Solo Travel
Solo travel isn't just for backpackers hopping through European hostels or spiritual seekers finding themselves in Bali. The solo travel market hit $482 billion in 2024 and is projected to exceed $1 trillion by 2030 - and men are driving a significant portion of that growth. Male solo travelers represent a fast-expanding segment, with the male solo travel market expected to grow at 13.8% annually through 2030.
What Do You Call Your "Guys Trips"?
- Male solo travelers tend toward outdoor-oriented experiences - 20% prefer camping, cabin stays, and wilderness travel compared to general solo travelers who gravitate toward cities and cultural destinations.
- Solo travel builds genuine confidence that translates back home - navigating foreign train systems, ordering dinner in broken Japanese, or finding your way through a new city rewires how you approach unfamiliar situations.
- The logistics have never been easier - dedicated solo cabins on cruise ships, tours designed for single travelers, and apps that connect solo travelers have eliminated most friction from independent travel.
- Men over 50 represent one of the fastest-growing solo travel demographics, with 40% of Baby Boomers having taken a solo trip in the past year.
- Unlike the perception that solo travel equals lonely travel, 90% of solo travelers join organized tours or group activities at least some of the time - you control when you're social and when you're not.
There's a misconception that solo travel is primarily a young person's pursuit or something women do more than men. The reality is more nuanced. While women currently make up about 54% of the solo travel market, men are catching up fast - 55% of male travelers plan to take more solo trips in the coming years. And the age distribution might surprise you: travelers aged 25-40 account for 44% of the market, but the 50+ demographic is growing rapidly and tends to spend more per trip.
Why Men Should Consider Solo Travel
The benefits of traveling alone extend well beyond the trip itself. Solo travel forces you to be present, make decisions quickly, and rely on your own judgment. There's no defaulting to what the group wants or letting someone else handle the details.
For men who spend their professional lives in meetings and their personal lives juggling family obligations, solo travel offers something increasingly rare: uninterrupted time with your own thoughts. Whether that's a week fishing in Montana without checking your phone or walking the streets of Tokyo at 2 AM because jet lag has you wired, solo travel creates space that group trips simply don't.
The confidence factor is real. Successfully navigating a country where you don't speak the language, handling unexpected situations like missed connections or closed attractions, and simply being comfortable in your own company for extended periods - these experiences build a kind of self-reliance that's hard to develop any other way.
Best Solo Travel Destinations for Men
Japan consistently ranks among the top destinations for solo male travelers. The combination of safety, efficient public transportation, incredible food, and a culture that respects personal space makes it ideal for independent exploration. Tokyo's energy at any hour, Kyoto's temple walks, and the hiking trails of the Japanese Alps offer enough variety for trips lasting a week or a month. For a deeper dive into what makes Japan work for men traveling alone, check out our guide to solo trips for men to explore Japan.
Southeast Asia offers incredible value and a well-worn backpacker trail that makes solo navigation straightforward. Thailand in particular has developed infrastructure specifically catering to independent travelers, from affordable guesthouses to organized tours that help solo visitors connect with others when they want company.
European cities work well for first-time solo travelers - London, Amsterdam, and Barcelona have enough English speakers and straightforward transit systems to ease you in, while cities like Lisbon and Prague offer excellent value. Our guide to the best places in Europe for a solo trip for men breaks down options by interest, from history and nightlife to food and sports.
The Middle East is emerging as a compelling solo destination. Dubai ranks among the world's safest cities for solo travelers, with English spoken everywhere, world-class dining that embraces solo diners, and a substantial expat population that creates an inherently welcoming environment.
Within the United States, national parks remain the quintessential solo male destination. Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and the Utah parks offer the kind of wilderness immersion that works better alone than in groups. For those who want to cover ground, solo road trips through the American West deliver the combination of freedom and adventure that defines independent travel.
Tours and Group Options for Solo Travelers
The tour industry has recognized solo travelers as a major growth market. Companies like Intrepid Travel, G Adventures, and Trafalgar now offer departures specifically designed for single travelers or waive the dreaded single supplement on select itineraries.
For men over 50, Road Scholar runs educational travel programs with solo-only departures covering everything from European walking tours to Latin American cultural immersions. These programs attract intellectually curious travelers and handle all logistics - you show up and learn.
The adventure travel segment caters heavily to solo travelers. Whether it's a fly-fishing expedition in New Zealand, a wildlife safari in Botswana, or a motorcycle tour through Vietnam, outfitters have built businesses around men traveling alone or joining small groups of strangers who share specific interests.
Cruising Solo
Cruising has evolved dramatically for solo travelers. Norwegian Cruise Line pioneered dedicated solo studio cabins over a decade ago - small but private spaces without the single supplement penalty. These approximately 100-square-foot rooms include access to an exclusive Studio Lounge where solo cruisers can meet others traveling independently. Celebrity, Holland America, Royal Caribbean, and Virgin Voyages have followed with their own solo cabin options or reduced supplement programs.
River cruises particularly suit solo travelers over 50. Tauck waives the single supplement on Category 1 cabins across all European river cruises, and lines like Avalon Waterways and Scenic regularly offer free or reduced supplements on select sailings. The intimate ship size, included shore excursions, and structured social opportunities make river cruising a natural fit for those traveling independently.
Expedition cruising - think Alaska, Antarctica, and the Galapagos - attracts a high percentage of solo travelers. The shared focus on wildlife viewing and exploration creates natural conversation starters, and most expedition lines offer roommate matching programs for those willing to share accommodations.
Practical Considerations
Safety ranks as the top concern for potential solo travelers, but the data shows that men worry about safety far less than women - only 18% of male solo travelers cite it as a primary concern compared to 55% of women. That said, basic precautions apply: share your itinerary with someone back home, keep copies of important documents, and trust your instincts in unfamiliar situations.
The single supplement remains the biggest financial obstacle to solo travel. Hotels and cruises price based on double occupancy, and a solo traveler often pays 150-200% of the per-person rate. Strategies to minimize this include booking accommodations that charge per room rather than per person, traveling during shoulder season when operators are more likely to waive supplements, and choosing tour companies that offer roommate matching or dedicated solo pricing.
Dining alone intimidates some men more than navigating foreign airports. The reality: restaurant staff see solo diners constantly, bar seating exists specifically for this purpose, and most cities have food markets and counter-service spots where eating alone is the norm. A book, a phone, or just watching the world go by - solo dining gets comfortable quickly.
Making the First Trip Happen
If you've never traveled solo, start with a long weekend somewhere domestic. A few days in a city you've always wanted to visit, a national park you've driven past but never stopped at, or a sporting event in a city that requires a plane ticket. The goal is proving to yourself that traveling alone is not just possible but genuinely enjoyable.
From there, international trips become less intimidating. Countries with strong tourism infrastructure - Japan, much of Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand - offer ideal training grounds. English is widely spoken, transportation systems are reliable, and the travel industry is accustomed to independent visitors.
The men who travel solo consistently report the same thing: once you do it, you wonder why you waited. The freedom to be entirely selfish with your time, to change plans on a whim, to sit with your own thoughts without distraction - these aren't consolation prizes for not having travel companions. They're the point.
