We often get inquiries from people who want to know whether they will have a good time on tour with us if they came alone. Our answer is always a resounding YES! Expat Explore tours have been tailored to appeal to groups as well as solo travelers, and the coach format actually makes it a great option for adventurers who feel like hitting the trail without an entourage in tow.  Here’s why…

It will change you in the best way
Venturing out by yourself has the potential to recharge your energy in a very positive way. It changes the way you see the world, and how you see yourself. It makes you more fearless and bolsters your confidence in your own ability to make your way in the world. Sure, it can be scary, but solo travel is a great way to get out of your cushy comfort zone and get comfortable with being a little uncomfortable around unfamiliar places, people and things.

Many years ago, American writer John Steinbeck undertook a solo road trip along America’s backroads, and came away with the following wisdom: ‘A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike. And all plans, safeguards, policing, and coercion are fruitless. We find that after years of struggle that we do not take a trip; a trip takes us.‘ That pretty much sums it up perfectly.

It will change your perspective on the world
When you travel by yourself you have the time to form your own opinions about the destinations you visit. When you travel in a group it can be easy to let yourself be swayed by the attitudes of your fellow travellers. You may be in the midst of enjoying the rural atmosphere of a village that lies a little of the beaten track, when your companion voices a haughty opinion and casts a pallor over the entire experience. A solo experience allows you the space to drink in each destination without any external influences.

RELATED: A female solo traveler’s story explains why she decided to travel solo and how it changed her life.

You’ll be more open to new experiences
When you travel in a group, you often end up spending a lot of time talking with your travel companions about the same old same old things you do back home, instead of keeping your eyes and ears open for the beautifully foreign things and people around you. Solo travel drowns out the noise and brings these novel experiences front and centre, so you can truly immerse yourself in the foreign culture you came all this way to see.

Wonderful things have a way of happening when you are free from the distractions of the things you know – you see things you would have missed and you meet people you may not even have glanced at if you were in the safety of your regular group. On Expat Explore tours we make a point of asking that our guests take a different seat each day as we travel – this is a great way for everyone to meet and mingle with travellers of all ages and nationalities.

The logistics are far simpler
If you’ve ever tried to organise a group holiday, you’ll be all too familiar with the headache of the logistics involved. Aside from finding a date that suits everyone’s busy calendars, you also have to take into account all sorts of requirements – this one doesn’t want to walk too far, that one doesn’t like big crowds and someone is highly allergic to seafood. When you travel by yourself, logistics become a breeze. You only have one person you need to please and that person is yourself. This kind of freedom is hard to beat and it also leaves you open to add additional excursions to your travel plans at the drop of a hat since the only person you have to consult on the matter is yourself!

“A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike. And all plans, safeguards, policing, and coercion are fruitless. We find that after years of struggle that we do not take a trip; a trip takes us.” – John Steinbeck

You won’t have to share
When you travel alone you get to be completely, deliciously selfish. In a world that teaches us that sharing is caring, this is a wondrous treat. Solo travel gives you the opportunity to truly learn what interests you and what doesn’t. For instance, you might find that those must-see museums bore you to tears and that you are far happier partaking in an interactive experience that allows you to learn about the region and it’s culture by getting your hands dirty. Additionally, you won’t have to feel guilty if you want to spend your free days with your feet up, sipping cocktails somewhere on the water’s edge, rather than seizing the day and running around a foreign city with the vigor of a time-pressed tourist.

Raring to go? Traveling solo on a group tour had it’s perks! Take a look at our great Last Minute Deals and book that trip of a lifetime before you lose your nerve. Have you ever travelled by yourself? We’d like to hear all about it! Get in touch in the comment section below.