A couple of years ago, I travelled alone to join a women-only tour of Morocco. Cajoling each other up a narrow pass on Jebel Toubkal, the highest peak in the Atlas Mountains, one guest piped up “Move your ass!” as a bag-laden donkey lumbered past. We almost fell off the mountain from laughing.
I’ve been travelling solo for decades. My first trip alone was aged 23, when a friend backed out of a visit to Hong Kong. Since then, I’ve journeyed solo through Europe, the Americas, India and Australia. Even with a partner, grown-up children and friends as potential travel companions, I often opt to go by myself. But, as I found in Morocco, going alone can be even more enjoyable when you join a group of like-minded travellers.
Explore Worldwide, which specialises in small-group tours, has seen a 33 per cent year-on-year increase in solo bookings, while research by the adventure tour operator WeRoad found that people feel they get to know others best while travelling with them.
One challenge of going solo is the cost – package holidays are generally priced for couples and cruises can come with hefty single supplements. But group tours (and some cruises) can prove good value as a solo traveller once you factor in transport, accommodation and guides. Checking which meals are included in the tour price, finding out how much guides and drivers will expect you to tip and booking a no-single supplement departure are some of the ways in which to stick to a budget.
