21 April, 2025
When planning a major trip, I’ve developed what I call the “solo-tour-solo” method – a travel approach that gives me the best of both worlds. Let me walk you through how this works and why it might be perfect for your next adventure too.
Phase 1: The Initial Solo Adventure
I like to begin a big trip with a solo stretch. As a confident traveller, I deeply value my independence during this phase. Usually, when I am going to a destination for the first time, I have certain non-negotiable things I want to see or do, and I find it a lot easier to do these things alone without compromise.
Solo travel means:
- Waking up (or sleeping in) exactly when I want.
- Eating whatever and wherever suits my mood.
- Setting my own pace for sightseeing.
- Having complete freedom to change plans on a whim.
When I’ve invested so much money and time in reaching a destination, I want the freedom to experience it on my terms. For example, I love going to museums and spending time reading and learning a lot about my destination. However, I have plenty of friends who would hate this. This initial solo phase lets me acclimate to a new place while honouring my personal travel rhythm.
Phase 2: The Tour Experience
Eventually, even the most independent and confident traveller can feel lonely or crave companionship for certain activities. This is when I strategically book a tour for the middle portion of my trip. This way, when I am feeling lonely one day, I know that new friends are right around the corner.
Whether it’s Contiki, Intrepid, or similar companies, this phase provides:
- Instant social connections.
- Expert guidance from tour leaders.
- Pre-arranged logistics and planning (someone else does the tricky stuff).
- Safety in numbers for certain destinations or activities.
The tour segment creates automatic friendships and takes the planning burden off your shoulders, allowing you to simply sit back, look out the window and enjoy the experience.
Note: I personally have booked tours with Contiki in the past (and I highly recommend them). They are for people aged 18-35, but there are plenty of other travel companies that provide great experiences for people outside of this age bracket or offer slower-paced options.
Phase 3: The Final Solo Recovery
After an intensive tour schedule – typically one to two weeks of constant socialisation and activity – I’m usually ready for a bit of solitude again.
The final solo segment serves as a decompression period where I can:
- Process all the experiences from the tour.
- Travel at my own pace again.
- Revisit favourite spots or discover new ones.
- Visit old friends.
- Relax.
- Gradually prepare mentally for returning home.
Pro tip: Always book your first post-tour accommodation for at least 2-3 days. You’ll likely need a day or two to recover from the tour intensity. Therefore, if you book just one night, it might mean you’re too exhausted to properly enjoy your next destination.
During this final solo stretch, I take time to reminisce about the tour highlights while enjoying the freedom to travel my way again. By the time that familiar loneliness starts to creep back in, I’m usually ready to head home to reconnect with friends and family.
The solo-tour-solo method gives me perfect balance: independence when I want it, companionship when I need it, and a gentle transition back to solitude before returning home. This is ideal for those who say they usually need a holiday from their holiday once they return home.
This might just be the travel strategy you’ve been looking for!