As an avid traveller and an introvert, the thought of travelling alone at first scared the hell out of me.
My first ever backpacking trip was to Australia, and I was doing it alone. My mind was flooded with “What if…?” and “What am I gonna do when…?”. How long shall I book my first hostel for? Shall I book a private room or a dorm? What am I going to do after that first week? I felt like I needed to plan out every small detail to make myself more comfortable.
Since my year in Australia, I’ve never stopped travelling, aside from when Covid shut the world down. So I’ve written my top travel tips for introverts that I’ve accumulated along the way. I would like to share them with you.
As I’m writing this article I’m living in the Yukon, Canada. Some would say that’s an extrovert thing to do, but that’s not the case. I’m accepting myself as an introvert and using that to the best of my ability.
1. My first of travel tips for introverts - Accept yourself
First things first – Being an introvert is amazing and you should accept yourself. Some say this is an extrovert’s world but there’s no reason for you to strive to be an extrovert. Just be yourself and you will still do great. Make it your superpower!
There are pros and cons to every personality. Once you start accepting yourself you will naturally feel more relaxed and open to your travels. You don’t have to go to every party you’re invited to in your hostel, but you can choose to go to only one or two if you like. Or none. You will find people that prefer small gatherings that you can engage with.
2. Find the right people to hang out with
Which brings me to my next point – Find the right people to hang out with. Do you feel comfortable around louder, more extrovert people, or are you more at ease around quieter types that you can share silences with?
My fiancé is an extrovert and he helps to bring me out of my shell. He’s a good ice-breaker and is always happy to be the person who speaks first to the stranger. I join in when I feel comfortable. It’s about choosing to be around the people you click with.
3. Travel solo
For others, it’s being on their own that forces them out of their shell. To talk to new people, ask for directions, and start a conversation with their neighbour on the coach. If you are travelling solo then you have no choice but to approach people and do things out of your comfort zone. You can push yourself and test your boundaries. After all, that is what travelling can be about. To explore and do new things.
4. Do smaller things on your own
It is acceptable to go off exploring on your own. For me, sometimes the thought of spending hours with someone I’ve just met is difficult. Small talk can be exhausting! Sometimes I have more fun going off by myself and taking my time exploring everything. It’s a good chance to recharge my batteries.
I can take my time doing things that interest me and that might not interest others. Like finding unusual things hidden in central London. I have some great memories of hikes and cities that I explored solo and enjoyed it immensely.
5. Do something that genuinely interests you
Do something that genuinely interests you – not what you’re expected to do whilst travelling. You don’t want to go out clubbing every night? Fine! You will find someone else who doesn’t want to either. Don’t overstimulate yourself. Do you want to sit on a beach and read Harry Potter for hours? Also fine! I had a great time doing that in Greece, which you can read about here. It could even turn into your thing and you could get good at finding the quiet, secluded beaches.
6. Plan in advance
It can help to plan. That way you will know where you are going, what there is to do, etc. I started to do this when I travelled to Australia. Once I figured out my first week it got easier from there. I even planned my whole five-week trip from Melbourne to Cairns. I knew what I was doing every day, and how I was getting there. Hostels and Greyhound coach tickets were all booked.
I knew what I wanted to do in each place. It was a big project for me but it made me feel more reassured. Nowadays I still love to plan my trips but there’s also room for spontaneity. I created a bucket list which also helped.
7. Mix it up
Do some socials, then spend some time alone going to a museum. If you want to do a whole trip alone, that’s fine, but most people generally want to talk to a few people along the way. Balance is key. Use apps like Meetup, which are useful for finding activities with like-minded people near you.
8. Don't force yourself
The eighth of my travel tips for introverts is to not force yourself. If you need some time to adjust to things, that’s okay. Scope out the scene and figure out who you want to talk to. The great thing about travelling is there is such a vast array of people who travel too.
9. The five second rule
These next two points are useful if you want to do something that you find hard to do. This could be for any reason like you don’t know how to reach out and experience new things.
The first is to utilise the “5-second rule” by Mel Robbins – if you think “I wanna do that” but then become nervous and stop, take a deep breath…. Count to five (out loud if you have to) then dive in. Don’t give yourself too much time to overthink and convince yourself not to do it. Do you want to approach someone to ask for directions? Count to five. Scared to jump from the diving board into the pool? Count to five then quite literally dive in.
In my experience, I’ve found that if I’m nervous about doing something new, once I’ve done it, I find that I actually enjoyed it, and thank myself for going ahead with it. When I have passed up a chance to do something in the past, I’ve always regretted it. If you didn’t enjoy it, at least it’s a story to tell.
10. The last of my travel tips for introverts - Read this book
Lastly, The subtle art of not giving a fuck by Mark Manson is a fantastic book that I recommend you read. You can read it whilst sunbathing on that secluded beach if you like. One of the things it taught me was that if I ever feel nervous about doing anything, tell myself to just shut up and do it anyway.
Are you anxious about making a phone call to book a trip? You didn’t realise that you had to face your fears of walking across a suspension bridge on that hike? Are you overthinking about whether you will look a fool for asking to join a table for a drink? In the kindest way, shut up and do it anyway.
You can have a look at the website for it here.
Being an introvert is not a negative thing, but sometimes it’s held me back from doing things. I’ve felt bad for doing things that I want to do, instead of doing things that are expected of me. I guess this is also an article about how to overcome your fears whilst travelling.
What I’ve found is, I can personalise my trip according to my personality, my wants, and my interests. I can choose to go outside my comfort zone if and when I want to. The key is the choice to do so. So never feel bad about being an introvert, embrace it, and use it to make your travels memorable.
Find your balance. Keep these top travel tips for introverts with you and embrace your travels!
I love this post. I am certainly not an introvert, but much of what you’ve said works for everybody. I’ll take these things to heart. You’re delightful. Thank you.
You’re so kind, thank you! I would love to learn more too.