Solo travel in your 30s is one of the most rewarding and inspiring things you can do. If you are thinking about going travelling in your 30s, or looking to grow your confidence with your travels, then this guide will share everything I have learnt over two decades of solo travel.

I began solo travelling in my 20s, starting with a 10-week sabbatical to Southeast Asia. What followed was many city breaks and 2-3 week trips around a full-time job. It wasn’t until my 30s that I left my full-time job to take a long-term backpacking trip. As such, I have plenty of tips if you are considering the best decision of your life: travelling in your 30s! Solo, short-term, long-term- however you want to go!

Why Travel in Your 30s Is Different (and Better) Than in Your 20s

There are many reasons why travel in your 30s is different (better) than in your 20s! Yes, it might be unorthodox to go backpacking or embark on long-term travel in your 30s, particularly solo travelling, but I firmly believe you will get more out of this at this age.

Travelling With More Self-Awareness

This is the biggest one for me. You are older and wiser (yes, really). And with this comes increased self-awareness. This confidence is more to do with knowing what you want and what you want to get out of your travel experience. For me, this means a lot less partying than when I was younger. I want to make the most out of each place I visit, and this means getting up early most days to experience more.

The life experience you have under your belt when you reach your 30s means you are much better at setting boundaries and more confident to do what you want. I am more than happy to say no to things that don’t align with the experiences I want and don’t feel the dreaded FOMO anymore. Quite simply, when you travel in your 30s, you have more self-awareness to know what you want to get out of your travel.

Financially Responsible

Travel in your 30s often comes with a different perspective financially. You will most likely have been working for a few years, and potentially have savings to put towards your travel. But aside from having more money than you did when you were in your 20s, you are also more financially responsible. Years of working and generally living life mean you know how to budget, know when it is worth spending a little extra and know how to live within your means.

The chances are, as you have progressed further in your life and career, you have learned lessons along the way that you can apply to your travels. Having more money makes travelling less stressful, and you can indulge more. Mostly importantly, you know when to indulge, and when to budget. For me, this meant treating myself to private rooms every three weeks or so to give myself a break from hostels. And experiences such as heli-hiking on Franz Josef Glacier.

In your 30s, you will have smarter money habits, and the good news is, many of those can be applied directly to travelling. Whether it’s using cashback sites to earn while you spend, booking flights with a rewards credit card to collect points, or choosing a bank that offers built-in travel insurance, your everyday financial savvy can stretch your travel budget further. You might also already be in the habit of setting up direct debits, automating savings, or hunting down the best deals, all of which can help make long-term travel more affordable and sustainable.

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You Appreciate It More

When you travel when you are younger, you feel like you have all the time in the world ahead of you. But travelling in your 30s comes with a new perspective. You have most likely spent years in the rat race, stuck in a 9-5. As well as all the life admin, bills, and challenges of everyday life. Deciding to travel in your 30s, you realise just how lucky you are to be experiencing it. It is such a joy and privilege to be able to take extended periods of time off work, and it makes it all the sweeter.

You Meet Like-Minded People

Entering your 30s is an interesting stage. People are at widely different stages in their lives. Friends from home might be settling down, having children, and you find you have fewer and fewer people who want to travel with you. But when you solo travel in your 30s, you end up finding people who are on the same path as you. I was worried I would constantly be the oldest person on the bus, in the hostel or on the tour. But more and more people are travelling in their 30s. And even those who were younger than me had the same mindset.

Top Tip: If you are worried about making friends while travelling, this guide will give you all the tips and advice you need:
How to make friends solo travelling – even if you don’t want to stay in hostels 

How to Plan Solo Travel in Your 30s

Potentially, the downside to travel in your 30s is that it takes more planning and consideration than it did in your 20s. With that added life experience come added responsibilities. So here are a few things to help you plan long-term travel in your 30s.

How Much Time Off You Need

The first thing to consider is how long you want to travel for. Travel in your 30s doesn’t necessarily mean long-term travel. It can be as simple as booking that two-week bucket list trip you have always been meaning to take. Regardless, the first thing to do is work out how long you want to travel for and what you want it to look like.

There are three types of trips to consider when travelling in your 30s:

• Short-term trip: Trips that fit into your annual leave. I spent most of my solo travel life taking these kinds of trips. Visiting destinations such as Peru, Botswana, Mongolia and Nepal.
• Sabbatical: An extended break from your 9-5 that typically lasts between three and five months. With an agreement with your employer that you will return to work when you get back.
• Long-term travel: Leaving your job and your home with no return date specifically planned.

There are a few questions to ask yourself to decide what type of travel in your 30s is right for you:

• Consider your career, family and life commitments. Are you worried about what leaving without security would mean for you?
• Think about your finances: is long-term travel possible?
• What exactly do you want to get from this experience?

This guide talks about the thought process in depth and helps you answer whether a career break is the right option for you:
Taking a Career Break at 30 (+): How to Make It Happen and Go Travelling

Budgeting for a Month of Solo Travel

When it comes to budget, this is really down to personal circumstances. However, that said, one of the easiest ways to work it out is to start deciding how much you want to spend per month, then build your total budget from there. Break that down into a rough daily amount. But make sure to allow some float for the unexpected, and get clear on your priorities early.

Decide what the must-sees are, the type of accommodation you are happy to stay in, and how you are going to travel around within each country. Do allow a contingency for the activities you stumble across along the way. For example, I had no plans to skydive yet somehow found myself doing it!

Some things will factor into your budget:

• How long are you going for?
• How expensive are the countries you are planning to visit?
• Do you have savings you can rely on?
• Can you make more money as you travel?
• What level of accommodation are you going to be staying in?

My biggest piece of advice: be realistic, and plan on the cautious side. A slightly conservative budget gives you room for spontaneous plans and little treats along the way, without the constant stress of running out of money. That’s one of the real perks of travelling in your 30s. You’ve usually got a bigger budget to work with than you did in your 20s.

Practical Considerations

While the added life experience is a massive plus for travel in your 30s, it also comes with more practical considerations with regard to leaving your home behind. Here are some things to consider:

• Your home: If you own it, can you rent it out while you are away? If you are renting, does this mean giving up your lease? And in both of these scenarios, where do you store your belongings? Are you able to leave them with friends or family? Or do you need to factor in storage to your budget?
• Sorting out bills: Have a look through you subsrciptons and bills and work out what you can pause, cancel or need to keep running.
• Checking passport and visa requirements: Is your passport valid for long enough, and do you have the visas you need for each country? This is particularly true for working holiday visas. For Australia and New Zealand, you can apply until your 36th birthday. So, if you are in your mid-30s, make sure to do this before it’s too late!
• Sort prescriptions and vaccinations: Check that you are up to date and meet the requirements for each country.

Choosing the Right Travel for You

There is no single “right” way to travel in your 30s. It all depends on what suits your style, personality, goals and what you want from your experience.

Solo Travel

Travelling solo gives you complete freedom. You can decide your itinerary, pace, and budget, without having to factor in anyone else. It’s also the best way to build confidence and meet new people, since you’re naturally more open to conversations and plans when you’re not with a permanent travel companion. It is often the easiest choice when travelling in your 30s, as others in your life might not be in the same position as you. Solo travel in your 30s is the ultimate confidence builder. It is perceived as unusual, but truly shows you what you are capable of, and that the world is yours to discover!

Group travel tours

If you like the idea of travelling solo, but want some structure and travel companions, group travel tours are an excellent middle ground. Companies such as G Adventures handle all the logistics. From accommodation, transport and the itinerary. However, you still get the experience of backpacking. These are great options for more challenging destinations, or if you want the company of travelling with others. I have travelled with G extensively, to destinations such as Africa and Nepal.

This guide will help you decide whether group travel tours or solo travel is right for you:
Solo travel vs group travel: Which is right for you? 

Hostel vs Hotels

One of the biggest things to consider when travelling in your 30s. And a question I get asked a lot: “Am I too old to stay in a hostel?” However, I was travelling for nearly 9 months, and as much as I would have liked it to, my budget just didn’t stretch to private rooms every night. Turns out, more and more 30+ travellers are staying in hostels.

I learned how to find the ones that suited my needs and really enjoyed my time in them! 

I used Hostelworld to find the right ones for me, and chose ones that had curtains around the bed and mostly 6-bed female dorms. Also, I treated myself to private rooms within hostels now and again. The perfect way to experience hostel life, with some privacy. I met tons of like-minded and similarly aged people during my travels. 

Top Tip: If you don’t want to party constantly, look for hostels that DON’T say they are ‘social’.  Search Hostelworld and check the reviews; you can filter for age demographic to see what fellow travellers are saying.

I also found it invaluable to treat myself to private rooms, usually every two to three weeks. It just gave me a chance to reset, spread my belongings out and have some much-needed downtime!

Solo Female Travel in Your 30s

Solo female travel in your 30s is one of the most empowering things you can do. I remember so many moments on my career break thinking I was so proud of myself for doing this. I had travelled extensively before, but long-term travel was new, and doing it pushed me way beyond what I thought I was capable of. So far out of my comfort zone, including skydiving (something I swore I would never do), driving a campervan solo, and travelling to the least visited country in the world – Kiribati.

The same considerations apply to solo female travel in your 30s, as it does to any age. The benefits are huge: you get to know yourself better, become more confident, and get to see the world. But add this to the lens of being in your 30s: you are older, wiser and appreciate a whole lot more. There might be reasons you are doing this at this age: the end of a relationship, leaving an unhealthy workplace environment, or needing a change of pace. These reasons will only compound the value you find in taking control and travelling solo as a female in your 30s.

Safety Tips and Precautions

It is impossible to fully discuss safety as a solo female traveller; there is so much to cover. However, the large majority of solo female travellers have a trouble-free trip. The three things that affect solo female travellers’ safety are where you go, how you act, and simply luck. Safety is an important topic and consideration, but please don’t let it put you off travelling. Things to keep in mind:

• Arrive during the day. Or if not possible, take a private transfer to your accommodation.
• Share your plans with friends and family.
• Get an e-SIM to be able to stay connected.
• Check that your accommodation is in a safe neighbourhood.
• Take taxis at night.
• Have a secure bag to keep your things safe.
• Use a padlock to keep things safe and locked up in hostels.

Best Destinations for Solo Female Travellers

I have been very lucky to have enjoyed some amazing destinations as a solo female traveller. My favourites have been:

• New Zealand
• Australia
• Venice
• Thailand
• New York
• Qatar
• Riga

Meeting People When You Solo Travel In Your 30s

If you have made the decision to embark on solo travel, you are guaranteed to meet like-minded people along the way. It doesn’t necessarily mean it will happen at every stop, but sometimes striking up the briefest of conversations can lead to that connection. 
No matter if you perceive yourself to be a shy person and are wondering how to make friends while solo travelling.

Follow these tips, and I guarantee you won’t spend all your time travelling in your 30s alone! 
How to make friends solo travelling – even if you don’t want to stay in hostels 

Best Destinations for Solo Travel in Your 30s

The best destinations for solo travel in your 30s depend on various factors, firstly, where actually appeals to you! But the biggest consideration is whether this is your first time solo travelling or whether you are more experienced. If you’re new to solo travel, it is ideal to head somewhere that makes it easy. With good infrastructure, a strong traveller scene, and low safety risk. If you’ve done it before, you might be ready to push further off the beaten path, even if that means more logistics or less built-in social support.

Best Destinations for First-Time Solo Travel in Your 30s

If you’re new to solo travel, choosing somewhere that takes some of the pressure off is ideal. Australia and New Zealand are brilliant starting points. They are both English-speaking, safe, and set up for independent travel, with an established backpacker trail that makes it easy to meet people as you go.

Most of Europe works just as well, especially if you stick to city breaks. Cities such as Venice, Amsterdam, Ljubljana, or Riga give you structure, reliable transport, and have all delivered excellent solo travel experiences. Vietnam and Thailand also fall into this category these days; both have a well-worn backpacker route with hostels, tours, and fellow travellers at every turn, so solo doesn’t mean alone.

And don’t overlook busy city breaks closer to home. New York is a fantastic solo destination, with so much to see and do, friendly locals and an incredibly easy transport system.

Best Destinations for More Experienced Solo Travel in Your 30s

If you have already been on a few solo trips behind you, you might be considering somewhere a little more challenging. Places such as Central and South America, the Pacific Islands, or Central Asia. These destinations often mean less infrastructure, more language barriers, and far fewer other travellers on the same route, which can feel more rewarding but also more demanding to navigate. They’re a good fit once you’ve already worked out how you travel best, what pace suits you, and how to handle the unexpected. You’ll likely need to lean on those instincts more here than you would somewhere more first-timer-friendly.

Is Your 30s Too Late to Start Travelling Solo?

Absolutely not. This is a hill I will die on. It is never too late to start travelling, solo or not. The notion that your 30s are meant to be for settling down is so outdated and old-fashioned. Your 30s are a decade where you have maturity, experience and self-awareness, all of which combine to make it the perfect age to travel.

There is a lot of ‘I wish I had when I was younger’, but this is a concept I fully reject. If you want to do something, then make it happen, and age should be no barrier to that. Take my advice, and book the trip. I spent a lot of time worrying about whether it was the right thing to do, and ultimately I just wish I had been braver sooner!

How Do You Explain a Career Gap After Travelling?

A career gap is far more normalised nowadays than it ever used to be. But it is worth addressing it head-on if you are looking for a new job after taking an extended period off. The most important thing is to address with confidence, rather than apologise for it. Employers generally aren’t concerned about the gap, but more about what you did with it.

Talk about the transferable skills you picked up along the way: problem-solving, adaptability, budgeting, independence, and comfort with the unknown. All things you will have experienced while travelling, and are all directly relatable to working. Your newfound confidence and clarity in yourself will be a valuable asset to any new job you walk into! Most employers are far more interested in whether you’re switched on and ready to contribute than in why you took time off in your 30s to see the world.

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Some helpful guides on travel in your 30s:

Solo travel guides:
Solo travel vs group travel: Which is right for you? 
Thinking about Solo Travel?
How to make friends solo travelling – even if you don’t want to stay in hostels 
Flying Alone for the First Time? 24 Insider Secrets from Over 100 Confident Solo Flights

Career break guides:
Taking a Career Break at 30 (+): How to Make It Happen and Go Travelling

Solo travel destinations:
My first solo travel – China
Solo Travel in New Zealand: Campervan Diaries
Solo Travel in New York: A Complete Guide

Group travel tour experiences:
Should you go on a group travel tour?
Kiwi Experience review: what it is really like to travel around New Zealand with Kiwi Experience
Nepal G Adventures Review: Is the 10-Day Tour Worth It? All You Need to Know
Overlanding in Africa with G Adventures
G Adventures Inca Trail review: Beautiful hike to Machu Picchu

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