Inner Atlas · Travel Reflections
Does it make sense to travel on your own?
Yes, no, and it depends.
ReflectionI've traveled independently, with a travel agency, in a group, and on my own. And after all that, I came to a conclusion that seems simple but takes time to to truly understand each other.
Traveling on your own has its advantages. And its pitfalls. And all three answers are valid at the same time.
I’ve traveled independently, with a travel agency, in a group, and on my own. Each way has its time and its traveler. I’ve had long conversations with all kinds of travelers—those who’ve traveled the entire world with a backpack and a deal-finding app, those who only go to all-inclusive resorts, and those who one day decided there was another way.
And after all that, I came to a conclusion that seems simple but takes time to truly understand.
The best trips aren't about the destination. They're about the people you share them with.
But let's take it one step at a time.
The Benefits of Traveling on Your Own
Freedom. That comes first.
You do whatever you want, go wherever you want, and change your plans at midnight if you feel like it. For a certain type of traveler—and at a certain point in life—that’s exactly what you need.
I have a friend who, a few months ago, hopped on his motorcycle and set off on a fifteen-day trip through Europe. No plan. No reservations. Just him and the open road. He needed it—he’d been on autopilot for months, stuck in the office routine, and one day he said, “Enough,” and left.
Was it worth it? He told me it was. That he needed to think. To rethink things. And he did.
But when I asked him about the trip itself, this is what he told me:
«In the end, it cost me a fortune. You cross borders but don't really get to know the places. And so many hours on the motorcycle—I love it, but it leaves you completely worn out.»
And then he said something to me that got me thinking: «If I ever do something like that again, it'll be with my girlfriend. And I'll do it differently.»
What Nobody Tells You About Traveling Alone
Memory is generous—it holds on to the good things and blurs the rest. But in the moment, they're all there.
Waiting at airports, where minutes turn into hours. Everyone with their heads down, staring at a screen. And you're no different.
Healthy envy—that's the kind that sticks with you—when you see a group of people laughing at the boarding gate.
And to be in a wonderful place—a sunrise, a temple, a landscape you've never seen before—and feel that something is missing. That that moment needs someone by your side to be complete.
Unexpected events that become a source of worry when you're alone turn into anecdotes when you're in a group.
The traveler who has been all over the world
I have another friend. He's been traveling all over the world for years—Japan, the Philippines, all of Latin America, all of Asia. He knows all the best deal sites. He just grabs his suitcase and goes.
The problem is that almost no one goes with him again. Not his children. Not his friends. Not his partners. Because the way he travels—hostels, shared accommodations, places his travel companions didn't expect—ends up wearing down whoever goes with him.
In the end, he always says the same thing: «I've spent a lot more than I thought I would.» And it makes sense. By trying to save money, he ends up spending more. That's because his travel companions aren't comfortable with hostels, shared housing, or the places he finds to save money.
I asked him once: Of all the trips you've taken, of all the countries you've visited, which one do you remember the most? He didn't hesitate.
The Camino de Santiago. In August. Crowded with people.
Not the Great Wall of China. Not Japan. Not the Philippines.
«The best trip for a man who has traveled the world was one where adventure and people mattered more than the monuments.«
What about traveling through a travel agency?
After traveling on my own many times, I also tried using a travel agency. It's the most convenient option. You pay and don't have to worry about a thing. But sometimes something's missing. And I know that from my own experience, too.
I went on a cruise years ago. It was a typical package tour: predetermined destinations, fixed schedules, and large groups.
What is my fondest memory? Not the mountain passes. Not the monuments.
A cabinmate I hit it off with on the first day. Within three days, we had formed a small group that did everything together—dinners, excursions, and evenings on deck.
What I remember about that cruise are the adventures I had with them. How I felt. Not the destinations.
What Makes a Small Group Different
Neither traveling on my own nor through a traditional travel agency. For me, it's the best of both worlds. And then some.
The freedom to travel on your own—because even in a well-organized group, there’s room to improvise, to get lost, to say, «I’m staying here a little longer today.».
The convenience of a package tour—because others handle the arrangements, transportation, and unexpected issues. All you have to do is show up.
And what really makes the difference: like-minded people. People who have chosen the same trip because they share something in common with you. A small group—no more than 13 people—where waiting at airports turns into conversation, and the most incredible moments become shared memories that last for years. If you want to know how it works, Here are our group tours.
Being around positive people who bring something to the table and whose energy is contagious —
That's what makes a trip unforgettable.
The Best Trips
are not done alone.
The best moments aren't on the itinerary. They're in the people who shared them with you. And you discover that whether you're traveling on your own or with a group.
Talk to any traveler who has traveled extensively. Ask them to share their best stories with you. Almost all of them have one thing in common—in the story they tell you, they weren't alone.
If you're here, it's no coincidence. Your intuition has brought you right to the place where the journey you feel… has already chosen you.
Co-founder of SunZen Travel. The best moments of my trips weren't on the itinerary.