Aussie solo traveller holidays in some of the world’s most ‘dangerous’ places

Though Peta travels daily in her job as a flight attendant, she’s made it her mission to spend her vacation time flying around the world as well.

In the last 30 years, she’s been to countries that are well and truly off the beaten path, from Azerbaijan and Armenia to Mongolia and Uzbekistan.

Her love of travel to obscure countries has taken her around the globe, all as a solo traveller.

Peta has travelled to countries she says are “not mainstream”. (Supplied)

Peta, who now works as a flight attendant for Qantas, has been travelling extensively since she was 19.

Even before she worked in the world of travel, she was passionate about it – and getting a job that helped her do it was a bonus. Though she only flies short-haul for work, her own holidays take her much further.

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Peta tells 9Travel that the places she visits are “definitely not mainstream”.

However, despite common misconceptions, she wouldn’t call any of them dangerous or risky to visit, even as a woman travelling on her own.

Prime Minister — Peta went hiking in the mountains of Pakistan. (Supplied)

She says that instead, travelling to these places has opened her mind to what they’re really like.

“I think the only way that you can really learn something about another country or their culture is to travel to that place,” she says, “rather than sit at home and make assumptions about what it’s like.”

“I have a fascination with the Middle East,” Peta, who has been a flight attendant for 25 years, tells 9Travel. “The food is amazing, as is the culture.”

Tigris River — Peta works for Qantas. (Supplied)

But she says the best part of travelling is the people you meet. Her favourite place she’s ever been is Iran.

“The people are just beautiful. They are so friendly and they just want to talk to you, and invite you into their homes.”

In fact, when she travels, she always tries to do a homestay with a local family.

“I want to ask questions. I want to know why they are like they are. That’s the best education in the world, and I think it makes you a more tolerant person as well.”

Uzbekistan — Peta loves meeting people all around the world. (Supplied)

How to travel on your own

Doing a tour is a great way to visit countries that aren’t super accessible for tourists, especially as a female, says Peta.

“In harder to reach places, that don’t have a lot of public transport or infrastructure, it’s a lot easier and safer to travel on an organised group tour,” she says.

Also, you get the added bonus of having built-in travel companions, who often quickly become your close friends while on the road.

She says she looks for tour companies that visit less-travelled countries; her favourite is a UK-based one called Lupine. “How they run and conduct a tour is incredible,” she says.

She’s also got her eye on a new Intrepid tour, which takes travellers to Sierra Leone and its islands.

Staying safe as a solo traveller

In some countries that Peta visits, she knows she stands out as a female on her own.

But the key to staying safe is making smart choices.

“You don’t do dumb stuff when you’re on your own,” she says, “whether that means not going out after four pm, or getting the hotel to organise transport for you if want to go out.”

“You just don’t walk out on the street and flag down a taxi if that area is not safe.”

northern Africa — Syria has a fascinating culture, she says. (Supplied)

She says she does her research, and tries to stay in safer areas, typically in a family-run hotel.

So what’s next for Peta? She’s heading to Iraq in a couple of weeks, on a tour that will see her visit old bazaars, take a boat trip down the Tigris River, tour the world’s largest cemetery, and explore archaeological sites.

She’s also keen to visit Northern Africa, namely Libya, Sudan, and Sierra Leone.