14 reasons to travel solo in a small group tour in 2019

1. You can save up to $700 with our BIGGEST EVER solo travel offer

We’re celebrating all that’s great about solo travel this February. Our BIGGEST EVER solo travel sale is now on! We’re offering a single room upgrade for no extra cost on dozens of trips, saving you up to $700. There’s really never been a better time to travel solo.

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2&3. Go where you want to go; do what you want to do

42% of us admit to experiencing challenges when planning a future trip with our other half. Our biggest disagreements are over the activities we want to do on vacation and, crucially, where we travel to. Travelling solo, you only need to please yourself – whether you want to hike up Mt Etna with a volcanologist, walk the Amalfi coast, or go kayaking in Turkey.

4. You’ll be guided by a local, not a rep

Our expert local leaders mean you get closer to the destination you’re visiting. Our small group adventures are ideal for solo travellers, and a lot of that is down to our expert leaders and guides. Passionate and knowledgeable about their local destination, our leaders share first-hand knowledge and unique insight that you just wouldn’t get travelling on your own.

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5. You’ll be in good company

More than half of our travellers on small group trips are travelling solo. So whichever trip you choose, there are likely to be others that share your passion – and you may end up making great friends too.

6. Tick somewhere off your bucketlist

44% of us would consider travelling solo to fulfil a life goal, whether we’re single or not. Top experiences most people would like to tick off their bucketlist include getting up close with wildlife in the Galapagos, climbing Kilimanjaro and seeing penguins in Antarctica.

7. Feel comfortable stepping outside your comfort zone

The biggest benefit of solo travel, as cited by those that have already tried it, is stepping outside of your usual comfort zone. Whether trying your hand at a new activity like white water rafting or cycling, or trying a new cuisine – in fact, just deciding to travel solo may be a step out of your comfort zone in itself. They say a change is as good as a rest, and its certainly refreshing to try something new or go somewhere different. Which brings us to...

8. Go somewhere you wouldn’t usually choose (or feel brave enough to)

We’ve seen an increase in solo travellers going to lesser-known destinations, and travelling further off the beaten-track. Trips on-the-up include Discover Chernobyl and Discover Georgia.

9. Burn 3,500 extra calories in one week

Our most popular trips for solo travellers are our walking and trekking holidays - from gentle walks through rolling vineyards and coastal rambles through to more challenging mountain treks and once-in-a-lifetime climbs. Our best-selling, easy-to-moderate-paced Amalfi Coast Walking trip will see you burn around 3,500 extra calories over a week! Get your walking boots on, and join a trip that will leave you with a big sense of achievement.

10. You’ll have stories to tell for a lifetime

The trend for ‘experiences over things’ shows no sign of slowing down. We are more than twice as likely to spend our money on an adventure holiday than to buy an expensive handbag (we should think so!). Our travels give us memories, stories and a deeper understanding of another place - all of which stay with us well beyond the end of a trip.

11. All the experience, less of the hassle

Our expert product team spends an average of 12 months researching and putting together a new trip itinerary. We spend (hundreds of) hours planning the best places to go and ways to get there, so you don’t have to. You’re free to just relax and enjoy, knowing that everything has been carefully planned and taken care of.

12. Get off the grid if you want to

Turn off your phone (if you want to), leave your work and worries at home and just switch off. Travelling gives a brilliant sense of perspective. It’s hard to feel stressed when you’re exploring the twisting alleyways of Petra’s Treasury or floating on the Keralan backwaters.

13. Meet likeminded people

Our average group is just 12 people – big enough to ensure you’ll meet likeminded people, but small enough to get right into the heart of the destinations we visit.

14. Did we mention our sale?

Go SOLO & SAVE up to $700 when you book by 4 March.

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The data

The stats we’ve used here are the result of a survey we commissioned with Opinion Matters in January 2019 among a panel of 1,000 UK respondents. All research conducted adheres to the MRS Codes of Conduct (2010) in the UK and ICC/ESOMAR World Research Guidelines. Opinion Matters is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office and is fully compliant with the Data Protection Act (1998).

14 reasons to travel solo with a small group in 2019