Explore unveils single room sale as solo travel soars

Explore has reported a surge in solo traveller numbers as it launches a single room sale, with savings of up to £650 per person.

The Go Solo & Save sale features free single supplements on hundreds of 2022 departures, with nearly all others at half price until March 1.

The escorted tour specialist reported that the number of solo travellers joining its small group trips have risen sharply over the past two years.

About 60% of Explore bookings for 2022 are for solo travellers, with numbers up by 27% on 2019 levels.

Ben Ittensohn, Explore’s sales director, said: “We’re seeing a sharp increase in solo travel booked through our agent partners.

“Rather than waiting for family, friends or partners to join their next adventure, travellers are seizing the moment, and joining our trips on their own.

“We wanted to launch a sale that was really attractive in the current environment to help our agent partners capture this demand.”

Hundreds of best-selling trips are included in the Go Solo & Save Sale, such as tours of the Amalfi Coast, the Annapurna Circuit, the rainforests of Costa Rica and the temples of Gujurat.

Ittensohn added: “Europe continues to top the polls as the go-to continent for solo travellers and, while solo bookings are up across the board, it’s Explore’s active trips that are seeing the biggest increase, with solo bookings on walking and cycling tours in Europe up a whopping 113% on pre-pandemic levels.”