Once the preserve of singletons and gap-year students, solo travel has recently taken on a shiny new look. Rather than a function of necessity or compromise, holidaying alone has become the ultimate indulgence in 2024: a rare chance in this ultra-demanding world to put one’s own needs and priorities first.
"Travelling solo is a liberating experience. It offers the chance to do what and go where you want, on your own terms," says Jonathan Frankham of World Nomads. "It also makes you more likely to branch out, forge deeper connections with others and discover more about yourself."
In short, people are now travelling solo not because they have to – but because they want to. Emboldened with a ‘now or never’ attitude post-pandemic and more confident than ever about spending time in solitude, travellers are busy booking their dream trips, regardless of life stage or relationship status. Many tour operators have noticed the trend: Scott Dunn reported a 30 per cent increase in solo bookings in 2023, while Black Tomato saw them almost double. In response to demand, many operators have launched solo travel collections or solo-specific departure dates, while others are waiving pricey single supplements.
The range of solo travel experiences on offer has broadened, too. You can tick off bucket list trips like hiking the Camino de Santiago or cruising to Antarctica that loved ones in your life might be reluctant to commit to – but also book self-care wellness breaks or enriching learning holidays. Some trips, such as those from Discover the World, let you dial up or down the amount of time you spend in a group environment, so you get both alone time and the reassuring safely blanket that comes with being around others.
A reassuring safe space can be especially appealing to solo female travellers, of which there are now more than ever. According to Student Universe 84 per cent of polled Gen Z women are interested in solo travel, while Craft Travel reports a 350 per cent increase in women-based adventure travel compared to last year. Founder of the latter, Julia Carter, says: "Women who we would have more often seen putting off ‘adventurous’ destinations until they had a partner or their partner’s schedule allowed are no longer holding back."
10 solo trips to try
1. Polar Bears in Canada
In response to a noticeable uptick in solo bookings, Discover the World has just launched a new solo travel collection with dedicated singles departure dates – including to New Zealand and Iceland. Some trips are catered specifically to female travellers, including a special women-only departure of the Polar Bear Adventure in October 2024. There will be a female expedition leader at the helm when you journey on special ‘polar rovers’ to see the snow-white giants in the Churchill wilds, and you’ll have the chance to meet local indigenous women and hear about their lives on the arctic tundra too.
Five days from £7,593, discover-the-world.com
2. Pilates in Morocco
For special interest breaks – whether that’s painting, cookery or learning a language – Flavours Holidays ticks the boxes for solo travellers, as it never charges a single supplement. The upcoming group Pilates Morocco Retreat will give you a week in a villa overlooking the Atlas mountains, with daily pilates classes and an optional hike into the sun-baked landscapes. Explore the bustling Marrakech souks, wander through the serene Majorelle Garden or tuck into fragrant tagines, either with new friends or when exploring on your own.
Seven days from £2,199, flavoursholidays.co.uk
3. Walking in Spain
Love nothing more than a good yomp in the great outdoors? More than half of Ramble Worldwide travellers are solo hikers, so you’ll be in good company. The moderately difficult Walking from San Telmo itinerary on Mallorca doesn’t have a single supplement and takes in raw mountain and coastal trails – including a challenging climb on the Archduke’s Trail around the hills of S’Arraco (the views are worth the thigh-burn). You’ll also have time to visit uninhabited island Dragonera, see hillside village Valldemossa and unwind by the pool in the spring or autumn sunshine (departure dates include April, May, September and October 2024).
Seven days from £1,285, ramblersholidays.co.uk
4. Safari in Kenya
A safari is a proper bucketlist trip – but one that can feel challenging to tackle all on your own. Dedicated solo holiday specialist Friendship Travel brings together world-class wildlife with beachside downtime in a group hols where there’s always a host on hand if you need them. The Kenya Safari and Beach itinerary kicks off on the sands at Diani Beach on the Indian Ocean before heading into the bush for stays at two different safari camps – one with views of Mount Kilimanjaro and the other in the heart of a 10,000-acre private game sanctuary. Then there’s more lazy lounger time again before you head home.
Seven nights from £2,550, friendshiptravel.com
5. Getting fit in St Lucia
Wellness breaks are an understandably popular pick among solo travellers; all that alone time gives you the opportunity to overhaul your eating regime, set new fitness goals or undergo a major health reset. All-inclusive wellbeing resort BodyHoliday in St Lucia has a themed ‘September solos’ month where the usual single supplement is waived and the extensive rota of fitness classes and activities is supplemented by group hosted dinners. You also get a spa treatment included on every day of your stay.
Seven nights from £3,000, scottdunn.com
6. Culture in Oman
Sustainably minded YellowWood Adventures focuses on cultural holidays that really get under the skin of a unique destination – and 70 per cent of travellers on their trips are solos. The Undiscovered Oman trip lets you get stuck into the local lifestyle and scenery, meeting Bedouins, sailing around the protected Daymaniyat Islands and wild camping in the powdery Sugar Dunes desert by the Gulf of Oman. The company also supports charity endeavours on the ground in their destinations and compensates for emissions by planting 15 trees per traveller through WeForest.
Nine days from £2,799, yellowwoodadventures.com
7. Female empowerment in Turkey
With so many solo female travellers knocking on their door – around a third of all their bookings – Intrepid Travel decided it was time to relaunch their portfolio of female-only trips, designed to immerse you in the cultural spaces of local women. On a new Turkey Women’s Expedition, you’ll visit a mother and daughter in their Istanbul home to sample börek, hike the Soganli Valley and visit a social enterprise that supports low-income women through handicrafts.
12 days from £2,315, intrepidtravel.com
8. Cruising in Peru
Cruising can be perfect for solo travellers, as travel by ship provides the comforts of group travel with the option to be reclusive when you fancy. Luxe small-ship line Aqua Expeditions has announced that it’s waiving solo supplements (usually 25% extra) on select cruises in 2024 and 2025, including voyages on the Aria Amazon in January, February and September. Sailing down the jungle-cloaked Peruvian Amazon on the intimate ship, you’ll get the inside track from experienced naturalist guides on the rich marine and land life. Off-boat expeditions let you see it all up close; piranha fishing, anyone?
Seven nights from £6,030, aquaexpeditions.com
9. Sunshine in Vietnam
Get to know one of Southeast Asia’s most fascinating countries and soak up the tropical sunshine with a multi-award winning specialist in the solo travel sphere, Just You. Running over nearly two weeks to give you the full country immersion, the Discover Vietnam trip includes a sightseeing tour in Hanoi, an overnight cruise in Halong Bay and a visit the UNESCO-protected old town of Hoi An, along with plenty of other stops. A good pick if you want to be in a social group dynamic for your entire trip.
From £3,699, justyou.co.uk
10. Remote adventure in Togo & Benin
Even if you normally travel with a partner or family, a solo expedition can suit when you want to experience somewhere more niche on your wish list. Wild Frontiers does those kind of unique destinations – everywhere from Kyrgyzstan to Honduras – like a pro and perhaps unsurprisingly 70% of their customer base is solo travellers. A Togo & Benin Voodoo Explorer trip delves deep into the rich cultures of West Africa, exploring the UNESCO Royal Palace of Abomey, boat-riding through the continent’s largest stilt village and discovering haunting Ouidah, spiritual home of voodoo.
