By Josh Chandler

Solo travel and safety are often spoken about in the same breath – not only by us, but also our family, friends and loved ones who are concerned about where we are going and what danger we might encounter along the way. In as much as our personal safety is an important consideration we explore when we plan destinations, transport and transit options, accommodation, and appropriate times of year, it is also a dynamic, evolving skillset we carry with us – sharpened by experience, and adapted by the lived experiences of every new place we visit.

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We don’t need to be afraid to travel alone, but we do need to be aware. Safety on the road means something different to everyone. For some, it’s a matter of avoiding physical danger. For others, it’s about navigating unfamiliar cultural expectations, understanding what it means to stand out in a new land, or knowing how to ask for help when you need it. If you’re travelling solo, the stakes are much higher, because every decision, every reaction, and every moment of awareness is yours alone.

There’s no universal rulebook for feeling safe, and our ‘safety lens’ – the unique way we individually assess risk and readiness – will always be different to someone else’s. Our experience in any destination will be shaped by who we are, how we move through the world, and how the world sees us. That’s not a disadvantage, it’s a strength. Awareness sharpens our instincts, and understanding what to look for and how to listen to yourself when something feels ‘off’ is a key part of navigating the world confidently, not fearfully.

When we explore the concept of our safety as solo travellers, it can often feel overwhelming or even impossible to know where to begin. There are the useful and informative government-run travel advisories, and any number of forums and groups on social media, that can reliably (or just as easily unreliably), inform our thoughts about the wisdom of including particular destinations in our plans.

Safety, not as a concept but as a necessary consideration, begins before our feet hit foreign soil, before our passports are stamped, and before that first awe-filled view of somewhere new. In our chaotic world, preparations will make all the difference between a stressful experience and an empowering solo adventure.

Being safe on our travels doesn’t mean being closed off – it means being switched on. It’s about balancing openness with awareness, freedom with forethought, and curiosity with caution. The more we travel alone, the more fluent we become in this balance – learning how to scan our surroundings without fear, how to trust our instincts without hesitation, and how to move through the world with confidence and care.