Solo travel is a marvellous thing, perhaps taking us out of our comfort zones and also giving us the chance to meet new people and live experiences we wouldn’t if we had to take a travelling companions into account. We’ve shared some of our favourite destinations for solo travellers.
Repeatedly named the safest country by the Global Peace Index, this Nordic name is one of our favourites for in-your-face nature. Blessed with dramatic landscapes of glaciers, hot springs, geysers, volcanoes and lava fields, it begs to be explored under your own steam or the many excursions we can arrange from the capital - tailor-made to you but including the Golden Circle of the country’s most popular natural attractions: Gullfoss waterfall, Geysir and Thingvellir National Park. Geothermal-run Reykjavik itself is fantastic for a city break, with sights including the National and Saga museums with their Viking history displays.
With huge numbers of solo travellers exploring its cities, beaches, rainforest and other attractions, the Pacific coast of Australia is a brilliant place to go it alone, with plenty of scope to socialise with others when the mood strikes. It’s hard to narrow down our top spots, but Sydney is a must-see, as is the Cairns and Port Douglas area - gateway to the Great Barrier Reef for out-of-the-world snorkelling and swimming, and to the world’s oldest rainforest, Daintree, where you can live authentic aboriginal experiences and see cassowaries and crocodiles.
Who needs travelling companions when you’re surrounded by nature like this? This volcanic archipelago is one of the world’s best destinations for wildlife-viewing, but it’s hugely protected for good reason. We’ll book you onto an intimate boat cruise with an eco-friendly operator whose expert crew will help you make the most of your observation of the plant and animal species that inspired Charles Darwin ’s theory of evolution– many found nowhere else on Earth, including marine iguana and fur seals.
Forbes named Portugal the friendliest country in the world, and its capital Lisbon is one of our top city-break recommendations in all Europe. Both timeless and modern, laidback and exciting, and sun-drenched to boot, it offers up simple pleasures – sampling Pastéis de Belém’s famed custard tarts, feasting on grilled sardines in the Alfama district, and riding the tram or funicular to discover charming neighbourhoods. You’re also a short hop from Atlantic surfing beaches and beauty spots such as Azenhas do Mar ('Watermills of the Sea').
Within easy reach of Ireland and with locals who all speak great English, the Netherlands’ capital is one of our favourite city-break destinations, tailor-made for canal-boat rides and exploring by bike. Art-lovers are in heaven here, too, with world-class works on display at many venues including the Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk and the Van Gogh Museum. There’s wonderful architecture to discover as well, including canalside buildings with iconic gabled facades.
A wonderful South-east Asian destination that we always recommend to our customers looking for something further-flung, Vietnam has well-trodden routes for touring – and we are able to offer an array of tailor-made options taking into account your interests. These might be foodie-focused, history-based, remote sorties in search of hill tribes from whom you might learn about traditional ways of life, or even beach breaks - or a combination of some or all of these.
This ten night self-drive takes two people through some of the most dramatic landscapes on earth, from the towering red dunes of the Namib Desert to the wildlife-rich plains of Etosha National Park. With flights from Dublin, 10 days car hire and accommodation throughout included, Namibia is one of Africa's great road trip destinations and this route covers the best of it.
This seven night river cruise through Central Europe connects some of the continent's most historic cities in one well paced route. Sailing on the five star MS Riviera Radiance from Budapest through Slovakia and Austria, with guided tours included at every stop, full board dining and a drinks package.
This eighteen night trip departs Dublin on New Year's Eve and takes you from Buenos Aires to Antarctica and back. With two nights in the city before you board, a Prime Veranda cabin and gratuities included, it is one of those trips that very few people ever get to do.
