We've searched Instagram high and low for the most Inspirational female travellers who've made travelling - by themselves - into a long term career.
Here they share their secrets on how they do it.
@girlwithnohome - Julia Dvorak
How she does it:
In 2012 I planned a gap year in Australia, working and travelling throughout Australia & Asia. I didn't realise how severe the travel bug had hit me, that 'wanderlust' wasn't just a word but a lifestyle. Five years later and I now call Australia home. I've adventured all across the country and have travelled through South East Asia. I have made travelling my priority so work my butt off for a while, before travelling again.
The highs:
Travelling by yourself makes you learn a lot about yourself. A lot of people think you run away from your problems or struggles at home. To be very honest, it's exactly the opposite: you can't run away from anything because you carry whatever struggles you have with you since they only exist in your head. That makes you face your fears and problems in the most intense way.
Besides the things happening inside you, you can meet the most amazing humans and make the most incredible experiences as you're free to do whatever you want. You can hop from one to another place, you can stay in the same location for ages, you can do WHATEVER YOU WANT!
The lows:
Homesickness. But you learn to deal with this, embrace it and utilise it to fuel your travelling dreams. The people you love will always be your home and as long as you don't forget about them, they won't forget you.
Tips:
Make sure you do whatever excites your soul and makes you happy. Way too many people make decisions based on other people's opinions or perceptions as to what's the right thing to do.
Book your plane tickets, Listen to yourself, trust yourself and love yourself x
Follow Julia's adventures:
Instagram: @girlwithnohome
@christinexploring - Christine Connell
How she does it:
I've always loved traveling. As I got older, I became more aware of the fact that life is short. I decided I should do what makes me happy. I began traveling whenever I could get away from work. I took photos of my travels, grew my Instagram, and started a blog. Eventually, companies starting reaching out and offering me compensation for photos and blog posts.
The highs:
I love solo travel. For me, there is nothing better than waking up in the morning and doing whatever I want to do. I don't need to please anyone else. This freedom is definitely the best part of solo travel for me. It also allows me to clear my mind and get to know myself in ways that I otherwise wouldn't.
The lows:
The worst part of solo travel is probably not having anyone else to drive on a roadtrip. Car naps are everything when you're exhausted, and when traveling alone I need to actually pull over to take a car nap.
Tips:
Work hard and be patient. Don't expect to wake up one day and be paid to travel. It just won't happen that way. I still have several sources of income, and I don't expect that to change anytime soon. If you're willing to work hard, it's a really rewarding way to live!
Follow Christine's adventures:
Instagram: @christinexploring
@lauraa_jung - Laura Jung
How she does it:
I'm more of a part-time traveller because at somepoint I have to stop somewhere to make the next trip possible by working for a few months - I think it's a big and also a very nice part of travelling as there is nothing better than looking forward to the next adventure with excitement and anticipation.
I want to spend my life travelling and living in different places and cultures. I will start studying Tourism Management online so I can be flexible and combine studying and working.
The highs:
I love to be independent, to not know where it takes me and to be free to decide when I want to leave or stay.
On the trips where I went by myself I met so many people, people you become friends with for the rest of your life. This is definitely the best part of solo travelling.
The lows:
For me and probaly for many other solo travellers the hardest part in the beginning was to go out of your comfort zone. Starting conversations...starting friendships.
Another hard part is to find the right balance between trust and caution. I've felt safe in every place I've been to though!
Tips:
JUST GO and make it possible. As soon as you get somewhere you will notice you are never alone. We travellers are all in the same boat.
And be spontaneous, take some risks but never loose your wits.
You will have the time of your life!
Follow Laura's adventures:
Instagram: @lauraa_jung
@bee.traveler - Luz Carreiro
How she does it:
I have to work part of the year in order to afford my trips, but with the time and experience, I've learned how to travel more practically and cheaply. I'm currently writing a book of my experiences this summer in the hope of inspiring more girls to get into travelling.
The highs:
I always say: Solo travelers are never solo! And I think thats the best part... you get to know more people and be in unique situations that if you come with company from home, you may not get in to.
The lows:
The fact that you will have to look for yourself 24/7. Where you will sleep, what you will eat, how you'll get to your next destination. It's cool to have the freedom to do whatever you want, but just sometimes it's nice that someone else take the lead. When I find travel buddies on my way, I like to split the duties, so I can worry less about some things.
Tips:
Just do it!!! Seriously! It's so easy now!!! With all the apps, information and groups... wifi everywhere and all the gears available. The world is so much more travel friendly than it used to be. For me travel is a sport - you only get better with practice!
Follow Luz's adventures:
Instagram: Bee.Traveler
@go_on_adventures - Anne
How she does it:
There is nothing better for me than traveling - so I try to travel whenever it's possible. I do a tough job and travel for the rest of the time. It's more like I just work to be able to travel and I am trying to figure out ways at the moment to shorten the working part with every year that goes by, until one day I will be able to absolutely just be a digital nomad without any working base in my home country. I love solo traveling!
The highs:
The best part about solo traveling is that you can actually do whatever you like! You can go on this crazy adventures without somebody telling you that this is insane :-) The best experience I had so far, was hiking down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon last August all by myself! I was just SO proud of what I accomplished. I was never that happy before in my life.
The lows:
Convincing my family and friends that I will not get myself killed! They are always so worried and it takes so much effort to tell them I am going to be ok - especially when doing "crazy things" (their words not mine haha).. Like hiking down the Grand Canyon at the hottest time of the year - but it's always worth it for me.
Tips:
If you have that desire in yourself my tip for you is: GO! Just do it! No matter what anybody else may tell you - you need to get outside and on adventures as long as you can. We only have this one life. And I personally don't want to waste anymore time at an office job than I necessarily have to. I want to see the world & if you want this as well: You need to take action and just do whatever makes you happy.
Follow Anne's adventures:
Instagram: @go_on_adventures
@unexpectedoccurrence - Anya Carion
How she does it:
I'm lucky enough to have grown up traveling! When I was in fifth grade, my parents homeschooled me and we rock climbed around Southeast Asia. My own wanderlust didn't really grow until high school. I decided to take a gap year after graduating, and two years later, I'm still traveling! I do have plans to start school this September though, but of course, it's overseas in Scotland!
The highs:
The best part of solo travel is definitely meeting people. It's crazy how close you can get to people in a matter of minutes; sometimes you know their entire life story before getting their name!
The lows:
The worst part of solo travel is learning how to meet people. I'll be honest, at first it was super intimidating going up to random people and starting a conversation, and there are definitely some lonely nights. It just takes a little while to get into the groove of solo travel, but once you find people you click with, it's the best thing in the world!
Tips:
Eat it, then ask what it is!
Follow Anya's adventures:
Instagram: @unexpectedoccurrence
@wander.niks - Nikita
How she does it:
I decided to spend a year as an Au Pair in the USA in 2014, and I ended up staying two years. I was 19yo, and didn't quite feel mature enough to be on my own. So I found the Au Pair program and I think it's the easiest way to leave for the first time. I was surrounded by a team in my home country as well as a local coordinator in the USA. No worries about accommodation since the job is actually to take care of the children and live with the family. It was a safe way for me to start travelling (and safe to my parents as well). I am not a digital nomad (yet), I am currently on a WHV (Working Holiday Visa) in Australia, and planning to do the same in New Zealand next year. Work - Save - Travel - Repeat, that's what drives me.
The highs:
Solo travel is a great way to discover yourself, your limits, your aspirations. I like to have the power to choose to do whatever I want whenever I want without any compromise. Basically being free.
The lows:
Overall there's more ups than downs but it's not always perfect. You can feel lonely sometimes, watching your friend's snapchat celebrating their birthday in your favorite bar, or getting pictures from your friend's newborn baby. Doesn't happen often though. What I find difficult (or annoying) for some projects, is that you can't do everything alone. Let's take road trips for example, as a backpacker it's better to find some people to split the cost to make it more affordable.
Tips:
Don't wait for people. You have this trip in mind but your friend is not into it / cancelled last minute ? If you want to go, just go.
If you're afraid of the unknown like I was, think positive, there is always a solution to your problem and you can adapt to any situation. Always believe.
Follow Nikita's adventures:
Instagram: @wander.niks
@mitchadventure - Mitchy Behn
How she does it:
For the last two years, I have travelled for six months out of the year. I got into it by just diving completely in. I started off with a big European backpacking trip in 2015 where I visited 13 countries. That was the biggest jumpstart for me. I was hooked! I have always loved the idea of travelling long term but I was never motivated enough to do it. I would take trips here and there but never to this scale. That year was all about learning about what makes me happy.
I am able to travel as much as I can because I save. Everything has a travel equivalent in my head. A $300 purse is a plane ticket to California etc.
The highs:
The best part about travelling is meeting people, my absolute favourite part. I have met people from all walks of life from so many countries and my travel experience is what it is because of them. You could be in the most incredible place sometimes and it wouldn't have a lasting impact because you haven't made those real life connections. Same goes the other way around, I have been to the poorest, most uninteresting cities and had the best time because of the people I connected with. I've had a lot of growth opportunities because I am by myself and am able to really look within and work on the things that are easily overlooked when constantly surrounded by things/people.
The lows:
The worse part for me is always the first few hours of getting to a brand new city either via train, plane or bus and not having any help from the interwebs to help you out! This is when I feel most vulnerable. When I travel, I try my absolute best to not use taxis (unless really necessary) and stick 100% to public transport. So when I get to a new place, I have to figure out the public transport system and get to my place. I have gotten better about this and it's really all about planning! I could also talk about the loneliness aspect that kind of goes hand in hand with solo travel, but to be honest, although I have had those moments, I have learned to embraced them because I realised it just means I have so many people I love. I let these thoughts pass through me, and in true Eat, Pray, and Love fashion, I send them light and love and forget about it, aka I send them a snap :)
Tips:
To the girls wanting to do the same thing, I say to you, do your research - read blogs, be open. Don't focus too much on things other people are doing but rather be open to the little nuance of the place you're visiting. Be prepared and prioritise travelling. What I mean by that is, save money as much as you can. There is nothing more limiting than having to pinch pennies everywhere you go. Before buying something, just really think if you need it. Lastly, come to a city with an open mind. You will not be disappointed.
Follow Mitchy's adventures:
Instagram: @mitchadventure
Want to feature? If you are or know of someone who's doing something special and it's travel related, we'd love to feature you in an 'Inspirational Instagrammers' article! Tag anyone you think should be featured!
Send an email to radha@onflightmode.com