Healing Journeys: How Solo Travel Became My Therapy After Life-Altering Losses

In 2010, at just 33 years old, I received a diagnosis that would change my life forever: stage four cancer. It was a moment that forced me to confront my mortality head-on—long before I ever imagined I'd need to. That experience shattered the illusion of time and “someday” thinking. I knew right then that if I wanted to fully live, I had to stop waiting.

Since then, solo travel has become my sanctuary, my therapy, and the bridge between the woman I was—and the one I’m still becoming. To make matters even worse (if that was possible), barely 60 days after my diagnosis my deeply cherished Grandpa passed away suddenly in an accident. I had to go to chemotherapy and his funeral within 48 hours of each other. I truly hope those were the darkest days of my life because I'm not sure how it would get much worse. Dealing with his passing while facing aggressive cancer treatment for my own end-stage cancer was simply heart shattering.

So I know from personal experience whether you're facing the weight of grief with the loss of a loved one, loss of your marriage in a divorce, or a life suddenly turned upside down, solo travel offers more than escape. It truly offers healing.

Why Solo Travel Heals in a Way Nothing Else Can

After loss—whether it's the loss of a spouse, a marriage, your health, or even your old self—it's easy to feel like the world is spinning too fast and standing still all at once. Friends may not understand especially if they can't relate or haven't faced something similar. Support groups may even fall flat. But when you set out on your own, something miraculous happens:

You meet yourself again.

Solo travel removes distractions and places you in unfamiliar, often beautiful, surroundings where you become the priority. It gives your soul the space to breathe, to reflect, and to reconnect with your own desires.

Healing After the Loss of a Spouse or Partner

For widowed women, the silence at home can feel deafening. The empty seat next to you at dinner, the unused side of the bed—constant reminders of what you’ve lost. Traveling solo offers a shift. It’s not about forgetting your person—it’s about remembering yourself.

• You get to choose where to go, what to eat, when to rest. You don't have to push yourself "for the sake of others" on the trip with you. You don't have to hold it together out of fear of ruining someone else's trip. If you want to sit outside gazing at the water wrapped in a blanket crying it out eating a quart of ice cream while watching the boats you can without asking anyone else. So healing because you're taking care of you and what you need in the moment!
• You reclaim your sense of direction—literally and emotionally.
• You prove to yourself that you can experience moments of joy, even though your heart still aches.

Whether it's a weekend at a cozy lakefront cabin or a scenic train ride across the country, solo trips can create new emotional landmarks in your healing journey.

Rediscovering Your Identity After Divorce

Divorce can leave you questioning who you are without the title of "wife" or the shared routines of a coupled life. It's unsettling especially if you've traveled together for a long time or had plans for future travel that you realize now won't be happening. But it's also fertile ground for reinvention.

Traveling alone allows divorced women to:

• Make decisions without compromise (finally!  What were the things you always wanted to do but couldn't because your former spouse wasn't interested?)
• Reconnect with forgotten hobbies or passions
• Gain clarity about what you want moving forward
• Build confidence in navigating the world independently

You don’t need permission to explore. And sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do is prove to yourself that you’re not just surviving—you’re thriving.

My Story: Traveling Through and Beyond Cancer

When I was diagnosed so unexpectedly, I realized that the future was never guaranteed. There were no more “maybe next year” vacations. I started prioritizing my experiences over others' expectations, my joy instead of only my obligations.

That journey led to solo trips that were equal parts bold and restorative—train rides where I watched the ocean waves rolling, peaceful mornings journaling by the firepit, and unexpected laughter with strangers who became new friends.

Travel didn’t cure me. But it did heal me in a way nothing else could. And now, I help other women—especially those navigating grief or reinvention—use travel to reconnect with life.

Where to Start: 3 Healing-Focused Solo Trip Ideas

You don’t have to book a six-week international retreat to start healing through travel. In fact, sometimes the most restorative trips are the simplest. Here are three ideas to consider:

1. Nature Retreat (Quiet and Connection)

• A cabin in the woods, a national park lodge, or a beachside bungalow
• Spend your days hiking, reading, meditating, or doing absolutely nothing
• Being in nature resets your nervous system and quiets the noise of the world

2. Scenic Train Journey (Reflect and Rebuild)

• See my post on this here
• Ideal for contemplation without needing to plan a packed itinerary to keep others entertained - go at your pace
• Watch landscapes change as you begin to feel yourself shift, too

3. City Adventure (Rediscover and Empower)

• Pick a new city that excites you—hop on and off bus tours to get familiar, trying new food, live music
• Take a cooking class, try learning a new dance, or roam vintage shops
• Urban exploration helps reignite your curiosity and boldness

Tips for Women Healing Through Solo Travel

• Start small. An overnight or weekend trip can still be transformational as well as budget-friendly and confidence-building.
• Choose destinations that nourish, not overstimulate. Where have you always wanted to go?  
• Travel with intention. Bring a journal. Set a healing goal.
• Practice self-compassion. Sadness will likely show up—and that’s okay.
• Celebrate the wins. Even booking the trip is a triumph.

You're Not Alone—Even When You Travel Solo

One of the biggest myths is that solo travel means loneliness. But in truth, solo travelers are often the most open—to connection, to magic, and to themselves.

If you’ve lost a spouse, left a marriage, or faced down a diagnosis that rewrote your future, know this:

You deserve beauty, peace, and joy again.

Solo travel can be your bridge back to life—not the one you had before, but the one that still holds hope, happiness, and adventure.

Ready to Start Your Healing Journey?

Whether you’re a widowed woman craving renewal, a divorced soul searching for self, or simply someone who has lived through a lifequake—you’re not broken. You’re becoming.

And your next chapter might begin with a plane ticket, a train ride, or just a road trip driving yourself or taking a bus trip to somewhere new.

🌿 Start where you are. Go where your heart leads. And trust that healing loves movement.

Want help planning your first (or next) solo healing trip?
I offer coaching and free resources for women ready to reclaim their freedom through travel.
👉You can grab my solo travel guide here.

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