My first solo trip was in my early 20s, and I had no idea where to begin. I was young, less confident, and the thought of approaching a stranger was daunting. But I knew I wanted to take the leap, and I also wanted someone else to plan it for me.
Group travel gave me the security blanket I needed to be myself and make friends on the road. After a month backpacking Europe with my tour guide and a group of 20+ strangers, I left the trip with many passport stamps, memories, and a lifelong best friend (10 years and going strong!).
I’ve now been solo traveling for close to a decade, mingling with fellow travelers and staying in hostels. Joining communal groups has become second nature. If you’re looking to take your first solo trip or simply want to travel and not be alone, these are the six operators I’d recommend booking.
Rabbie’s Tours
If you want a good ‘ole small group tour filled with storytelling and laughter, this is the one. Founded in 1993, Rabbie’s Tours offers adventures across the UK and Europe, designed to get off the beaten path. Their trips have a maximum of 16 passengers, so it’s easy to get to know fellow travelers, especially if you’re alone.
I recently booked their Islay, Oban, and Whisky Coast tour, and spent four memorable days visiting coastal towns and tasting at distilleries. If you’re feeling shy, a whisky tour is a sure-fire way to let loose and get chatting. Surrounded by couples, families, solo travelers, and our outgoing guide, Peter McShane, it felt so easy to meet new people in a fun environment. On our trip we did tours and tastings together, but also had some free time for meals and exploration, too.
EF
While many people know the EF brand for its language schools worldwide, there are many brands within the portfolio tailored to different experiences and age ranges. My first ever solo trip mentioned above was with EF Ultimate Break, where I spent two unforgettable weeks with a group of strangers and our guide Vasilis Pappas.
There are many options with this company, with trips on almost every continent. EF Ultimate Break trips tend to be on the larger size but because there are so many group meals and planned activities, it starts to feel like a big family by the end.
For those who like to get active while traveling, EF Adventures offers an array of smaller group trips from hiking and biking to multiday adventures.
Flash Pack
I’ve never done a Flash Pack trip myself, but I’ve heard great things from friends who took their first solo adventures with them. Designed specifically for solo travelers ages 30–59, Flash Pack focuses on creating great group dynamics while offering under-the-radar experiences around the world.
Choosing a destination can be one of the most overwhelming parts of booking a group trip, but Flash Pack makes that easier by organizing its itineraries by travel style, too. Think first-time solo trips, adventure travel, wellness escapes, and more.
Tröll Expeditions
I’ve traveled to Iceland more than six times (mostly solo) and just love everything about the country: the people, the food, the landscapes, and the fact that it’s incredibly safe to venture around alone. While it’s fun just exploring Reykjavik, when I travel there by myself my favorite thing to do is to take a full-day tour to fill my time, see the rest of the country, and meet new people.
I’ve done a lot of different tours in Iceland, but love Tröll Expeditions because their group sizes are smaller. For those wanting to spend some time with a group for a few days, they also offer multiday tours across the country.
FTLO
Founded in 2016 by Tara Cappel, FTLO, which stands for ‘for the love of’ [travel], is a premier small-group travel company designed specifically for solo travelers aged 25–39. If you’re unsure of the vibe you want, their entire website breaks it down by category, like foodie, historical, nature, or adventure.
Their trips focus on an immersive experience wherever you choose to go. Right now they have 35+ destinations and partner with local businesses to have trips led by villagers, artisans, guides who know their home best.
G Adventures
Most companies target solo travelers, but occasionally you’ll get the odd couple or group of friends, which is fine, but sometimes a little more difficult to fit in with people who already have their people. G Adventures accepted the challenge and launched “solo-ish trips,” group tours exclusively for solo travelers aged 18 and up. For my ladies out there, these trips are also led by a female CEO.
Like most, they have a range of trips around the world for different travel styles, but one of the more unique is their local living tours. It’s still possible to meet people, but you’ll have the chance to stay with a local host family instead.
The Shortcut
Group size can be a factor in how fast you'll make friends. Rabbie's caps trips at 16 people and Tröll Expeditions keeps its Iceland tours small on purpose to encourage more mixing.
Age-specific tours help ensure your fellow travelers are a good match for how you travel. Flash Pack books solo travelers 30 to 59, FTLO targets 25 to 39, and G Adventures takes solo-ish travelers 18 and up.
Interest-based booking means you won't get stuck with an itinerary that bores you. FTLO sorts its trips by categories like foodie, historical, and adventure, and EF Adventures specializes in hiking and biking trips.
A group tour is a great way to balance solitude with social time. G Adventures' local living tours put you with a host family instead of a hotel, and most of these operators build in free time alongside group activities if you want to do your own thing.
Next Up: If you're looking for a solo trip with an "Eat, Pray, Love" type of vibe, check out our recs for the best places to go solo when you need to get lost and find yourself.
