Traveling solo can be a brilliant way to discover places you never knew existed. You may even discover more about yourself.

It's normal to be a little nervous if it's your first time, so it's a good idea to plan well in advance, so you know what you're doing when the time comes.

Here are some tips and ideas of what to do while you're away.

Activities

If you like to keep fit, then you'll enjoy things like hiking, rock climbing and surfing (depending on where you plan to go.)

Not only are you staying active, think of the views you'll see - you pretty much have front row seats!

Learn your surroundings

Whether you prefer to walk or hop on a bus, it's a good idea to get an overview of where you're staying. This will make it easier for you to find your way around, and you may just see somewhere that you'd like to visit.

Try new food

Get adventurous and give your taste buds something new! Take a look at the food markets; this is where your mind will be blown. Chocolate spiders, dried liver, and snake blood... Seriously.

Follow the locals

Have a chat with the locals; it's always a good idea to make a few friends wherever you are, not only for the company but also for safety. -You are less likely to be targeted by thieves if they see you being friendly with the residents. You might even get lucky enough to be let in on where the secret locations are!

See the art

Why not take a trip to the local art galleries in the area? It's always interesting to see the different styles and mediums the artists use and why. You may also learn a bit about the history while you're there.

People watching

Don't you just love to sit and watch once in a while, without a care in the world? Just relax, clear your mind and take in your surroundings. Because you're traveling alone, you don't have to worry about people complaining of boredom. So enjoy the peace!

Group experiences

If you decide on traveling alone, why not sign up for a guided group journey? This means meeting up with a professional guide and other like minded people who are looking for a new experience. Make new friends and discover beautiful landmarks together. Look at sites like offthebeatenpath.com for more information.

One last tip that works wonders if you're looking to meet other people is to sit in one of the local bars, making sure you are at a table with a few other seat around, and have a book with you that makes you laugh out loud. Hold it up so that people can see the cover, and see that you are reading in English. This trick is great for attracting other English-speaking people for a chat!