The Solo Traveller
Your independence, passion, and lifelong memories.
Departures
Welcome to ‘Departures’ – where stories begin … and not with a booking form, but with a conversation. Here, the team at The Solo Traveller introduce you to the people behind the scenes – tour operators, guides, and local experts who have walked the path you may be considering exploring. ‘Departures’ exists to inspire – to explore ideas, experiences, and perspectives that might just help shape your next journey. Insightful, unpolished, and always independent – think of it as a window seat into someone else’s world.
Departures
In 1998, suffering from depression, Florence Achery discovered yoga, and in 2000, she discovered yoga retreats. For Florence, the timely discovery was a “revelation”, and she would go on to treat herself to a retreat every year – from Ibiza to Thailand, and Morocco to Türkiye. Today, Florence organises and hosts yoga and wellness retreats off the beaten track in the UK, India and The Gambia, where learning to say ‘Yes!’ has resulted in many life-changing experiences for her guests.
Published 8 August 2025
Departures
“I’ll never forget seeing a 70-year-old first-time solo traveller laughing over dinner with new friends in Vietnam,” Sonia Orrego, Head of Product at Wendy Wu Tours tells The Solo Traveller. “It is moments like these that remind me why we do what we do.” Four years after leading her first tour to China in 1994, Wendy Wu branched out to officially establish Wendy Wu Tours in 1998. Today, London-based Wendy could not be prouder of the company’s epic journey from Australian start-up to global group tour expert offering over 110 fully inclusive itineraries.
Published 16 June 2025
Departures
“When a woman is physically strong,” Yvonne Shepherd tells The Solo Traveller, “… she becomes mentally strong – and when we are strong, we have choices. And whilst life is often hard, the fitter we are, the easier it becomes to manage challenges we experience throughout our lives. But most importantly, when we have choices, we have freedom over how and where we move – not only for travel, but for life as well.”
Published 4 June 2025
Departures
For David Smyth, travelling solo has taught him, above all else, “… that the world is far kinder than we often assume. Time and again, people have helped me when I was lost, shared food with me, invited me into their homes, or simply offered a smile when I needed it most. It’s a humbling reminder that despite our differences, there’s a shared humanity that ties us all together.”
Published 4 June 2025
Departures
James Kell has kissed the ground exactly once in his life – after surviving 55-knot winds south of the Greek island of Lesbos, “… in what felt like nature's attempt to turn our sailing boat into driftwood. But here's the thing about that terrifying night – I wasn't alone. Even though I'd started that trip as a solo traveller, the ocean had already worked its magic.”
Published 2 June 2025
Departures
India doesn’t just welcome you, it envelops you. This is a country of contrasts – ancient and modern, crowded and calm, and welcoming and complex. From the incense-laced alleyways of Varanasi to the high-altitude hush of Ladakh, India is a country that confronts the senses and stirs the spirit. It offers ancient wisdom and digital hustle, relentless noise and unexpected calm, sprawling cities and sacred solitude, often all in a single day!
