Solo travel experts on what's trending and why people are going their own way on trips
Tell us a little about yourself and how you got interested in booking solo travel trips?
YC: I’ve been a travel consultant for 30 years in the Vancouver area. In 2016, I began organizing and escorting textile and artisan tours for women. While some of these ladies travelled with a friend, many are travelling solo. Listening to their life stories while travelling together gave me a desire and passion to assist this special group of people to be able to travel. Travelling on your own builds confidence throughout so many areas of your life and it’s so gratifying to see these ladies bloom.
BD: I am the founder of Sonder Somewhere, a travel consulting business dedicated to crafting meaningful and personalized journeys. I am based in Calgary, Alberta but my work has allowed me to connect with clients from all over the world ranging from Canada, the United States, Australia and all over Europe. My passion for booking solo trips comes from my own life experience and the transformative power of travelling alone. Having been single most of my adult life, I’ve had the opportunity to embrace solo travel as a way to explore the world on my own terms and really get to know myself. After coming out of a tough relationship at a young age, I found that travelling gave me a sense of empowerment and freedom. It allowed me to connect with myself, step outside my comfort zone and discover the beauty of the world and the people in it. Through my travels, I realized how important it is to have the right support when planning solo travels – whether it’s finding a good balance of adventure and relaxation, creating a safe itinerary, or making meaningful connections along the way. That’s what inspired me to help others embark on their own solo journeys – whether it’s their first time traveling alone, or a continuation of the newfound desire to explore the world on their own. Sonder Somewhere is about helping people find not just destinations, but experiences that resonate deeply with them — travel that’s transformative, empowering and uniquely tailored to who they are — even if they don’t know who that is yet.
TM: I’m Tammy Newman. I’m based in the GTA and have been passionate about travel for my entire adult life. I started travelling at an early age. I was independent and wanted to see the world even if that meant going solo. When you’re passionate about travel it becomes less about the company you’re with and more about the emotions you feel. The experience is humbling, and that I wish I could share with everyone!
How strong are your solo travel bookings and why do you think it’s in demand?
YC: My solo traveller bookings are increasing year-over-year and are becoming a larger percentage of my bookings. I think solo travel is in demand for a number of reasons: it’s more acceptable to travel on your own, more people are single/widowed; there are more options; and people have more disposable income.
BD: Solo travel bookings have been my fastest growing segment. Over the last six months, I’ve noticed a significant increase in clients seeking personalized itineraries tailored to their individual interests. Clients are looking for solo adventure-filled journeys, relaxation and self-reflection trips or cultural immersion and prioritizing unique and enriching experiences. The demand for solo travel is driven by several factors:
- Self discovery: many clients view solo travel as a way to reconnect with themselves or gain confidence.
- Rise of remote work: more people now have the flexibility to combine work and leisure so solo trips allow them to embrace the freedom.
- Flexibility and freedom: many people are tired of waiting on their friends and family to want to travel with them and are deciding to embrace the ability to design trips entirely around their own interests without needing to compromise.
- Community growth: with so many online forums, meet-ups, Facebook groups, apps, etc., travellers feel more comfortable exploring on their own.
TM: My solo bookings make up about 20% of my total booking count. Solo travellers are not often single, they simply travel alone. The flexibility, the independence or control over the itinerary, the sense of solitude and being able to explore their own interests without compromise is the reason solo travel is so appealing.
What’s trending when it comes to solo travel trips this year and beyond?
YC: I see growth in special interest travel as well as active solo trips. Fitness is a very personal objective and going on a cycling or hiking trip or a combination is not easily done with friends and family. At Personal Travel, many of us lead an active life and because of our personal lifestyle, a percentage of our clientele have similar interests.
BD: This year’s trends are evolving in exciting new ways.
Here’s what is currently trending:
- Transformative and Wellness Focused Travel: Retreats focusing on yoga, meditation and holistic wellness are booming, specifically in destinations such as Costa Rica and Bali.
- Remote Work: The rise of remote work since COVID has many travellers seeking out co-working spaces and a wifi connection as strong as the connection with the locals. Cities like Medellin, Panama City, and Lisbon are hot spots for nomads.
- Sustainable and Purposeful Travel: More solo travellers are seeking destinations that prioritize sustainability. This includes eco-lodges in Costa Rica to conservation trips in Africa.
- Adventure Travel: Activities like diving, wildlife safaris and hiking are really taking off. African Safaris are especially popular, offering once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to connect with nature.
- Solo But Not Alone Group Experiences: Small-group tours designed for solo travellers have been trending for a while, but the demand just keeps growing. These tours offer the best of both worlds- independence with the option to connect with like-minded individuals.
- City Breaks: With individuals dipping their toes into the solo travel market, city breaks throughout North America have been on the rise. Many people want to get a feel for travelling alone for a shorter amount of time before committing to a big adventure.
TM: I really have done everything for solo travellers, even trips to destinations that seem impossible to reach. Some more travelled, popular destinations would be Colombia, Portugal and Japan. I don’t usually pair a single traveller with a group. I think that compromises the reason they’re travelling alone in the first place. I typically will match the traveller with a local guide, allowing them the flexibility and freedom to decide what they do when they do it. Pre-arranged hotels, transfers, tours/excursions will allow them to get the most out of their time while ensuring that they are with reputable guides to provide the safety of travelling alone.
What types of travel or destinations are big? Is it mostly tour operators that you book for solo travellers or other trips like cruises or river cruises too?
YC: River cruise lines see the growth in the solo travel market and many offer some cabins on each sailing with no single supplement. These sell out quickly. AmaWaterways sees the opportunity of creating loyal clients who are solo travellers and even have a special function for solo travellers depending on numbers. It’s great to see the progress with many land and cruise companies no longer unfairly penalizing solo travellers. In my opinion, most ocean cruise lines still have a long way to go in seeing the solo traveller as their client and it is frustrating when I need to tell a client that their cruise fare is double because they are a solo traveller.
Most of my solo travellers who prefer their own room on a tour are comfortable to pay an additional 30%.
BD: Some of the destinations that are big right now are European countries such as Portugal and Croatia and Greece, countries in Asia such as Japan and Bali, African safaris in Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa, South American destinations such as Peru, Costa Rica and Patagonia and city breaks in North America including Mexico and many cities in the United States. We typically book FIT trips, customized to each individual and followed by that, our next biggest sell is small group trips. Cruises and river cruises are starting to be a topic of conversation amongst solo travellers, but I have not seen them take off quite yet.
Are there any tour operators or suppliers in particular that you recommend for solo travel and why? Even though they are solo travellers, do they typically book on a group trip or is FIT trending too?
YC: Exodus is one of my go-to tour operators for active solo travellers. One of my favourite companies for solo travel is G Adventures. As long as clients are willing to share a room, there is no single supplement fee. If a solo traveller does want their own room, the single supplement is very reasonable. G has a wide variety of tours and are listening to what their clients want. G Adventures added G-Luxe for clients who like to travel with more comfort and now they’ve launched their Solo-ish tours for those who want to ensure they’re not on a trip with all couples or groups of friends. This past year, I had a client who wanted to travel for her first time since being widowed. We decided on a 10 day G Costa Rica tour was a good fit. As an agent, you can call G reservations and find out the demographics of various departures. We found one for this client that had many solo travellers as well as people in her age bracket. She had a great time!
Most solo travellers will book a group tour and then add pre and post options on their own. This allows them the camaraderie of a group but the ability to enjoy time on their own in destination.
BD: I recommend different tour operators depending on their age and requests as well as destination. Some of my top recommendations are:
- Intrepid Travel – Intrepid offers small, adventure-focused tours that prioritize cultural immersion, sustainability and authentic experiences. Many tours have no mandatory single supplement, and solo travellers are paired with a roommate of the same gender.
- G Adventures – G also focuses on small group tours with an emphasis on responsible tourism including their G for Good commitment along with unique local experiences. They offer “my own room” options for an additional fee, but many trips include free room pairing for solo travellers so you have a travel buddy built in.
- Contiki – for those under 35 looking for a social, fast-paced trip, Contiki is my number one recommendation. From sightseeing to nightlife, the friendships you make on these trips will last a lifetime. Private rooms can be booked for an additional fee, or you’ll be paired up with another social solo traveller.
Group trips remain slightly more popular for social connection and ease, however the demand for FITs is rapidly increasing as more solo travellers seek freedom and niche experiences.
TM: FIT is certainly trending and as I mentioned, it is what I book most. However, if price is a concern or if a traveller wants to be surrounded by a group of like-minded tourists, I do recommend a group tour or a river cruise. Here, I wouldn’t look for a local company but a company that sells primarily to tourists where you’re from. G Adventures, Intrepid or On The Go are all great choices for an adventurous traveller. If you’re looking for a more laid-back vacation I’d recommend a river cruise. Uniworld, for example, is one of my favourite companies for solo travellers. They often have promos for singles. Having your entire itinerary planned for you with all meals included is an easy way to travel, not to mention it’s an amazing product.
What can you tell us about your clients who are solo travellers — any demographics? Are they mostly women? Do you have clients who travel without their partners?
YC: Most of my solo clientele tends to be 50 + women. Do I have clients who travel without their partners? Yes! Both men and women are travelling on holidays without their significant other. Women are becoming more comfortable travelling on their own in order to do and see the things that are important to them. In 2019, when I was planning a hiking trip to Everest Base Camp for myself, I put the idea out on social media and two male acquaintances booked the trip. Their wives weren’t interested. In both of these situations, their partners were very supportive. Sometimes, one partner may have more vacation time than the other. Average Length of trip: two to three weeks. I have had one female client take a five-week holiday without her partner this past May. She booked two group trips with time on her own as well.
BD: We’re proud to work with a balanced mix of both male and female travellers, offering us a unique insight into their preferences and travel habits. Unlike traditional shorter getaways, a lot of my clients tend to travel for extended periods ranging from two weeks to a month or more – some opt for never coming home and have been out exploring for 2+ years, which I absolutely love to see. These solo travellers also span a wide range of ages starting from 18 to 70+. I think people are starting to realize that there is something out there for everyone, they just have to be brave enough to go for it. We also see individuals who choose to travel without their partners. This group makes up a growing segment of our clients and these trips are often inspired by personal interests, opportunities for growth or to experience destinations their partners may not share the same excitement about. These clients are typically 30-60 years of age and often opt for shorter adventures around 1-2 weeks.
TM: I would say that most solo travellers are not single, and interestingly enough, I don’t have a heavily weighted demographic of solo travellers. Everything from busy business professionals who have a small window of time to escape, to married people who enjoy some alone time. I have a handful of teachers and widowers who travel solo even though they have friends (or grandkids) who would likely accompany them. One thing they all have in common is that they’re explorers and they want to make the most out of the time without compromise.
Do you have anything to add on the topic of solo travel?
YC: There are people all around us who need to know about all the opportunities available to travel solo without being alone. We can educate people and when you help them to have the courage to live out their travel dreams, you gain a client for life. Always prebook an arrival transfer for a female solo traveller!
BD: Solo travel is more than a trend – it’s becoming a lifestyle. It’s about reclaiming your time, creating memories on your own terms and discovering not just new destinations, but new parts of yourself. I am so proud to be part of this exciting movement, and I look forward to continuing to inspire others to follow their heart, wherever in the world it may lead.
TM: I think everyone should travel alone at least once in their life. It’s amazing how much you learn about yourself once you escape your comfort zone when you’re alone. It’s a great time to reflect.
