My First Solo Trip Experience

Words and photos by Olivia Gauthier, who studied abroad with ASA in Madrid, Spain, during the spring semester of 2026.

Studying abroad on its own is such an eye-opening, transformational experience. Spending my junior year spring semester in Madrid exceeded my expectations in every aspect and left me with memories I will cherish for the rest of my life. I spent a lot of time exploring Madrid and other Spanish cities, but I was no stranger to weekend-tripping around Europe with friends (I liked some places so much I went back for a second time). Despite all of this travel experience, I knew I had one final goal to complete before returning home; I wanted to take a solo trip.

As an introverted person who has far too much trust in the good of the world, I was conflicted as to whether or not it would be a good idea. Would I make any friends? What if I got lost or had an emergency? Was this going to be something I regret? These were all questions I thought about, but I took the leap, and I can confidently say it was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. The first decision I had to make was choosing where I was going to go, and I I hoped the rest of the decisions would come much more easily.  

I decided to return to Portugal, which I had visited once a month before. The first time I went, I visited both Lisbon and Porto, both of which I fell in love with. Both cities had so much to offer through culture, food, and the kindness of the people who lived there. For this trip,  I decided to spend five days at the Gota Dagua Surf Camp in Caparica. 

Going to a country I had visited once before alleviated the anxiety of being in a completely unfamiliar place by myself. Joining this camp also set me up to be in an environment with other open-minded solo-travelers, which was still far enough outside of my comfort zone that I was challenging myself, but not far enough to feel anxiety leading up to my departure.

So, how did it go? The camp was incredible! Each day began with yoga, followed by group breakfast, surf lessons, and camp activities. Some campers came alone, others in a group, but all with unique cultural backgrounds. The group was diversified in terms of age, gender, and culture, yet it was easy to find commonalities. I met people from all over the world, including Germany, Argentina, Australia, the UAE, and so many other places. It was so interesting to learn about everyone's life journey and what led them to come to the camp. 

This solo trip allowed me to be outgoing and rewarded me with friends all over the globe. For anyone who is questioning whether they should take the leap, do it! Not only did I meet so many people, but I also learned to surf in one of the best surfing locations in the world. The energy of this group was one of a kind, and the Gota Dagua staff made great efforts to create the best experience I could ask for. This truly was one of my favorite trips abroad, and I recommend this camp to everyone.

Thanks, Olivia!