FACT Opinion: Why I prefer travelling solo

Emma Burdett, Founder of WILD, shares how a solo trip changed her life.

The first time I travelled solo was nine years ago. After relocating from the UK to Dubai, I decided to go to a retreat in Sri Lanka. I will never forget feeling fearful and anxious. The relocation to Dubai alone had been difficult, but now I didn’t know what to expect. 

A driver picked me up from Colombo airport and it was a three-hour drive into the middle of the jungle. Little did I know this was going to be the first of many solo adventures. Currently, I am sitting in Bali writing this article, more of that later. 

When I first arrived at the retreat, they had to drive me to the nearest village for WiFi. That is always protocol everywhere, isn’t it? I was politely told that there wasn’t any WiFi. Shock, horror and that overriding sense of panic later, I hurried off to find an area to get a signal. Nothing.

I had just started a new job in Dubai. Today, workplaces embrace balance. Back then, you had to be contactable, even when you were on annual leave. So, when I was in Columbo, they had to drive me to the nearest village for WiFi. I called my new boss and informed him that I wouldn’t be contactable for a week. He wasn’t happy.

What was incredible about this experience is it forces you to socialise. I met people from all over the world, we laughed together, ate together and shared experiences that would not have happened had I not been in a group or with my iPhone. Solo travelling creates experiences for you to meet interesting people, and create unforgettable experiences.

I have since been to Sri Lanka as a solo traveller more than 10 times. The country is rich in culture, and delicious food and has a feeling of being safe, which is the most important thing as a female solo traveller. 

Around six years ago I lost my job. I was not in a good place. I was struggling with my mental health and I felt as though the world had come crashing down. Lost, confused and sad, I embarked on a journey of self-discovery.

I found myself in Thailand, having my very own eat, pray, love adventure. Except there was lots of eating, lots of praying and absolutely no loving. There was a lot of discomfort, fear and deep sadness as I began to process what had happened but also began to unpack past trauma. 

During this time, I turned to meditation. For me, meditation has been a life-changing practice, one I wouldn’t have turned to if I hadn’t travelled solo. I have always been open and honest about my journey. I believe this is how we inspire and connect with others. 

I had a spiritual epiphany in Thailand and garnered the inspiration to launch WILD – Women in Leadership Deliver. I had created a smaller women’s network beforehand on behalf of a corporate company, and witnessed the impact it had created. I knew I could build this for myself.

The truth is, had I not gone alone to Thailand to work on myself, I probably would have never founded WILD. My breakdown was my biggest breakthrough, and it’s in our darkest times that we develop a deeper understanding. It’s where the healing begins and from this comes creation. You have to be alone to experience such transformation, away from all distractions.

Solo travel allows for unique experiences, getting to know yourself, and I know the term ‘soul searching’ is cliché but it’s exactly what happened. So many people are caught up in the social matrix, working until they are burned out and exhausted. 

To travel is to live, I love solo travel so much, I now would struggle to go away with anyone else. It is when we sit alone, in our own discomfort that we can heal. There is beauty in the chaos when we just stop running. Living and working in Dubai is intense, coupled with the fact there is not much natural nature. Being amongst the green, hearing the wildlife, tasting new foods and being a part of a different culture, just hits differently.

I owe a lot to solo travel, so many people are afraid to be alone, let alone travel alone. Solo travel enables us to create space for new ideas, meet new people from all over the world, and heal.

As the leader of WILD, my job is to bring a community together and inspire. I also coach women and am a keynote speaker, often doing talks on gender equality. The work is demanding, and I give a lot. This, therefore, means I need to rest, relax and nurture myself.

I now work for three months, and take three weeks off for solo travel. I am currently in Bali, sitting in deep gratitude as I get to live life on my terms with the freedom to do as I wish. I have created a life that I don’t need a vacation from and will continue to travel solo.