Solo Travel Guide -
Top Tips for Travelling Alone

A wide variety of people of all ages choose to travel alone. From young people backpacking around the world for the first time and busy professionals wanting to escape the rat-race, to over 60s making the most of their retirement and millennials enjoying their precious annual leave, solo travel is fast growing in popularity across many generations and communities.

One big misconception is that you have to be single to travel alone. But that's definitely not the case. Many of our solo travellers have partners at home. Some want to challenge themselves to embark on a solo travel trip for the first time, and others are drawn to parts of the world that their partners aren't keen on visiting.

Furthermore, solo travel attracts people looking for a range of different experiences from bucket list cultural tours and food and drink discovery trips to high-action activity holidays and once-in-a-lifetime mountain treks. There's not a one-size-fits-all persona for solo travellers - anything goes!

Planning a solo holiday can be fun and exciting, but there are many things that you need to think about to get the most out of your trip.

• Firstly, pick a date and destination. As you are travelling alone, this is entirely your own choice and can be anywhere in the world, at any time you like - one of the main benefits of solo travel! Consider how far you can travel in the time you have available and think about whether you want to see lots of different places or immerse yourself in one specific country or region.
• Decide on whether you want to uncover iconic and historical cultural sights, explore remote destinations by bike or hike into the countryside on foot. Take time to research transport and accommodation options to suit your budget and delve into reviews from other travellers to get a feel for the places you want to visit.
• Creating an itinerary is also wise when travelling alone. It's important to make sure that you not only cover off all of the interesting places that you want to see but also that you are using safe routes to get there and that loved ones at home can keep track of your movements while you're away. 
• Alternatively, you can save a lot of time and energy and avoid most of the organisation and planning by joining a small group tour. A group tour operator like Explore will do all of the hard work for you from choosing the best time to travel, booking good quality and trusted accommodation, creating an exciting itinerary, and ensuring you are kept safe throughout your trip. All you have to do is pack a bag and turn up!

Travelling alone may seem daunting, but as long as you are careful and have your wits about you, solo travel can be perfectly safe. Here are a few tips to help you to stay safe while travelling on your own:

Keep belongings secure

Travel with a bag that can be securely fastened and is not easy to grab. Be sure to keep valuables such as jewellery, cameras, phones and laptops hidden from view and don't carry travel documents unless absolutely necessary.

Stay alert

Don't let your guard down when out and about, especially when travelling at night. While you'll want to have a good time, be mindful of how much you drink and never leave beverages unattended. If you feel uncomfortable about your surroundings, move on to somewhere else or go back to your accommodation.

Respect local cultures

Take some time to understand the local dress codes and traditional customs of the destinations you are travelling to. In some locations, you may be required to cover up more than you are used to and refrain from certain behaviours to avoid causing offence to the local people and drawing unwanted attention to yourself.

Travel in a group

If you are unsure about travelling alone, an Explore small group tour will provide you with the extra security and reassurance of travelling in a group and with an experienced local guide. Plus, you'll still experience the thrill of travelling solo. This is also a great option for areas of the world that are perceived to be less safe or if you are travelling alone for the first time.

Choose a small group tour
Never feel lonely as you join like-minded travellers to explore exotic destinations and make new life-long friends on a small group tour. The average size of an Explore trip is just 12 which is big enough to get to know new people and feel safe, but small enough to give you the freedom to explore the destinations you visit. Plus, on average, at least half of the people joining our small group tours do so on their own, so you'll feel right at home within the group, and the unique experience of travelling solo will not be lost. This is also a popular choice with people travelling alone for the first time.

Travel with an expert tour leader
Another big attraction of travelling with a group is that all of the planning and organisation is done for you, so all you need to do is pack a bag, turn up and be ready for a fun adventure. A knowledgeable local guide will lead the group so you'll get to see all of the best sights, as well as some hidden cultural gems that you may not have found on your own.

Enjoy free time to yourself
Group travel can also be more cost-effective than booking everything yourself - you'll benefit from group discounts on accommodation and travel as well as organised activities. There will also be opportunities for you to do your own thing. Whether you choose to explore the quaint cobbled streets of Madeira on your own or join new friends to share stories over delicious tapas in Spain, you'll have the best of both worlds to hand.

Stick with a group for reassurance
Lastly, as a solo adventurer, you may feel more comfortable travelling in a group when encountering unfamiliar cultural differences, or perhaps when trekking into remote mountain valleys. Feel at ease as you delve into a maze of colourful souks in Marrakech with a group of friendly companions and pedal through lush tea plantations of Kerala under the watchful eye of your group leader.