Rediscovering Myself Through Solo Sober Travel

Two years ago, I took my first big solo trip: a journey to Bali. It came on the heels of the biggest breakup of my life, and I was determined to reconnect with myself (yes, very Eat, Pray, Love vibes). Bali was originally a trip my ex and I had dreamed of taking together, but I realized I didn’t want my life—or my travel dreams—to depend on someone else. The world is vast, and while we can’t control when we’ll meet our “travel plus one,” we can control how we choose to live our lives.

It was my first time traveling so far alone, and I’ll admit, I felt anxious about going. But instead of letting fear hold me back, I leaned into the opportunity to create new experiences—by myself, for myself. I wanted to deepen my self-trust, nurture my self-love, and prove that I was more than capable of filling my own cup without relying on someone else to do it for me.

The trip was nothing short of transformative. I took myself to solo dinners, ventured out on day trips, made new friends, and explored at my own pace. I crafted a bucket list of everything I wanted to experience—without needing to compromise for anyone else. The only person I had to answer to was me, and it felt empowering.

Traveling sober can be both freeing and challenging. On one hand, I feel safe and grounded; on the other, I don’t have alcohol to turn to in moments of anxiety, loneliness, or uncertainty—moments that are inevitable, even fleeting, on any journey. Alcohol used to smooth over those feelings. 

Instead of escaping discomfort, I learned to sit with my emotions. I got to know myself more deeply, processed my feelings fully, and discovered the art of self-soothing. I found adventure and confidence within and learned to validate and love myself without seeking it externally. It was a profound reminder that I am enough, just as I am.

You don’t need to fly to Bali to experience this kind of self-discovery. It’s about carving out space to connect with yourself and remembering that, no matter what, you’ll always have you. The greatest love of your life is yourself, and investing time to nurture that relationship is one of the most powerful things you can do.

So, whether you’re planning a solo weekend getaway or a trip halfway across the world, I encourage you to take that leap. You don’t need a special occasion or a companion to start exploring. You got this!