Is It Still Solo Travel If You're Traveling with a Group of Solo Travelers?

When you think of solo travel, what comes to mind?

A backpacker wandering through a quiet mountain village? A woman journaling alone at a seaside café? Someone navigating a foreign city with nothing but a map, a dream, and a carry-on?

But here’s a question I hear often, especially from those dipping their toes into solo travel for the first time:

If you join a group of other solo travelers, are you still traveling solo?

The short answer: yes.

The real answer: it depends on your intention.

At its core, solo travel isn’t defined by being physically alone every second of the journey. It’s about traveling independently, without a companion from your regular life. You're not bringing along your best friend, your spouse, or your coworker. You're choosing to step into the world on your own terms.

So when you join a group of other solo travelers, you’re still traveling solo, just alongside people who are also on their own journeys. It’s not unlike sharing a trail with other hikers: you’re each walking your own path, but for a time, your steps align.

The Beauty of "Solo Together"

There’s something comforting, even powerful, about connecting with others who understand the courage it takes to book a trip on your own. A group of solo travelers creates a unique space: one where you can be alone when you need to be, and together when you want to be.

You can share meals, swap stories, explore side by side, and still retreat into your own head and heart when you feel called to. That’s the difference between codependence and chosen companionship.

You're Still the Main Character of Your Journey

In a group of solo travelers:

• You decide how much to engage.

• You choose what the day looks like.

• You’re not responsible for anyone else’s experience but your own.

And that’s what makes it solo travel.

Whether you’re grieving, growing, or simply craving something new, choosing to join a solo travel group can offer the connection you want, without sacrificing the freedom you need.

So yes — you can be solo and still not be alone. And that, to me, is one of the most beautiful truths of travel.