It’s not uncommon to want to go travelling but not have anyone from home who might have the luxury of joining you; however, stopping dead in your tracks and putting all your dreams behind you just isn’t on the cards. People from all over the world have the same goals and aspirations and can sympathise that you don’t want to do it on your own. This is how lots of little groups have formed around the world that will welcome you with open arms.
These travel groups have been created for like-minded travellers who saw the need for a little community for solo travellers to join for comfort, relationships and safety. These groups can be a great way to meet others, make new friends and so much more.
A Local Travel Club
Manchester Travel Club is likely one of many; however, this is the one local to me. Manchester Travel Club has formed so people from your local area want to embark on a journey of travel but don’t have people to go with, a route in mind and everything in-between they feel missing they can find with a group of new friends.
There are currently over 3 thousand members and they arrange specific travels, tours and trips any and anywhere around the world. You can essentially pick and choose which ones you want to go on and you are guaranteed to go with a group of trusted individuals from your local area.
They also host webinars and events for you to meet those within the community and allow you to form some bonds before you begin your travel experience with them, which is very reassuring. As this is one local to me and has a completed list of those within the community, it’s a very inviting option. It’s more than likely there is a dedicated travel group within each local city that I would definitely recommend.
Gals Who Travel
I first got introduced to this group through the likes of Instagram and TikTok, where happy and humble videos of girls having the best time on their trips. So you can guess by the name fo the group it’s strictly for solo women travellers who want to meet up and share some time and experiences together. They currently have trips in Bali, Thailand, Costa Rica, Andorra and the Philippines. not completely sure if they have broadened these trips as this was last updated in 2024. How it works is you book onto the trip and meet them in a country beforehand, if that makes sense.
It’s a great way to travel around the country, have everything planned ahead for you and meet some lovely women along the way. I also think they look extremely affordable for how long you do things, while you can definitely do it cheaper on your own but where is the fun in that?
Explore
This is a dedicated travel guide for foodies and those who want to eat well and authentically when they go abroad. The best part is you can enjoy food with like-minded people who also love and appreciate the art of culinary delights. These are usually smaller groups, which keeps things light and wholesome. It’s also a little bit more than just a hard focus on food; you will also get to cycle, go on amazing walks and sightsee along the way, which is like a full holiday, but you get your meals arranged in the best spots.
This is something I always personally struggle with; finding somewhere good to eat when you aren’t a local is so hard and having this already planned out for you means you don't have to stress about anything from start to finish, which I love. Plus, you get to join a small group of people and form some connections. Who knows, you might meet another couple that you can do these types of holidays with in the future.
MeetUp
This is a hub of events, small independent groups and likeminded individuals who are arranging meet-ups with others who have travelled to that city. For example, if you type in the location of a city you might want to travel to, you will be able to join and book up with other people who are solo travelling in the same city.
It’s a great way to meet a group of people safely if, by any chance, you feel a little lonely and want to make some connections with people who are in the same boat as you. I would strongly recommend this app, as it’s relatively easy to use and currently has just over 60 thousand members in 33 locations.
Final Thoughts on Travel Groups for Solo Travellers
When it comes to joining online groups to then meet and travel with strangers, I would strongly recommend you do your research on the group if it’s not one of the ones mentioned today and if you can to meet the group before you travel and/or to video call.
Safety is key during solo travel; therefore, joining a group of others will ensure that your days are extremely fulfilled and protected. Just a polite reminder to ensure that you pack according to what the group's preplanned activities include, so men's smart shoes, swimwear and warm clothes, as you don’t want to be short of appropriate outfits.
WRITTEN BY
After completing a University degree in Journalism, Darcy Fowler has dedicated a lot of time to travelling around the world and experiencing a variety of cultures. Darcy is determined to provide interesting and insightful content with the hope of inspiring others.