Hols on your own terms
Sarah Marshall finds great trips for solo travellers
Now the world is opening up again, people are eager to make up for lost time – even if that means going on holiday alone. Escorted tour company Explore says more than half of travellers on their small group trips are typically travelling on their own, with 2022 bookings for solo travellers up 27% on the same period in 2019. Cox & Kings reports a similar uptick: over a third of bookings made in January (36%) were solo tours.
Here are the best value holidays designed for singles.
Best for… Adventurers
Determined to make up for lost time, travellers are booking bigger breaks for longer. Explore reports a big rise in ‘mid-life gap years’ such as their 21-day Five Stans of the Silk Road trip. Following the Silk Road and crossing off the five Stans of Central Asia, it includes a few offbeat experiences, such as an Uzbek fashion show in Samarkand, a visit to the one of the largest collections of Soviet art in Nukus, and camping next to the ‘Door to Hell – the eternally burning gas crater of
Darvaza, lit since 1971. How: From £4,350 per person. Excludes flights. Visit explore.co.uk.
Best for… Nature lovers
An African safari provides an opportunity to see a variety of wildlife – but holidays are too often too pricey for one. A favourite with honeymooners, Botswana has a reputation for being especially expensive. But Kwara Lodge in the Okavango Delta – a prime wildlife viewing area – offers affordable packages for lone travellers.
For five months of the year (November through to March) Kwara and its two sister camps (Lagoon and Lebala) are run with zero single supplements. How: Reef & Rainforest offers an 11-day stay from £4,720 per person. Flights extra. Visit reefandrainforest. co.uk.
Best for… sustainable travellers
Now it’s possible to save the planet – and a few pennies – by booking a holiday from Explore’s new collection of London2 rail journeys. Based on the classic Orient Express itinerary, their 15-day escorted London to Istanbul rail adventure travels through French countryside and Italian cities, before continuing to the Balkans and finally crossing into Asia Minor.
How: From £2,245 per person (including a 50% discount on single rooms from £435 to £217). Visit explore.co.uk.
Best for… women
A chaotic mix of fascinating culture, bright colours and exotic foods, India is a mesmerising country – but can be a headache to navigate. The challenges and rewards are captured in the cult film The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, which forms the basis of a holiday offered by Wild Frontiers. Follow in Judi Dench’s footsteps with the reassurance of a group and tour guide on an 11-day trip through Rajasthan and the Golden Triangle of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. How: From £2,155 per person, excluding flights. Various departures. Visit wildfrontierstravel.com.
Best for.. cruisers
River cruises are especially relaxing and often popular with more mature solo travellers.
Arena River Cruise offers single supplement deals on several of its itineraries, including a sevenday Springtime in the Gardens of Holland and Belgium. Travelling onboard new ship the MS Arena, it includes a stop at the once-in-adecade Floriade Expo, a dazzling horticultural experience.
How: From £1,099 per person, including full board, coach and ferry travel from the UK. Departs April 23, 28 and 29, and May 5, 2022. Visit arenarivercruises.co.uk
Best for… history fans
Peru has some of South America’s greatest archaeological treasures, including the world-class wonder, Machu Pichu. Cox & Kings offers a nine-night Treasures of Peru tour, starting in foodie hot spot Lima and continuing to former Inca citadel Cuzco, followed by a scenic train ride through the Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu. High-rise Lake Titicaca also features.
How: From £2,595 per person, excluding flights. Various departures from April to October. Visit coxandkings.co.uk.