Why solo travel is far from being a lonely affair

Our Content Director and award-winning travel journalist, Sarah Marshall, shares her experience with solo travelling:

"Embarking on my first solo adventure more than 20 years ago stirred a mixture of emotions. I alternated between nervous anticipation, self-doubt and the gnawing guilt of leaving friends and family out of the equation – all natural emotions experienced by first-time lone travellers.

What surprised me most, however, was the exhilarating liberation of exploring alone. With no ties or commitments, I had the freedom to do exactly what I wanted.

Since then, I’ve travelled multiple times to all seven continents on my own. Thousands of others have done the same.

Across all age groups, the trend for solo travel is growing. Whether down to timetabling, individual interests or a hunger for embracing new challenges, travellers are making bolder choices.

But it’s a misconception that holidays minus friends and family are a lonely affair. Far from it. Especially if you opt to travel with a group of like-minded individuals on an escorted tour."

Half of our business at Yellowwood is based around this type of holiday, making us experts at planning the perfect group trip. If you’re feeling at all apprehensive about booking a group trip with strangers, here are a few reasons to reconsider…

1) It’s an opportunity to meet new people. A shared interest in a particular destination of style of trip sparks can serve as a strong foundation for long-lasting friendship.

2) Travelling with a larger group is often more economical and better for the environment. Whether it’s a case of sharing long transfers or gathering enough individuals to make camping trip sustainable, some trips simply shouldn’t be done alone.

3) You get the best of both worlds – an opportunity to pick exactly the type of trip, destination and dates you want without having to consider others, coupled with the reassurance of having ready-made travel companions available when needed.