14 Should-Hear Podcasts for Solo Vacationers

This visitor publish 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, utterly alone, may 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 house. Work, associates, screens, and social media hold 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 particular person, however staying solo in hostels helped me recover from my concern of creating 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 house. 

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

You’ll hear inspirational tales, useful ideas, and even find out about methods to be a extra acutely aware and accountable vacationer.

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

Learn on to find out about 14 podcasts that you may tune into for the most effective 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 numerous the episodes have ideas 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 turned the primary documented Black girl to go to each nation on the planet, from Iceland to South Sudan to Japan.  

Jessica’s story in itself is unimaginable, particularly given she traveled to 89 of these international locations utterly solo. However she additionally shares compelling insights about what she realized 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 by a responsible-tourist lens. The objective of the present is to discover how journey may be higher for folks, and higher for the planet. A number of episodes cowl features of solo journey intimately.

We regularly talk about the subject by the angle of the episode’s visitor. For instance, episode #75 options Charlotte Simpson, who’s identified on-line because the Touring Black Widow. After shedding 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 realized from it, and useful ideas 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 loads targeted 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 automotive camper, who shares her concepts on methods to get began with this common new option to journey. She additionally discusses methods to 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, and so they share a few of their greatest tales. The present touches on various subjects, like methods to meet locals overseas, getting misplaced, and classes realized from journey. 

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

Ticket 2 Wherever is hosted by two associates, Leah and Trizzy, who each take pleasure in a love of journey, which they steadiness journey with their full-time jobs. They share ideas, recommendation, and anecdotes on methods to take advantage of your travels, and methods to 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 carry and methods to pack, security, and affords ideas for the street and strong recommendation on your first solo travels. 

In his weekly episodes, host James Hammond shares tales, ideas, information, and observations. In lots of episodes, he additionally chats with fascinating folks, like a man who spent a number of months solo touring overland by Congo.

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

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

On She Goes delves into a spread 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 Instances article titled “Adventurous. Alone. Attacked.” They unpack how the article frames fear-mongering about solo journey, amongst different features. 

The objective of the Solo Feminine Traveler podcast is to assist girls develop their world by solo journey. Host Lu believes that it may be transformative and empowering, and makes use of the podcast to indicate listeners how. 

The present is a mixture of episodes by Lu alone and visitor interviews that characteristic tales and insights from girls world wide 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 might 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 outdoor! The present is a mixture of interviews, in-the-field recordings, and listener submissions masking a spread of subjects, from solo climbing and tenting to conservation, motherhood, and outside fairness. 

Within the episode titled “Methods to 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. 

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

In episode #355, Chris chats with Janice Waugh, who relates her experiences solo touring as a lady, notably 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 street, alone. Now, years later, Janice explains the way it’s completely different, and in some ways, higher. 

Let’s Go Collectively is a podcast by Journey + Leisure, hosted by Kellee Edwards, an award-winning journey professional, 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 girl 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 discuss in regards to the difficulties of solo journey for ladies, and unpack the perceptions of Black girls 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 one of the simplest ways, however he does them his means — therefore the identify of his podcast. Each episode consists of journey tales through which, in fact, issues might generally go fallacious. 

Many episodes concentrate on 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. In the event you’re fascinated with extra excessive solo journey, that is the present for you.

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

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

Woman in regards to 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 masking locations akin to Vietnam, Puerto Rico, and Portugal. Different episodes additionally delve into how solo journey modifications you, the most effective locations to journey alone, how to save cash on the street, and extra. The present is a mixture of vacation spot interviews, tales about life-changing journeys, and ideas for methods to journey the world solo. 

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

Begin Listening to Solo Traveler Podcasts 

This checklist 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 creator: Erin Hynes has been touring for over a decade, each solo and along with her companion. 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 consultants about accountable tourism.