If you've never travelled solo before, you've probably imagined every possible scenario for joining a group trip. What if everyone already knows each other? What if I don't make friends? What if I'm the oldest... or the youngest?
If that sounds familiar, you're in very good company.
Those thoughts are remarkably common among women joining their first Adventurous Women tour. In fact, when we ask our repeat guests what they were most worried about before their first trip, the answers are strikingly similar. Will I make friends? What if everyone else is more experienced than me? It's natural to imagine all the things that could go wrong when you're stepping outside your comfort zone.
The reality is usually very different.
Long before departure, you'll begin receiving information about your trip, from packing lists and practical details to advice on flights and visas. Depending on the departure, there may also be a group video call and email exchange, where guests can introduce themselves beforehand. Some women happily start chatting weeks before they meet, while others prefer to wait until the first day. Neither approach is right or wrong, and no one is expected to arrive already knowing the rest of the group.
One of the biggest misconceptions about joining a group tour is that everyone else must already be friends. In reality, most guests on Adventurous Women trips are meeting for the very first time. Around three quarters of women who travel with AW come on their own, and almost everyone arrives with at least a few butterflies.
But the nerves rarely last long. There's something about travelling together that accelerates the process of getting to know people. From our experience, friendships develop naturally through shared moments. Perhaps it's sharing a meal after a day on the trail, spending hours chatting on a scenic drive or encouraging each other through a challenging hike.
And one of the lovely things about groups is the variety of women they bring together. Guests come from different backgrounds, careers and stages of life, yet they all share a sense of curiosity and a willingness to embrace new experiences. That common thread is often far more important than age or occupation, and it's why so many lasting friendships begin on an AW tour.
Travelling with a group doesn't mean giving up your independence, either. There's always space to take a little time to yourself. Some guests are naturally more social than others and there's absolutely no pressure to be 'on' from morning until night.
Perhaps the greatest reassurance comes from knowing you're not doing it alone. Your Tour Leader is there to take care of the logistics, smooth out the unexpected bumps and make sure everyone feels supported throughout the journey. Just as importantly, you'll quickly discover that groups have a wonderful way of looking after one another - small acts of kindness become part of the experience.
By the time the trip comes to an end, it's often hard to remember how nervous everyone was on the first day. The women saying goodbye at the airport are no longer strangers. Many stay in touch, many travel together again and many tell us that booking that first solo trip was one of the best decisions they ever made.
The destination may be what first catches your eye, but it's often the people you meet who become the most memorable part of the journey.
Ready to join your first tour as a solo traveller? Check out the exciting adventures that are available.