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Are you one of those people who prefer the adventure of traveling alone, and if you’ve never done it before, this autumn is your chance! They say that autumn never comes alone, it has a hint of introspection that you can take advantage of to get to know yourself better. Don’t forget to give yourself a chance to visit the most beautiful places and combine holidays, rest and a breath of fresh air to go out into the world refreshed. Here are the best plans to travel alone this autumn.
The pandemic left us with a feeling of lost time, of not being able to make the most of those moments of little work, which is why nowadays the idea of travelling is so present, in whatever way it may be, it has become very common to see solo travellers, enjoying travelling around the world, and by themselves.
New York in autumn is special
New York is a very common destination for all travellers, as it has a large number of cultures, languages, people, tastes, it must be one of the most comprehensive destinations in the world, but in autumn it has that particularity, that air, that “something” that makes it so special.
The green leaves of the trees in Central Park turn yellow, the birds in the area sing, strolling through the gardens of an imposing concrete city, make you feel like you’re in a Hollywood movie all the time – if you look closely you might even see Spiderman jumping between the buildings!
The French starry night
France, and its French love, together with autumn make for a perfect combination. We can’t say for sure about the love part, but we can say that you’re in for a unique holiday, where you’ll get to see the source of inspiration of Vincent van Gogh himself.
The south of France has a hint of the frugal, Provençal and impressionist about it, and even more so if you start in Arles.
Learning about the motifs of the more than 300 works created in 15 months by the Dutch painter can be the best way to discover this beautiful French countryside through these paintings. We can find the villages of Les Baux de Provence, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence (location of the St Paul de Mausole hospital, where Van Gogh painted The Starry Night) or Arles and its itineraries through paintings such as “The Yellow House” (Place Lamartine) or “Café la Nuit” (Place du Forum).
An artistic retreat in Hawaii
Connecting with nature also makes these opportunities unique, where you can see the more introspective side of travelling alone, or with your own company. We live in times where productivity is all over the place, and as much as we know where and when to travel to disconnect, perhaps we are missing a little push to take that step. What better than to do it in one of these paradisiacal islands of Hawaii?
Ala Kukui is where we find a residential retreat that was created in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attack in New York and aims to help heal the upheavals produced by this tragedy.
The retreat centre is set in a space surrounded by abundant nature and overlooking the ocean. It is a true sanctuary that includes a variety of activities such as hula dancing, writing classes and yoga.
Perfect surf in Taghazout, Morocco
We often mistakenly associate surfing with summer, but the truth is that when it comes to the Atlantic, the best time to dance on the waves is autumn. But where to start looking for the perfect wave? Our suggestion is Taghazout, a small Berber fishing village north of Agadir where the hippie community arrived in the 1960s.
Anchor Point is the surfing hotspot for intermediate surfers, while more experienced surfers will find the best challenge at Boilers, thanks to the impact of the Atlas Mountains on this dreamy coastline. As a backdrop, the most traditional Morocco, hundreds of stories sighing behind the blue gates and the illusion of not knowing if, at some point, you’ll be surfing the Atlantic or the desert itself.
Get to know the real Halloween
Ireland is celebrating this year for many reasons: Dublin has been included in Lonely Planet’s Best Travellers’ List, and it’s the centenary of the publication of James Joyce’s iconic novel Ulysses and the birth of Bram Stoker, author of Dracula.
Halloween has its origins in the ancient festival of “Samhain”, the celebration of the end of the harvest season. At that time, the Gauls believed that on that day the boundaries between the world of the living and the world of the dead became a little blurred: the dead came back to life and wreaked havoc on the living.
Fear, autumn, Samhain. This pagan festival was the seed of today’s Halloween and this autumn you can experience it in Ireland through different events such as the folkloric Púca celebrated in Meath and Louth, or the Derry Halloween in Northern Ireland.
If you’re travelling alone, don’t worry, the pubs invite you to share more than one Guinness with a local and Targaryen dragons will be watching over you at all times.
Disconnect to connect
The scent of fire, dry leaves and incense. Spirits seem to spring from pumpkins and trees invite us to shed our own dry leaves. Autumn is the most mystical season of the year and speaks of death, rebirth and festivals around the world align with these life processes. In fact, thousands of clay lamps are now distributed across India to be lit on 24 October during Diwali, the Hindu giant’s most important celebration and the perfect excuse to invite good fortune through cities full of magic.
If you opt for the West, Mexico begins preparations in October for its Day of the Dead (2 November), an ode to La Katrina, altars filled with cempasúchil flowers and tequila shots in honour of those who have gone but always return once a year.
