Single tours for 55+

Condolences for your loss...
As a solo (albeit female) "Boomer" traveler I can also sympathize about the group dynamics that can develop on tours. I just returned from a fantastic tour with Odysseys Unlimited. I was the only single among 9 couples.
It was interesting that although I was often invited along, a political philosophy divide (100% American travelers) quickly developed where the two "sides" grouped themselves at meals or on the bus accordingly!
Anyway, you might consider Road Scholar, since their tours have over 55s as their client base. I have only joined their Cuba tour and it was more than 15 years ago so my data set is quite limited. Still, at the time, I was so much younger than the rest of the group, at 57!
Overseas Adventure Travel, with no single supplement as well as advertising single tour sales on their home page could be another solo- friendly option. I haven't traveled with them but a look around the Forum archives shows very favorable reviews.
Happy travels!

Hello Craig,
I do not see any responses to your question in this forum. However, I was wondering if you found any single group travel groups for people over 55? If you have, would you mind sharing what you found? Thank you for your reply.

Dee

”It was interesting that although I was often invited along, a political philosophy divide (100% American travelers) quickly developed where the two "sides" grouped themselves at meals or on the bus accordingly!”

Whew, ridiculous! I can’t think of anything I would enjoy less on a tour - ugh!

Craig, I’m surprised at your experience. I’m also the Baby Boomer age, and the tour groups’ ages have always tracked around my age group. I’m a widow now but previously I attended two of the four RS tours as a solo participant, and I was welcomed by the whole group. I did purposely try to sit near different people each morning at breakfast to get to know them, and I jotted down an associated word with their first name during our initial meeting to be able to say people’s names throughout the tour.

I hope you find what you’re wanting & enjoy your next trip.

Have you looked at Adventures with Sarah? I am not a tour person, but I follow Sarah on social media, and the groups seem very mixed as far as age and partner status. Also, they are quite small groups. Sarah doesn't lead all the tours, of course, and they go to places outside Europe. Prices run higher than RS, from what I can tell. Here is her website:
https://adventureswithsarah.net
Have you thought of checking the Forum section for "travel partners"? https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/travel-partners
I hope you find what you're looking for, and I'm sorry about your wife. Good on you for getting back out there!

I’ve been browsing tours offered by companies other than Rick Steves and noticed that Road Scholar had a few tours exclusively for solo travelers:
https://www.roadscholar.org/collections/solo-only/

I’ve had the same situation on Rick Steves tours as a solo traveler. The group dynamics really vary from group to group. Sometimes there are other solo travelers and couples whom you click with and sometimes there aren’t. I’ve had some RS trips where I still keep in touch with people I met during the tour and had company for every meal. There have been other tours where I’ve felt a bit isolated and ended up eating many meals alone.

I have traveled frequently with Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT: https://oattravel.com/). I would venture to guess that the average age of their travelers is mid-60s. They don't charge a single supplement, so there are always about four singles on each tour, with a maximum group size of 16. Occasionally there have been groups of friends who've all signed up for the same tour, but as a solo traveler I've always made new friends and enjoyed the company of at least several of my fellow travelers,

Not specific solo tours, but I have found that more solo travelers seem to be on the Gate 1 tours I have taken vs. the Rick Steves tours I have taken. I think they ( like myself) wait for the twice a year sales where the solo supplement is waived with Gate 1. This has been March and September in the past.

I’ve been traveling solo for 12 years now and I have learned that I can influence group dynamics in a positive way to help the groups seem more inclusive. I introduce myself. I sit with different people at every group meal. I speak up if I want to share a meal or activity with others during independent times, but I also accept that I may just be on my own and I’m ok with that. I don’t let a table set for 4 keep me from sitting down with a couple. If you wait for others to think about including you, you may be waiting for a long time.

Most people are not trying to “exclude”. They simply have been comfortably part of a couple for so long that they don’t picture anything else. I personally am very happy that they still have the opportunity to travel with their spouses and are cherishing the time together.

One of my favorite couples of all times made it a point to separate for at least half of the group meals to get to know other tour members. I was impressed with their kindness and social intelligence.

My number one tip for couples. Do not say the following things to me. “ Oh, are you traveling by yourself? I could never do that!” “You are so brave.” I’m not brave. I’m just a fellow traveler out to explore the world.

I’ve been on over a dozen RS tours. Almost all in the mid May to early June timeframe. They all skewed towards a modal age of mid to late 50’s or higher.

ETA. Taken from other posts with similar questions. You can always announce when the group breaks for the day….”Hey I was thinking about doing such and such for the afternoon. Please join me if you are interested “ or “I’ll be reservations at X for dinner let me know if you would like to join me.”

I'm sorry you had that experience. I've done 12 Rick Steves tours, 8 on my own and 4 with family members. I have never had your experience but my now, in my mid-70's I am pretty sure I was the oldest one on my last Rick tour.

The most awkward Rick Steves tour was one where there was a group of 11 traveling together. They excluded everyone and made no effort to talk with anyone else. In fact one morning I was down to breakfast early and asked if I could sit next to one of them at a long table (maybe for 8 or so) and was told "No, it's saved". Well, I watched and of course NO ONE else from their group came down when I was there. That dynamic was weird and has never, thankfully, been repeated!

I've also done 13 Road Scholar tours. 5 were activity based in the US and 8 were in Europe. There are generally more solo women on those tours but I also find they are sometimes less adventurous than Rick Steves tour members and can be reluctant to strike out on their own. On one I did as suggested above...said (on a free night) I'm going to dinner at 630 to a Thai restaurant if anyone wants to join me. Several turned up but one who turned up tried to talk us in to eating at the hotel (again!!!) instead of leaving the hotel to explore town. I'm not sure what she was afraid of....it was Falmouth, UK!! Another time after 2 nights I was sick of the group meals at the hotel in Ghent and was going out to find something more interesting. I did mention to the guide and the group of solo women that I would not be at dinner so they didn't have concern about me. No one wanted to come along so I went on my own. I'd been in Ghent a few days ahead plus had been there a couple of years before on a Rick Steves tour so knew where some interesting places were.

I don't mind eating alone as I'm actually an introvert and get weary when I have to make conversation with people I don't know well. You're probably more social than I!

Pam ~ Well said....
Also being an introvert by nature, I do find making conversation with strangers to be so very exhausting. So, although I might be as friendly as can be when we're in a group, having the pressure to be "on" during a meal brings me dread. Isn't our beautiful world all the more so because we're all so different :) ?

Craig, sorry you felt isolated on a tour, that must have been difficult as a new solo traveler. I can't believe you were left to eat alone at a group meal, the guide should have never let that happen.

I have been on 5 RS tours and have always been on the low end of the age range with the average group age at least 20+ years older. Perhaps the season of travel makes a difference, as younger folk may have easier time getting summer months off. Group dynamics can vary widely. Like Laura (who I met on a RS tour) I have kept in touch with some tourmates for years after a tour, others I was happy to bid a fond farewell. Some of the nicest people were couples who warmly embraced this solo traveler - as noted above, that also takes some effort to get outside your "coupledom".

Going solo on any tour that includes free time does take some effort though. I've always planned many options for free time so I have choices. I've invited other solos or couples along on my activities, and I've also been invited by others on their outings. Eating alone is not my favorite thing either but I'm also totally fine grabbing a take away meal and putting my feet up at the end of the day.

Best of luck, I hope you find a tour format that suits your new travel situation.

Craig,

I'm also a "baby boomer" single and have taken eight RS tours and enjoyed all of them, despite that fact that many in the groups I toured with were couples. I always felt "included" with the group and didn't really worry about the "group social dynamics". Since I've been solo for several years now, I've become used to being on my own. On the "free day" that's usually provided on tours, I often have activities planned, such as laundry or touring specific sites of interest to me. If you'd like to try a tour that's configured more for solo travellers, have a look at https://www.roadscholar.org/collections/solo-only/ .

Dear Craig, I have been on 6 Road Scholar programs, but 0 Rick Steves’ programs.

On each of our programs, 100% of travelers have been 55+. Most have been 60+. The oldest was 90. The majority, but not all, identified as retired. Of the pairs traveling, most were couples (both straight and gay), and some were parent-child or siblings duos and some were pairs of friends.

On every program, there were people traveling solo, both male and female.

My husband and I have had meals, bus rides, and outings with many solo travelers. I notice no segregation or exclusion, but I am not speaking with intimate awareness of the solo travelers’ feelings.

Road Scholar group leaders are attentive and would not allow the experience you had. Frankly, they would sit with you to avert that.

I did experience one program which had four couples traveling together. They were inclusive, but I agree, such groupings are not ideal for general camaraderie and the cohesion of the group.

I also find, whatever the meal, that tables for 6 or more make it easier to sit with solo travelers, in a way that four-tops do not. So round tables, long tables, and three two-tops pushed together work well. Travelers should feel free to mention this to their leaders. Most restaurants and all hotels can adapt.

Each of our Road Scholar adventures has included more women than men. There were no grumps, no buddy system, and only a few participants appeared to tip the leaders at program’s end.

We have been with Road Scholar on three continents (so far) so I feel my experience has some breadth, but only city ventures not outdoorsy ones. We have tried both Independent trips with more free time and the regular trips that do include free time, but less of it. Some participants have been braver about public transit than I. We used uber, not the subway, in Mexico City and used both uber and the Metro in Paris. We have not traveled during North America’s summer to avoid both heat and crowds. Many, but not all, Road Scholar participants are well-traveled, both on their own, or on up to 41 Road Scholar programs.

So I hope at least one idea from this lengthy post improves your next trip. As Rick would say, “keep on traveling” and sorry your first foray was made more difficult than it needed to be. It was always going to be different and I am happy you attempted it.

I’m new to traveling solo but not new to tours. I’ve done 2 Rick Steves, 4 Road Scholar, 1 Odysseys Unlimited, 1 OAT, and 3 Gate 1. I would consider Road Scholar my top choice for solo travel, based on personal preference. The Road Scholar tours that I book - Small Group of up to 24, but often less - typically have 4 solo spots to fill. And when I click around on their website, I can see that those solo spots fill up. There have been singles on each of my 4 Road Scholar tours. And the typical age is pretty high…I’m late 50s and I’m usually the youngest person on the tour.

OAT also does have a lot of solos…although the 1 tour I did had only 1.

Gate 1 definitely seems to skew younger for me and there were few solos on the tours I did with them.

Finally - Rick Steves. I did my first tour as a solo with them in 2025 but I was traveling on the same tour as some friends of mine and so wasn’t truly alone. The same was true for the other solos - they had booked single rooms but were traveling with another solo so meals and downtime could be easily filled.

This year - my first year as a true solo, traveling alone - I’ve picked mostly Road Scholar. They have so many offerings, they stay in cities for more nights, and their group size is reasonable.

Definitely Road Scholar tours. I went on one with my mom and at 49 was the youngest person by a decade or more. There were several senior women who had the single supplemental and had their own rooms.

I have taken 6-7 OAT tours (and 3 RS) w/ a limit of 16 tour members of which there are 2-4 solo spots without a single supplement. I would say age is 60-70s, still pretty mobile, and I (young 60s now) am often the youngest on the tour. Typically friendly people not just interested in the sights, but also curious about culture, people and their daily lives etc. On an OAT tour - there are visits to elementary schools, women cooperatives where women learn skills, home visits where you share a meal with the host family, and impromptu visits like stopping along the road to speak to a farmer selling mangoes or a woman selling barbecue rats.... Because of the smaller tour group size, I (introvert) found it easier to feel comfortable talking with other solos or couples. I do travel with a friend now who also books as solo but we don't do everything together. OAT has very detailed itineraries on their website. My first solo tour was RS and I had researched what I wanted to see during our free time. I would mention it to fellow travelers and invariably a small group of us would head off to spend the rest of the afternoon together or I would say, I'm going to the hotel bar for an aperol spritz, anyone want to join? and before you know it most off the group was there ! It was a little nerve wracking to 'put myself out there' but I was glad I did - many good memories from that Village Italy trip.

I'm 81, and since being widowed have tried a few tours: Rick Steves and Road Scholar. The most important thing I've learned is that there are fewer places for solo travelers on these tours and you need to book very early to get them. I'm an introvert and don't mind eating alone. On my most recent Road Scholar tour, the leader was ultra concerned about me possibly not being included. But I didn't WANT to be included! I enjoy doing my own thing.

I’ll underscore what Janet said - with Road Scholar solo seats you need to book early. With about 4 per small group tour, they fill fast. I just got the last solo seat for my chosen Japan tour for all of 2026…and that’s for a December 2026 tour.

One thing I love about Road Scholar - their deposit is only $250 and you don’t need to pay the single supplement at deposit time. Also, if I change my mind about the tour, I can move my deposit to a different tour, which is nice when I am booking so early.

You don't say where you are from. My mother has taken a 2 or 3 Senior Discovery tours. This is a Canadian based tour company though, so may not work for you. While she traveled with friends, I get the impression that the group mixed quite a bit. There is a wide range of tours with them and activity levels.