Solo travelling is becoming more and more popular, giving people an opportunity to meet like-minded travellers and make friends for life without the need to have a travelling companion. Susan Thackray, an avid solo traveller with Exodus, shares her insights into why solo exploration with Exodus is her favourite way to see the world.
“My husband, John, died far too young at the age of 51 and it was then that I realised that it was no use waiting until retirement to do my travelling but that I should seize the day and visit all those far-flung places while I could.” She continued, “My first solo trip with Exodus was just after I took early retirement from teaching Chemistry. I was aware of Exodus because one of my former colleagues was married to one of the Exodus founders, John Gillies. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision because I received an email saying there was just one place remaining on a safari to Tanzania. John was a geologist and had worked with Richard Leakey in Kenya to create a Geology Gallery in the National Museum in Nairobi. While I had visited Kenya on several occasions, I had never been to Tanzania and the trip included a visit to the Olduvai Gorge where Louis and Mary Leakey had first found bones of early man. The trip was, therefore, a sort of homage to John. I haven’t looked back since then.”
What sets Exodus apart for Susan is the intimate nature of our group tours: “What is great about Exodus holidays is that they are always small groups of like-minded people so we all immediately get on well. Everything is organised for you and whether it is a camping safari or a cultural visit, your guides are always experts on the location, the wildlife and birds of the area. I have always appreciated the option of sharing a room with another single traveller and have enjoyed getting to know my roommate.”
While many of the trips Susan has been on have been wildlife safaris, one of her most memorable solo adventures was to Sicily. “I particularly enjoyed the Sicily Food Adventure last year. From making pasta to visiting vineyards, an olive farm and a cheese maker to the architectural wonders of Palermo, the Valley of the Temples at Agrigento and the Villa Romane del Casale there was such a lot packed into this holiday. What really made the trip though was my travelling companions who ranged in age from 20s to over 80!”
Food also plays a significant role in Susan’s solo adventures. “There are usually some meals included in the overall cost of the holiday and I’ve had some wonderful culinary experiences from Pho in Vietnam to snapper freshly caught onboard our Turkish gulet on my snorkelling holiday in the Maldives. Our guides always know the best places to eat and on my most recent solo trip to Borneo and Malaysia we had some wonderful meals in Penang and Langkawi, and in Malacca where we sampled Baba Nyonya cuisine, a blend of Chinese and Malay.”
“There have been other solo travellers on all of the trips I have done with Exodus. Some chose to book a single room, but I’ve usually decided to share a room and have always got on well with my roommate. Groups on Exodus holidays are usually made up of a mix of couples, sometimes siblings, friends or husband and wife, as well as singles and there is always a range of ages. As the years have gone by, I now find myself one of the older members of the group but am rarely the oldest. It is possible to find out from Exodus before you book what the make-up of the group is, but I’ve usually not bothered and have enjoyed the mix.”
While Susan values the time spent with her group, she also emphasises the freedom to explore independently. “In Palermo, I left the group walking tour and visited the Royal Palace and the Cathedral at Monreale instead. In Kuala Lumpur, I took a bus to the Botanic Gardens to escape the endless traffic of the city. I have always felt safe on Exodus holidays as our guides will advise of any safety issues.”
We rounded up Susan’s interview by asking her what she would tell someone who is hesitant to book a solo trip; “If you are hesitating about booking as a solo traveller, I advise you to just jump in and do it. You will make new friends as your fellow travellers have chosen that particular holiday for much the same reasons as you have, whether it’s wildlife or birdwatching, cooking or snorkelling or simply experiencing different cultures. You will have a great time.”
If you’d be keen to join solo travellers like Susan on your next adventure, take a look at our collection of trips that are perfect for solo exploration here.
