There comes a time on every backpacking adventure when traveling becomes a little less fun. The novelty has slightly worn off and you begin to feel drained. Constantly moving around, carrying a 28 pound backpack becomes more of a chore. You’ll long for your own room and the simple things like a consistently hot shower.

As a solo backpacker, for me my breakthrough was in Belgium. This was roughly 6 weeks into my solo adventure. After conversing with many travelers there seems to be a consensus, around this time comes a turning point. It usually lasts a week. A week that you have to push through, while taking extra care of your physical and mental well-being.

While you might not be working out, backpacking is physically exhausting. From carrying your backpack to hiking up stairs to walking at least 8 miles a day, backpacking has a toll on your body. Around week 6 my feet were constantly cramping up and my back was beginning to ache.

It can be emotionally draining as well. As a solo backpacker, you are constantly putting yourself out there. There will be hostels where you meet amazing people who become friends for life, and suddenly you’ll find yourself in a hostel that is competely dead. Or worst, a hostel with other travelers who have no interest in meeting new people. This is more likely when you travel off-season. On the plus side, sometimes this means you’ll finally get your own room. But it can get lonely. In Belgium I longed for people that already knew me. I longed for friends and family that already knew my life story, who loved me for who I was and supported me in my desire for change and adventure.

Backpacking solo has been one of the best decisions of my life. The experience has molded me and shaped me in a way that is almost indescribable. This post not meant to be a pity party, but more importantly, this post is meant to show an honest representation of what the true experience is like. Life is full of highs and lows, good and bad, ups and downs, and traveling solo is no exception.

So my time in Belgium was marked with being homesick and feeling run-down. I spent my time visiting Antwerp and Gent. I wandered around both cities and sampled delicious Belgium beer. Gent in particular is stunning. The Christmas markets are phenomenal and the architecture glows in the afternoon sun. I tasted amazing Belgium chocolate and had the best waffle of my entire life on a random side street in Gent. I met locals who were friendly and welcoming.

More importantly, I also gave myself time to relax. This is almost a double-edged sword. You’ll feel guilty spending an entire afternoon reading in bed, but sometimes your body demands it. The longer you travel the more these days are needed.

So while the turning point exists for all of us, the good news is that it doesn’t last forever. Once I started making my way to Switzerland I had a whole new experience waiting for me.

Antwerp

Gent