Solo travel in a group - recommendations?

[MooMinCow]

I’ve always wanted to do a solo trip to Jordan or Egypt (DH and family would not be interested) but am a bit wary travelling on my own. I’ve seen a few tour operators that arrange trips for solo travellers which I think would be a good compromise for me. Just wondering if anyone has done a trip like this - any recommendations?

I’ve done several trips like this - albeit not to those destination - and will do more. There isn’t really a ‘type’ that do them if that reassures you. My tip is that if you are an introvert it is very much worth the extra money to guarantee a single room if you can. You spend a lot of time with the group, so it’s nice to have somewhere to retreat at the end of the day. If that isn’t so important to you, sharing seems to work out pretty well for people who do it. A lot become firm friends.

I’d also consider if you want a trip that is fast-paced with something planned every day and travel most days. I’ve always chosen itineraries with some downtime.

Lastly, you can ask about the composition of the group before you go. They’re usually pretty mixed as to ages and solo v couples and groups, but I ended up not booking one where the other travellers were two separate family groups. I think that was very unusual though!

I would recommend Explore (explore.co.uk). I went on a trip with my husband with this company but in a group of 12 there was only us and one other couple and the rest were on their own. The guide was brilliant and the group all gelled together and we had a fab time. As PP said, you can ask who is booked so far to give you an idea. No-one was left out in our group and there was always people wanting to go out in the evening together. I would just go for it :) Oh - it wasn't Jordan or Egypt I went to but Explore do go there.

Exodus are brilliant. I have also travelled with Explore and Cox and King, and had amazing trips, with like-minded fellow travellers. Just You were not so good in my opinion. All the groups I have travelled with have a majority of women. I would definitely agree with PP that paying a single supplement is well worth the money if you can afford it, and it can be fun to tag a day or two at the end or beginning for a bit of independent adventuring!

As above I've done group tour type holidays - one in South Africa in my own, and one in Cuba with DP (and also have friends who have done similar)

In both cases for me there was a mix of travellers - singles, couples, pairs of friends, different ages, nationalities etc and they were both great!

I wouldn't bother looking for something specifically for solo travellers as IME people who do the trips are generally keen to meet new people even if they're not travelling alone.

I used Imaginative Traveler but looks like they're not currently operating. Explore, Exodus and Intrepid Travel are all similar though I think.

Have a fantastic time!

I've been looking at trips with Lupine travel. Very interesting itineraries. Unfortunately the one we fancied can't run due to Putin, but we are listed for when it restarts

I've done several trips with Explore as a single person. There's usually a mix of solo travellers and couples so not like a Singles holiday as such.

I knew there was a smaller company I’d looked at in the past, wanted to check out and had completely forgotten the name of - it’s Lupine! Love the fact they have a Wigan to Iraq tour.

I've been to Morocco twice (once camping), Libya and Cuba on my own and a walking holiday in Northern Spain with my husband.

HF Holidays?

Brilliant I’ll have a look. Wouldn’t say I’m an introvert, but I do like my own space at times so would definitely have my own room.

I have travelled/holidayed on my own, just would like the reassurance of having others and a guide from a safety point of view as not sure how ‘safe’ Jordan and Egypt are for a lone female!

I would like some activities and a guide (especially for any archaeological sites) but also some downtime. I like the idea of having others to socialise with in the evening as from experience it can be a bit lonely in the evenings after dinner is over!

I'm OK travelling alone, but I have used Voyages Jules Verne and really enjoyed their tours. They do both Jordan and Egypt. I did do Jordan with them, and one of my Egypt trips too (actually due to their ability to support my disabled friend). If got don't want to do it alone, I'd really recommend them strongly

Ps just saw your update. Strongly recommend VJV for your wants.

I've done lots of trips like this as a single female traveller.

Same tips as everyone else-
100 % pay single supplement. Nothing worse than having to share with a snorer, someone you don't like, etc. The trips are really social and I needed me time after dinner to relax.

Definitely consider time before or after your trip to make more of an adventure. Although I will say being a single female traveller alone in those destinations is a pain in the ass, so much unwanted attention.

Some of the best trips I've ever done have been solo, it's so challenging/ exciting! Even the thought of heading off to the airport on my own gives me the shivers! You won't regret it if you do it!

Check out the bucket list company, they do a trip to Jordan.
I went to Morocco with them last year on my own, absolutely loved it. Our group was mainly men, 4 people already knew each other, rest were solo travellers. Really friendly group.

G adventures are great, done a few trips with them. Not sure about Egypt but they have a Jordan trip that looks good.

I have been to Egypt with Intrepid and it was one of the best holidays of my life! I shared a room with a woman who was fine, and met an incredible bunch of people who I am still in touch with now, 9 years later. Egypt is an amazing country and I was fine as a solo female traveller.

The trip was so good my husband did it on his own a few years later!

My friends often use Exodus when they travel solo.

Did flash pack to Vietnam which was good

Intrepid are excellent. They also do a lot of community investment/sustainability work

G adventures have been recommended to me by a friend - he has travelled with them about 3 times and said he really enjoyed it. He had his own room

I normally travel independently, but had to join a group to go to Iran (Iran doesn't allow Brits or Americans to travel there independently). To be honest I was dreading the group thing, but I was pleasantly surprised.

I did a load of research because I wanted to be in a small group, I wanted an itinerary with plenty of free time built in, and I wanted (ideally) for there to be a mix of ages rather than just a bunch of people my age (60s).

I went for Intrepid in the end, and it fitted all my criteria. I got time to myself (vital) and there was a good mix of people (11 of us altogether).

If I get to a point in life where independent backpacking is beyond me, I would consider such a trip again.

DH and I are going to Jordan next May with Cox & Kings, we chose a group tour as like you we wanted a bit of a security net. I obviously can't comment on the tour experience itself yet. However I had struggled to find a tour that exactly met what we wanted, as we wanted an overnight in Wadi Rum. The tour we are going on was very close, and after contacting them we were able to amend it slightly to include the overnight. So instead of an afternoon visit to Wadi Rum and then 2 nights at the Dead Sea we are having an overnight at Wadi Ruma and then just one night at the Dead Sea. Not sure whether anyone else on the group tour will be doing the same though.

I'm actually heading off to Jordan with Intrepid next week, having done multiple trips with them in the past they are always my first choice for small group trips as a solo traveller. Sometimes I've paid for my own room, sometimes I've opted to share. The trips where I shared with someone, we've always got on brilliantly and I've made a couple of friends for life. Definitely pack earplugs though!

I did an explore trip to turkey last year. It was an active holiday. It was amazing. The best thing I ever did.
Had time with the group doing activities. And then time on my own in the evening if I wanted.

Imaginative Traveller - did Egypt and Jordan. Used to have a great itinerary including Palmyra until it was destroyed.