Travelling solo can be an immensely rewarding experience and there are many tours that cater for Solo Travellers. By travelling in a group, you can share your experiences with like minded people and have the comfort of knowing an experienced guide is close by.  Almost 50% of our travellers are solo when they begin their tour, with many of them making long lasting friendships on their trip. Below we’ve put together all the information you need to know if you’re thinking about travelling solo.

Is it more expensive to travel solo on a tour?

It shouldn’t be and usually, it isn’t. With many tour operators omitting singles supplements for solo travellers, they avoid making things more expensive by pairing you with a member of the same gender. If you have any questions or are in doubt, definitely double check before you book for peace of mind.

What are single supplements, and how do they work?

A single supplement is an extra charge that is paid by a solo traveller for accommodation if they take a room alone. The amount can range from 10% to 100% of the standard accommodation price. However, it’s ultimately up to you and these days, most tour operators don’t make it compulsory. Companies like Contiki and G Adventures will help you avoid this cost and team you up with a roommate of the same gender. It’s the best way to meet people and you will have some extra money left over for souvenirs.

Will I be safe?

As safe as you could possibly be when travelling. Of course you should use common sense (especially in very busy tourist areas). However, your guide will always be available to you and is a wealth of knowledge regarding what to do and where to go should an emergency arise. And don’t forget to buy travel insurance!

I don’t know anyone. How will I make friends? 

Understandably this is one of the biggest questions on solo travellers minds. Travelling on tour is an ideal way to make friends and meet like minded people. At the beginning of your trip, your tour leader will usually have a few fun games to get things going, and after sharing a few very memorable experiences together, it is very likely that you will make life-long friends. An article written by Matt Ventura, the winner of TourRadar’s Ultimate Tour Competition, tells of his own personal journey during his tour of Asia. In his blog post, he explains how he went from knowing no one, to having his fellow travellers become some of his closest friends. Matt’s story is a perfect example of how travelling solo on a tour is one of the greatest things you can experience.

What are the benefits of going on tour vs travelling alone?

Travelling with a group is an ideal way to see the world and to visit the Destinations you’ve always dreamed of. You will always have an experienced guide on hand, who not only provides information, history and directions, but can also be of assistance should any unforeseen circumstances arise. Travelling with a group often allows you to access places that are off the beaten track, or hard to reach alone. You will have the added security of knowing you’ll be travelling with other people, and your fellow travellers will most likely add much laughter, diversity and excitement to your travels.

The best thing about tours is that they cater to everyone. There are tours for oldies, for party-goers, for lovers of Elephants (if that’s your thing), for families and so much more. That said, as a solo traveller you don’t want to suddenly find yourself on a romantic tour of Italy, where everyone else is coupled up and watching sunsets. So what are the best tours for solo travellers? We compiled a few for you below.

Great tour companies for solo travellers:

Contiki, G Adventures, On the Go, Topdeck, Intrepid, Geckos, Dragoman, Busabout, Free & Easy and Haggis (Scotland).

Tours for singles and solo travellers

We’ve chosen the following 5 tours as some of the best for singles and solo travellers. We particularly like these tours as they are predominantly for the 18-40 age group and all approximately 2-3 weeks in length. They feature a good mix of partying and sightseeing, and as they are longer tours so you will get to know the other travellers well.

1. Mega European 2016 from Topdeck: 49 days, 33 destinations from USD$5,900.
2. Indochina Discovery from G Adventures: 30 days, 17 destinations from USD$2,099.
3. Greek Island Hopping from Contiki: 13 days, 4 destinations from USD$2,066.
4. Best of Morocco from Intrepid: 15 days, 10 destinations from USD$1,420.
5. Winter Getaway from Topdeck: 18 days, 16 destinations from USD$2,060.

Best Europe tours for singles and solo travellers

1. European Wonder from Topdeck: 14 days, 11 destinations from USD$1,706.
2. European Highlights from Contiki: 14 days, 18 destinations from USD$1,729.
3. The Best of Eastern Europe from G Adventures: 15 days, 9 destinations from USD$

Best Italy tours for singles and solo travellers

1. Simply Italy from Contiki: 12 days, 11 destinations from USD$1,924.
2. Italian Adventure from Busabout: 3 days, 7 destinations from USD$359.
3. Italy at a Glance from Geckos Adventures: 8 days, 4 destinations from USD$1,180.

Best New Zealand tours for singles and solo travellers

1. Pure Adrenalin (ex. Wellington) from Topdeck: 10 days, 12 destinations from USD$1,287.
2. New Zealand – Best of the North Island from G Adventures: 7 days, 5 destinations from USD$939.
3. Sweet as South from Contiki: 9 days, 5 destinations from US$1,535.

Best Thailand tours for singles and solo travellers

1. ThaIntro from ThaIntro: 8 days, 3 destinations from USD$699.
2. Trutravels Thailand Experience from TruTravels: 8 days, 4 destinations from USD$635.
3. Wanderlands Thailand from Wanderlands Travel: 8 days, 3 destinations from USD$511.

Best Tours for single and solo travellers aged 18 – 35/under 40

1. OzIntro from OzIntro: 7 days, 3 destinations from USD$699.
2. 20 Days in Peru: Wander through the Incan World from Free & Easy Traveller: 20 days, 5 destinations from USD$1,799.
3. Volcano Trail from G Adventures: 17 days, 10 destinations from USD$1,699.

Best Europe tours for single and solo travellers aged 18 – 35/under 40

1. Winter Express from Topdeck: 11 days, 6 destinations from USD$1,215.
2. Northern Winter Tracks from Busabout: 12 days, 7 destinations from USD$1,649.
3. Berlin to Venice from Intrepid: 15 days, 8 destinations from USD$1,950.

Best USA and America tours for single and solo travellers aged for 18-39/under 40

1. Stars & Stripes from Topdeck: 13 days, 6 destinations from USD$3,295.
2. Westerner 2 BLT from Trek America: 14 days, 9 destinations from USD$1,695.
3. National Parks and Bright Lights from G Adventures: 15 days, 13 destinations from USD$2,639.

Best tours for single and solo travellers aged over 40

1. Europe Escape – 12 Days from Expat Explore Travel: 12 days, 11 destinations from USD$1,305.
2. Cambodia & Laos Adventure from G Adventures: 15 days, 9 destinations from USD$1,999.
3. Southern Africa Unplugged from Intrepid: 16 days, 13 destinations from USD$3,060.

Still have questions about travelling solo? Want more tour suggestions? Get in touch with our Customer Support Team!