Over 50s holidays for solo travellers
You may have concerns about travelling alone, if you haven’t done it before. Or you may be a dab hand at it and totally cool. Our role is to try and help answer a few of the questions that frequently come up when chatting with solo – or single – travellers over 50.
travelling alone
I would love to go to such and such a destination, but am nervous about going on my own.
Small group holidays are a gift to solo travellers. Let go of the image of coach trips full of pensioners with their flasks and sandwich boxes. These are carefully crafted holidays with two vital features: A finely honed itinerary, based on years of local expertise and inside knowledge, and a highly trained and passionate local guide or tour leader. Look at the reviews on our site and most of them mention the guide. You will never feel nervous travelling alone when you are in the hands of an expert tour leader. And we aren’t talking about someone who marches around with an umbrella, citing off this detail and that. They might be highly trained mountain leaders, cycling experts, or just people who really understand what it is to immerse yourself properly in another culture, sussing out the best restaurants that other tourists don’t know about and so on. Yet not doing everything for you either. Just gently encouraging you to dip your toes into a country that is new to you and feel how lovely it is. So, all in all, you are in safe and extremely sussed hands.
I don’t mind sharing a hotel room when I travel alone, but I know myself pretty well. And I have learned to draw the line at sharing a tent with someone I don’t know.
Our Over 50s Holidays
Costa Rica wildlife holiday
An amazing variety of Costa Rican wildlife
From
£2949 to £4299
16 days
inc UK flights
Japan golden route holiday
9 night classic Japan trip: Tokyo, Fuji, Kyoto
From
£2100
10 days
ex flights
Tiger tour in India, land of the Tiger tour
Wildlife tour through India
From
£2829 to £3379
16 days
inc UK flights
Cycling holiday in Portugal, self guided
A leisurely cycling holiday in the Algarve
From
€665 to €729
7 days
ex flights
Self drive holiday in Costa Rica, Pacific Coast
Self-drive Costa Rica's Pacific coast, away from the crowds
From
£4495
17 days
ex flights
Galapagos holiday cruise options
Excellent selection of small and midsize Galapagos cruises
From
£3655 to £4150
8 days
ex flights
Transylvania holiday accommodation
Stay at a Count's guesthouse
From
€100 to €174
per person per night
Borneo tour, Great Apes and Beach escapes
Explore bustling cities, lush jungles and paradise beaches.
From
£1658
9 days
ex flights
Scotland by railway holiday
Experience authentic Scotland independently and car-free
From
£1095 to £1155
8 days
ex flights
South Africa safari holiday, 14 days
Award winning safari in South Africa
From
£3720
14 days
ex flights
Small group adventure holiday to Patagonia
Explore the spectacular wilderness and mountains of Patagonia
From
£3769
20 days
ex flights
Orkney & Shetland self drive holiday, Scotland
Island hop the wild Scottish Northern Isles on this week's holiday to Orkney and Shetland
From
£825 to £940
7 days
ex flights
Japan small group holiday, Japan unmasked
Whistlestop Japan highlights with an expert tour leader
From
£2695 to £2855
14 days
ex flights
Sri Lanka holidays, tailor made
Independent tailor made holidays to Sri Lanka
From
£2145
15 days
inc UK flights
Costa Rica highlights holiday & beach
Short highlight itinerary covering city, forests and beach.
From
£1528
13 days
ex flights
Sintra Natural Park accommodation in Portugal
Eco-friendly B&B, in Sintra Natural Park near lovely beaches
From
€90 to €120
per room per night
Croatian coast walking tours, self guided
A seven-day walking holiday on the Dalmatian coast — islands and Dubrovnik included
From
€595 to €750
7 days
ex flights
Cycling holiday in Croatia, Dalmatian Coast
Cycling through the Dalmatian Coast Islands in Croatia
From
£1249 to £1679
8 days
inc UK flights
Southern Peru small group tour
Journey through south Peru, the heartland of the Inca Empire
From
£3386
14 days
ex flights
Amalfi Coast walking holiday, Italy
Walk in lemon groves and hillside villages
From
£1149 to £1549
8 days
inc UK flights
Classic Cuba holiday, 11 days
Get into the Cuban swing over just ten days.
From
£1195
11 days
ex flights
Southern Croatia cruise in comfort
Cruise Croatia's beautiful islands on a small cruise ship
From
£559 to £805
8 days
ex flights
Umbria cooking holiday, Italy
italian cooking in a farmhouse between Umbria and Tuscany
From
€1440 to €1650
7 days
ex flights
Catalonia self guided walking holidays
Self-guided walking holidays in Catalonia
From
€715 to €799
8 days
ex flights
Gorilla Safari & the Masai Mara
Superb safari and trip to see gorillas
From
£4049 to £4129
18 days
inc UK flights
Whale watching in the Azores
Classic whale watching trip in the Azores archipelago
From
£610 to £745
7 days
ex flights
Self guided walking holiday in France
Idyllic walking in France with great food, wine and ambience
From
£900 to £980
7 days
ex flights
single supplement
Will I always be able to have my own room and, if so, will I have to pay a supplement?
In most cases, you will be able to get a room of your own. Even if you are camping, a solo tent is usually provided. If you are staying in a mountain refuge, for example, while trekking on Mont Blanc, there won’t be single rooms. However, there is nearly always a solo supplement, sorry. It is just how it works economically, as we work with a lot of small businesses and accommodations. If you share a room it costs them a lot less, simple as that. However, there are exceptions to the rule, such as small ship cruise holidays, where there is often a single cabin, or some of our yoga, wellness and fitness holidays, where guesthouses are switched on to the fact that not everyone wants to share, and so they have rooms to cater for you, at no extra charge. Travelling outside peak season is usually a good time for lower surcharges. But always ask your tour operator for details.
Tip for solo travellers from Andrew Appleyard, at our leading supplier Exodus Travels:
“There are solo travellers in the 50s and 60s sometimes they are single or indeed in some case of trips I have led on Kili recently widowed and sadly doing things they have planned with partners later on in life. My tip is don’t feel like you are going to be the oldest, although in many ways you might be the wisest of the group. I have also found this age group to be sometimes fitter than younger clients and much better prepared.”
Our top Over 50s Holiday
Costa Rica wildlife holiday
An amazing variety of Costa Rican wildlife
From
£2949 to £4299
16 days
inc UK flights
Small group travel:
2019: 21 Nov, 30 Nov
2020: 20 Jan, 6 Feb, 8 Feb, 15 Feb, 27 Feb, 29 Feb, 3 Mar, 6 Mar, 10 Mar, 12 Mar, 14 Mar, 17 Mar, 19 Mar, 21 Mar, 24 Mar, 26 Mar, 28 Mar, 1 Apr, 4 Apr, 8 Apr, 11 Apr, 15 Apr, 18 Apr, 22 Apr, 25 Apr, 29 Apr, 2 May, 16 May, 11 Jul, 25 Jul, 1 Aug, 8 Aug, 15 Aug, 22 Aug, 12 Sep, 26 Sep, 3 Oct, 10 Oct, 17 Oct, 24 Oct, 31 Oct, 3 Nov, 5 Nov, 7 Nov, 10 Nov, 12 Nov, 14 Nov, 17 Nov, 19 Nov, 21 Nov, 24 Nov ...
2019: 21 Nov, 30 Nov
2020: 20 Jan, 6 Feb, 8 Feb, 15 Feb, 27 Feb, 29 Feb, 3 Mar, 6 Mar, 10 Mar, 12 Mar, 14 Mar, 17 Mar, 19 Mar, 21 Mar, 24 Mar, 26 Mar, 28 Mar, 1 Apr, 4 Apr, 8 Apr, 11 Apr, 15 Apr, 18 Apr, 22 Apr, 25 Apr, 29 Apr, 2 May, 16 May, 11 Jul, 25 Jul, 1 Aug, 8 Aug, 15 Aug, 22 Aug, 12 Sep, 26 Sep, 3 Oct, 10 Oct, 17 Oct, 24 Oct, 31 Oct, 3 Nov, 5 Nov, 7 Nov, 10 Nov, 12 Nov, 14 Nov, 17 Nov, 19 Nov, 21 Nov, 24 Nov ...
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Over 50s or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.
Being single
Will I be the only solo traveller on a small group tour?
Of course this is hard to predict, however our expert suppliers have assured us that a high proportion of people going on small group holidays are going solo. However, you will also get couples and groups of friends – although where possible families with children tend to be grouped together on separate departures (and of course – outside of term time). A good tour operator will be able to advise you of the typical demographic and mix of the particular group, but rest assured that you will never be perceived as odd because you are travelling solo.
I love travelling with people different ages, although I must admit, I don’t opt for ones where under 16s are allowed. I have done my years of being a mum. And now I am a happy granny. But my holidays are adult time.
Solo specific holidays
Do you sell holidays specifically for solo or single travellers?
No we don’t. There are experts out there doing that, but we represent responsible holidays that are aimed at everyone. Solo, couples, families, gay, straight, over 80s, under eights. The only restriction is sometimes on age, as some of our holidays are not recommended for children under a certain age, usually for safety reasons. Interestingly, there are some types of trips which do tend to attract more solo travellers – particularly special interest trips such as photography holidays, where perhaps only one half of a couple is interested. Volunteering abroad, too, seems to particularly appeal to single people – perhaps because of the communal nature of the activities and general team spirit.
I took my first trip recently as a widower with a small group travelling through Vietnam. I was nervous as I thought I might be the only person travelling alone. But all fears were assuaged, and we felt like one big family from day one.
More about Over 50s
These holidays allow you to take time to immerse yourself in a culture, activity or landscape. About having a special 50th (or 60th...) birthday celebration...
Over 50s holidays are just the same as under 50s holidays, as none of our holidays have any age restriction, other than the odd minimum age for kids...
Explore our best over 50s holidays, from gorilla watching to tracking the Big Five, hiking the Inca Trail or kayaking from island to island in Croatia...
Read on for over 50s holiday tips, from learning something new to being open to new experiences and giving solo travel a go on a small group tour...
Over 70s holidays are a chance to really make the most of things, such as not having to worry about annual leave, and so being able to take extended holidays...
protection
Photo credits: [Page banner: Ross Huggett] [Intro - Woman looking at waterfall, UK: Toa Heftiba]
[Nervous to go alone - group in Bhutan: Zachary Collier]
[Single supplements - Mexico: Wonderlane]
[Andrew Appleyard quote: Erik Brockdorff]
[Will I be the only single?: Erik Brockdorff]
[Travelling with adults quote: Gareth Williams]
[Solo specific holidays...: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast region]
[Vietnam quote: shankar s.]
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