Want to Travel Solo but Not Be Alone?
Here's the sweet spot: book a small-group, women-only trip. You get everything that makes solo travel wonderful — freedom, independence, the thrill of doing something just for you — without the parts that make it daunting: eating dinner alone, navigating a strange place by yourself, or worrying about safety. You show up on your own, and within a day you have a whole group of friends. It's solo travel with a built-in soft landing.
If you've been quietly wanting to get away — really away, somewhere beautiful, on your own terms — but the idea of doing it entirely alone gives you pause, you are not alone in that feeling. It's one of the most common things I hear. And there's a wonderful answer to it.
I'm Michele, founder of Roam Freely Outdoors. Most of the women who come on my trips arrive solo, and it's genuinely my favorite thing about the whole experience. Let me explain why "solo but not alone" might be exactly what you're looking for.
Why do so many women want to travel solo?
The desire usually comes from a good place. Maybe the people in your life don't share your idea of a dream trip — your partner isn't a hiker, your friends can't get away, your kids are grown. Maybe you've just realized that if you keep waiting for the perfect travel companion, you'll keep not going. Or maybe you simply want the freedom of a trip that's entirely yours: your pace, your interests, no compromising.
That instinct is worth honoring. Solo travel builds confidence like almost nothing else, and it's deeply good for the soul to do something purely for yourself. The only catch is the part that holds so many women back — the alone part. Which is exactly the problem group travel was made to solve.
What does "solo but not alone" actually mean?
It means you travel as an individual but not in isolation. You book for one. You arrive on your own. But from the moment you land, you're folded into a small group of like-minded women and a guide who handles all the logistics. You have company at every meal, a buddy on every trail, and someone who's already figured out the where and the how.
Think of it as keeping the best of solo travel — the independence, the personal adventure, the sense of "I did this" — while quietly deleting the hard parts: the loneliness, the logistics, and the safety worries. You get to be brave and supported at the same time.
Will I really make friends, or will I feel like an outsider?
You'll make friends — fast. This is the part first-timers are most nervous about and most surprised by. Here's why it works: when most of the group arrives solo, everyone is in the same boat, quietly hoping to connect. That shared openness, plus the natural bonding of a shared adventure, is a powerful combination.
Shared challenge is a shortcut to friendship. You hike a beautiful trail together, you cheer each other up the last hill, you swap stories around the campfire — and by the second day, the "strangers" are your hiking buddies. By the last night, you're exchanging numbers and planning the next trip. I've seen friendships form on a seven-day trip that have lasted years.
The small group is the secret. We cap our trips at 14 women, so it never feels like a crowd — it feels like a group of friends you just haven't met yet.
Is it safe to travel solo as a woman this way?
This is one of the biggest reasons women choose group travel over going fully solo — and it's a smart consideration. On a guided, small-group trip, safety is built in at every layer:
You're never actually alone. You explore as a group, with a guide who knows the routes, the area, and what to do if something comes up.
The logistics are vetted. Lodging, trails, drive times, and outfitters are all chosen and monitored for you, so you're not vetting a strange place on your own.
It's women-only. For a lot of women, that alone makes the whole trip feel more relaxed and at ease.
Do I need a travel companion to book?
Nope — and you won't pay a penalty for coming on your own, either. On our trips you'll share a comfortable tent or room with one other guest (and always have your own bed), so there's no lonely single-supplement surprise unless you want a private space — which is available for those who prefer it. Coming solo is the norm we build around, not an exception we tolerate.
Is this a good fit for women over 40, 50, or beyond?
It's a wonderful fit — in fact, this is the heart of who travels this way. Women in their 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond make up most of our groups, many of them newly retired, recently single, or simply ready to do the things they'd put off. There's an ease that comes from traveling with women in the same season of life, and this decade is a beautiful time to start.
How do I pick the right trip?
Start with two questions: how much of a physical challenge do you want, and what scenery calls to you? Our trips range from gentle and indulgent to genuinely mountainous, and every one has a difficulty rating so you can find your fit. If it's your first adventure, an easier trip is a lovely place to begin; if you're after a bucket-list icon, we've got those too.
The truth is, the hardest part of solo travel is usually just deciding to go. Once you're on the trail with a group of women who chose the same brave thing you did, the "solo" melts away — and what's left is the adventure you've been dreaming about, shared with people who turn into friends.
Frequently asked questions
Can I book a trip if I'm traveling alone? Yes — most women on these trips come solo. You'll share a tent or room with one other guest (with your own bed), and private accommodations are available if you'd prefer.
Will I really make friends if I come by myself? Almost certainly. When most of the group arrives solo, everyone bonds quickly over the shared adventure. By the second day you'll have hiking buddies; by the end, new friends.
Is group travel safer than traveling solo? For many women, yes — you're always with a group and a guide, the logistics and lodging are vetted for you, and women-only trips add an extra layer of comfort.
Is solo group travel good for women over 40 or 50? Very. Women in their 40s, 50s, and beyond make up the majority of these trips, and traveling with women in a similar season of life is part of what makes it so enjoyable.
Do I have to pay extra to travel alone? No — you won't pay a single-supplement penalty for sharing standard accommodations. A private tent or room is optional for those who want it.
Ready to go solo — but not alone? Roam Freely runs small, women-only hiking adventures through America's most beautiful national parks, built so a woman traveling on her own feels right at home from day one. Everything's handled; all you do is show up and explore.
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