From dining alone to hiking the Inca Trail: 5 solo travel tips from the women who’ve been doing it for years

Ever dreamed of getting away but feel like you can’t because you’ve got no one to go with? 

Well, we officially call time on waiting around for everyone else. Why? Because solo travel has been having a moment for the last few years and it’s high time everyone got involved. Yes, even you – the one who’s reading this with all the excuses to not book that trip to Rome (because you’ve loved classic mythology since you were a kid). We see you and we’re here to help pack your bags.

Gone are the days where we needed to hit up friends months in advance to start planning that once-in-a-lifetime trip. In fact, travelling alone is now regarded as a way to break with the norm and discover something transformative about yourself along the way. 

Whether it’s group trips, historical hikes or simply taking the plunge and booking that destination (you know, the one you’ve always talked about), Stylist spoke to three well-travelled women about why they’ve always loved going it alone and the pieces of advice they want more of us to bear in mind when embarking on our own solo adventure.

Prepare to be inspired…

“I always had it in my mind that I wanted to visit Japan, but the timing was never quite right,” says British traveller Hannah Collins, 35, when asked about her solo travel experience. 

“I studied a lot of Japanese literature at university and had always been obsessed with the country, even from a young age. However, as much as I always wanted to go, life just always seemed to get in the way. Whether it was saving up for various weddings or occasions, relocating for my job or caring for a sick family member, Japan just kept getting pushed to one side.

“Eventually, I realised that I needed to prioritise myself. I was fresh out of a long-term relationship with some savings in the bank, so I dug deep, found some confidence and started planning my solo trip to Japan. 

“There was some fear at first, since it would be my first time travelling alone, but it felt incredibly liberating to just say to everyone: ‘I’ve always wanted to go and now I’m making it happen, for myself.’ I spent 10 days doing my dream Japanese itinerary in 2023 and haven’t looked back. Since then, I’ve travelled to Cuba – I’m a salsa obsessive – and I’m currently planning a trip to northern Norway to see the aurora borealis. Bhutan is also next on my bucket list.

“So yes, my advice for those looking to go solo is to ask yourself where you really, really want to go to, as this will empower you to start exploring your options, without having to check in with anyone else. Go make that dream a reality!” says Collins.

“Try and stay away from the tourist hubs,” says Canadian traveller Carla Powell, 54. “I tend to pursue the road less travelled in search of the more untouched parts of the world. That’s one of the reasons I choose Intrepid Travel for some of my excursions. 

“They typically try to include home stays and lesser-known attractions. My next trip is to the ’Stans. I don’t have anyone in my life that has ventured to Kyrgyzstan… so I’m going there. Adventure is almost guaranteed when you go where people ‘don’t go’.”

“Booking onto a group trip is brilliant because they look after all the logistics: the ‘how we get there’ and ‘where we are going to sleep that night’, while leaving us to have all the fun in between,” says Powell.

“In my experience, group travel ensures the transportation is safe and the accommodations are secure. There is also the added benefit of hooking up with a fellow tour member to go exploring or grab a meal with, if you’re not inclined to venture off alone. I have friends for over 20 years now that I met on tours and am still in touch with.”

Wadzi Nenzou, 42, from Australia agrees: “I love group tours with companies like Intrepid as a solo traveller because the trip gets curated for you by local experts. Plus, you get to meet people from all over the world while still having some free time to yourself. I do believe that it’s a less intimidating way for people to dip their toes into solo travel.

“My most memorable trip with Intrepid took me around the golden triangle area in the state of Rajasthan in 2004. We went to Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Tordi Garh. I honestly loved every single place we visited. The people, the food, the architecture, the culture, the history, the chai, the amazing experiences, the magnificent attractions, the vibe, the dancing, my beautiful group and my wonderful trip leaders.

“What made this journey so special was the meaningful experience I had in Agra meeting the amazingly resilient ladies from the Sheroes Hangout Café – a women-focused social enterprise that is run by acid attack victims. At that point I was going through the hardest year of my life after losing my father in late 2023. I was spiralling in grief and trauma, and these ladies gave me a footing to hold on to. This is why my Intrepid trip to India will always hold a very special place in my heart.”

“There are lots of things that I think women worry about when travelling alone, outside of obvious safety issues,” says Collins. “I think it’s this perception that as solo travellers we might be going it alone because we have no choice – which quite often isn’t the case. 

“As a single woman, I obviously book solo trips because that’s my current situation, but I also have friends in loving relationships that make a point of booking at least one solo trip a year simply because it gives them some much-needed ‘me time’. 

“Within that, there’s so much to explore and, yes, those things like eating out or taking a tour can feel a little weird at first if you’re used to doing them with others, but pushing yourself a little bit further outside of your normal comfort zone can actually be a massive confidence boost.”

“I really needed a personal challenge to knock myself out of the funk I was in after the loss of my best friend,” Powell recalls. “That was to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. It was the most focused I had ever been on a trip. 

“The hike was cathartic and healing but, because I was so zoned in on the hike, I didn’t pay as much attention to the rest of the itinerary. This actually ended up being the best way to travel for me. Every day, I was surprised by what was around the next corner. ‘We are going where?! We are doing what?!’ So much fun and wide-eyed wonder, and zero expectations. A true adventure.”

“What I love most about solo travel, funnily enough, are the wonderful people I get to meet around the world,” says Nenzou. “When I travel alone, I tend to connect more easily with other travellers. That is because people tend to feel less intimidated to talk to someone on their own than when they are in a group with others.

“It provides the opportunity to meet all sorts of wonderful humans which has been one of my favourite things about solo travel. I have visited some of these wonderful people in their hometown and they have visited me. A wonderful, glorious travel community and friendships have been forged from travelling alone.”

“All of my trips have given me such amazing memories,” Powell agrees. “The countries in the Middle East have really stayed with me. I have travelled to the region well over 20 times and I’m constantly drawn to Arabia. Most of my truly memorable moments on my travels have been with people, and the people of the Middle East top the list. 

“I have been graciously invited into their homes and been invited to eat with their families. I’ve sung songs and danced with them, laughed and cried… true genuine moments of connecting with people on a level that reminds us that our similarities are greater than our differences.”

“Lots of people dine out solo,” says Powell when asked about the age-old stigma that women attach to dining (or doing anything) alone. Maybe I’m a food critic? Maybe I am in town for business? 

“Nobody knows your story and most of the time they are entirely uninterested in you. I have also been able to get into five-star restaurants that require months of booking simply because I am solo and they can tuck me into a corner. I think the easiest type of food establishment for women to access, without feeling conspicuous, are street food vendors, which are usually awesome.”

“If you’re a bit cautious about throwing yourself headlong into some massive solo adventure, then maybe do some prep first,” says Collins. “If you’re not already going to the local cinema on your own or eating at a quiet wine bar armed only with a book, then maybe start there. There are many reasons why women don’t feel 100% comfortable being alone, and that’s their business. So, baby steps. Start small with a few solo dates in your neighbourhood and then work your way up from there.”

 “When I travel, I like to be an observer and sink myself into the culture around me,” Powell concludes. “I think that is easiest done solo. I get to steer the ship, go where I want go, see what I want to see. I don’t have to sacrifice the allotted time I have in a country to the trappings of ‘compromise’ with another person. 

“Also, if I had to wait for someone to join me, I would have never made it to my first country, let alone my 40th. Life is too short to wait for someone else.” 

Taking travellers around the globe and connecting people from all walks of life since 1989, Intrepid Travel has been visiting new places and old friends, and creating countless, unforgettable moments for over 30 years. As one of the world’s largest travel B Corps, its aim is to be the best tour company for the world, through responsible travel that respects people and places. Intrepid Travel is also the Which? Recommended Provider for Escorted Tours, December 2024.