Traveling alone to Bali when you are a woman

“Traveling alone when you are a woman“… I had typed this kind of search on Google to find testimonies of women who left with their backpack to unknown destinations… My flight tickets were booked for Jakarta and Bali, where I would spend over 2 weeks alone… In my Googling I added THE keyword “Bali”… And this is when all my doubts left…

I had already traveled alone, but only in American or European cities, or four days in Tokyo… But two weeks? … Never!

I was in a spiritual process, introspection, a desire to push my limits, to also rest. I needed to find myself, to take time, nothing to program in advance to let go…

I booked the first 6 nights hotel from France but I had decided to book the rest on site, according to the places, encounters and my feeling. I recommend using Booking; it is really convenient. It depends on the period you go, but July and August are peak season and hotels are often full so it’s my recommendation to “secure” at least the beginning of your stay.
August is the high season in Bali. It is virtually the only Asian destination you can travel to during summer without experiencing the monsoon or having over 38 degrees Celsius, as it had happened to me two years ago in Tokyo!
I had defined the broad outlines of my journey by reading travel blogs and traveler forums. Professional deformation forces, I also asked one of our travel agent an itinerary off the beaten track. I had also been recommended an excellent French-speaking local guide, but he was not available during my stay. If you’re interested, contact me and I will give you his contact details.

I is agreed that Kuta was not an option for me: I am a party girl with friends, but not alone. And Kuta is not representative of Bali; it is a popular destination for Australians: the beer is cheap and the surf spots are not far away (an Australian needs the sea even on vacation!)! At night, it transforms into a giant nightclub, a bit like Phuket and I said “no thank you”.

In 14 days, I would discover the Balinese culture through 4 major stops: Seminyak - Ubud - Gili Air - Nusa Dua. I did not want to have a guide for the entire stay but I recommend, in key places, to hire the services of a driver-guide in order to avoid group excursions in big coaches… I will go into more details of my visits and my tour in other posts.

But back on the notion of “traveling alone”: I loved this experience and, as strange as it may sound, I did not feel alone once! I woke up with the sun, took my breakfast on the terrace of the hotel and prepared my visits for the day. I took several books that never left me, the Lonely Planet Indonesia, a small notebook and of course my camera. I had also decided not to be too “hard” with myself so I picked my hotels carefully: pool and breakfast included, WiFi, ideal location and especially no hostel. I went out very rarely in the evening, always having a little trouble to see people in groups, which denoted from my behavior. So I took the opportunity to go to bed early.

I felt much more relaxed and zen than when I arrived. I was more open to the outside world and people, more receptive, but also more sensitive. I learned that I could travel alone. I promised myself to do it again. I read a lot, I wrote, I livened up my Instagram account much like a travel blog to communicate with my family, who really played the game (there is WiFi almost everywhere). My nickname of “Fanny the Explorer” comes from this backpack period… I’m ready to go back anytime!

Know that you will always have negative people who will project their own fears about you going alone and that the hardest will be to maintain your motivation. You will be twice prouder of you. Throw yourself into it because there is nothing worse than not having tried… The only thing is to select the destination perfectly and then the itinerary: to me, it’s the most important point.

To sum up, why should you travel alone to Bali?

• For inner exploration, self connection and composure
• To discover a new culture, very smiling and very spiritual
• To be free to decide: no concession to make and it feels so good!
• To gain confidence and be proud of yourself
• To relax
• To break the routine, out of your comfort zone and take up a challenge
• To meet new people: Balinese people, who are very curious and unaccustomed to seeing women alone, but also tourists who will exchange a few words or will spend a couple of days with you (I met a Swiss girl in Gili and am still in contact with her!)