If traveling lights you up and makes you happy, make space for more adventures in 2024—even if you have to go alone. Solo travel is not just a trend; it opens our eyes to the world, allowing us to travel deeper with more introspection and self-awareness. When it’s up to you to get from point A to point B, you’ll not only be challenged outside of your comfort zone, but you’ll also get to decide where to go and when. Whether you want to sleep in past noon, rise early to fill your day with loads of sights and attractions, or ease into a spa day with little else planned—go for it, you’re the boss.
Solo travel might also mean that you’re joining an organized group tour where strangers will become friends. This option is great for making a dream vacation work, without having to be responsible for all of the logistics and planning. Check off a bucket list destination to expand your horizons, see beautiful landscapes, discover fresh sights, explore energetic cities and make genuine connections with others.
From swimming with manta rays in Hawai’i to horseback riding in the south of France, from hiking across diverse landscapes in Ireland to discovering how art and spirituality merge in Thailand, here are seven destinations that are sure to spark joy and give your confidence a boost while traveling solo.
Experience Horseback Riding In Provence, France
If you love to ride horses and you dream about an extraordinary vacation where riding is the main activity—not just a one-hour add-on—then set your sights on Active Riding Trips, experts in global horse-centric guided adventures. Whether you’re a newbie or a professional rider, there’s an experience made-to-measure just for you.
The diverse and alluring landscapes in Provence, France will captivate you for an entire week as you ride past olive groves, lavender fields, pine forests, vineyards and onion farms in this southeastern region, one hour north of Marseille, which borders Italy and the Mediterranean Sea. You’ll truly bond with your horse—together, you’ll travel along the foothills, beside riverbanks and near charming villages in this sun-kissed destination. You’ll discover the magic of slow travel as you experience the countryside on a playful equestrian adventure like no other. And, of course, you’ll eat your weight in cheese and thick buttered bread and sample a variety of local wines—this is France, after all.
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Hike In Ireland
If you love to move your body in wild places, hiking in distinct landscapes full of verdant meadows, waterfalls, rolling knolls covered in boulders, and bushy woodlands, then take a trip to Ireland on a guided adventure with Wilderness Ireland. You’ll meet new travelers on this small group tour that includes overnights in delightful inns and small hotels where a pint of Guinness isn’t hard to find.
One of the best itineraries includes the counties of Kerry and Clare. You’ll explore Killarney National Park, the Beara Peninsula, the Cliffs of Moher, and so much more on this week-long west coast adventure. Dust off your hiking boots and don’t forget to pack a rain jacket—the Emerald Isle is waiting.
Ride In A Tuk Tuk In Thailand
One of the world’s most-visited cities, Bangkok has so much going on. Motor bikes and cars zoom in and out of traffic, food carts line the sidewalks, and there are more multi-hued temples than anyone can possibly visit in one trip. See Wat Arun, shown on Thai currency; Wat Phra Kaew, also known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha; and Wat Pho, the biggest reclining buddha in the country.
Beyond seeing beautiful architecture and cleverly designed temples, however, one of the best things to do as a solo traveler is to order street food from a cart attached to a motorcycle and enjoy a Singha Thai beer while soaking in the hustle and bustle all around. And, while Khao San Road is worth a visit just to see and experience the dizzying noisy atmosphere, venture off the popular tourist track and experience the city via tuk tuk—it’s easy to find one and it’s worth the fare to experience the sights, sounds, and smells of Bangkok.
Watch The Sun Set In Italy
From pasta making classes to vineyard tours to gourmet dining to wandering around a nearby traditional Italian village in search of gelato, a vacation in the Tuscan countryside will refill your cup in more ways than one. Tenuta di Artimino, part of the Melia Collection, is nestled in the rolling hills of Carmignano, an hour west of Florence. Tour the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Medicea Villa La Ferdinanda, a historic estate with Medici origins, while on property. What could be better than sipping a glass of Tuscan red while watching orange and yellow shades light up the sky before dipping below the horizon?
Sip Coffee In Vienna
Vienna is a dynamic city that is best explored while on foot. The public transportation is excellent, fast, and clean, allowing you to get from one side of the city to the other, easily and without stress. While staying in Austria’s capital city, be sure to see the top sights like Schonbrunn Palace, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Vienna State Opera, Belvedere Palace, and Kutschkermarkt.
When you find that you need a break, pop into a restaurant to try the Wiener schnitzel and a slice of sachertorte or punschkrapfen. Not to be missed, however, is a stop at a “Granny Café.” Vollpension hires the elderly to serve coffee, make cakes, and teach younger generations how to bake.
Explore A National Park In Hawai’i
From black, white, and green sandy beaches to water activities like snorkeling, parasailing, deep sea fishing, and swimming with manta rays, Hawai‘i Island has much to offer solo travelers. And, if you love state and national parks, and are looking to cross off an exciting one, then plan on visiting Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, home to two of the most active volcanoes in the world: Kīlauea and Mauna Loa. Be sure to stop in the Kīlauea Visitor Center to find out where you should go for the day and if there are any ranger-led activities. Hike to the top of Puʻuhuluhulu Cinder Cone, across a lava field to see petroglyphs, through lava tubes, and on the Crater Rim Trail where natural beauty abounds.
Drive A Dog Sled In Sweden
Swedish Lapland in the winter months is one of those destinations that sticks with you long after the adventure is over. From Kiruna, Abisko, and Gallivare above the arctic circle, to Lulea just below it, the wide expanses of nature, where indigenous Sami people long ago lived on a borderless land stretching from neighboring Norway, across Sweden and Finland, and all the way to Russia, allure intrepid travelers from all over the planet.
Here, big adventures, like seeing the northern lights, mushing a dog sledding team, or sleeping at the Icehotel are equal to the small ones, like buying handmade botanical jewelry at a market from local artist, Linn V. Andersson, or trying “coffee cheese,” which squeaks between your teeth when the java soaked cube finally slides out of your boiled broth and into your mouth.
You’ll notice right away while visiting here that people thrive in the season where the sun hides and a blue light makes the snow sparkle. It doesn’t matter if it’s dark and cold outside, you’ll want to thrive too. During an overnight stay in a heated tent, meet Lennart Pittja, a Sami who grew up reindeer herding and now operates the Sapmi Nature Camp. Or try a cold plunge in the Lule river at Arctic Bath, an award winning floating or frozen hotel and spa (depending on weather). Want to try snow foraging? Drop a line to Eva Gunnare of Essense of Lapland. The options are wild and endless.
