The best trips for solo travel, according to Lonely Planet

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Do you or your client love a little solo adventuring? Does the thought of travelling with friends or even family give you the heebie-jeebies? Fret not.

We’ve uncovered a lovely little nugget of gold thanks to Lonely Planet, in which they’ve nutted out some of the best trips to make if going it alone is your style.

To celebrate their new Solo Travel Handbook, the travel gurus have bestowed this wonderful countdown.

Best for adventure: South America

LP writes: “The well-worn Gringo Trail, which encompasses the continent’s most popular destinations along a vertical path, promotes recurring rendezvous with fellow adventurers and, for those inclined, provides ample opportunities to buddy up with travellers heading in the same direction.

“This, paired with the general warmth of local people and the continent’s premium hostel network, makes travel relatively simple, leaving you to focus your anxieties on the likelihood of long-dormant El Misti erupting during your morning ascent.”

Epic solo travel experience: Mountain biking down Bolivia’s infamous Death Road and debriefing with your fellow riders over a few beers afterwards.

Best for food: Vietnam

LP writes: “All over the country, you can mingle with villagers, sample local dishes and sip rice wine in Vietnam’s many regional markets, while a myriad of street-food tours and cooking schools foster social environments in major cities.

“Those seeking respite from the crowds should make for the hill treks around Sapa (fear not, voracious voyagers – a pho is never far away).”

Epic solo travel experience: Learning how to cook a Vietnamese feast; highly recommended is Hoi An’s Green Bamboo Cooking School.

Best for self-reflection: Ubud, Indonesia

Very Eat, Pray, Love, Lonely Planet insists that for solo self-reflectors, Bali remains “a wonderful place for solo travellers to relax, reflect and recharge”.

LP writes: “Solo travel is extremely common here, meaning no more probing glances upon arrival at a morning yoga class or when dining at one of the town’s salubrious vegetarian cafes.

“To really harness the healing power of Ubud (and for some serious solitude), check yourself into one of the many health retreats that dot the verdant hills surrounding the village.”

Epic solo travel experience: Indulging in one of the area’s holistic classes, from yoga to reiki. Classes are offered at several establishments, including Taksu Healing Haven.

Best for nightlife: Berlin, Germany

LP claims there’s a rumour that you’re more likely to get into some of Berlin’s hottest nightclubs if you arrive alone, but regardless of this optimistic tale, Berlin certainly has stolen solo travellers’ hearts.

LP writes: “The sense of history surrounds you, from the Brandenburg Gate to the Holocaust Memorial, while quirky cafes, cool boutiques, weekend flea markets and a growing food cart scene offer more leisurely delights; visit alone or as part of a walking tour.”

Epic solo travel experience: Heading out to a bar or nightclub and seeing where the night takes you.

Best for a group tour: East Africa

LP writes: “While East Africa’s tourism infrastructure is more developed than that in many other parts of the continent, it’s not always easy – or safe – to navigate public transport or self-drive. By opting for an organised tour, you can bypass this stress and simply enjoy yourself.

“Encompassing a number of bucket-list destinations, the tours attract a diverse group of travellers, meaning you’re unlikely to be the only solo traveller sandwiched between canoodling couples.”

Epic solo travel experience: Cruising past hippos, elephants and crocs along the Kazinga Channel in Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park.

You can read the rest of the piece in full here, which covers the following highlights:

Best for a solo stopover: Singapore
Best for culture: Rome, Italy
Best for a city break: Portland, Oregon
Best for a tropical island escape: Caye Caulker, Belize
Best for road-tripping: East Coast Australia

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