Solo Backpacking 2023: Why I Did It, How I Did It, and How You Can Do It Too

We all know how working and earning lots of money is a pretty big deal in the Singapore culture - especially for the older generations. So how did I come to make this big decision to quit my job and go solo backpacking extensively for six months as a Singaporean female? 

The main couple of questions I have gotten about solo backpacking are:

People have been telling me how envious they are of me and how I am living my life without a care in the world. But the truth is, solo backpacking isn’t at all as glamorous as it might seem on Instagram. 

For anyone who has always dreamed of going on your own solo travels, or anyone considering quitting your job just to travel the world - here's my story on why and how I did it, and hopefully how you might be able to do it too.

It all started when I went on a short solo trip to Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam in 2022. I was grouped with 3 other female travellers from the UK and they shared that they quit their jobs to travel long term to experience that happiness that you can’t get just from working in an office.

I was already feeling unsatisfied at my job at the time as it simply did not ‘spark joy’ to sit in the office from day to night, working five days a week - and it was after hearing their stories that I got inspired. 

A few months later, I tendered my resignation and embarked on my extended two-month solo backpacking trip around Southeast Asia. (I will also be solo backpacking around Europe for three months and Indonesia for one month - making my solo backpacking adventure a grand six-month backpacking experience in total! 😛)

Travelling alone is not a foreign concept to Westerners; however, it is not as common among Singaporeans in general. In my eight weeks of travelling thus far, I have yet to meet any solo travellers from Singapore. 

I actually first tried solo backpacking six years ago in Europe and found that I felt safe and was able to meet so many amazing people. It was then that I fell in love with solo travelling and had been embarking on short solo trips to Southeast Asian countries ever since.

If you're considering going on an extended solo backpacking trip, I highly recommend testing the waters by going on short solo backpacking trips to nearby countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand or Vietnam to get a taste of how it would feel. The easiest cities to start solo backpacking with would probably be Bangkok or Bali - as many solo travellers around the world usually start their travels in these two cities. 

Most people who quit their jobs in order to travel, have actually spent a long time working and saving up for their solo travels, and might even be emptying out their entire savings just to travel the world (that’s me 😌). However, depending on how well you budget, money may run out sooner than expected (also me 😩).

If that happens, some solo backpackers may choose to work in hostels in exchange for free accommodation and meals just so that they're able to continue with their travels. Alternatively, you could also find a freelance gig to earn extra income along the way to fund your travels.

While the idea of emptying out my savings and potentially ending up in debt sounds absurd to most people in Singapore, I personally think that it would be 100% worth it - simply because I do not want to spend my life working miserably and miss out on the opportunity to see the world before I age or have other commitments. To me, money can always be earned again but my youth and freedom won't be around forever.

For the first part of the long solo backpacking trip, I decided to try out Southeast Asia first (Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand) before going on a longer trip around Europe. I chose Southeast Asia since it's relatively affordable and hostels in Southeast Asia usually offer a friendly environment along with amazing facilities (pools, game area, rooftop bars and more). Foreigners also love travelling to Southeast Asia for these very reasons, so it will be extremely easy to make friends wherever you go. 

Most people would also start from the capital of the country before travelling out to the other parts of the country. By starting out in the capital, you can easily meet the same people in other parts of the country again in the later parts of your trip. For example, I started off in Bangkok for my Thailand trip and I constantly bumped into people that I met in Bangkok in other parts of Thailand (Phuket, Koh Samui, etc.). 

The best way to save money and keep your expenses lean would be to stay in hostels as you travel. This means sleeping in a room with up to 19 other strangers from all over the world. Depending on your comfort level, you'll either find this a good opportunity to socialise and make new friends, or for the more introverted, you might feel a little overwhelmed.

Regardless, sleeping in a hostel dorm room is so cost-friendly - some dorm rooms actually cost as low as SG$9 per bed per night. And while some hostels' dorm rooms may look underwhelming, there are some hostels' dorm rooms that are actually pretty posh. Plus, staying in hostels is the best way to meet people especially if you're travelling alone.

Hostels in Southeast Asia usually have amazing facilities that allow guests to socialise or even if you're looking to really enjoy the facilities as you travel (swimming poolm, rooftop bars, etc) - so picking a good hostel is extremely important.

Budgeting while you’re out is really important too, especially when you are in Southeast Asia and everything is supposedly ‘cheap’. You tend to end up spending more because you are under the impression that it is ‘cheap’. To save money, I would often say ‘no’ to unnecessary expenses, such as avoiding shopping for anything I don't need, and always looking out for affordable meals. It is definitely not easy sometimes especially if you see something you want or have been invited out for drinks with your new backpacking friends. Just keep your budget in mind and make it a point to stick to it.

As much as I can, I also avoid taking flights as flight tickets are usually more expensive when it’s booked at the last minute. You also do not want to book flights too much in advance when you’re backpacking, as your plans can easily change after meeting people that you love hanging out with. I usually take long bus rides or ferries - even though the journeys are usually very lengthy (some up to 19 hours), as they are much more affordable. 

Do your research on the country or city that you are going to be in prior to your trip too. Research the transportation options in the areas that you will be travelling to so you won’t be paying exorbitant prices to get to your accommodation from airports/ terminals. And if possible, be open and try to find someone to share a ride with if the price that is being offered is too high. (Of course, always be cautious when interacting with strangers and follow your instincts. Safety first, always!)

When you stay in hostels, it will be easy to meet people, but you will still have to get out of your comfort zone and actively put yourself out there if socialising and meeting new friends during your solo backpacking trip is something you look forward to. Join hostel activities like pub crawls, welcome sessions, island hopping tours and more - these are the best places to meet people and it's pretty fun getting to know them as you share the experiences together.

For conversations, refrain from speaking Singlish 😅 and try to speak proper English as much as you can. This will help folks from other countries to better understand and communicate with us.

It's also pretty cool to use the fact that you are Singaporean to start a conversation with people as travellers rarely meet Singaporeans (at least from my backpacking experiences!) and they have probably not been to Singapore either. Most people that I have met while travelling are usually interested when they hear that I am a solo traveller from Singapore.

I'll take the opportunity to share more about our culture and food with them, as well as let them know that Singapore is not as expensive as we might have looked in Crazy Rich Asians - because our food and transport are actually pretty affordable.

As mentioned earlier, solo travelling isn’t as fun and glamourous as it may seem on social media. Even though you will be making many new friends from hostels, tours or in random places - you are going to be saying a lot of goodbyes as new friends continue with their travels to different places. Personally, saying goodbyes is the worst part of my solo backpacking experiences and I often end up crying when we part because people that I've met can be absolutely and unexpectedly amazing.

There will also be times when you end up alone and you have to be comfortable with it - this is non-negotiable if you wish to go solo backpacking. Sometimes, eating out alone in a crowded restaurant filled with couples, friends and family will make you feel extra lonely but that’s okay.

It's all a part of the experience, whether it's learning to enjoy being alone with yourself or keeping open-minded to meeting new people along the way. Plus after socialising so much with new people, it can take a toll on your 'social battery' so having some alone time can actually be really relaxing sometimes!

Especially for my fellow female solo backpackers - whether you are travelling alone or with friends, always stay intuitive and sharp. If anything doesn’t feel right with you, don’t go along with it. If you're out having a drink, always stay safe and refrain from drinking past your limit to avoid messy, dangerous or unnecessary situations.

Another tip I would share is to actively make friends and ensure you are always in a group, especially at night. In certain places, there might be taxi mafias or questionable people. I would highly recommend that you ensure not to get on a ride with taxi mafias alone or people giving off weird vibes no matter what.

I have heard personal stories from hostel mates in Hoi An and other places about horrible things happening when they found themselves alone with questionable individuals. And if possible, do try to befriend other backpackers (those that you instinctively feel you can trust) - there’s less risk of danger when you travel in a group, or if there’s a male presence.

So that's my story on why and how I started solo backpacking, and hopefully, this helps you with your solo backpacking journey too!