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Jules Verne and Explore Worldwide spearhead solo travel drive
Sister brands Jules Verne and Explore Worldwide are increasingly tapping into the growing solo trend as more clients are heading overseas as single travellers.
Their parent company, Dertour Group, highlighted the rising popularity of solo travel in its European Travel Trend Part III report – and pointed to the UK brands for their expertise in the sector.
It said Jules Verne and Explore Worldwide are “leading” Dertour UK’s response to the rise of independent and small-group solo travel.
“While solo travel continues to grow in popularity, many prospective travellers still have questions before booking their first independent trip,” noted the report.
“Considerations around group size, flexibility, personal space, logistics and safety can all act as barriers for those considering travelling solo for the first time.”
More: Explore Worldwide adds four tours to Upgraded collection
Jules Verne reports that 51% of all its small-group tour bookings for 2027 are from solo travellers, up from 48% for 2026 tours.
The brand has launched a Solo Travel Guide that brings together practical advice, expert insight and first-hand traveller experiences to help demystify solo travel and build confidence.
Debbie O’Neill, Jules Verne managing director, said: “Many people still assume solo travel is primarily about independence, but for today’s travellers it’s often just as much about curiosity, confidence and personal enrichment.
“While interest in solo travel continues to grow, we know that many people still have questions before taking that first step.”
The guide’s ranking of Europe’s five best solo tours spans the ancient landscapes of Albania and the volcanic islands of the Azores to Lake Garda, the Austrian Alps and the Baltic capitals.
Explore Worldwide saw solo bookings increase by 18% between 2023 and 2026 with May, September and October proving particularly popular months for single travellers.
Explore traveller and author Rachel Cullen joined a small-group trekking adventure in Morocco as a solo traveller and formed friendships across a group spanning more than five decades in age.
“Sharing our outlook on life and a mutual love of adventure was the keystone on my first ever solo trip with Explore,” she said.
“From the youngest member of the group to the oldest, this was the glue that bonded us on tour. If anything, the vast difference in our ages, life stages, breadth of experience, insights and stories only added to the potential for deep connection.”
The European Travel Trend Survey combines Dertour Group booking data from 16 European markets with an online survey among 8,000 respondents conducted in February, including 1,000 in the UK.
While family holidays remain the most likely type of trip in the next 12 months, at 65.6%, almost 30% of respondents say they are likely to take a solo trip.
The appeal extends beyond relationship status: around one in four travellers in a stable relationship and married travellers or those in a civil partnership also say they are likely to take a solo trip in the next 12 months.
Other trends identified in the report include slow travel, with 53.2% of the people included in the survey expressing an interest in this style of travel.
And almost half of respondents (48.9%) also see holidays as an opportunity to disconnect from social media and digital distractions.
The report also highlights the rise of a new travel mindset: the JOMO (Joy of Missing Out) traveller, who is less interested in ticking off as many sights as possible and more focused on fewer, better, more memorable experiences.
Christoph Debus, Dertour Group chief executive, said: “We see travellers placing even greater value on experiences that feel more meaningful.
“Whether through slow travel, digital detox breaks or solo adventures, Europeans are embracing new ways of travelling that reflect their individual needs, interests and aspirations.”
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