Growing up in Morocco, travelling felt easy. All you had to do was grab your car, pick up your friends, and take off to a new city. It gave you a sense of adventure, sure, but there was always a safety net. You were never alone. You were surrounded by familiar faces, speaking the same language, living within the invisible boundaries of what was known and comfortable. And after a while, I realised something wasn’t enough. See, there’s something about travelling solo that hits differently.
When you’re in your hometown, or even when you’re travelling with friends, there’s always a version of you that exists in their eyes. You’re still you, still tied to expectations and the roles you’ve been playing your whole life. But when you step into a country where no one knows you, suddenly, the rules don’t apply. You can be whoever you want. You can wake up and decide to be bold, spontaneous, and mysterious. You can change your name, dye your hair, and invent an entirely new version of yourself—one that isn’t held back by who you’ve been before.
And that kind of freedom? That’s intoxicating. For women, especially, solo travel is more than just an adventure—it’s an act of rebellion. Society has drilled it into us that being alone as a woman is dangerous. That we need to be careful, that the world isn’t safe for us. And while safety is important, those warnings can also become chains, keeping us from experiencing life beyond the walls we’ve built in our minds.
Your Twenties Are for Exploring
Your twenties are a weird, magical in-between. You’re officially an adult, but you don’t feel like one. Some days, you feel wise and put together; other days, you’re still the same girl who stays up all night talking nonsense with her best friends. It’s this crossroads where you must ask yourself, Do I start embracing stability? Or do I throw myself into the unknown and see what happens? I remember feeling torn between both. Should I settle into a calm, mature life? Or should I let myself be reckless and wild for just a little longer? Should I start dating again? Or stay attached to my roommates in an unhealthy way because the idea of being alone felt terrifying? Do I stay in this foreign city and lean into the excitement of being new and unknown? Or do I book a flight home and curl up in the warmth of my childhood bed? It’s a kind of indecision that a lot of women go through because we’re constantly being told to choose—be independent or be safe, be fun or be responsible. But what if we didn’t have to pick? What if we could just experience life without overanalysing every decision?
The Trip That Changed Everything
So, the first summer after I moved to London, I said screw it and booked a flight to Brazil. Alone. No safety net, no backup plan—just me, my suitcase, and a deep need to prove to myself that I could do this. The moment I landed, reality hit me hard. My brain went into full panic mode. What the hell am I doing here? I wasn’t just thinking about solo travel anymore—I was living it. I sat in the airport for an hour, just existing in my fear, before finally forcing myself to move. I called a cab, booked a local guide, and took my first shaky steps into this new adventure. And you know what? It was the best decision I ever made. I spent weeks exploring the streets of Rio, eating food I couldn’t pronounce, and realising just how much of the world I had been missing. I was alone, yes, but I was also happy in my way. And there was something deeply empowering about knowing that I had built this experience for myself, that I had thrown myself into the unknown and come out the other side stronger.
Why Every Woman Needs to Do This
Women are taught to be careful. To stay within the lines. To be responsible, to think ahead, and to always consider the what ifs. And yes, some of that is necessary. Safety is real. But what’s also real is freedom. And too often, we don’t let ourselves have it. This trip opened my eyes to how small my worries were. As women, we tend to overthink everything, trapping ourselves in our minds instead of embracing the freedom that’s right in front of us. We build walls where there should be open doors, holding ourselves back when we were meant to roam free. Solo travel isn’t just about proving a point or taking cute Instagram pictures. It’s about discovering who you are when there’s no one else to define you. It’s about making your own choices, deciding where to go, what to eat, and who to talk to without anyone else’s input. It’s about feeling lost, then finding your way again. It’s about trusting yourself, learning to enjoy your own company, and realising that you don’t need anyone else to create an extraordinary life.
There’s a unique kind of confidence that comes from knowing you can navigate a foreign city by yourself. That you can sit alone in a café without feeling awkward. You can make friends with strangers, handle unexpected situations, and create your own stories. And the best part? You bring that confidence home with you. After Brazil, I stopped overthinking everything. I stopped waiting for people to make plans with me and stopped feeling like I needed permission to do things. I realised that I was capable, that I was strong, and that the world was far bigger and more welcoming than I had ever imagined. So, to every woman reading this: go. Book the ticket. Take the trip. Even if it’s just for a weekend, even if it’s to a city only a few hours away. Experience what it feels like to wake up in a place where no one knows your name. Order a meal in a language you barely speak. Walk through a crowded market with nothing but curiosity to guide you.
Because every time you turn down the chance to explore—whether it’s alone or with your best girlfriends—an angel loses its wings.
