The Solo Traveller
Your independence, passion, and lifelong memories.
Fellow Travellers
Soaking up the spectacular Txindoki views towards Biarritz, in Basque Country, Spain.
Sally Clarke
As solo travellers, we often discover that, beyond the headlines, our world isn’t nearly as dangerous as it is often made out to be. In fact, most people we meet on our travels are more likely to offer help than harm. Around the world, locals give directions, share food, and often go out of their way to make visitors feel safe. Yes, caution matters, but it’s also worth remembering just how many people are quietly looking out for one another every day.
For Sally, the kindness of strangers contributed in no small way to illuminating her confidence and joy. “A random family in Chefchaouen, Morocco, invited me in for Friday couscous when they learned I was travelling alone. Once, I ran out of petrol about 100 metres from a Spanish gas station. A bunch of truck drivers came to help me push the car to the gas pump, then insisted on buying me a beer before I hit the road again! Mostly, people are kind and curious, and everyone benefits from exchanging a smile, even if you don’t speak a word of the language.”
What can you share with us about the first time your travelled solo?
My first solo trip was the year I spent on exchange in the Netherlands, which gave rise to a lifelong passion for solo adventures. I learned a new language, made friends I have to this day, attended massive music festivals, and gained new levels of self-awareness and confidence. It was a foundational lesson in my own resilience and the power of taking calculated risks. I’ve travelled alone frequently since.
What kind of research did you do before your first trip?
Not a lot. To this day, I tend to do basic research online and follow my instincts when it comes to travel plans. I’m not into Yelp, TripAdvisor or other travel websites that feel prescriptive to me – I don’t want to feel like a lemming. I tend to prefer to arrive, get my bearings and explore a place organically – especially if I’ve been there before and already have a ‘mental map’, following my nose feels way more interesting than adopting a plan that someone else has dreamt up. I also always ensure I speak at least a few words of the local language. In most places, this small effort pays huge dividends.
What do you love the most about travelling solo?
Travelling alone I always end up meeting far more new people than when I’m in a group or with a partner. Despite being reasonably introverted and enjoying my own company, being by myself makes me more easily approached by interesting new people and makes me more likely to strike up a conversation with a stranger too.
Being willing to travel solo makes so much more possible for me. I have friends who are afraid to go to a restaurant alone, let alone hit the road solo. I’m so grateful to have this propensity. I don’t have to sit around and wait for someone else to come up with a plan, I can make life happen myself. I also love the autonomy I have as a solo traveller. No waiting around or compromising on what I want to do. I can follow my own bliss and navigate my own course. This kind of independence means a lot to me.
Sally at the top of Txindoki range in Basque Country, Spain.
What lessons you have learned about life by travelling solo?
I’ve learned to take calculated risks. As a former lawyer, I’m reasonably risk averse by nature. However, travelling by myself and having so many amazing experiences as a result has taught me to lean into the possibility rather than the fear. Whether it’s driving alone from Amsterdam to Morocco, doing a solo six-week RV (recreational vehicle) trip on the West Coast of the US where I hiked in the Sierra Nevada, exploring countless European cities or camping in the Australian outback, solo travel makes me feel empowered, connected with nature, and always gives me perspective.
Is there a destination you keep returning to, and why?
I visit Brazil frequently because my brother lives there, and I’m always drawn back the places I’ve lived to catch up with dear friends – Amsterdam, Morocco, California and Portugal. I’ve visited Champagne in France with close friends a few times to do an awesome, random 18km running event that happens every May, and I’ll always adore camping in the outback.
Cracking open the champagne on the beach at Hossegor, France.
Did you make friends that you met while travelling solo that remain in your life?
Absolutely! I have some amazing friends from solo travel, usually made in hostels or on hiking trails. I also appreciate the random encounters that have become Instagram-buddies – strangers who invited me to a ballet in Carcassonne, a guitar maker who gave me a ticket to an amazing flamenco event in Seville, a cowboy who invited me to a rodeo in Oregon, an Istanbul book store owner who invited me to a dinner with her friends because we both love Toni Morrison … the doors that open when your heart is open are amazing.
Who inspires you in travel or in your life more generally?
I’m inspired by musicians, writers, poets, climate activists and political activists. People who stand for what they believe in and show courage in the face of adversity inspire me to be authentic, daring, and bold.
Doing a sweaty dancer pose on the Pacific Crest Trail at Thousand Island Lake, Sierra Nevada, California, USA.
What is on your ‘Bucket List’?
Despite speaking Japanese, I’ve never been to Japan, so that’s a huge one. Other than that, Patagonia, a road trip across Canada, and north-western Australia beckon.
What causes are you passionate about, and why?
As a surfer, the ocean matters a lot to me. I follow the work of Surfrider Foundation closely, as well as local environmental organisations where I live.
Can you share your top 3 tips for success?
1. Collect experiences, not material possessions.
2. Be curious and open – even a smile and a ‘Hi!’ can lead to an unexpected conversation.
3. Be present. When alone, it’s so tempting to end up on your phone the whole time or constantly messaging with home. Where possible, put the phone down and connect with where you are. That presence pays off massive dividends, not only in the people you meet and the experience you have of wherever you are, but it strengthens your connection with your own resilience and wisdom.
You can learn more about Sally’s wellbeing programs and services, and connect with Sally on LinkedIn. You can also find out more about the important work of the Surfrider Foundation Australia, whose mission is to protect 100% of Australia’s coastlines. Forever.
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