Solo travel and traveling with a friend may look similar on Instagram, but in real life, they feel very different. I truly understood this after experiencing both; my Jibhi trip with a friend and my solo Rajasthan road trip.
Both journeys were beautiful. Both gave me memories. But the way they made me feel was completely different.
Jibhi was warm, comforting, and filled with shared laughter. Rajasthan was liberating, just me, my car, my camera, and long open roads. Somewhere between these two trips, I discovered what truly makes me happy: solo travel, at my own pace, on my own terms.
Jibhi Trip With a Friend: Shared Smiles, Silent Compromises
Nestled in the green hills of Himachal Jibhi, this trip was all about slowing down. A quiet river, pine forests, cozy homestays, long conversations, and endless cups of chai…and few drinks while watching the sun go down, it was a comforting getaway with a friend.
Traveling with a friend brings ease. There’s familiarity, shared laughter, and the comfort of not being alone. And I genuinely enjoyed all of that. But somewhere along the way, I noticed something quietly shifting inside me.
My rhythm wasn’t mine anymore.
I wanted to wake up early to catch the first light filtering through the trees, but my friend preferred slow mornings. I wanted to wander down random village trails, but we stuck to the plan we had agreed upon. I wanted moments of silence, but conversation naturally filled the space.
There’s nothing wrong with compromise. I feel it’s part of traveling with someone. But I realized that traveling with a friend, even when it’s joyful, subtly limits spontaneity and personal flow.
Jibhi taught me that while shared memories are beautiful, I sometimes miss being alone with my thoughts, my camera, and my pace.
Rajasthan Solo Road Trip: The Road That Set Me Free
A few months later, I packed my bags, got into my Toyota Crysta, and began my solo road trip across Rajasthan.
From Pushkar to Jawai and to Ranakpur, every destination felt like a chapter in a story I was writing just for myself.
There were no fixed plans. No hurry. No second opinions.
Just me following instinct, stopping wherever I felt like, sometimes doing nothing at all.
Driving alone through Rajasthan’s vast golden landscapes made something very clear to me: solo travel isn’t about being alone, it’s about being completely free.
I woke up early because I wanted to. I stopped at roadside chai stalls just because they felt inviting. I photographed sunsets that no one else saw with me. I drove in silence, and I drove with music loud. And I loved every bit of it.
That’s what solo female travel in India feels like equal parts empowering, peaceful, and grounding.
Why I Love Solo Travel
I Set My Own Rhythm
On my Rajasthan trip, there was no waiting for anyone to get ready, no syncing schedules, no adjusting plans. I could pause for hours by a lake or take an unplanned detour just because the road called to me. That freedom means everything to me.
I Reconnect With Myself
When you’re alone, silence feels different, softer, kinder. You notice details you’d otherwise miss: the smell of wet desert sand after rain, the changing colors of the sky, your own thoughts settling down. I journaled, reflected, and felt more present than I had in months.
I Feel Stronger and More Confident
Driving solo through unfamiliar towns reminded me how capable I am. Every safe arrival, every decision made alone builds quiet confidence. Solo travel becomes a teacher showing you your own strength without saying a word.
I Experience Destinations More Deeply
Without constant conversation, I listened more to locals, to nature, to myself. Rajasthan wasn’t just a destination; it felt like therapy on wheels.
Traveling With a Friend: What It Gives and What It Takes
Traveling with a friend has its magic. My Jibhi trip had shared jokes, safety, emotional comfort, and beautiful memories. But it also came with compromises that I couldn’t ignore.
You move at someone else’s pace.
You miss detours your heart wants to take.
You fill silences that might have healed you.
And that’s okay because every trip serves a purpose. Some trips are about connection. Some are about clarity.
Solo Travel vs Group Travel: What Solo Gives You That Groups Can’t
Solo travel offers freedom to decide, to change plans, to do nothing.
It brings authenticity…unfiltered experiences, natural conversations, deeper observation.
And it creates growth because when you rely only on yourself, you learn what you’re truly capable of.
Every solo trip teaches you a little more about life and a lot about yourself.
Challenges of Solo Female Travel in India
Solo travel isn’t always easy. There are moments when you miss company; someone to share a sunset with, or a cup of chai at a roadside dhaba.
There are also moments when safety is a constant thought, especially as a solo female traveler in India.
But you adapt. You learn to trust your instincts, stay aware, plan smart, and move with confidence. And in return, solo travel gives you something priceless…independence and inner peace.
Jibhi vs Rajasthan: What These Two Trips Taught Me
Jibhi taught me the beauty of shared moments.
Rajasthan taught me the strength of solitude.
In Jibhi, I laughed more.
In Rajasthan, I felt more.
In Jibhi, I followed a plan.
In Rajasthan, I followed my heart.
Both journeys were needed. Together, they reminded me who I am, a woman who loves companionship but thrives in her own space.
Final Thoughts
Whether you choose solo travel or traveling with friends, every journey will teach you something new. But for me, a 51-year-old woman who left a 24-year HR career to follow her travel dream solo travel is where I feel most alive.
Because when I travel alone, I don’t just explore new places.
I explore myself again and again, one solo road trip at a time.
