My very first solo trip in Europe

It was the summer of 2021. I sat in a car packed to the roof and wondered whether I was making a mistake. I had never travelled completely alone before. No friend in the passenger seat, no fixed plan, just a camera, a drone, a sleeping bag and a map of the Alps. My very first solo trip in Europe took me to the Dolomites and changed how I travel, and how I live.

The fear of travelling alone

What I feared most was being alone. What would I do in the evenings? Who would I talk to? What if something happened? It turned out that everyone setting off alone for the first time has these worries. And that most of them vanish after the first few days. Being alone turned into freedom: I could stop wherever I wanted and wait for the light as long as I wanted.

Lago di Braies

The first big goal was Lago di Braies. Turquoise water, wooden boats and the steep wall of the Croda del Becco: one of the most photographed places in the Alps. I arrived in the dark and waited for sunrise. When it got light, I flew the drone over the boats lined up by the jetty. That photo is still one of my favourites, and it's the article's cover photo.

Sleeping in the car

I had no money for hotels, so I slept in the car. Folded seats, a sleeping mat and a sleeping bag. Not always comfortable, but waking up with a view of the mountains was priceless. Be careful, though: in Italy and South Tyrol, sleeping in a car in the mountains is banned in many places and the fines are high. Choose campsites or places where it's allowed. Many years later I lived in a car in New Zealand, and it started right here.

People on the road

You're never alone for long. At huts, lakes and car parks I met people travelling in a similar way. Photographers, climbers, cyclists. With some I went hiking, with others I just exchanged a few words over coffee. When you travel alone you're more open, and people sense it.

What the trip taught me

• Travelling solo isn't loneliness. It's time for yourself and at the same time a chance to meet new people.
• Less plan, more experiences. The best moments came unexpectedly.
• Trust yourself. You can manage more than you think.
• A camera is a great companion. It gives the trip a purpose and makes you look carefully.

After this trip I went back to the Dolomites again and again: more in the Dolomites again and again. And later I drove solo through Switzerland too, and flew to New Zealand for a year.

Faq