Toronto-based journey blogger and podcaster. 

In my expertise, the considered heading out to a spot I’ve by no means been earlier than, fully alone, might be daunting. Regardless of that, each time I’ve challenged myself to journey solo, the rewards have been wonderful.  

We hardly ever spend high quality time with ourselves at residence. Work, associates, screens, and social media maintain us busy. However once we journey solo, there are total days and nights spent solely with ourselves. 

Together with these moments alone, there are lots of alternatives to get out of your consolation zone and meet new folks whereas solo touring. I used to be at all times a shy individual, however staying solo in hostels helped me recover from my concern of constructing new associates. 

In these methods, solo touring creates a novel alternative to get to know your self in a means that we frequently don’t have time — or the headspace — for at residence. 

Whether or not you’re fascinated about taking the plunge into touring alone for the primary time otherwise you’re already skilled, podcasts about solo journey are an important useful resource. 

You’ll hear inspirational tales, useful suggestions, and even study be a extra acutely aware and accountable vacationer.

I like the podcast medium, as a result of it’s so excellent for storytelling and studying. Audio is nice for journey, too! I at all times sit up for popping in my earbuds to take heed to a podcast whereas on an extended bus journey or flight. 

Learn on to study 14 podcasts which you could tune into for the perfect solo journey inspiration. 

On this podcast by Condé Nast Traveler, editor Lale Arikoglu chats with female-identifying visitors about their distinctive and private journey tales. Many are solo vacationers, and so I discover that plenty of the episodes have suggestions and tales weaved in. 

A very nice episode is titled “How I Visited Each Nation within the World.” Lale interviews Jessica Nabongo, who in 2019 grew to become the primary documented Black lady to go to each nation on the planet, from Iceland to South Sudan to Japan.  

Jessica’s story in itself is unbelievable, particularly given she traveled to 89 of these international locations fully solo. However she additionally shares compelling insights about what she discovered about herself through the journey. 

Being a fan of podcasts about journey, in fact I needed to make my very own! I host Curious Tourism, which covers journey via a responsible-tourist lens. The purpose of the present is to discover how journey might be higher for folks, and higher for the planet. A number of episodes cowl facets of solo journey intimately.

We frequently talk about the subject via the attitude of the episode’s visitor. For instance, episode #75 options Charlotte Simpson, who’s identified on-line because the Traveling Black Widow. After dropping her husband of 31 years, Charlotte determined to start out touring solo in order that she may begin constructing a “new regular” for herself, and see the world. On this episode, she shares her journey, what she’s discovered from it, and useful suggestions for solo vacationers. 

Hosted by blogger Jackie Nourse, this podcast is an invite to journey. Episodes are a mixture of visitor tales, and subjects, however you’ll discover a lot centered on solo journey. Usually, the tales are uncooked and really private, which is refreshing!

In episode #157, visitor host Sherry Ott interviews Vicki Hill, a seasoned automobile camper, who shares her concepts on get began with this common new strategy to journey. She additionally discusses car-camp alone and get previous your fears of solo tenting. 

Amanda Kendle launched this podcast again in March 2016. In each episode, she interviews fellow vacationers about their experiences, they usually share a few of their finest tales. The present touches on numerous subjects, like meet locals overseas, getting misplaced, and classes discovered from journey. 

In episode #148, Amanda talks to a few individuals who have finished quite a lot of solo journey in all elements of the world.  Alastair Humphreys talks about his stroll throughout India, Justin Watson discusses how he thought solo journey could be tough however overcame that concern, and Michela Fantinel relates one among her first solo journey experiences in New York Metropolis. All three visitors agree: together with some solo time in your journey combine is totally worthwhile.

Ticket 2 Anyplace is hosted by two associates, Leah and Trizzy, who each take pleasure in a love of journey, which they stability journey with their full-time jobs. They share suggestions, recommendation, and anecdotes on take advantage of your travels, and use your trip days to get essentially the most out of your weekends. 

Leah has been solo touring for over a decade, however in episode #65, Trizzy relates all the small print about her first-ever solo journey to Scotland and London. This episode is ideal for a first-time solo traveler, as a result of it covers what to convey and pack, security, and provides suggestions for the highway and strong recommendation to your first solo travels. 

In his weekly episodes, host James Hammond shares tales, suggestions, data, and observations. In lots of episodes, he additionally chats with attention-grabbing folks, like a man who spent a number of months solo touring overland via Congo.

In episode #5, James debates “must you journey solo or not?” He compares solo journey with what it’s wish to be with a accomplice or associates, overlaying the professionals and cons of every. It’s a must-listen for anybody who’s debated the concept of happening a visit alone. 

On She Goes is a journey and way of life podcast made for ladies of coloration, by ladies of coloration. Sadly, this podcast is not publishing new episodes, however there’s a backlog of over 100 incredible episodes which are price listening to. 

On She Goes delves into a variety of subjects, together with touring whereas Black, illustration in mainstream media, getting paid to journey, ancestry, and extra. In season 4, episode #2, the subject is a New York Times article titled “Adventurous. Alone. Attacked.” They unpack how the article frames fear-mongering about solo journey, amongst different facets. 

The purpose of the Solo Feminine Traveler podcast is to assist ladies increase their world via solo journey. Host Lu believes that it may be transformative and empowering, and makes use of the podcast to point out listeners how. 

The present is a mixture of episodes by Lu alone and visitor interviews that characteristic tales and insights from ladies around the globe who’ve launched into their very own solo journey adventures.  

Within the episode titled “Solo Journey’s Path to Self-Exploration,” Lu chats with Colleen, a journey blogger, mother, and psychologist, who discusses how solo journey remodeled her relationship with herself and different folks. Plus, she talks about how solo journey may help folks to embrace their instinct, join with strangers, and create new bonds.

She Explores, hosted by Gale Straub, helps listeners discover inspiration within the outside! The present is a mixture of interviews, in-the-field recordings, and listener submissions overlaying a variety of subjects, from solo mountain climbing and tenting to conservation, motherhood, and outside fairness. 

Within the episode titled “How you can Be Alone,” Gale interviews Nicole Antoinette, who solo-hiked all 800 rugged miles of the Arizona Path. She discusses how her first through-hike got here to be, and the way she persevered even when being completely alone on the path was robust. 

Newbie Traveler has been on the air since 2005! Host Chris Christensen was named the “finest unbiased journey journalist” by Journey + Leisure for his work on this weekly present, which covers locations from Morocco to South Korea, with a deal with culturally wealthy experiences.

In episode #355, Chris chats with Janice Waugh, who relates her experiences solo touring as a lady, significantly internationally. However she didn’t got down to be a solo traveler: after the dying of her husband, she gained the braveness to get again out on the highway, alone. Now, years later, Janice explains the way it’s totally different, and in some ways, higher. 

Let’s Go Collectively is a podcast by Journey + Leisure, hosted by Kellee Edwards, an award-winning journey skilled, licensed pilot, scuba diver, tv host, and world adventurer. 

Kellee interviews a various vary of vacationers who share their distinctive journey experiences. Some previous visitors embody the primary documented Black lady to journey each nation on the planet (Jessica Nabongo, see above) and a quadriplegic who climbed Machu Picchu, amongst others. 

In episode #14, Kellee chats with Glo, an influencer and blogger who’s traveled solo to over 80 international locations. They speak concerning the difficulties of solo journey for ladies, and unpack the perceptions of Black ladies who traverse the world on their very own.

The Worst Traveller is a weekly podcast hosted by Tom Web page, who says he doesn’t at all times do issues the easiest way, however he does them his means — therefore the identify of his podcast. Each episode consists of journey tales during which, in fact, issues could typically go incorrect. 

Many episodes deal with Tom’s personal journey experiences. Within the episode titled “How I Journey So Mild… Similar Garments for 1 Month,” he discusses his expertise in India, the place he wore one outfit and carried no baggage. For those who’re excited about extra excessive solo journey, that is the present for you.

Black Girls Journey Podcast, hosted by Wanda Duncan, highlights the tales of Black ladies who’re making journey a precedence. Wanda interviews vacationers from this neighborhood of daring ladies and their numerous tales. She additionally chats with short-term vacationers primarily based in a rustic, long-term vacationers, and digital nomads. 

Within the episode titled “How you can Create Your Personal Retreat,” Wanda talks concerning the significance of relaxation and self-care, and the way solo vacationers can plan restorative and private retreats. 

Lady concerning the Globe is hosted by Lisa Imogen Eldridge, a solo journey addict who has been to 142 international locations — 110 of those solo.

The podcast consists of episodes overlaying locations corresponding to Vietnam, Puerto Rico, and Portugal. Different episodes additionally delve into how solo journey adjustments you, the perfect locations to journey alone, how to economize on the highway, and extra. The present is a mixture of vacation spot interviews, tales about life-changing journeys, and suggestions for journey the world solo. 

In episode #98, Lisa chats with Sara Braca, who turned to solo journey after going via a divorce. Sara relates her private story, and the 2 talk about how solo journey may help folks to heal when they’re popping out of a damaged relationship.

Begin Listening to Solo Traveler Podcasts 

This record of solo journey podcasts consists of lots of my private favorites. These exhibits encourage me to journey to new locations, embrace my independence, and solo journey with confidence. I hope they encourage you, too!

Concerning the writer: Erin Hynes has been touring for over a decade, each solo and together with her accomplice. She’s traveled to international locations throughout six continents. Erin writes the journey weblog Pina Travels and hosts the journey podcast Curious Tourism, the place she interviews journey business thought leaders and specialists about accountable tourism.