Are you a solo traveler on the fence about group trips? Want to travel solo but are considering trying group trips first? In this post I’m sharing 12 reasons why you NEED to join a group tour as a solo traveler – at least once!

Group trips for solo travelers – yes, no? As a serial solo traveler, I never thought I would ever join a group trip. Of the 40+ countries I’ve visited, I’ve gone to well over 30 countries solo, and I have NEVER regretted a solo trip. I had, however, done some small group tours during my travels – but never any tour longer than a day trip – to save money on an experience that would have been too expensive alone, and to meet new people. But I found myself on a week-long group tour for solo travelers to a country I wasn’t sure if I was confident enough in my safety to do it alone – and it ended up being one of my favorite trips I’ve ever taken.

The camaraderie of fellow travel-lovers – exchanging stories of our travels and adding new places to our bucket lists – the staggering amount we learned from our local guide on the culture, society, and more (how to ACTUALLY haggle, I needed that!), and for ONCE not having the decision-fatigue of choosing and vetting every single experience I went on was a huge stress-lifting relief. I felt SO AT PEACE; I could just relax and enjoy every second of the trip to the fullest.

After that life-changing trip, I decided I wanted to create that opportunity for other solo travelers (and non-solo travelers!) to have the same incredible experience and joy I had on my group trip. I decided when my year+ long solo world trip was finished, I would start hosting group trips.

So if you are a solo traveler on the fence about group trips in general, if you’ve been wanting to try solo travel but want to ease into a group trip as a first step, or maybe you’re contemplating joining one of my trips (or joining someone else’s, this is a safe space for all!), then this post is for you!

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One of the biggest challenges of solo travel is being solely responsible for keeping yourself safe. The constant vigilance, the extensive research, and the loneliness of handling tough situations alone can be exhausting. It’s no wonder one of the top questions I get from my audience is “how do I stay safe while solo traveling?” Enter group tours for solo travelers – is there a destination you feel unsafe visiting as a solo traveler? Why not try a group trip there first! 

On a group trip, you have not only safety in numbers (making it less likely you’ll be a victim of theft and other common travel crimes), but you also have the support of your guide and/or trip host, as well as access to the tour company’s own safety resources. Local guides will know what the common scams are, they will let you know what areas to avoid, they can tell you where water and food is safe to consume, and more. On a group trip, someone is ALWAYS watching out for you, making sure everyone makes it home safe, and is actively checking in on where everyone is during the trip.

Local guides are WORTH THEIR WEIGHT IN GOLD. No more scouring blogs and social media for “the best things to do in” or “best things to eat in” or any other burning question you have about your destination – you have a guide right there who has lived and breathed this place since they were born, and you get the opportunity to share in their wealth of knowledge.

If you join a group trip that also has a host, you now have access to their expertise as well; be it their hard-earned travel experiences, or their professional skillset – maybe you’re traveling with a seasoned solo traveler who can teach you their tricks for staying safe, or a photographer who will help you take epic images, or a travel hacker who will show you how to travel for longer & cheaper. Any trip where you can leave with more skills than when you started sounds like a win to me!

The “solo travel tax” is REAL and solo travel is arguably more expensive than many other forms of travel. Just take hotels – you’re often booking a queen bed / room for two – but you’re paying for BOTH spots even though you’ll be the only guest. While some places have started to cater to solo travelers, it is unfortunately the exception and not the norm.

But on group tours, travel costs are often offered at better rates to the tour company, who then passes those savings on to you. There’s also often package deals that are exclusive to group tours, allowing you to save even more. The overall trip expenses are spread out over multiple people – and unlike friend travel, there’s no headache of who paid for what and who owes who.

I can confidently say I have never learned more about a destination than on a group trip. I do try my best as a solo traveler to research the area, spend time learning about the culture and language, but there’s really no substitute for learning directly from a local guide who is there for the entirety of your trip.

There are sooo many subtle things about a place you might miss if you were exploring on your own. Context, cultural norms, language barriers, and more can easily pass you by if no one points them out to you. And the more you learn, the better traveler you are; respectful of local customs, appreciative of differences, and enjoyment in the unique things that make each place we travel to special.

I’ve also found that the more I learn about a place, the more I can not only deeply appreciate and enjoy both the destination and the culture, but also the more I can share with friends and family back home, which makes it even more special.

Trip planning is the joy and bane of my existence as a solo traveler; on one hand, it’s so fun to get excited and research all the amazing things to do, but on the other hand, you are now solely responsible for booking EVERY LITTLE THING. How to get from point A to B, what to eat, is the place I’m visiting CLOSED today for some reason – there are so many things to figure out and connect.

So for me, one of the best parts about group trips is that you just get to SHOW UP AND ENJOY. And I don’t know about you, but it turns out someone else planning my dream trip is my love language! From the moment you arrive at your destination until you leave, every miniscule detail is thought of and handled, so you can fully immerse yourself in the destination. No distractions, no worries, just UNWIND and take it all in.

Even more, the itinerary is EXPERTLY planned by a team of people who have extensive experience in and knowledge of the destination you are visiting. You’re sure to visit all the top sights and might even see some unexpected things you never would have found on your own!

If I had to give you just ONE reason to join a group trip, it would be because you get to meet new people. The people who join group tours love travel, just like you – so you already have one thing in common! And yes, you might not always jive with every single person on the trip, but I bet you’ll meet at least one person that you will find common ground with and greatly enjoy spending time with. Isn’t sharing the insane amazing travel experience with someone right there one of the most beautiful feelings in the world?! No one can truly understand what it’s like – to say, watch the sunrise over the Pyramids – if they weren’t there, and the bond of sharing an experience like that is so meaningful.

The travel community is spread out around the world and it can be difficult to find your people. But long after a group trip is done, you’ll forever be a part of a supportive travel community – and who knows, you might find yourself with LIFE-LONG travel friends who come together every year to celebrate their friendship and visit a new bucket-list destination together. I know I still text and meet up with my friends I’ve met around the world!

The nice part about group trips is that it can really fit your personal needs perfectly – if you are an extrovert, you can chat it up all day and night with your new travel friends. If you are an introvert, you can enjoy friend time and then have breaks to recharge and rest before new adventures. If you love solo travel but were nervous to visit a place on your own – you can do the majority of a trip with others but still have time to venture off on your own to pursue your own interests.

Personally, I am TERRIBLE at having downtime and often burn out when traveling solo, so having planned breaks and free time on a trip is honestly just what I need to be able to fully enjoy and be energized for the more active parts of the trip.

As much as I love solo travel, I would never say it’s truly “care-free”, and while group trips are not always 100% care-free, I can say it’s definitely at least 90% less stressful. During a group trip, you always have the support from the other travelers, your guide and/or your trip host. 

The tour company itself will likely have a WEALTH of resources too – say you needed to find a specific drug or forgot to pack something – your guide will have you hooked up with the exact pharmacy or store you need, just about every single time. You never have to wonder what to do in case you get separated from the group, in case there’s an emergency – everything will be handled.

I’ve had some of the most unique and memorable experiences on group trips – I remember one particular meal we had with a local family; it was such a small moment, but I found this meal and the care put into it, and being able to connect with a local family on such an intimate level, was just as unforgettable as the most epic attractions we saw on the trip.

Group trips also often can get access to exclusive activities and experiences that aren’t available to the general public. A private showing of a historic landmark, a local cooking experience, a special day cruise just for your group – these unique experiences can truly make the entire trip and help you more deeply and authentically experience the local culture.

Even if you never travel with a group trip again, you’ll leave this group trip better prepared for your own future trips – solo or otherwise. From little tricks you learn that improve your travel experience, to learned knowledge that will help you integrate more easily into new cultures, to connections with other travelers as a future resource, or even just knowing that you’ve done something once and can easily do it again can truly transform your future adventures.

Which leads to my next point – your self-confidence will grow SO much as a solo traveler from group trips. The encouragement from your fellow travelers to try new things, your guide’s help in navigating something outside your comfort zone, your own experience being in a foreign country and each day seeing new sights – you’ll feel incredibly accomplished by the end of the trip, and you’ll be able to take those skills and experiences home and onto your next trip.

Group trips allow you to safely explore the world, meet new people – both other travelers and locals – and introduce you to new experiences that broaden your horizons. You’ll find yourself more capable, more open to new experiences, and more able to say “YES” to life and new travels.

I share a lot of my travels both here on my blog and on social media, and day in and day out I constantly get messages and comments like: “I want to travel, but I have no one to go with!” To which I say, BET, come travel with me then! 

Joining a group trip is having ready-made travel friends from day 1! And even better, you will make lifelong travel friends that you can explore new destinations with long after the group trip is over. 

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