Afraid to travel alone? Why a yoga retreat is the perfect trip
Silvia Ghigliazza
Yoga Teacher
"I'd love to… but on my own I just can't." If you've ever thought about a retreat and then stopped right here, know this: you're not the only one, and this fear is entirely legitimate. Setting off alone, towards a new place and among people you don't know, is a little daunting. It's human.
And yet — I tell you this after accompanying so many people — a retreat is perhaps one of the few trips you live better on your own. Let me walk you gently across that threshold.
The (legitimate) fears of those travelling alone
Let's name what holds us back. Usually it's one of these:
- ●"What if I don't know anyone and feel out of place?"
- ●"What if the others are already in pairs or groups and I'm left out?"
- ●"What if I feel lonely, or bored in the free moments?"
- ●"What if I'm not good, flexible or 'experienced' enough?"
- ●"What if I end up regretting the time and money?"
These are normal thoughts. The good news is that a well-designed retreat is built precisely to dissolve them, one by one.
Why a retreat is the perfect trip even on your own
The truth is simple: you arrive alone, but you're never really alone. There's an intimate group, a shared intention, and someone caring for you from start to finish. Here's what makes it all easier:
- ●Shared practice breaks the barriers fast: after a few hours on the mat together, strangers aren't strangers anymore.
- ●You're free to live the experience at your own pace, with no compromises with travel companions: when you want company you find it, when you want silence it's respected.
- ●The group is small and welcoming, designed so no one is left behind or out.
- ●You don't need to be experienced or flexible: the practices adapt to everyone, and no one judges you.
- ●Real friendships are born — the sincere kind, that often last well beyond the return.
- ●There's always a guide by your side who knows every moment of the day and makes you feel safe.
I see it at every retreat: those who arrive most fearful are very often those who leave most transformed. Travelling alone isn't an obstacle to overcome — it's, at times, the greatest gift you can give yourself.
↗Ready to set off (even on your own)? Discover the retreat in Morocco
'Under the Moroccan Sky': a yoga retreat in Marrakech in an intimate, welcoming group, perfect for those travelling solo too.
Frequently asked questions
Absolutely, it's very common: most participants sign up on their own. It's one of the most beautiful ways to truly live the experience and meet new people.
That's perfectly fine. No one forces you to socialise: you can take your own space and open up in your own time. The intimate atmosphere makes it all natural, with no pressure.
It depends on the chosen accommodation. Usually a shared room is offered, but you can often opt for a single room with a small supplement if you prefer your privacy.
The bravest journey is sometimes the one you take alone — to find yourself, and discover you were never really alone. — Silvia
