The freely guide to solo women's adventure travel in your 50s and 60s

Women in their 50s and 60s are no longer willing to sit idle knitting baby rugs or reading Mills & Boon novels.

They are unashamedly ditching their preconceived roles and embarking on travel adventures far and wide.

More than ever, women in this age bracket are looking for enriching experiences and willing to fly solo to tick off their travel bucket lists.

It doesn’t matter if their partners don’t want to travel, or they are suddenly finding themselves single, or they’ve been unpartnered for many years. They are not going to let small details like this hinder them, and are instead embarking solo on exciting travel adventures without any inhibitions whatsoever.‍

Why are more women in their 50s and 60s travelling solo?

Many women in this age group have shaken off taboos and ageist labels, and have decided that this time in their lives is their time. I can fully identify with this after reaching the milestone age of 50.

Many midlife women desire travel and adventure. We have worked hard, raised kids and retired from their jobs thinking “what now”?

In my case, this was the catalyst for seeking adventure and travel to new and foreign places.

When I found myself suddenly single, my immediate thought was that I was going to travel to all the places on my bucket list. I definitely wasn’t going to let life pass me by just because I was a “certain age” or because I was on my own.

I initially looked for safe travel options joining women’s group tours, then gradually became more adventurous.

Types of solo women travel

Launching into a solo travel experience does not necessarily mean venturing into the jungles of the Amazon with a backpack and a compass. There are many types of travel adventures that you can embark on solo.

• Organised group travel by bus can be a rewarding and very safe way of seeking a solo travel experience
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• Women’s only travel groups are becoming increasingly popular, where you can travel with a small group of like-minded women
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• Hiking or biking holidays, whether in a group or self-guided, are also proving very popular
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• Cruises. Many cruise lines are now offering solo cabins, and most have solo or single social get-togethers on the ship
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• DIY travel itineraries where you plan and book your holiday
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• Organised train holidays are another way to see a country. The pre-planned itinerary includes your train fares, accommodation and sightseeing suggestions
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• Motorhome or caravan holidays. Many solo women are now seeing their own country by buying a motorhome and travelling around
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• Health or yoga retreats are a great way to escape and recharge your battery
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• Special interest holidays, including culinary classes, writing retreats, painting groups and following a sport like tennis championships or Tour de France

Solo women’s travel destinations

There is nowhere in the world that’s off limits, apart from some of the obvious countries where there is conflict or unrest. The best way to check if it is safe to travel to a certain country is to check out the Australian government’s Smartraveller website.

I have personally travelled perfectly safely to Bali, Indonesia, on a few occasions, as well as Vietnam, Japan and France. More recently, I travelled to Ghana in Africa. During these solo trips, I never encountered any problems.

I have gained inspiration from books like ‘Eat, Pray, Love’, ‘Wild’ and a movie called ‘Under the Tuscan Sun’. It has always been my dream to spend time in Italy alone, and this will be fulfilled in 2025.

Whilst the world is your oyster, start small and maybe embark on some solo trips within your own country. Then when you feel confident being a solo traveller look further afield. 

Make a travel bucket list and start ticking it off!