Over 50s vacations for solo travelers
You may have concerns about traveling 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 – travelers over 50.
traveling alone
I would love to go to such and such a destination, but am nervous about going on my own.
Small group vacations are a gift to solo travelers. Let go of the image of coach trips full of pensioners with their flasks and sandwich boxes. These are carefully crafted vacations 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 traveling 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 Vacations
Costa Rica wildlife vacation
An amazing variety of Costa Rican wildlife
From
US $2899 to US $3715
15 days
ex flights
Japan golden route vacation
9 night classic Japan trip: Tokyo, Fuji, Kyoto
From
US $2280
10 days
ex flights
Small group vacation to Burma
Highlights of Burma; Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan and Lake Inle
From
US $2900
12 days
ex flights
Iceland cruise, Circumnavigation
An unforgettable journey around the island of fire and ice
From
£1679 to £1759
10 days
ex flights
Myanmar vacation, A taste of Myanmar
Explore Myanmar's spiritual highlights in under two weeks
From
£1578
12 days
ex flights
Croatian Islands yacht cruise
Sail the Croatian islands on a beautiful luxury motor yacht
From
£1149 to £1339
8 days
ex flights
Umbria cooking vacation, Italy
Learn traditional italian cooking in a beautiful farmhouse
From
€1340 to €1590
7 days
ex flights
Japan small group vacation, Japan unmasked
Whistlestop Japan highlights with an expert tour leader
From
£2575 to £2795
14 days
ex flights
Sri Lanka vacations, tailor made
Independent tailor made vacations to Sri Lanka
From
£1975
15 days
inc UK flights
Cycling vacation in Croatia, Dalmatian Coast
Cycling through the Dalmatian Coast Islands in Croatia
From
US $1455 to US $1935
8 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
Bali vacations, rice terraces & beaches
Discover Bali’s emerald rice paddies & tiny castaway islands
From
£1068
14 days
ex flights
Sintra Natural Park accommodation in Portugal
Eco-friendly B&B, in Sintra Natural Park near lovely beaches
From
€80 to €110
per room per night
Small group adventure vacation to Patagonia
Explore the spectacular wilderness and mountains of Patagonia
From
£3657 to £3659
21 days
ex flights
Shanghai to Hong Kong tour, discover China
Cities, wildlife, ancient history and rolling rice paddies.
From
£2255
17 days
ex flights
Amalfi Coast walking vacation, Italy
Walk in lemon groves and hillside villages
From
US $1365 to US $1675
8 days
ex flights
Southern Peru small group tour
Journey through south Peru, the heartland of the Inca Empire
From
£3131 to £3198
14 days
ex flights
Self guided walking vacation in France
Idyllic walking in France with great food, wine and ambiance
From
€997 to €1057
6 days
ex flights
Costa Rica highlights vacation & beach
Short highlight itinerary covering city, forests and beach.
From
£1375
13 days
ex flights
Orkney & Shetland self drive vacation, Scotland
Self-drive island-hopping through the Northern Isles
From
£785 to £845
7 days
ex flights
Catalonia self guided walking vacations, Spain
Self-guided walking vacations in Catalonia
From
€715 to €799
8 days
ex flights
Cycling vacation in Portugal, self guided
A leisurely cycling vacation in the Algarve
From
€539 to €669
7 days
ex flights
Croatian coast walking tours, self guided
Self guided walking tour on the sunny Croatian coast
From
€520 to €670
7 days
ex flights
Gorilla Safari & the Masai Mara
Superb safari and trip to see gorillas
From
US $4185 to US $6665
16 days
ex flights
Andalucia self catering accommodation, Spain
Farmhouse accommodation on 2 acre finca with swimming pool
From
£350
per week (sleeps 2)
Whale watching in the Azores
Sustainable whale watching in the beautiful Azorean archipelago
From
£555 to £745
7 days
ex flights
Scotland by railway vacation
Experience authentic Scotland independently and car-free
From
£1025 to £1125
8 days
ex flights
Borneo tour, Great Apes and Beach escapes
Explore bustling cities, lush jungles and paradise beaches.
From
£1495
9 days
ex flights
South Africa safari vacation, 14 days
Award winning safari in South Africa
From
£3495 to £3720
14 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 vacations, where there is often a single cabin, or some of our yoga, wellness and fitness vacations, 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. Traveling outside peak season is usually a good time for lower surcharges. But always ask your tour operator for details.
Tip for solo travelers from Andrew Appleyard, at our leading supplier Exodus Travels:
“There are solo travelers 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 Vacation
Costa Rica wildlife vacation
An amazing variety of Costa Rican wildlife
From
US $2899 to US $3715
15 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2018: 7 Nov, 14 Nov, 17 Nov, 19 Dec
2019: 8 Jan, 12 Jan, 17 Jan, 19 Jan, 22 Jan, 26 Jan, 31 Jan, 5 Feb, 7 Feb, 9 Feb, 16 Feb, 23 Feb, 26 Feb, 28 Feb, 2 Mar, 5 Mar, 7 Mar, 9 Mar, 12 Mar, 14 Mar, 16 Mar, 21 Mar, 23 Mar, 28 Mar, 3 Apr, 6 Apr, 10 Apr, 13 Apr, 17 Apr, 20 Apr, 24 Apr, 27 Apr, 4 May, 11 May, 13 Jul, 27 Jul, 3 Aug, 10 Aug, 17 Aug, 28 Sep, 12 Oct, 19 Oct, 26 Oct, 2 Nov, 5 Nov, 7 Nov, 9 Nov, 12 Nov, 14 Nov, 16 Nov ...
2018: 7 Nov, 14 Nov, 17 Nov, 19 Dec
2019: 8 Jan, 12 Jan, 17 Jan, 19 Jan, 22 Jan, 26 Jan, 31 Jan, 5 Feb, 7 Feb, 9 Feb, 16 Feb, 23 Feb, 26 Feb, 28 Feb, 2 Mar, 5 Mar, 7 Mar, 9 Mar, 12 Mar, 14 Mar, 16 Mar, 21 Mar, 23 Mar, 28 Mar, 3 Apr, 6 Apr, 10 Apr, 13 Apr, 17 Apr, 20 Apr, 24 Apr, 27 Apr, 4 May, 11 May, 13 Jul, 27 Jul, 3 Aug, 10 Aug, 17 Aug, 28 Sep, 12 Oct, 19 Oct, 26 Oct, 2 Nov, 5 Nov, 7 Nov, 9 Nov, 12 Nov, 14 Nov, 16 Nov ...
Helpdesk
Hello. If you'd like to chat about Over 50s or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help. Rosy & team.
Being single
Will I be the only solo traveler 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 vacations 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 traveling solo.
I love traveling 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 vacations are adult time.
Solo specific vacations
Do you sell vacations specifically for solo or single travelers?
No we don’t. There are experts out there doing that, but we represent responsible vacations 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 vacations 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 travelers – particularly special interest trips such as photography vacations, 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 traveling through Vietnam. I was nervous as I thought I might be the only person traveling alone. But all fears were assuaged, and we felt like one big family from day one.
More about Over 50s
These vacations 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 vacations are just the same as under 50s vacations, as none of our vacations have any age restriction, other than the odd minimum age for kids...
Explore our best over 50s vacations, 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 vacation tips, from learning something new to being open to new experiences and giving solo travel a go on a small group tour...
Over 70s vacations 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 vacations...
Why book with Responsible Travel
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]
[Traveling with adults quote: Gareth Williams]
[Solo specific vacations...: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast region]
[Vietnam quote: shankar s.]
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