Are You “Solo Enough”? Rethinking What Solo Travel Really Means

There’s a funny (and slightly exhausting) question floating around the solo travel world: Are you solo enough?

It pops up in Facebook groups, under Instagram posts, even in our own ads. The idea that there’s a scoreboard for solo travel. That if you book a tour, stay in a hotel, or—heaven forbid—take a taxi instead of public transport, you’ve somehow failed the test.

It’s as if there’s a panel of judges somewhere, marking your trip out of ten. Hostels? Extra points. Guided tour? Sorry, disqualified. Dinner for one? Congratulations, you’ve passed round one of Solo Survivor.

But here’s the thing: nobody gets to decide if you’re “solo enough.” Not the internet. Not your mate who backpacked in the 2000s. Not the stranger in the comment section who seems to live there full-time.

Solo travel isn’t about proving you can rough it harder than the next person. It’s about making the choice to go on your own terms.

And if that means flying to the Sahara to ride camels with a group of strangers, or hopping on a wine tram in South Africa with people you’ve just met? Guess what. That still counts.

“SOLO TRAVEL ISN’T ABOUT HARDSHIP — IT’S ABOUT INDEPENDENCE”

The Myth of the “Real” Solo Traveler

Somewhere along the line, solo travel picked up a bit of gatekeeping. You know the type:

• “If you join a group trip, that’s not real solo travel.”
• “If you don’t stay in hostels, you’re cheating.”
• “If you take a tour bus, just hand in your passport now.”

Apparently, the gold standard is the lone backpacker landing in Bangkok with only a 40L rucksack, no plan, and enough mosquito bites to last a lifetime. Bonus points if they’ve survived a 17-hour night bus and eaten noodles for 75p.

The bravest thing, though, isn’t eating a scorpion on a stick—it’s showing up somewhere you know absolutely no one.

And sure, that’s one way to do it. But does it mean everyone else is doing it wrong?

If you book a nice hotel instead of a hostel bunk—are you less solo? If you treat yourself to a group trip because you want connection—does that cancel out your independence?

Spoiler: no.

The snobbery usually comes from people who want solo travel to be some kind of endurance sport. But here’s the truth: solo travel isn’t about hardship—it’s about independence. Solo travel isn’t an exam—you don’t get extra credit for suffering.

“BOOKING A GROUP TRIP DOESN’T CANCEL YOUR SOLO STATUS ANY MORE THAN ORDERING DESSERT CANCELS YOUR DINNER”

Why Group Trips Still Count (and Might Even Be Harder)

Ah yes, the big one: group tours.

At OWR, we design group trips specifically for solo travelers in their 30s and 40s. And one of the biggest pushbacks we hear? “But if you’re with a group, that’s not really solo.”

Excuse us, but… yes it is. You booked a ticket. You showed up alone. You didn’t drag your mate along to hold your hand. You stepped onto that plane not knowing who you’d sit next to at dinner, or who’d become your new wine buddy, or who’d laugh with you when you both got lost in a souk.

That’s very solo.

And let’s be real: walking into a room of strangers is often scarier than wandering alone through a city. Backpacking solo? You control everything. Joining a group trip? You’ve got to trust the process, open yourself up to connection, and let things unfold.

It’s solo, plus social. Independence, plus community. Honestly, it’s the deluxe combo meal of solo travel. Booking a group trip doesn’t cancel your solo status any more than ordering dessert cancels your dinner.

“INDEPENDENCE LOOKS DIFFERENT AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF LIFE”

Solo Travel Is About Choice

Here’s the bit everyone forgets when they’re busy policing who’s “solo enough”: it’s personal.

Maybe you want to spend three months backpacking Southeast Asia with no plan. Maybe you want a 10-day guided trip where the logistics are sorted so you can actually enjoy your holiday. Maybe you want a yoga retreat, or a road trip, or a cruise where you never have to unpack.

All of those are solo travel. Because at the heart of it, you made the choice to go without relying on anyone else.

That’s the essence. Independence. Not difficulty level. Not whether you rode a chicken bus instead of a taxi. Solo travel isn’t about how far you go, it’s about how far you’re willing to step out of your comfort zone.

And independence looks different at different stages of life.

“THE WAY YOU TRAVEL AT 23 ISN’T THE WAY YOU’LL WANT TO TRAVEL AT 38”

The Seasons of Solo Travel

Let’s be honest: the way you travel at 23 isn’t the way you’ll want to travel at 38.

In your early 20s, you might love the chaos—squeezing into dorms, swapping stories in hostel kitchens, stretching every dollar until your shoes fall apart. There’s no medal for taking the longest bus. You just get back pain.

Fast-forward to your 30s and 40s and things shift. You might want comfort and adventure. You might crave a proper bed and new friendships. You might prefer meaningful conversations over quick hostel small talk.

That doesn’t make you “less” solo. It just means you’ve upgraded your solo travel operating system.

At OWR, we see this all the time. Our travelers aren’t fresh-out-of-uni backpackers. They’re professionals, creatives, parents, business owners. People who want to experience the world deeply, but also make the most of their limited time off.

Different stage. Different needs. Same solo spirit.

The Power of Community (Without Losing Your Independence)

One of the best things about joining a group as a solo traveler? You still get to be independent.

Want to skip a morning hike? Go for it. Need a solo coffee? Nobody’s stopping you. Feel like opting for a different activity than the one everybody’s doing? Perfectly fine.

But you also get the option to share. To laugh with people over dinner. To swap stories on long bus rides. To gasp in unison at that first glimpse of Santorini’s cliffs.

It’s independence without isolation. You get the choice. And really, isn’t choice the whole point of solo travel?

“WHEN IT COMES TO SOLO TRAVEL, THE ONLY BAGGAGE YOU NEED TO DROP IS OTHER PEOPLE’S OPINIONS”

Why the Gatekeeping Needs to Stop

So let’s circle back: who decides what “real” solo travel is?

Answer: no one.

There’s no international council of solo travel. No secret committee handing out badges. No hierarchy where the “hostel warriors” sit at the top and the “tour-takers” cower at the bottom.

It’s made-up nonsense.

Solo travel is supposed to be freeing. It’s about writing your own rules. Why let strangers online box you in with theirs?

Whether you’re on a bus, a bike, a boat, or a boutique tour—you’re solo if you made the choice to go. And when it comes to solo travel, the only baggage you need to drop is other people’s opinions.

“IF YOU’VE EVER WORRIED THAT JOINING A GROUP SOMEHOW DOESN’T COUNT, HEAR IT FROM US: IT DOES”

Our Take at OWR

At OWR, we’re not in the business of telling you if you’re “solo enough.” We’re in the business of creating trips for people in their 30s and 40s who want to explore the world, meet people, and feel alive without worrying if the internet approves.

For us, group trips are solo travel. Because the solo part is the decision. The leap. The moment you click “book” without anyone else to lean on.

The group part? That’s the cherry on top—it turns your solo adventure into shared stories and friendships that last.

So if you’ve ever worried that joining a group somehow “doesn’t count,” hear it from us: it does. You’re already a solo traveler. Your way is the right way.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, solo travel isn’t a competition. It’s not about who’s rougher, braver, or more “authentic.” It’s about freedom. The freedom to choose your way.

So next time someone asks, “Are you solo enough?” you can smile and treat it as a trick question. We say: If you left the house, you passed.

Book the trip. Call it solo travel—because that’s exactly what it is.

And if your version of solo travel involves joining a group of strangers who turn into friends, balancing independence with connection, and laughing your way through places you’ve never been? Well, we’ll save you a seat.