There are many reasons why group tours are great for solo travelers. They are why, since the inception of Solo Traveler, we have worked hard to find and share the best tours for solo travelers with no or low single supplements.
Taking a group tour and traveling solo may sound counter-intuitive. How can travel be solo when you are with others?
To explain, there are two styles of solo travel: independent solo travel and solo travel in a group.
This is how I look at it. If you set out without a companion, you are traveling solo. Travel independently, and the fact that you are solo is very obvious. But even on a tour, without a companion, you arrive without the social support that you enjoy on a daily basis. You’re challenged to meet new people and you don’t know what opportunities those meetings may create.
Even more important, there is no one along who has expectations of you. There is no one to define you. You can be you. Read The Benefits of Being Alone.
Essentially, with the exception of planning and navigating everything yourself, you are getting the solo experience which, even for independent solo travelers, can be very social.
There are many reasons to take an organized tour as a solo traveler. Sometimes, a tour is the best way to go solo.
You may also want to read How to Choose a Tour: Top Tips for Solo Travelers.
Why Take a Group Tour Solo? Here Are 10 Reasons
Independent solo travel is great. It is the right choice under certain circumstances. By the same token, there are also times when group tours are great for solo travelers. Here are my thoughts.
1. When you are too young to set out independently, take a tour.
The cycling trip I took at 15 is one I will never forget. Seeing London for the first time, learning how a hostel works, how to live with a dozen or so other kids my age with only some adult supervision, and how to read a map so we didn’t get lost: these memories are still with me. There was so much learning on this trip but I was definitely too young to do it on my own.
2. When you have never traveled before, a tour is a good introduction to how it works.
Yes, there are many things to learn when you take your first solo trip. This is especially true if you have not traveled with a partner before. There is a lot that can be learned by being patient with yourself and observing carefully how things work but a tour, an organized trip with a guide, can really take the pressure off and introduce you gently to the world of travel.
3. If you’re going to a destination that really stretches your limits.
For some people, Europe, regardless of the language, is easy. After a trip or two your confidence soars. But if you are going to a country that is not familiar, where the language does not have anything in common with your own, a solo tour will really help you go with confidence. For me, China was a destination that I was happy to explore on a tour.
4. When you want an introduction to a country.
You may be stretching yourself but also feel quite capable. Maybe there’s just a little apprehension. In this case, a tour of a few days will help you figure out how the destination works. After you get the lay of the land thanks to your guide, you’ll be ready to take the rest of your trip on your own.
5. When you’ve been traveling for a long time and really need a break.
The longest trip I’ve taken was 10 months and, to be sure, it is a different kind of travel. You have to go more slowly. The pace of a 10-day trip cannot be maintained for 10 months. Traveling solo for a long period can be tiring. Taking a tour and turning over the reins to someone else for a while can be a relief and provide the rest you need.
6. When you have limited time to plan, a group tour is great for solo travelers.
A tour company takes care of all the details for you so that you can still travel even if you can’t put the trip together yourself.
7. When you want to cover a lot of territory in a short amount of time.
The logistics of travel can take a long time to put together. Figuring out the local transit system or the train schedule from one city to another can be a real challenge. Tour leaders are experts in logistics. They move their travelers from one place to the next efficiently which means that you can see more in less time.
8. When you want to go places that the general public can’t access easily.
Tour companies will sometimes make arrangements for early entry to some of the most popular sights. If you have a very specific wish list for your trip, you may want to find an organized tour that can fulfil it.
9. When what you really want is an interesting vacation.
You want your vacation to be interesting but you also want it to be relaxing. Let an experienced guide take over and handle all the pesky details for you. Take a tour when you want to see a new country but also need a vacation.
10. When you want the expertise of other travelers, it’s good to join a group tour solo.
There have been many situations on tours I’ve taken where the tour guide did not have an answer to a question but one of the people on the trip did. Whether a farmer or lawyer, a stay-at-home parent or an activist, people go on trips with knowledge to share.
You might also enjoy Solo Traveler On a Group Tour: It’s Not What You Think.
Last updated: 13th August, 2024