Travelling solo can be as adventurous as you make it. Discover 11 solo travel challenges that will help you discover even more of the world while constantly learning new things and applying your creativity.
Sunrise to sunset
This is usually what many call an extreme day trip. Travel to a place for only one day and explore it by foot and public transport, aiming to see as much as possible. Getting the plane out early in the morning and coming back in the evening saves money because you are not going to need accommodation. If you would like to challenge yourself, mark all the places you want to visit on Google Maps and hop from place to place, taking photos of them. Try to see all of them in just this one day, by walking.
Hop trip
It’s all about country or town hopping every day. You got to destination A on Monday morning, then fly out to destination B in the evening. Spend day 2 in destination B and fly out to destination C on Tuesday evening. Instead of flying, you can use all modes of transport. You can hop between countries or between towns.
Starburst trip
Use one location as a base and travel for day trips from it. For example, you can book a room near Sabiha Gökçen International Airport in Istanbul. The airport is located on a metro line and it’s easy to navigate to. It also serves as a base for the Turkish budget airline Pegasus and you can fly to destinations around Türkiye for as low as £15 one way. The airport offers flights to other countries at good prices as well. So, you can stay in Istanbul for the duration of your trip but travel to different destinations every day.
Budget microtrip
I have done trips under £100 without even trying. Usually, my extreme day trips are under this amount. But you could challenge yourself further and try to do a two-day trip for under this amount.
Hidden Gems
There are so many beautiful places around the world you are not going to see on TikTok and Instagram. They are going to be cheaper and significantly less crowded compared to famous tourist destinations. Easy way to find them is by studying the bus or train stops along a line between two places that have airports. Check what towns the train/bus stops at, how do they look, what do they offer? You may find amazing hidden gems no one would have told you about.
Daily budget challenge
This one is a great idea if you are travelling on a budget. Set up a daily cap for your spending. For example – not spending more than £20 a day.
The cheapest destination
Decide on dates you want to be away. No go to Google Flights or Trip.com and search for these dates – pick the cheapest flight and book it. This might be the best solution if you want to travel but not sure where you would like to go.
Island hopping
Use planes or ferries to hop from island to island. It doesn’t need to be only the Greek islands, for example – you could spread across longer distances. For example, Palma – Malta – Cyprus.
Last minute trips
Book a one-way flight to somewhere – anywhere you would like to go. And don’t book anything else until you get to the airport. Last minute flights are not always expensive and a trip like this will definitely take you out of your comfort zone and broaden your horizons.
Explore a place without a map
Just got with your gut feeling. Forget about your phone, forget about the pocket map. Enjoy the atmosphere and explore freely.
Get someone else to book your trip for you
Get a friend or a family member to book your next trip and leave all the details in an envelope. Then open the envelope at the airport, discovering where your next adventure is going to take you.Â
