15 special interest holidays to indulge your passions on a solo trip
Learn a new culinary skill, conquer a mountain or cosy down for a reading marathon with these special interest holidays
Solo travel is one of the fastest-growing travel sectors in recent years – Google searches for singles holidays have quadrupled since 2020 – and it’s just as big a trend in 2024. But a solo holiday doesn’t have to mean travelling alone.
From learning to cook in Sicily or rambling through the Bavarian Alps to riding a steam train around the Trossachs, these small-group holidays are the perfect way to indulge your passions with like-minded people.
Here, editor of 101 Singles Holidays, Tracey Davies, takes us on a journey of the wonderful special interest holidays that are available for solo travellers.
And with studies showing that having hobbies, interests and passions can be remarkably good for our health and wellbeing, there’s never been a better time to consider a special interest holiday. Research shows that making time for recreation, whether it’s golf or photography, painting or yoga, can help lower stress, decrease blood pressure and alleviate symptoms of depression.
Maybe you’ve discovered a passion for Italian food, fancy yourself as a craft beer expert or like to nurture exotic plants. Whatever it is, making time for these pursuits is an important part of self-care. And if a partner or friends don’t share your interests, a solo holiday could be perfect for you.
These group trips ensure that you’ll spend quality time in gorgeous places where you can indulge your passions with like-minded people. Here are a few of our favourite solo trips for 2024 and 2025.
Get spiritual in India’s Golden Triangle
From the fragrant, bustling bazaars of Delhi, waking up to the sun rising over the Taj Mahal in Agra to wandering around the dusty pink palaces of Jaipur, India is easily one of the most enigmatic nations on the planet. Ideal for solo travellers interested in ancient cultures and spirituality, this incredible 18-day tour of the Golden Triangle also includes visits to the Golden Temple in Amritsar, the Tara Devi Temple in the Himalayas and Tsuglagkhang in Dharamshala, the home of the Dalai Lama.
Indulge in a foodie tour around Bologna and Modena
If you fancy yourself as a culinary connoisseur, a group tour of Emilia Romagna, the larder of Italy, is a must for hungry solo travellers. Good Housekeeping’s six-day trip begins in Bologna, where you’ll enjoy various guided food tours of the city, sampling homemade pastas and ragú, before moving on to Modena to visit artisan producers of the finest Parmesan, Parma ham and balsamic vinegar. A highlight of the holiday is an authentic Italian cookery class with a local chef. Bellissimo!
Indulge your passion for classical music by seeing in the New Year with André Rieu in Amsterdam
Twinkling cobbled streets, frosty canals and cosy, candlelit pubs and cafes, exploring the Dutch capital in winter is a great choice for solo travellers. A highlight is the annual Amsterdam Light Festival, where you can wander through the magical light installations that daisy-chain along the canals and streets through December and January. Indulge your passion for classical music and, along with like-minded fans, welcome in 2025 with André Rieu and his Johann Strauss orchestra at his New Year’s concert at the Ziggo Dome Arena. This two-night trip includes free time to enjoy the Rijksmuseum without the heaving summer crowds.
Go truffle-hunting and beer tasting in Slovenia
A group holiday is a great way to ease yourself into travelling solo. One of the most eco-friendly destinations in Europe, Good Housekeeping’s fun-packed Slovenia trip is a great introduction to Central Europe. Starting in Ljubljana, you'll head out to Lake Bled in the Triglav National Park, explore the Unesco-listed Skocjan caves, go wine tasting in the Vipava Valley and sample home-grown brews in Kamnik, a medieval town famous for its craft beer. A highlight of this six-day adventure is hunting for black and white truffles followed by a truffle-themed feast in the wilds of Istria.
A bookish weekend in the Yorkshire Dales
Meeting and spending time with like-minded folk is one of the many pleasures of going on a solo holiday. One of my favourite ways to holiday involves settling down in a comfy armchair, ideally in front of a toasty fire, with a delicious book or five. And that's exactly what you can do on HF Holidays' four-day book club break in Yorkshire. Perfect for single travellers, guests stay on a full board basis in one HF's beautiful historic houses in the Yorkshire Dales. Aside from plenty of time for reading, the holiday includes guided walks, day trips and discussion evenings.
Learn to cook with an Italian chef in Sicily
One of the real benefits of a hobby holiday is that you often return home with vastly improved skills. This brilliant week-long cookery holiday in Sicily by Flavours is a fun way to improve your kitchen prowess. Staying together in an exclusive 19th-century villa, the small group trip includes five cookery lessons with a local Italian chef, a tour and tasting in a local vineyard, as well as day trips to nearby Modica, Siracusa and Noto. It includes all meals (and wine) and is a great way to make new friends.
Fancy yourself as a Japanophile?
Curious ancient traditions, a rich, vibrant heritage and some of the best food on the planet, it's easy to see why Japanese culture has become a special interest sector all of its own. To make the most out of your time in the Land of the Rising Sun, as a solo traveller it's well worth booking an escorted group tour. Travelling with like-minded Japanophiles, this incredible 13-day trip by Good Housekeeping includes riding the Shinkansen bullet train to Hiroshima, taking part in traditional tea ceremony in Kyoto, and exploring the many neon-lit districts of Tokyo.
Ace your swing on a luxury golfing holiday in Mallorca
Dedicating an entire week to playing your favourite sport is a treat not to be underestimated. Aimed at golfers with a handicap of 38 or lower, this golfing holiday in Mallorca is a great opportunity to polish up your game. Solos Holidays is offering a week-long group trip that includes five rounds of golf on championship courses, including Son Vida, the oldest golf course on the island. It also includes a fancy gala dinner and half board accommodation in a junior suite in the fabulous five-star Zafiro Palace in Palma Nova.
Learn from an astronomer on a Northern Lights cruise in Northern Norway
For amateur astronomers and those simply giddy about the stars and the universe, seeing the aurora borealis dancing across an inky Arctic sky is one of life's greatest experiences. Solo travellers can meet and mingle with other stargazers on this special 12-day Arctic cruise as it sails from Bergen through fjords and ice flows and across the Arctic Circle. Sailing on MS Midnatsol, Hurtigruten's modern small ship, you can learn about the aurora borealis with Tom Kerss, the world's first Chief Aurora Chaser, astronomer and astrophotographer who hosts several lectures onboard.
Seal spotting on the Isles of Scilly
Located 28 miles off the southern coast of Cornwall, the Scilly Isles are renowned for their white-sand beaches, turquoise waters, and abundant sea life. This six-day group trip is just the ticket for wildlife fans. Based at the Star Castle Hotel on St Mary's, it includes boat trips to the neighbouring islands and a wildlife cruise to spot the dolphins, whales, and Atlantic grey seals who are native to these waters. The itinerary includes a guided tour of Tresco Abbey Gardens and a talk by Julian Branscombe from the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust.
A winter wonderland walking holiday in the German Alps
Snow-dusted mountains, shimmering lakes and fairytale castles, Bavaria is like a Christmas card in winter. Staying in a charming spa hotel in Füssen, a medieval town famed for its candy-coloured houses, this walking holiday in the German Alps by Ramble Worldwide is a great introduction to solo travel. Over the week, you'll enjoy guided walks around the mountain passes and glacial lakes of Bavaria, visit Oberammergau, and King Ludwig’s various castles and palaces.
A culture and culinary cruise around Venice
A cruise is ideal for a first-time solo traveller. With entertainment and excursions on tap, a small-ship cruise offers plenty of opportunities to socialise and meet new friends. And unlike ocean liners, which are now banned from Venice, the S.S.Venezia has been specifically designed for the Venetian waterways allowing you to cruise through the heart of this atmospheric city. This exclusive trip includes after-hours tours of St Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace, and a fabulous gala dinner prepared by celebrity chef, James Martin.
Hit the rails in the Swiss Alps
As a solo traveller, one of my favourite ways to explore is by train, where you can kick back in comfort and simply watch the world roll by. This eight-day Swiss rail holiday by Good Housekeeping is the perfect trip for train enthusiasts. Home to some of the most scenic train journeys in Europe, the holiday includes first-class travel on the luxurious Glacier Express, a ride through the Alps on the Bernina Express, as well as the chance to explore the scenic beauty of Montreux and Lake Maggiore.
Raise your glass on a Portuguese wine cruise
Don't listen to the naysayers, wine appreciation is a legitimate hobby and one best indulged in abroad. There are many solo holidays where you can practice your wine knowledge, including this glorious eight-day river cruise through the Alto Douro, Portugal's UNESCO-listed wine valley. Departing from Porto, the luxury river ship sails down the Douro past world-class vineyards, riverside towns and villages. The trip includes various wine tasting experiences, a tour of the Mateus Palace and day trips to Pinhão and Régua.
If you're feeling inspired to take the leap and travel solo, take a look at our collection of incredible holidays for solo travellers.
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