No single supplement guide
If you are travelling solo and get a little put out at the concept of a ‘single supplement’, read on.
Solo travel guide
I love going solo: dinners, theatre trips, gigs, planes, and lovely long train journeys. I’m not alone: the majority of Responsible Travel staff have done their fair share of solo travel. It’s what got many of us – including our founder, Justin – into the industry in the first place. And we keep on doing it.
I have never felt alone whilst travelling.![]()
– Tessa, partnerships manager at Responsible Travel
There are more single travellers than ever. People are coming into retirement with disposable income and few responsibilities; younger people are delaying starting families or rejecting the convention all together. Fewer people work a 9-5 job for life in an office, and more work nomadically, and take career breaks. It’s only natural that we seek freedom in our leisure time, too. It’s thought that up to a third of Brits prefer to travel solo! We are more independent than ever before, and we want to make the most of it.
So, who are you waiting for?
So, who are you waiting for?
Why travel solo?
I’ve always found solo travel made me more approachable. Once I suspended my British fear of strangers speaking to me, it opened a Pandora’s box of enjoyable and rewarding conversations and opportunities.![]()
– Justin, founder of Responsible Travel
Tailor made or small group tours?
So, you’ve decided to go solo – but how? Here’s what to expect from single travel and small group travel for solos.
Solo together: why travel in a group
Some solo travellers might want to join a small group trip for their first foray of exploration – it’s a great way to ease yourself in and get to know a country. “This was my first trip to South America and, going solo, I was a little nervous,” says Anna Hards, who went on one of our Chile adventure holidays. “It was great to be part of a group and explore Chile together.”Some come on small group trips because they fully intend to do fully solo travel in the future. “I enjoy group trips if I think the place is going to be difficult to do by myself on a trip and tricky to organise,” says Stephen Lindsay, who went on one of our Costa Rica wildlife holidays.
Others come to small group tours after a lifetime of doing it all themselves – like Responsible Travel director, Tim. “I loved travelling round India on my own after I left school, and it has stayed with me,” he says. “But, for mynext walking trip in Nepal, I’m joining a small group.”
Whilst a small group tour might prepare you for future independent travel, it might not… some of our travellers love the dynamic so much that they never leave small group trips!
Tailor made solo travel
Our tailor made tours can be booked by anyone; single travellers are welcome.
In the past, solo travel was all about pilgrimage. Even today, our long distance walking and cycling tailor made tours are popular with solo travellers. But travellers are a chatty bunch. “Be prepared to be very sociable!” says Steve Humphery, who went on our French Way walking holiday. “There are so many decent people to chat with on the Camino and everyone’s got a story to tell.”
Solo tailor made tours are never fully alone. You may go with a guide. Even a self guided trip will have sociable moments. On a centre-based trip, you might catch up with other guests at dinner. “This was great for me as a solo traveller, as I had company in the evenings after days out cycling alone,” says Carol Gray, who went on our Catalonia cycling tour.
Tailor made travel for one can be very expensive, as there’s no one to share the day rate cost of cars and guides. To save you money, some of our partners will match you with other solo travellers, so you can go as a group if you wish.
If you want total solitude, it can be done. “I wanted a retreat where I could be by myself without interruption and this is what I got. I knew that the owner was nearby if I needed any help which was comforting,” said Noelle Joyce of our self-catering cottage in Tipperary holiday.
In the past, solo travel was all about pilgrimage. Even today, our long distance walking and cycling tailor made tours are popular with solo travellers. But travellers are a chatty bunch. “Be prepared to be very sociable!” says Steve Humphery, who went on our French Way walking holiday. “There are so many decent people to chat with on the Camino and everyone’s got a story to tell.”
Solo tailor made tours are never fully alone. You may go with a guide. Even a self guided trip will have sociable moments. On a centre-based trip, you might catch up with other guests at dinner. “This was great for me as a solo traveller, as I had company in the evenings after days out cycling alone,” says Carol Gray, who went on our Catalonia cycling tour.
Tailor made travel for one can be very expensive, as there’s no one to share the day rate cost of cars and guides. To save you money, some of our partners will match you with other solo travellers, so you can go as a group if you wish.
If you want total solitude, it can be done. “I wanted a retreat where I could be by myself without interruption and this is what I got. I knew that the owner was nearby if I needed any help which was comforting,” said Noelle Joyce of our self-catering cottage in Tipperary holiday.
Namibia small group guided holiday and safari
A fabulous small group guided trip in Nambia
From
£4010 to £4495
12 days
ex flights
Albania holidays, small group tour
An incredible history set against a rugged landscape
From
£1649 to £2199
10 days
inc UK flights
Costa Rica wildlife holiday
An amazing variety of Costa Rican wildlife
From
£4449 to £5649
16 days
inc UK flights
Carpathian Mountains holiday, conservation & culture
Wolves, bears and sightseeing
From
£1649 to £1699
8 days
inc UK flights
Namibia and Botswana safari holiday
Namibia & Botswana lodge safari Caprivi Etosha Okavango
From
€3590 to €3790
21 days
ex flights
Nile cruise holiday in Egypt
Discover ancient temples & tombs & travel by Nile cruise boat
From
£2399 to £3049
9 days
inc UK flights
Contact Us
Call us for a chat about our holidays. We are happy to discuss your holiday and help in any way we can. No bots, queues or awful hold music.
01273 823 700
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Where to find other solo travellers?
Some small group tours attract more solos than others.
No single supplement holidays
You might find other solos (and not share a room with them) on our holidays with no single supplement – we generally have over 50 trips available.Specialist holidays
Learning Spanish, dancing, singing… “This was my first solo holiday since my wife died three years ago,” says Richard Twydell, who travelled on our painting holiday in Morocco. “Our group bonded very well together, and I didn’t feel an outsider.”Big adventures
“The beauty of overlanding is that it attracts people from all walks of life,” says Michael Battley, from our overland travel specialists Dragoman. “Ages vary from 18 up to 70; we get solo passengers, couples and friends from all over the world.”Unusual destinations
Our partner Undiscovered Destinations run our trips to East Timor, Burundi, Suriname, North Macedonia.... Travellers are well travelled, and often solo. “The majority of them are travelling alone,” says founder Jim Louth.Many, many others
There are trips with no particular bent that have good mixes of traveller types. ‘I was travelling solo and was concerned I’d be the only solo,” says Mary Kampling, travelling on our Amalfi Coast walking trip. “There were eight solo travellers out of 15 hikers.”
11/10 had a fantastic time with great people who were all travelling alone.![]()
– Ian Robertson on our Mexico small group tour
Making the most of our first small group trip
Get on the WhatsApp
Pre-departure nerves are the worst! Consider asking to be added to the small group WhatsApp chat – lots of our partners will do this automatically with guests who opt in.“People have said it makes them feel a lot more comfortable, getting to know the rest of their group before they arrive,” says Geraldine Westrupp, from our partner Wild Photography Holidays.
Prepare for the welcome meal
Lots of trips start with a big meal together so that everyone can get to know each other. Prepare for many anecdotes around the table about holidays past!Go local
If you’re feeling anxious, you might prefer one of our smaller partners, where the person you chat to is the person running the trip on the ground – so you’ll have already ‘met’ them by phone before you go.“This was my first trip on my own, but I felt very comfortable with the holiday providers as the owners were the people directly running the trip,” says Julie Woods, of our Alaska adventure trip. “They were always available to answer questions both before and during.”
A bit of matchmaking
Our operator may be able to put you in a group with more solo bookers. You may want to be a little flexible with dates so they can do this.Whoever you go with, your group will likely be of a shared sensibility. “I almost get put off as a solo traveller that I might end up with a much younger group that may want to party or I am unable to relate to as I am not on a typical ‘gap year’ style trip,” says Cera McCrann, who was in her thirties when she travelled on one of our Borneo holidays. “It’s very refreshing that there were people I could relate with, who had similar interests.”
First impressions
A group full of couples? Not necessarily a bad thing. “When people sign up with us, we get them to fill out a questionnaire for various reasons, but one of them is, ‘What are your aims on holiday? What would you like to do on holiday?’” says Lucy Woollons, from our Spanish Pyrenees partner Aragon Active. “Even the couples say they’re looking forward to meeting new people. They’re always open. Otherwise, they wouldn’t join us in the first place, so again it’s self-selecting.”Trips of two halves
“Be aware that others in your group may have been travelling together some time before this trip starts,” says Jackie Wall, of our Costa Rica and Panama Tour. If you join a long distance walking or overland tour the rest of the group may have already been there a week.Our partners have strategies to make overlapping groups work. “The crew put a lot of effort into helping the groups integrate,” says Michael Battley, from our partner Dragoman. “Everyone is very welcoming and it’s not something?we have had any issues with before.”
New countries & multiple guides
You may also have a change of guides over a longer trip in two countries or more. Sometimes, having one guide can be more reassuring, as traveller Jenny Sherwood reported from our South Africa safari: “The consistent staff made you feel safe (particularly as a solo traveller, although in the group I never felt alone).”Some of our trips have a consistent tour leader throughout, with local guides joining in to lend their specific expertise different regions.
Getting some alone time
Time alone: everyone needs it. “I especially liked the flexibility and that I could go off an explore on my own,” says Vicki Jones, returning from one of our small group Japan holidays.Over the years, we’ve honed our holidays to finesse the balance between socialising and solitude.
Common ground
Alone time aside, lots of groups bond. “We often have a number of solo travellers per expedition,” says Cassia Jackson, from our cruise specialist Heritage Expeditions. “It’s not uncommon for people to meet on one expedition, keep in touch and then travel again to another destination with us together.”In a lot of ways, travel is all about connection – it connects us to the world and to others within it. Solo travel may never be truly solo, but it’s all the better for it.
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