Embarking On That Solo Travel – Journeys with Shukri in Morocco, Italy, Portugal & Making Pen Pals

By Ruhi
12 Min Read
Embarking On That Solo Travel – Journeys with Shukri in Morocco, Italy, Portugal & Making Pen Pals
Credit: Shukri/provided to Muslim Solo Travel (left) & Canva Pro (right)

Disclaimer: The personal opinion of the guest doesn’t necessarily reflect the views of Muslim Solo Travel.

Shukri, a nurse from Manchester, kindly shared her insight on solo traveling and how her journey began accidentally when she missed a family trip to Morocco.

From doing it as a sideline, getting inspiration from her own mother to making pen pals, sharing what can one expect when traveling solo in England, read on to learn what she discovered, and will discover in her adventures!

When Did You Start Solo Traveling & What Made You Decide To Embark On That Adventure?

Shukri’s journey into solo traveling began two and a half years ago when she missed a family trip to Morocco due to issues with her ticket. Instead of staying behind, Shukri decided to book a ticket to Italy impulsively just two days later.

“I didn’t even pack a suitcase, I just jetted off.”

Shukri was unsure how she felt after booking the ticket, but she had always harbored a desire to travel to Italy.

How Did Your Friends And Family React?

“I just told my mum I’m going on holiday,” Shukri’s mother’s adventurous spirit and recent return from Canada has empowered her daughter to travel solo, fostering independence and a strong sense of empowerment.

Credit: Shukri/provided to Muslim Solo Travel
Credit: Shukri/provided to Muslim Solo Travel

Shukri’s extended family members were surprised as she was the only one in their age group to venture into solo travel.

“They were all admiring that I had the courage,” pointing out that this admiration makes Shukri more confident.

“Of course you want your family to approve on things that you like to do, because it is part of my life now.”

Shukri’s friends were equally amazed and shocked. “When I’m In England, I think I felt really trapped and just in my own bubble”.

It wasn’t expected of Shukri to do something quite impulsive. “I was just getting bored of England”.

Every city felt the same, regardless of where Shukri traveled to, so she need something different.

Any Lessons You’ve Learned- About Yourself, The World, Traveling Or Just Anything?

“Lessons that I learned about myself was I can do things that I wouldn’t expect to do in real life,” this encouraged Shukri to break out of her shell and build up confidence.

“I had such amazing experience talking to people and engaging with those, that I wouldn’t even attempt to engage with before, because I wouldn’t have had the confidence.”

Since coming back to England, Shukri feels like a social butterfly. “I love to socialize…that was something I was holding myself back from doing more with people that I didn’t know.”

From Shukri’s solo travels, she has made many connections that she stays in touch with to this day. “It’s the most amazing feeling, I just feel proud of myself.”

Another lesson Shukri learned from her solo traveling is that the world can be kind.

Foz do Douro Sunset, Porto-Portugal. Credit:Visit Portugal/GoLocal Tours
Foz do Douro Sunset, Porto-Portugal. Credit:Visit Portugal/GoLocal Tours

Growing up with racism and Islamophobia, Shukri had a distrust for people and lost her faith in humanity.

“Having that automatic thought…they’re going to assume the worst of me because of what I look like. It’s not my fault, it’s theirs if they do”.

This thought held Shukri back from socializing and engaging with unfamiliar people.

“So it’s breaking down that barrier and that guard that I have up, was fantastic to me.”

Shukri emphasizes the importance of safety awareness while traveling, but she also feels more open and confident than before.

“I think that’s helped me to grow up as well in the world.”

How Did You Go About Choosing Portugal?

Shukri found Portugal quite cheap to travel to. She also found that it was solo travel friendly.

“It was really safe, lovely and cheap as well, so I booked it in the off-peak season and it was an amazing trip.”

The City of Lisbon. Credit:Pinterest/robgonshak
The City of Lisbon. Credit:Pinterest/robgonshak

Shukri has a few pen pals from Portugal she met through Instagram from all around the world like India, Taiwan, Peru and the USA.

What’s The Rough Itinerary Like? How Did You Plan It Out & Iterate Plans Not Going Accordingly?

“I didn’t really pre-plan,” Shukri said that she did not have a specific strict itinerary.

She used social media sites like Tiktok and Google to ensure that the places she wanted to visit was within the vicinity of the hotel.

Once Shukri arrived in Portugal, she booked her tours and had a general idea of what she wanted to do. Shukri prefers not to plan too far in advance.

Being Familiar With England…Do You Have Any Tips For Muslimah Solo Travelers About The UK?

“Don’t just stay in London. I’m not from London and there a lot of cities as well that have such beautiful surrounding areas.”

Winkworth Arboretum. Credit: National Trust
Winkworth Arboretum. Credit: National Trust

For a Scenic Solo-friendly Train Ride!

For example, near London there’s Surrey Hill National Landscape. This is nearly two hours away via train.

  • Otherwise, check the Train route from London Waterloo to Surrey Hill National Landscape here on Maps

Shukri recommends the Peak District, a national park based in central Northern England offers stunning views and is great for hiking and walks.

Credit: Wikimedia/Evilbish
Credit: Wikimedia/Evilbish

Glamping in The UK

Glamping, also known as glamorous camping, is a popular choice for those seeking a luxurious outdoor experience.

You can easily find glamping sites by doing a quick search on Google. You can also use Airbnb to find Glamping sites.

Stay Experiences in The UK

Private Glamping AirBnBs
Retreats in Peak District
Wellbeing resorts & spas in The UK

Further MST Tips And Advice In Navigating Around England

  • It’s important to be cautious, especially in busy urban areas.
  • Be vigilant with your belongings including your mobile device. Phone snatchers are active in these areas. They often ride past people on bikes and target individuals with their phones out in the open.
  • Taking precautions can help reduce the risk.
  • Consider using a phone lanyard or a wrist strap connected to your phone to keep it secure.
Phone Wrist Strap. Credit: Pinterest/Dotely123
Phone Wrist Strap. Credit: Pinterest/Dotely123
  • Being vigilant of pickpockets as you would in any other busy places.
  • It’s important to have good manners and be considerate of others when walking on a pavement.
  • Avoid taking up too much space and refrain from jumping queues.
  • When using escalators, it’s best to stick to one side and not block the way for others. This is especially crucial in London, when using the underground transit.
  • Being mindful of these etiquettes can help prevent unnecessary frustration for everyone.

Weather in England – What To Expect?

England’s weather can be unpredictable, so it’s a good idea to be prepared for rain or sudden changes in temperature, especially if you’re planning outdoor activities.

Newton under Roseberry. Credit: Ruhi/Muslim Solo Travel
Newton under Roseberry. Credit: Ruhi/Muslim Solo Travel

Food

You can try traditional British food. Some of which include:

Sunday Roast Dinner

It’s a classic British meal, usually served on Sundays. Consisting of Yorkshire puddings, roast meat with gravy and vegetables.

Sunday Roast Dinner. Credit: Pinterest/chrystallum
Sunday Roast Dinner. Credit: Pinterest/chrystallum

English Breakfast

A classic fry up of sausages, bacon, mushrooms, toast and beans, typically served for breakfast.

Halal English Breakfast. Source: Ruhi/Muslim Solo Travel
Halal English Breakfast. Source: Ruhi/Muslim Solo Travel

Shepherd’s Pie

This is a layered baked dish that consists of savory minced meat topped with creamy mashed potatoes often served with a side of vegetables.

Shepherd's Pie. Credit: Wikimedia/Oxfordian Kissuth
Shepherd’s Pie. Credit: Wikimedia/Oxfordian Kissuth

Afternoon tea

This is a selection of sweet and savory finger foods such as sandwiches and cakes served with tea.

Afternoon Tea at Wynyard Hall. Credit: Ruhi/Muslim Solo Travel
Afternoon Tea at Wynyard Hall. Credit: Ruhi/Muslim Solo Travel

Fish and Chips

Usually you would find this by the coast. This is typically accompanied with a variety of condiments like salt, vinegar, peas, tartar sauce, mayonnaise, ketchup and curry sauce.

Fish and Chips served with peas and tartar sauce. Credit: Ruhi/Muslim Solo Travel
Fish and Chips served with peas and tartar sauce. Credit: Ruhi/Muslim Solo Travel

MST Tip – Navigating British Dishes as a Muslim

Traditional British dishes will consist of pork and cooked with non-halal ingredients i.e. fish and chips traditionally fried in animal lard/beef dripping.

It’s best to ask the restaurant or check with the chef about the ingredients and cooking methods to ensure that the dish is halal or vegetarian/vegan friendly.

Fortunately, many places in England serve traditional British foods using halal or vegetarian/vegan ingredients.

Shukri advises not to limit yourself to only traditional British food. The UK has many types of Halal restaurants serving various cuisines.

What’s next or anything else you’d like share with us?

“I’m going Spain in a couple of weeks In’Shaa’Allah, so I’m going to Barcelona, so I’m really excited for that,” Shukri revealed to us.

Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia. Credit: Wikimedia/Mromanchenko
Barcelona is known for its medieval architecture, mainly found in the oldest part of Barcelona, the Gothic Quarter, which is also home to Barcelona Cathedral. Credit: Wikimedia/Mromanchenko

Shukri did initially plan to go solo, but will be taking her younger sister as she passed her exams.

“So I added her to my ticket last minute, just to take her on a trip and show her what my solo travel life is like”.

Find Shukri on @shukritravels on Instagram, as that’s where she shares her latest travels and further tips and advice for your next trip.