Ready to take on the world again? Gill Charlton reveals what solo adventurers need to know about travel in the age of Covid
As we move into what we hope will be the final phase of pandemic restrictions, all the talk is of meeting up with friends and relatives. But there are those among us who, like Victorian adventurers, long for release from the strictures of our nanny state. We yearn for novelty, a change of perspective, big skies and broad horizons.
No doubt rules on mask wearing and social distancing in crowded places will continue in some countries, but the hope is that adventure tours will operate much as before. The group will form its own bubble, just as I did on a walking tour of eastern Turkey last autumn. Then, all we could do was cross our fingers that nobody had brought Covid-19 on holiday; now we will have been vaccinated and the risk of serious illness largely removed.
But true adventurers travel alone. In doing so you will discover that you are much stronger and more outgoing than you thought you were – and happier in your own company than you ever imagined. One of the best ways to test the water as a novice solo traveller is to join a group tour and step outside the itinerary for a few hours to explore on your own. Visit the local market, sit on the wall next to the temple, or join the locals dangling their feet in the river on a hot day. I promise it won’t be long before someone engages with you and a whole world of possibility opens up.
I have done this in countries all over the world – in China, Iran, India and Saudi Arabia to name a few – and been met only with kindness, good conversation and invitations to come home for tea. A great boon in recent years has been the Google Translate app. The conversation function works brilliantly; it’s like having your own personal translator at hand.
People often ask me about safety. After all, a woman is unlikely to be able to fight off a man intent on doing her harm. The answer is that there are few psychopaths in this world, but there are a few rules to avoid unwanted attention. Gym clothes and tight trousers are out for many countries; it’s like going to the shops in your underwear.
I have always found that a kneelength tunic, such as the open-sided Indian kurta, worn over jeans (or loose trousers in more conservative places) gets the thumbs-up from locals. Being aware of your surroundings is essential. Staring at the map on your mobile or listening to music on earphones closes you off both from opportunity and danger. Peripheral vision, a calm demeanour and razor-sharp senses are essential for spotting trouble.
On a bus journey, or staying in a hut in a tribal village, make friends with the women and the children. They can be your protectors and guides, as can owners of small guesthouses, many of whom now advertise on booking.com. But if you are staying alone in a cheap hotel, bring a doorstop; it’s a great deterrent to thieves and drunks.
Above all, keep an open mind and a confident, cheerful countenance. If you do, all kinds of new adventures will come your way.