The Solo Traveller
Your independence, passion, and lifelong memories.
Departures
David Smyth on South Georgia, an island in the South Atlantic Ocean. Photograph: David Smyth.
First steps and lasting stories – the beauty of going solo
Geoffrey Williams in conversation with David Smyth, the Co-Founder of Forward Travel
For David Smyth, travelling solo has taught him, above all else, “… that the world is far kinder than we often assume. Time and again, people have helped me when I was lost, shared food with me, invited me into their homes, or simply offered a smile when I needed it most. It’s a humbling reminder that despite our differences, there’s a shared humanity that ties us all together.”
We remember our first solo adventure not just for where we went, but for who we were when we set out. However long ago it was, that moment stays vivid – a mix of nerves, hope, and the quiet thrill of doing something entirely on our own, and often for the first time in our lives. It’s a landmark in our personal map, a turning point that often marks the beginning of a deeper kind of self-trust.
David remembers setting off on his first solo traveller adventure as though it was yesterday. “I was 18 and not long finished school. I’d always had itchy feet and deep down knew I wanted to travel. One day I woke up and said, “This is it, I’m off!” Young and naïve (and probably a bit too optimistic), I packed a bag and set off for France. It was exhilarating and terrifying in equal measure, but I knew it was now or never, so I wasn’t letting the nerves better me. I didn’t speak much French beyond what I’d learned in school, but that didn’t matter. What mattered was the sense of possibility, the unknown in front of me. Landing in Paris, I felt like the world had cracked open. Suddenly, I was navigating train stations, ordering food in cafés, getting hopelessly lost, and asking strangers for help, sometimes in a mix of English, hand gestures, and hopeful smiles. It was the first time I really understood what it meant to be self-reliant. I was out in the big bad world, and I honestly loved that.”
“It’s not the logistics though, it’s the small, quiet moments that have stayed with me. Sitting on the Champs-Élysées watching the sun set over the city, and realising I was sitting somewhere I’d seen in movies, but never really thought I would ever be. It was chatting with other travellers in a youth hostel in Lyon, sharing stories and swapping tips. This was the first time I’d engaged with people from other parts of the world. That trip planted something in me, a deep appreciation for exploration, for cultural exchange, for seeing the world with curiosity and humility. It was the first time I realised that travel could be a source of education, one that went far beyond textbooks, and a philosophy that has stuck with me to this day. Looking back now, I think that trip set the foundation for everything that followed – not just in terms of where I would go, but in how I would go; open-minded, adaptable, and always eager to connect with people along the way.
For David, travelling solo has been one of the most intense and profound teachers in his life. “It strips everything back and rounds you. There are no familiar faces, no daily routines, no one to lean on but yourself, and in that space you discover who you really are. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that independence doesn’t mean isolation. When you travel solo, you’re never truly alone. In fact, it often opens the door to deeper, more genuine connections, with the locals you meet along the way, with fellow travellers, even with strangers you’ll never see again but who leave a lasting impression. You become more open, more curious, and more present.”
Left: David visiting the grave of Sir Ernest Shackleton on South Georgia; and David having his Keffiyeh adjusted by a helpful soldier in Iraq. Photographs: David Smyth.
“Another lesson I’ve learned is to be comfortable with discomfort. Things go wrong, trains are missed, plans change, and languages are misunderstood. But you realise quickly that it’s all part of the journey. You develop resilience, creativity, and a kind of quiet confidence that only comes from figuring things out on your own. It teaches you to let go of perfection and embrace the unpredictability of life, and life is unpredictable, more so in some destinations than others.”
“I’ve also learned the value of slowing down. Solo travel doesn’t need to be a checklist of sights; it’s about sitting in a park for an hour just watching life unfold or wandering down a side street without a destination (one of my favourite things to do in Buenos Aires). It’s in those slower, quieter moments that you really connect with a place, and with yourself. These lessons don’t disappear when the trip ends. They come home with you, shaping how you move through life, how you handle challenges, and how you connect with others. It’s a gift I’m deeply grateful for.”
“Solo travel holds a special place in my heart, so it’s something I’ve always been passionate about creating space for. At Forward Travel, we understand that travelling alone isn’t about being alone, it’s about freedom, discovery, and connection. We design experiences that reflect that balance. For solo travellers, we offer thoughtfully curated journeys that provide independence and the opportunity to engage meaningfully with people and places. Whether it’s a wildlife safari in Namibia, a cultural journey through Vietnam, or a self-guided walking holiday in Patagonia, we make sure there’s room for personal space alongside shared experiences.”
“Our solo-friendly experiences are capped at small numbers, so there’s no big buses or impersonal crowds. This creates a sense of community without overwhelming you. You’re free to join in conversations over dinner or enjoy a quiet morning walk on your own. That kind of flexibility matters. We also work with handpicked local partners who understand solo travellers, hosts who go the extra mile to make you feel welcomed, not just accommodated. That might mean a cooking class with a local family, a guided market walk with someone who knows every vendor by name, or a quiet sunrise canoe paddle with a guide who has paddled that river since childhood.”
“Solo travel can be transformational, and our goal is to make it seamless, enriching, and deeply personal. Whether you're venturing out for the first time or you’re a seasoned solo explorer, we’re here to help you find not just a destination, but the experience that fits you.”
One of Forward Travel’s valued solo traveller clients allowing themselves to be in the moment on the Falkland Islands. Photograph: David Smyth.
“Solo travel can be life-defining. It challenges you, surprises you, and often rewards you with moments you never saw coming – a sunrise you watched alone on a mountaintop, a meal shared with strangers who became friends, the simple pride of navigating a new place on your own. Those are the memories that don’t fade. They become part of who you are.”
“It’s deeply important to me that solo travellers feel seen, valued, and empowered. Too often, the industry caters to couples and groups, leaving solo explorers with limited options or expensive single supplements. I think that’s a missed opportunity, not just commercially, but personally. Solo travellers often engage more deeply with local people, they move at their own pace, and they notice the little things that others miss. That kind of travel deserves to be celebrated and supported.”
“Creating experiences that allow solo travellers to feel free, safe, and inspired is about more than logistics, it’s about creating a sense of possibility. Whether it’s someone’s first solo trip or their fiftieth, I want to make sure they return with not just photos, but stories that stay with them for the rest of their lives. That is why we do what we do, because those memories matter. They shape how we see the world, and how we see ourselves in it.”
“Creating experiences that allow solo travellers to feel free, safe, and inspired is about more than logistics, it’s about creating a sense of possibility.”
Are there special places on our planet that you cannot resist returning to? “Yes, two places, actually – the Himalaya and Antarctica. They couldn’t be more different in
terms of landscape and culture, yet both have a magnetic pull I’ve never quite shaken. I return to them again and again, not just out of curiosity, but because they offer something rare, and that is perspective.”
“The Himalaya was one of the first regions that truly humbled me. Walking through those mountains, you feel incredibly small, but in the best possible way. There’s a kind of clarity that comes from being surrounded by such immense natural beauty and ancient culture. The people of the Himalaya, whether in Nepal, Ladakh, or Bhutan have a grace and resilience that stays with you long after the journey ends. Life moves differently there. It encourages you to slow down, to listen, to reflect. For me, it’s grounding and inspiring.”
“Then there’s Antarctica. I often say it’s like visiting another planet. The sheer silence, the vastness, the surreal beauty of icebergs the size of cathedrals, it stirs something primal. There are no crowds, no shops, no distractions, just you, the cold air, and this awe-inspiring wilderness. It reminds me of what the Earth must have been like before we arrived, and it challenges you to think about what kind of footprint you’re leaving behind. Every time I go back, I see something new, in the landscape, in the wildlife, and in myself.”
“These two destinations continue to call me because they offer more than just scenery, they offer perspective, stillness, and that rare feeling of truly being present. And in a world that moves so fast, those are the kinds of places I value most.”
One of Forward Travel’s valued solo traveller clients enjoying the moment in Antarctica. Photograph: Rakhee Chandra.
The unique connections we make with our fellow travellers often run deep. They can be forged almost innately, and often in unexpected circumstances. These connections – made at a particular time and place on our shared journeys – are often remembered for a lifetime, born from shared courage and curiosity. For David, the bonds he has formed on his solo adventures remain some of the most meaningful he has ever made. “There’s something unique about the bonds formed while travelling. You’re often in unfamiliar places, out of your routine, more open, more curious, and that creates space for genuine connection.”
“I’ve shared rickety buses across borders, long mountain walks, cups of tea in remote villages, and late-night conversations in hostel courtyards with people I’d never met before, and some of those people are still in my life today. One friend I met on a trekking trip in Nepal ended up travelling through India with me, and we’ve kept in touch for years now, meeting up when we can, always picking up where we left off. Another was a local guide in Poland whose insight and warmth turned a day of sightseeing into a friendship that’s lasted long past the trip.”
“Travel friendships are often formed in a condensed time, but they go deep quickly. You see people at their best and their worst, tired, excited, sometimes lost, and there’s an honesty in that. It breaks down the usual social walls. And because those experiences are so vivid and unforgettable, the people you share them with tend to stay in your life in one way or another.”
“Some friends I still see regularly. Others I may only hear from once a year, but the connection remains, because it was built on shared experience and mutual discovery. And to me, that’s one of the richest rewards of travel, not just the places you go, but the people you meet along the way who quietly, or profoundly, change your life.”
The people who inspire us leave more than just memories – they shape the way we see the world, and often, the way we see ourselves. Their courage, compassion, curiosity, or quiet resilience can guide us, especially when we need it most. In their stories, we often find the spark that helps us write our own. For David, there are three inspirational individuals, and their names come to mind instantly – Alby Mangels, Jacques Cousteau, and Dian Fossey. “Each of them, in their own way, sparked a deep fascination in me for exploration, connection, and responsibility toward the natural world. Their stories shaped not just my love of travel and nature, but the way I think about it, as something far more meaningful than just ticking off destinations.”
“Each of them, in their own way, sparked a deep fascination in me for exploration, connection, and responsibility toward the natural world.”
“Alby Mangels was the first to ignite that adventurous spark. Watching his ‘World Safari’ documentaries as a young impressionable boy was like being handed a permission slip to go out and explore the world, not in a perfectly planned, glossy way, but in a raw, spontaneous, human way. He showed that travel could be unpredictable, messy, and absolutely life changing. That sense of diving into the unknown, guided more by curiosity than by a schedule, has never left me.”
“Then there's Jacques Cousteau, a poetic, purposeful explorer who took me into the depths of the ocean and made it feel alive with wonder. His deep reverence for the natural world, particularly the marine world, helped me see travel as a form of stewardship and inspired me to become a diver. He wasn’t just documenting what he saw, he was urging us to protect it. That shaped my belief that travel should leave a positive impact, not just a footprint.”
“Dian Fossey brought me an entirely different kind of inspiration. Her work with mountain gorillas in Rwanda was fearless and deeply compassionate. What moved me most was her unwavering commitment to protecting something bigger than herself, ultimately at great personal cost. She didn’t just observe from a distance, she immersed herself, listened, and stood up fiercely for the voiceless. That level of dedication and empathy is something I carry with me every time I work on creating travel experiences that go beyond surface-level encounters.”
“Together, they represent different aspects of what I believe travel should be: bold, curious, purposeful, and respectful. They remind me that it’s not just about where you go, it’s about how you engage with the world once you’re there.”
“The greatest lesson I’ve learned from travelling solo is that you are far more capable and connected than you realise. When you’re on your own in a new place, there’s no safety net. You learn to navigate unfamiliar cities, read timetables in foreign languages, solve problems on the fly, and make decisions with no one to defer to but yourself. It can be daunting, yes, but also incredibly empowering. You begin to trust your instincts, to back yourself, and to discover a quiet resilience you didn’t know was there.”
One of Forward Travel’s valued solo traveller clients allowing her surroundings to unfold around her. Photograph: Rakhee Chandra.
“But perhaps more unexpectedly, solo travel also taught me that you’re never truly alone. The kindness of strangers, someone pointing you in the right direction, sharing a meal, or simply offering a smile reminds you that human connection is everywhere if you're open to it. You start to see the world not as a scary, chaotic place, but as a shared space where most people want to help, to connect, to understand.”
“My deepest life lesson from solo travel is that self-reliance and human connection aren’t opposites, they go hand-in-hand. When you step out into the world alone, you learn not just who you are, but how naturally and beautifully you fit into the bigger story.”
David Smyth’s top 3 tips for solo travelling success
1. Stay open but trust your instincts. One of the greatest joys of solo travel is the spontaneity, saying yes to an invitation, taking a detour, striking up a conversation with someone you’d never meet at home. These moments often become the most memorable parts of the journey. But that openness should always be paired with intuition. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. Learn to trust that inner compass, it gets stronger with each trip.
2. Travel light, both in luggage and expectations. You don’t need as much as you think. A lighter bag makes it easier to move, explore, and adapt. But the same goes for expectations: solo travel rarely unfolds exactly as planned, and that’s a good thing. Leave space for surprises, slow days, and unplanned conversations. That’s often where the magic lives.
3. Learn a little, listen a lot. Learn a few key phrases in the local language, but more importantly, listen. Listen to locals, to your surroundings, to your own thoughts. Solo travel gives you a unique chance to truly observe, and when you slow down and listen, you’ll connect more deeply with the places you visit and the people you meet.
To learn more about adventuring solo (but never alone) with Forward Travel, visit David and his team. If you have always wanted to travel to Nepal and experience the Himalaya region but never been quite sure where to begin, this just may be your golden opportunity.
Geoffrey Williams is the Founder and Publishing Curator of The Solo Traveller.