Fancy a grown up gap year?

Retirees are putting solo travel firmly on the map. One in five of Saga’s customers now holiday alone, with women leading the way. Retired teacher Sue Allen first travelled solo after divorcing in her early 30s. At the age of 67, her next trip will swap life in Derbyshire for three months in South East Asia.

One of the many benefits of travelling alone, says Sue, is that it’s much easier to talk to people – and chance conversations have led to extraordinary experiences. “I was invited to a boxing match in Cuba after chatting to locals,” she says. “I once ended up staying in a convent in Sri Lanka after sharing an overnight train with a nun. In Bangladesh, I drank rice wine with a woman who wanted to show me her home. “People are curious. They’re open. Often all it takes is being brave enough to say, ‘Hi, can I join you?’ or ‘What book are you reading?’ One restaurant recommendation in Thailand – Cabbages and Condoms – even inspired a school project on safe sex that won a National Schools Award.

Travel has a funny way of coming full circle.” Sue recommends getting out early to explore a new destination. “I often go for a run first thing,” she says. “It’s the best way to understand a place and see it waking up, with all its unique morning rituals.” For her upcoming adventure, Sue has opted for an organised trip with travel firm Decades. “For longer, more immersive travel now that I’m retired, I wanted something that offered independence but also community and support,” she says. “This gives me the freedom I value, without being on my own all the time. “When I hesitated because my dad is 93, [dad] said: ‘Just bloody go, Susan.’ So I’m going. For three months. I can’t wait.”

Specialist help

Decades specialises in long-form, slow-travel gap years for retirees (visit www.thisisdecades.com). Founder Laura Cannon says: “Our trips are designed for solo travellers in their 50s, 60s and 70s who want adventure without the clichés of traditional tours. Many of our pioneers choose Decades because they love travelling alone but don’t always want to be alone. They talk about the freedom of having their own rhythm, the joy of meeting like-minded people, and the confidence that comes from exploring the world with a small, curated group.”

Alex English, who runs Reigate Luxury Travel (visit www.reigateluxurytravel.com), a private firm specialising in tailor-made trips, agrees. “Since the pandemic, I’ve seen more of a ‘you only live once’ attitude. A lot of retired clients want to make the most of their freedom, break out of their routine, experience new cultures.

“After years focused on career and family, travel shoots up the priority list. Going solo also means they can do exactly what they want, when they want, without having to compromise.”

Alex is seeing more and more women choosing to travel solo – sometimes because they’re single, but often because they simply have different travel tastes to their partner, and are “happy to go off and do their own thing”. Women-only tours, especially for long-haul and more adventurous destinations, are particularly popular. “These tend to attract women who love the idea of exploring somewhere a bit more off the beaten track but don’t necessarily want to do it entirely alone,” says Alex. “The mood is usually very relaxed and sociable.

“For many of my retired female clients, women-only tours hit the sweet spot: they feel safe and supported, but still have the freedom to try new things and push themselves outside their comfort zone.” Cruises are particularly popular, especially smaller ships, which can feel more personal and make it easier to meet people. Small group tours are another favourite, as they provide companions to explore and have dinner with, but flexibility to follow your own interests.

Alex’s advice is to start with what excites you. “If you love art, sport, wildlife, gardening, photography or astronomy, there will be a specialist trip built around it. When you choose a holiday that taps into your interests, you’re far more likely to meet like-minded people and feel comfortable, even if you’re on your own.”

Tony McMullan, a retired trade union official of NIPSA (the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance) and a member of the CSPA’s Executive Council (EC), is a huge fan of solo travel. As a young man, he travelled on his own to the USA, Australia and Japan, and he’s travelled alone to join bigger tour groups.

He recently returned from a trip to Vietnam and Cambodia designed for single people.

“What are you waiting for?” he says. “There’s a whole new world, new people, new food, new culture and new experiences waiting to welcome you. Just be positive, bite the bullet and you’ll have the time of your life – and, like me, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it before.

“I tell others I’m in the departure lounge of life but still far enough away from the departure gate, so I only like to visit countries I haven’t seen before!”

Tony, the CSPA’s Northern Ireland Branch Secretary, EC representative and newsletter editor, suffered a spinal injury in 2014 that affected his mobility. He finds organised tours let you go exactly where you want but without having to suit others.

The path to unretiring

Former financial adviser George Jerjian helps retirees “unretire” and is a big advocate for solo travel.

George retired at 52 after being given six months to live. Thankfully, the diagnosis was wrong, and a decade later, he became a bestselling author and international speaker who helps retirees find a new beginning. At 69, he embarked on a Jules Verne-inspired travel adventure.

“I’d always wanted to travel the world, but life got in the way,” he says. “I finally mustered the courage, ignored the inner dialogue that tried to stop me, and proceeded with a bespoke travel agent.

“I selected five countries I’d not visited: South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Canada. I left on 21 March 2024 and returned on 10 June 2025. I travelled with the intention of learning new things, keeping an open mind and experiencing the unfamiliar.”

His journey included a safari, swimming with dolphins and visiting Hiroshima, the Great Barrier Reef and the Rocky Mountains. He later turned his journals into a book, Odyssey of an Elder: Around the World in Eighty Days.

Asked whether travelling alone feels lonely, George says: “I loved most of the holidays I had with my ex-wife and two daughters, but solitude was one thing that was missing for me. Holidaying alone means you only have yourself to please.

“This is not about being selfish,” he adds. “It’s about nurturing oneself without guilt or blame. I can explore places I want, and take as much time as I want, without anyone else taking priority. And that’s a luxury I intend to enjoy.”

Sue Allen concludes: “Loneliness can happen – I think it’s important to acknowledge that honestly. But I’ve realised that I’m just as likely to feel lonely at home as I am when I’m travelling. “Earlier on, I felt embarrassed about travelling alone, as if it was somehow sad. I laugh at that attitude now. I’m much more confident these days. I feel stronger, I feel more resilient and I feel at ease in my own company.”