My niece, Ananya, recently travelled to Himachal alone for a trek with a trekkers group. Boy, she came back loaded with several exciting stories from her trip! Technically, solo trips are those in which one is alone for the entire trip. So, I teased that it wasn't a solo trip because she was with a group. It was then I learnt that there are various technicalities to the term. So, as long as one was travelling to an unfamiliar place or meeting co-travellers for the first time, it still counted as a version of solo travel. 

A boost in the arm, 40-year-old Ananya exclaimed. There's nothing more liberating than knowing that you can be your best friend and fulfil your desires without waiting for someone to accompany you all the time. I begrudgingly agreed. I had nursed a wish in my younger days to go solo but held back for various reasons. Now, in my sixties, I panic, thinking about what could go wrong if I travel alone. Also, won't it be boring?

The trick is to plan well and ahead, advised my now experienced niece. Tickets, vaccination certificates, photo IDs, hotel bookings, and phone numbers of co-travellers, keep all of these ready and take a print-out if needed. If you're travelling with a tour operator, ask all the necessary questions about twin-sharing in the hotel, distance from the nearest airport or railway station, hospitals, emergency plans, climatic conditions of the destination, and so on. 

Did you say boring? Absolutely not, she retorted, almost offended at the question. Keeping an open mind about meeting new people forms the crux of solo trips, she continued sagely. Even if you keep aside ideal scenarios about forging long-term friendships, the least minimum possibility of having a pleasant conversation and companionship for the duration of the trip is a given. 

What if I don't get my preferred food over there? What if I fall sick on the way? Ananya smiled at my genuine concerns. Yes, these things could happen. Perhaps, you could carry some dry food with you that can last without refrigeration or pack some ready-to-eat meals? She suggested. However, unless you have a medical condition, it's good to step out of your comfort zone and accommodate a new experience. Ananya said, looking at me meaningfully. Sigh, I knew she was right. I could be rigid about my preferences. I'm not that young now, I said wistfully.  

Chitti, you know what? Ananya exclaimed in exasperation. We had a 70-year-old who trekked with us. He was mildly asthmatic. So, he could climb only up to a certain point. But, he showed up nevertheless with grit and a bucket-load of enthusiasm. He would be the first to wake up during our morning stretches and warm-up exercises. Whenever we drank or ate at roadside stalls, he would happily accompany us. So, said Ananya, isn't age just a mental block?

After Ananya left that day, I pondered over our conversation. Why not? I heard myself saying. I knew of many travel operators that conducted group tours. I was itching to curate an itinerary that included things I enjoy. I could customize the list to suit my age and preferences. As the plan took shape, I felt excited at the possibilities. I may travel alone, but I need not be lonely. I could be my friend, restart my journaling hobby, and perhaps find new ones. 

Would you embark on a trip even if you had no known company? Would you be open to joining a group to travel to a place you've always wanted to visit, even if you weren't acquainted with the group members?