Why Solo Travel Is Surging — And Who’s Leading the Movement
If you’ve been following along, you might have noticed it’s been about a month since my last post.
Time slips away quickly for me this time of year — especially as I’ve added a few more projects to my days in the veterinary space — and I simply ran out of bandwidth. Which is okay.
The past few weeks have been full, but in the best and most enriching ways. I’ve been building, refining, dreaming, and having honest conversations about the kind of travel experiences I want to create moving forward.
Changing careers — or even partially shifting careers — is not a small thing. But as I’ve wrapped up the first full year of Wayward Wings Travel, I’ve had time to reflect. The wins this year have been meaningful. And I couldn’t be happier that I chose to build this alongside the rest of my life.
Part of that reflection has included researching different travel styles and trends, and what I keep coming back to are a few key ideas:
Travel isn’t just about going somewhere.
It’s about who you are when you get there.
And meeting people where they are in their travel journeys.
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about solo travel.
Solo travel used to feel niche. Today, it’s one of the most talked-about forms of leisure travel — and the data reflects that.
So I wanted to talk about it today — and share a little about what I’m building in this space.
Who’s Traveling Solo — The Numbers
You know I’m a numbers girlie (R&D left an impression). Here’s what recent travel research shows:
Younger generations are all in.
A 2025 study found that roughly 76% of Gen Z and Millennial travelers planned to take a solo trip in the year, driven by autonomy, flexibility, and experience-rich travel desires.
Women are a dominant force.
Across multiple industry analyses, women make up a majority of solo travelers — with reports often showing 60-75%+ of solo travelers identifying as female in recent surveys.
This doesn’t just mean women travel alone more — it reflects broader cultural shifts around independence, self-direction, and redefining traditional travel norms.
Representation matters.
In a 2023 travel survey, LGBTQ+ individuals represented about 22% of solo travelers, despite being a smaller percentage of the overall population. This suggests that inclusive, affirming travel experiences are increasingly important for many people.
Age is shifting too.
While retirees once dominated solo travel, younger travelers now shape the trend: studies show that 68-69% of solo travelers are under age 35, and 18% of Gen Z (ages 18–24) have taken at least one solo trip, up from 12% five years ago.
And while the narrative often centers on youth and women, solo travel is truly multi-layered — people from many identities and life stages are choosing to go alone, whether for a long trip or a short weekend getaway.
Why People Choose to Go Solo
Data and surveys point to some clear motivators:
Autonomy and personal choice.
People want to set their own schedules, priorities, and pace — without having to coordinate preferences or timelines with others. This has become especially appealing in an era where flexibility and self-direction are valued.
Growth and self-discovery.
Travelers frequently report that solo travel boosts confidence and opens up new perspectives — and that effect often outlasts the trip itself.
Shifts in how we work and live.
With remote work and flexible schedules more common, many people find it easier to take time for travel on their own terms — whether that’s a quick trip or something longer abroad.
The pull of social media.
To be frank — social platforms have normalized solo experiences. Influencers document independent adventures in ways that make it feel more accessible and normalized than ever before. And for some, staying digitally connected creates a sense of safety; when you’re sharing in real time, you don’t feel entirely alone.
But Let’s Be Honest — There Are Real Concerns
Not everyone approaches solo travel with blind excitement. Common worries surface again and again in research and conversations:
Safety: Whether it’s navigating unfamiliar cities, transit after dark, or cultural differences, safety is a top concern — especially for women, POC, and LGBTQ+ travelers. Planning and research matter.
Loneliness: Some travelers worry that “alone” will feel like “isolated.” Many find, though, that solo journeys often lead to social connection — just on their own terms.
Identity-based experiences: Racial and sexual minorities often weigh cultural acceptance, legal protections, and community presence in their destination choices — and that absolutely shapes where and how they travel.
This mix of opportunity and caution is valid and speaks to the complexity of solo travel today.
What All of This Means
Solo travel isn’t a one-size-fits-all experience. It’s a spectrum— from full independence in remote places to shorter trips with built-in social touches or optional meet-ups. Data shows people are exploring versions of solo travel that reflect their values, identities, and comfort levels.
And I’ve been listening — because the questions I get from you often aren’t “Should I go?” but “What does that look like for me?”
Enter: Solo, Together
I’m currently working on something that feels really aligned with both my intentions and the direction of Wayward Wings Travel.
I’m collaborating with my host agency, City to Sea Travel, on a concept called Solo Together.
The idea is simple, but powerful. You travel independently — but within a small, intentional group of like-minded travelers.
You have your own:
Space.
Time.
Autonomy.
But you also have shared experiences, built-in community, and the comfort of knowing you’re not navigating everything completely alone.
Think:
Shared welcome dinners
Online pre-trip communities for those who want to connect before the trip
Optional excursions
Open-ended general itineraries with plenty of time for personal exploration
No pressure to be “on” 24/7
A group of people right there with you who can help if needed
It’s for the person who craves growth, connection, and maybe even a little bravery, but doesn’t necessarily want to do it in isolation.
Why This Matters to Me
As someone who works closely with people in high-burnout professions, caregivers, and those who are constantly pouring into others — I see how often people put themselves last.
Solo travel can be an act of reclamation; a reset, a confidence builder, and a reminder that you are allowed to take up space in the world.
But I also believe in community. In shared laughter. In “did you see that?!” moments.
Solo, Together is about holding both.
And this month of quiet has been me building that carefully and intentionally.
I’ll be sharing more soon — destinations, structure, who it’s for, and how it will work.
If solo travel has been on your mind, but something has held you back, I want you to know: you’re not strange for feeling that way. And maybe this is your season to go — just not entirely alone.
If you’d like to be the first to hear about Solo Together opportunities, reach out. I’d love to talk through whether it might be the right fit for you.
Yours in flight,
Tianna
