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Best trips for solo travelers

By: Georgie May Birch

People are overrated anyway.

STA Travel Beats, India and Europe
Good for: solo festival-goers

“Nah, I’m not really into Stormzy, or Clean Bandit, or fun. But thanks for asking anyway!”.

First of all, doesn’t like Stormzy? What kind of monsters are we dealing with here. And second of all, if your own friends aren’t interested in going to festivals with you, then we know a gang of people who are.

In collaboration with the music-mad humans at Beats Travel, our small group festival tours are hitting up a serious lineup of festivals this year. 8 Day Icelandic Beats takes on Iceland’s Secret Solstice in June (the Foos and The Prodigy headlined last year) and 10 Day Balkan Beats includes Serbia’s EXIT festival in July, plus Sail Beats in Croatia and Goa Beats in India.

Unique tours built around music, culture and people, you’ll explore new destinations, the local underground music scene and some of the greatest moshpits on the planet. And more to the point, you’ll do it with people who quite clearly have much better taste in music than your regular friends.

We’d be there in heartbeat.


Bura Surfhouse, Lagos, Portugal
Good for: solo surfers and yogis

Get down with your new omies! (Ommmmm….).

Finally, an establishment that appreciates drinking time as much as downward facing dog time. Located on the Portuguese Algarve, this super social surf hostel is great for solo travelers. Famous for its banana pancakes and subversive combination of sporting and drinking activities, there are heaps of ways to explore the area. Or just chill out at the pool bar or rooftop terrace.

Specialist packages include the 5 Day Surf Yoga Wine, 5 Day Boot Camp, or our particular favorite, Bad Yogis, described as 9 days of “stretching and savasana followed by (several) $1 beers and BBQs by the pool”.


9 Day Galápagos Camping Adventure, Ecuador
Good for: solo Planet Earth fans

Let the animals be your friends instead.

These dancing blue footed boobies make excellent dancefloor partners. And as you’re camping on the islands, it’s a much more economical way to see the Galápagos than on a cruise.


1-2 Week Thai Elephant Conservation, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Good for: solo animal lovers

Or how about these elephants in Thailand? They come with their own trunks, making them excellent travel partners. And as an elephant never forgets, you’ll basically have a best friend for life.

Working at this internationally-renowned conservation project, you’ll help feed, bathe and care for abandoned or abused elephants, with weekends free to explore with the other volunteers. There’s also an on-site dog rescue project. Just stop now…


Kiwi Experience, New Zealand
Good for: solo adrenaline junkies

Welcome to the friend zone.

Backpackers have been exploring New Zealand on Kiwi Experience’s legendary hop-on hop-off buses for over 30 years. More popular than a company credit card at a Christmas party, Kiwi Ex is the perfect way to meet other travelers while discover one magical country. (So magical, it even has its own government appointed wizard. His name is Ian. Not Ian McKellen – real name Gandalf – but another Ian).

Make friends from all over the world, have the freedom to travel at your own pace, and book beds and bungy jumps as you go – making your trip as active as you want.


G Adventure active tours, mostly high up places
Good for: solo hikers

Hiking up big scary-looking mountains on your own is a truly terrible idea. So, if you can’t find a friend mad enough to climb Kilimanjaro, Everest, Annapurna or Mount Blanc with you, join these guys.

G Adventures connect you with other trekkers, helping everyone keep costs down compared to hiring individual guides and porters. Share laughs (and Deep Heat), and cheer each other on, celebrating your achievement at the top with new friends you’ll never forget.


Contiki tours, pretty much everywhere
Good for: solo 18-35s

Showing the young, the wild and the free the world since 1962, Contiki are the go-to tour company for 18-35 year olds. With more activities, meals and accommodation included than other tour companies, it’s a great way for solo travelers to buddy up and not blow their budget by having to pay for single rooms or private guides.

Plus, while we love partying with the odd Octogenarian, Contiki are a good way of ensuring that your tour group’s demographic stays strictly Calvin Harris. (“I’ve got love for you if you were born in the 80’s, the 80’s…).

So don’t hang about waiting for your pals to get their act together, head out solo and make some new ones?

Find the perfect tour for you here >



The original content (article & images) is owned by Georgie May Birch. Visit the site here for other interesting stories.

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