British travel companies are witnessing a significant shift in holiday booking patterns as more women, particularly older generations, choose to embark on solo adventures. This growing trend sees women increasingly planning trips independently, often leaving partners behind to explore the world on their own terms.
The statistics behind the solo travel surge
Recent data from tour operators confirms this upward trajectory. Jules Verne reported that solo travellers now account for 46% of bookings for trips departing next year, marking a notable increase from 40% in 2023. Even more striking is the gender breakdown: nearly 70% of these solo bookings are made by women.
The phenomenon spans all age groups, from recent graduates to retirees in their seventies, each finding unique value in travelling alone. We spoke with several women about their experiences navigating the world solo.
Inspiring stories of solo exploration
Linda's photographic journey
Linda, a 75-year-old from Oxford, began her solo travel adventures after her husband passed away in 2016. She used money saved from handling probate herself to join a photography tour of Cuba. "Although I knew no one on the tour, our shared passion for travel and photography sparked friendships that continue to this day," she recalls.
Since that initial trip, Linda has explored numerous far-flung destinations including Bolivia, Ethiopia, Namibia, Brazil, and India. She has also travelled solo around Europe twice using an Interrail pass. Her grown-up children have become accustomed to her adventures, provided she shares detailed itineraries and regular updates.
"I would encourage other women to experience solo travelling," Linda advises. "It is scary at first, but if you take that step, you realise you can do it and have amazing experiences." Her next journey will take her to Rajasthan with a photography group next year.
Claudia's delayed dream
For Claudia, a 63-year-old registered nurse from Ontario, Canada, solo travel represented a dream forty years in the making. Her teenage ambition to backpack across Europe was initially blocked by her "concerned mother."
"The backpacking trip in Europe was everything I dreamed of," Claudia says of her belated adventure. "I slept on overnight buses, stayed in 20-room mixed dorms – the full experience sans bar-hopping as I'm teetotal."
The death of a colleague who had shared retirement travel dreams prompted Claudia to resume travelling in 2016. While she initially travelled with her husband, the urge to explore solo quickly re-emerged. Her recent travels have included birthday celebrations in Poland and Lithuania, followed by trips to Ecuador and the Dominican Republic.
"So many women are caregivers in some shape or form," Claudia reflects, "and it's just the freedom to be able to go and do something where you're not negotiating with children or a spouse or a friend."
RoseMary's Korean adventures
RoseMary, 77, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, discovered solo travel as a form of healing after losing her partner of twenty years. Her interest in South Korea was sparked by a gentle television series from the country, leading to her first visit.
She has since made two trips to South Korea, staying first in a hotel and then finding accommodation through a house-sitting scheme. Her third trip, planned for over a month, will see her staying in a local's home while she explores the country's prehistoric dolmens.
RoseMary's second trip coincided with dramatic political developments. Martial law was declared in South Korea the night before her December 2024 departure, causing concern among family and friends. Undeterred, she immersed herself in the local situation, finding the continuing protests "incredibly inspiring."
Younger perspectives on solo travel
Caelin, a 22-year-old marketing professional from Wellington, New Zealand, discovered solo travel almost by accident when she extended a wedding trip to Peru. "It was the first time I realised that being alone did not have to feel like being left out," she says. "It could feel peaceful."
Since that initial journey, Caelin has travelled solo to Chile and Spain, finding that each trip teaches her something new about herself. "There is a kind of quiet confidence that comes from relying on yourself and realising you are capable," she observes.
The challenges of travelling alone
Not all aspects of solo travel are straightforward. Judith, 69, from West Sussex, highlights the financial barriers many solo travellers face. "I have been searching for a solo holiday to the Norwegian fjords to celebrate my 70th, but the single supplement makes it almost double the price and frankly not affordable," she explains.
Despite these challenges, Judith emphasises that "if I don't go solo, I won't go at all." Her recent birthday trip took her by train from southern England to Edinburgh, where she explored the city and visited Rosslyn Castle.
Becky, 53, from Leeds, acknowledges that solo travel isn't always perfect. "I've had a few trips where I've felt a bit lonely, had a few hassles or joined a group that I didn't really gel with," she admits. However, these experiences are outweighed by the positive aspects: "I've had safe and amazing experiences, met some wonderful people and gained incredible cultural insights."
The future of female solo travel
As these women's stories demonstrate, solo travel offers unique benefits that extend beyond mere tourism. For many, it represents freedom, self-discovery, and the opportunity to engage with the world on their own terms. The trend shows no signs of slowing, with travel companies adapting their offerings to meet this growing demand.
From navigating martial law in South Korea to finding peace in Peruvian landscapes, these intrepid travellers are rewriting the rules of adventure tourism, proving that age and gender need not be barriers to exploration.
