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Is there any greater luxury than choosing exactly where you want to go on holiday and visiting the places you’ve always wanted to experience without having to check whether anyone else fancies it too? Well, all these, and more, are the prime benefits of solo travel.
How solo travel became a trend
Going it alone is a growing trend; recent research demonstrates that online searches for “solo travel” increased by more than 72% between April 2023 and April 2024, while another statistic shows that 16% of UK travellers took a solo holiday in 2023, compared to 11% the previous year. Women are leading the trend, too, with one survey revealing that 84% of solo travellers were female.
While it’s often called “solo” travel, this is not a club reserved for those who are single – countless people with partners at home, or with friends who prefer different styles of holidaying, happily set off on their own for a change of perspective and a sense of adventure.
What was once a niche idea is now a flourishing movement. Each year, more and more people – especially those who’ve recently retired, are widowed or navigating life after divorce – are embracing journeys designed entirely for themselves.
Things have moved on since the bad old days of being charged a single supplement if you wanted a room to yourself. Instead you can experience trips which been crafted with independent travellers in mind, from small-group cultural trips to elegant ocean voyages with communal tables and generous space to be as social or as solitary as you wish.
Especially if it’s your first time, an escorted tour with fellow, like-minded travellers acts a kind of safety net, where someone else is responsible for getting you from A to B, and there is always someone to talk to – should you feel like it…
Who should I go with?
Saga Holidays offers award-winning solo holidays. Here’s everything you need to know:
Is it safe?
Yes. Saga has decades of experience as a holiday company, celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2026 and offering a range of dedicated solo departures across their tours, and with some of their hotels offering single rooms with no single supplements. There is a nationwide return shared chauffeur service on escorted tours – and, starting April 2026, on hotel stays too. All transfers in the destination are included.
Will I be lonely?
Definitely not! Each tour has a dedicated Saga host or tour manager who’ll help you connect with other guests. You’ll meet kindred spirits through welcome drinks and group activities
What’s the etiquette?
You can be as sociable as you choose, and on tours (depending on how busy the tour itinerary is) will generally have some free time to relax and explore, either on your own or with new friends.
Will everyone else be solo?
Saga offer solo only departures for tours and stays but also stays with no single supplements. These are not departure dates exclusive to solos but still offer great value for money.
Inspiration for escorted tours
Ready to take the plunge? Well, the world is your oyster! Here are some fabulous ideas for your first (or next!) solo tour…
Fascinating Asia
Have you always dreamed of seeing the magnificent Taj Mahal, or getting up close to imposing Mount Fuji? Saga’s solo tours take in Japan and India, as well as Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Borneo and Cambodia.
On the Essence of Japan, you’ll explore high-paced cities, hushed shrines and temples and serene gardens, with the chance to stroll through beautifully-preserved districts which were once home to samurai and geisha in towns from Tokyo to Osaka.
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Ranthambore National Park, India
Travelling India by rail will see you stop off at iconic destinations from the pink city of Jaipur to the tiger-rich Ranthambore National Park, while a wild adventure to the rivers and rainforests of Borneo offers orang-utan tours, national parks and white-sand beaches.
A trip to Vietnam will let you explore Hanoi’s labyrinthine Old Quarter and Ho Chi Minh City’s Parisian-style boulevards, as well as allowing you to sail on the serene waters of Halong Bay.
Magnificent Africa
Follow in the footsteps of explorer David Livingstone with an epic journey which takes in two of the world’s greatest natural wonders: Victoria Falls and Chobe National Park. Exploring by air, boat and four-wheel-drive, you’ll get close to nature – cruising along the banks of the Zambezi past bathing elephants, viewing herds of giraffe from the skies, and criss-crossing savannahs in search of the Big Five, with new friends on hand to toast sightings with over a sundowner.
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Zambezi River at sunset
Or why not explore the magic of the Nile, on a cruise which takes you back in time to wander among the sand covered tombs and mighty temples of Luxor, Karnak and the Valley of the Kings.
Delightful Europe
Whether you want cities and culture, or nature and scenery, Europe delivers.
Immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of Malta’s 16th-century capital, Valetta, built by the Knights of St John, and travel even further back in time with a humbling visit to Hagar Qim, a megalithic temple complex dating from around 3600BC.
Or wander the busy bazaars and spectacular mosques of Istanbul, before exploring the ancient city of Ephesus, and taking to the sky in a hot air balloon to observe the extraordinary cliffs, colours and fairy chimneys of Cappadocia.
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Celsus Library in Ephesus, Turkey
For even more spectacular scenery, strike out to Lake Orta, the smallest of the Italian Lakes, in whose centre Isola San Giulio floats dreamily. On the same trip, you’ll cross into Switzerland by rail, for views of glittering glaciers, classic mountain villages and snow-capped chalets.
And don’t miss the chance to see some of the jewels of Spain, from the Moorish city of Murcia, with its mighty cathedral, to the pretty hilltop villages of Mojácar and Sorbas, dotted with pastel shutters and pink bougainvillea.
Incredible North America
Incredible animal encounters abound on a fascinating trip to Costa Rica; from sleepy sloths to unusual-looking tapirs, impressive reptiles, unique beetles and the brilliantly-named (and coloured) quetzal bird, this fascinating country has nature galore.
You’ll spot sea turtles in Tortuguero, relax in the hot springs by the Arenal volcano, and be surrounded by beautiful butterflies in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve.
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Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Costa Rica
In the captivating country of Mexico, emerald jungles, sapphire-blue waters and powdery white sands meet towering ancient temples and colonial towns. Get ready to explore spectacular Mayan sites, uncovering the history of Mexico’s ancient people – the Zapotecs, Mixtecs, and Aztecs – and the influence of Spanish settlers.
How can I experience this:
Inspiration for solo hotel stays
For stays, there are dedicated solo departure dates in some hotels and some will include a package of excursions. We also have hotels with no single supplement which are not dedicated solo departures but are good value for money. And from April 2026 on a solo hotel stay your departure is catered for, with a nationwide shared return chauffeur service.
Each solo departure has a dedicated Saga host who’ll help you connect with other guests. You can meet other people through welcome drinks and group activities - but there is flexibility to explore independently too.
How can I experience this:
Hotel holidays for solo travellers
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