When I initially began solo traveling back in 2012, I was chasing extremes– motorbiking across Southeast Asia, trekking through Patagonia, totally free diving in the Gilis. However after over 65 countries solo, what relocations me now are the quiet moments.
A steaming cup of tea in the Alps. The stillness of a mountain lake at dawn. A place where I can hear myself think.This kind of
travel is having a minute– called “quiet life travel.” It’s slower, softer, and deeply intentional. And if you ask me, it’s the type of travel that alters you.Here are 15 locations I’ve checked out that embody this peaceful life feeling– most of which I’ve discussed on Be My Travel Muse, and all rooted in genuine, soul-filling solo experiences:1. Stryn & Loen, Norwa y While a lot of tourists rush to Geiranger, I headed to Stryn and Loen for peaceful glacier lakes and breathtaking mountaintop views– with hardly another tourist in sight. The Loen Skylift took me
to views I still dream about, and I had a comfortable mountain-top lunch surrounded by fall colors and absolutely nothing but silence. → My preferred drop in Norway 2. Kawaguchiko, Japan Swap the city hustle for Mt. Fuji views and misty early mornings at a lakeside ryokan. I liked getting up to the renowned volcano just outside
my window, taking in an onsen at sunset, and walking quiet forest routes with only the rustling leaves for company. Read my full Kawaguchiko itinerary here. → Solo female travel in Japan 3. Pai, Thailand
A drowsy town nestled in the northern Thai mountains where life moves at the speed of a river float. I have actually spent entire days here doing nothing more than swinging in a hammock and watching the sky modification colors over the canyon.
→ Finest locations to check out in Thailand
4. Azores, Portugal
São Miguel is pure magic– rolling green hills, steaming hot springs, and hydrangea-lined roadways. I invested days road tripping through misty volcanic craters without any cell service and only cows for company. It was the kind of solitude that heals you.
→ One-week Azores travel plan
5. Lombok, Indonesia
Quieter and wilder than Bali, Lombok is where I unplugged entirely. I stayed in a bamboo hut on the beach, read by candlelight, and listened to the waves lull me
to sleep. It’s raw, genuine, and free(er )of the crowds. → Why I liked Lombok more than Bali 6. The Dolomites, Italy Jagged peaks, alpine lakes, and tracks where you can trek for hours in near silence. I spent a week road-tripping here and found that the more remote the trailhead, the deeper the peace. Absolutely nothing hits rather like a post-hike speck sandwich with mountain views. → Dolomites trip itinerary 7. Luang Prabang, Laos Kuang Si Waterfalls in Luang Prabang Mornings here start with monks quietly gathering alms, and the spiritual vibe sticks around all day. I spent long afternoons in quiet cafés journaling and viewing boats glide down the Mekong. This place just slows you down in the best way. → Things to do in Luang Prabang 8. Grand Staircase Escalante, Utah This wild desert feels unblemished, even in high season, provided you ‘ve got the car to
decrease the washboard roadways and are willing to camp off the grid under the stars. To me, there’s no much better kind of solo trip– say goodbye to cell signal and accept the utter quiet of the desert and be genuinely alone.-> 75 incredible things to do in Utah 9. Tuscany, Italy(but rural) Avoid the crowds by staying in a rustic agriturismo outside towns like Pienza or Montefioralle. I discovered to make pasta from a local nona, roamed vineyards at golden hour, and spent evenings sipping wine with no strategies and nowhere to be. → Solo female travel in Italy 10.
Baden-Württemberg, Germany Southwest Germany is full of peaceful charm– vineyards, castles, forest strolls, the best Christmas markets, and spa towns. I based myself in Stuttgart and did outing to middle ages towns and fairy tale villages that felt worlds far from the rush. There’s something so corrective about a place that doesn’t try too difficult. → 10 Easy Day Trips from Stuttgart 11. Island of Skye, Scotland Dramatic cliffs, limitless walking paths
, and a landscape that makes you wish to whisper. I spent my days treking in silence and my nights sipping whisky by the fire. The peaceful here doesn’t ask anything of you– it simply lets you be. → Scotland travel plan for solo travel 12. Chiang Rai, Thailand
This northern Thai town is frequently skipped– but the temples here are artworks, and the ambiance is mellow. I stayed in a peaceful guesthouse where the owner made me herbal tea and we watched the rain from her porch. I didn’t want to leave.
→ Northern Thailand travel plan 13. Hokkaido,
Japan(Winter)A snow-blanketed dreamscape where hot
springs satisfy ski slopes and the quiet is almost sacred. Stay in a little ryokan where the only program is sluggish walks through the snow and long soaks in outside onsens. It’s peaceful with a capital P. → Japan in winter season schedule 14. Isle of Eigg, Scotland
Remote and unhurried
, this little Hebridean island doesn’t even have vehicles
. I spent my time walking through sheep-filled meadows, enjoying waves crash on black sand beaches, and recognizing I had not examined my phone in days. Happiness. → Best remote islands in Europe 15. Pontresina, Switzerland Tucked next to fancy St. Moritz, Pontresina is the quieter, more soulful brother or sister. I treked under golden larches, remained in a 19th-century hotel with original murals, and soaked in the spa as the snow started to fall. It’s elegant and subtle. → Grand Hotel Kronenhof
review Quiet Does Not Mean Uninteresting If you’re craving a journey that soothes rather of promotes, that lets you feel present rather of pulled in all instructions, the quiet life trend might be calling you too.Solo travel doesn’t always need to be about pail lists or showing something. Sometimes, it’s practically breathing deeper, going slower, and finally hearing yourself again.Here’s to the quiet.
