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By Bec Milligan.
If the thought of solo travel excites you, it should! Especially if you’re a senior.
Later in life is when you finally have the time, money and confidence to do exactly what you want! And what better way to take advantage of all that than by travelling solo?
But if you’re not sure where to start when it comes to planning a trip for you and only you, read on for our favourite tours as well as our top tips for senior solo travellers.
A guided tour takes the hardest parts of solo travel off your plate. Someone else handles the logistics, you’ve got a built-in group if you want company, and you can still disappear to your room or wander off on your own whenever you feel like it.
That’s why, for a lot of solo seniors, a tour is the sweet spot between independence and support. If that sounds good to you, these are our favourite tour companies:
Odyssey Traveller has been running small group tours for mature and senior travellers since 1983. And when we say small, we mean small: groups are never more than 14 people. Each tour comes with a themed itinerary (think archaeology, architecture, performing arts, natural history etc.) and you’re encouraged to take things at your own pace. Odyssey Traveller runs tours just about everywhere, from Europe and the US to Asia and right here in New Zealand. Plus, about 40% of each tour is made up of solo travellers so you’ll never feel like a lone wolf travelling with a bunch of couples.
APT is a luxury tour company that runs everything from small group tours to cruise tours to rail tours. If you’re thinking of travelling to Australia, APT is known for its outback and remote trips. The Kimberley tours are especially good as you get to explore the Gibb River Road by 4WD, stay in “Luxury Wilderness Lodges” and learn about Indigenous culture from APT’s knowledgeable experts.
If structure and price matter to you, check out Trafalgar. Each tour is planned meticulously by locals of whatever destination you’re travelling to, and there are various price points, suitable for different budgets. Trafalgar also runs more than 240 tours in more than 70 countries, meaning you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to picking a tour and a destination. Just be aware that the tour groups are on the bigger side (think 30 to 50 people per tour) which can be a bit daunting if you’ve never travelled solo before.
Every single Intrepid Travel tour is designed with solo travellers in mind, which is why more than half of the people who travel with them do so solo. Plus, multiple “Over 50s” and “Over 60s” tours are available. So, if the idea of embarking on a tour with younger people in their 20s and 30s makes you shudder, Intrepid Travel might be best for you.
If comfort matters most to you when it comes to a solo trip, Insight Vacations is the premium tour company for you. Everything from the hotels to the restaurants is luxurious, and you’ll never have to carry your own luggage. Insight Vacations also regularly offer discounts on their tours to solo travellers.
A few things worth doing before you book any tour as a solo senior:
Ask directly about a single supplement: is there one? Can it be waived or discounted through roommate matching? Single supplements vary a lot between companies and even between specific tours, so it’s always worth checking.
Check the activity level rating if the company offers one. A tour rated for gentle walking is a very different experience to one built around all-day hiking, and it’s better to know that before you’re standing at the base of a mountain worrying about what you’ve signed up for.
Look into whether the company has any medical support built in, particularly for international trips. Some have onboard health staff on longer international itineraries.
Read a few reviews specifically from solo travellers rather than the general reviews. The group dynamic matters more when you’re travelling alone, and reviews from other solo travellers will tell you honestly whether the company actually integrates you or leaves you to fend for yourself.
No, of course not! You can travel solo at any age; health, mobility and personal comfort matter far more than the number of birthdays you’ve had.
Just make sure that you check in with your doctor before booking any solo trip, particularly if you’re managing a chronic condition, have had recent surgery, or are planning a long-haul flight. Plus, your doctor can flag anything worth planning around, and will make sure your medications and vaccinations are sorted before you go.
You should also research your destination properly, including local transport and any current safety advisories.
And, of course, get travel insurance! 1Cover offers unlimited medical cover for all travellers with no age limits on single trip policies. We also have an easy online medical assessment that allows you to apply to cover your pre-existing medical conditions.
For older solo travellers, meeting people is often easier than expected, especially if you book a guided tour. You’ll have a shared itinerary and shared meals with the other people on your tour and the trip leader will make sure nobody’s left out.
But if you’ve decided to travel solo without a guided tour booked, you can still easily meet people:
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