They say the best things in life are meant to be shared...

With all the tantalising tastes and splendid sites of India, it would be a shame to travel to this incredible country and not have anyone to share it with. That’s why you should join us on a small group tour. Not only will you have a legendary local leader to show you around and handle all the logistics, but you’ll also have ready-made friends to share all the curries with, snap a candid of you at the Taj Mahal and make long sleeper train journeys feel not so, well, long. You might be travelling solo, but you’ll never feel alone.

Our India solo tours

15 Days From 1764

Travel to India and visit the Rajasthan region. Tour from Delhi to Pushkar through...

8 Days From 975

Take an action-packed eight-day tour through the essential sights and bites of India’s...

13 Days From 7660

Take safaris through Panna National Park, Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Satpura National...

11 Days From 782

Get the most out of 11 days in India on this trip exploring the best of Delhi, Varanasi...

15 Days From 2584

See the best of Rajasthan on this 15-day tour. Behold the delights of Agra, Jaipur,...

Tailor-Made trips

Take four or more on an exclusive trip and tailor your itinerary

22 Days From 1110

See the essentials of India’s north on a 22-day trip through Delhi, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur,...

14 Days From 4197

Take in north India’s fabled cities and encounter the exotic wildlife of Ranthambhore...

10 Days From 4320

Take a 10-day India Premium adventure with Intrepid through the country’s north,...

15 Days From 2345

Travel to India and Nepal on a tour from Delhi to Kathmandu. Visit the Taj Mahal of...

15 Days From 1948

Explore the tropical and spiritual southern India. Ride the toy train in Ooty, relax in...

10 Days From 1450

Take an action-packed family tour of India, following tiger trails, visiting Delhi and...

18 Days From 8433

Take a 18-day Premium adventure with Intrepid through India's Golden Triangle, Varanasi...

The perks of solo travel in India with Intrepid

An Intrepid leader and a group of travellers drinking chai in a street

A local leader

As a solo traveller, it’s easy to stick to the tourist trail. You take a selfie with the Taj Mahal, stroll around Red Fort or kick back in Goa. As great as these places are, you may miss out on those unexpected experiences that happen off the well-trodden path. A group tour isn’t like that. OK, you'll tick off big-ticket sites, but you'll also have an expert leader to introduce you to famous chai wallahs, take you to the best street food vendors and give you recommendations for your free time.

The busy ghats in Varanasi, India

Safety

India can be overwhelming sometimes, but it's generally a safe country for travellers and you should be able to enjoy your trip without any problems. That being said, scams, petty theft and pickpocketing (especially in crowded places) can happen. Our leaders know the areas to avoid after dark, can haggle at markets and will help you avoid pickpockets. It’s all the flexibility and freedom of independent travel, but with fewer risks.

A group of travellers eating a meal in a temple in India

Ready-made friends

Go solo, but not alone. That’s our motto. The average Intrepid trip has about ten people on it – people of all ages, backgrounds and places from all over the world. You're welcome to have as much downtime as you want to relax or explore your way, but it's nice to have travel pals to whizz around in a rickshaw with, share a biryani or have a chat over the breakfast table. Joy's doubled when it's shared.

Cyclists riding past a local woman and cows in India

Logistics and convenience

We get it – the thought of navigating busy bus stations and embarking on your first overnight sleeper train can be a little daunting. Travelling alone in India can be confusing and complicated, but not when you're with us. We'll organise your accommodation, public transport and all other logistics of travel so you don’t have to worry. Sit back and enjoy the ride, we've got your back.

Reviews

FAQs

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises). However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others. 

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully. 

Learn more about Intrepid's COVID-19 policy

It's your call. Rooming on our trips is organised on a twin-share basis, but most of our trips also have the option to pay an extra fee for your own room. Just let us know at the time of booking and we'll arrange it for you.

For twin-share rooms, we pair up solo travellers with another traveller of the same gender as per the gender marker on each of their passports. As a responsible tour operator, we strive to create a safe and inclusive environment for everyone. In the case that your gender identity differs from what's indicated on your passport, please contact us so that we can discuss rooming options with you.

On a small selection of itineraries some accommodations are booked on an open-gender, multi-share basis. In those instances it will clearly be stated in your Essential Trip Information.

Whether you’re travelling alone or with a partner, our trips have a set itinerary. But within that there’s time set aside for your own exploration (if you want to – no pressure). Depending on how you're feeling, you may want to have some downtime, ask your guide for a few tips then head out alone, or hang out with the group and see where the day takes you.

You sure do. All passengers travelling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their tour. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.

Learn more about travel Insurance

Credit cards are being accepted in an increasing number of cafes, shops, restaurants and hotels/hostels in India, with Mastercard and Visa being the most common. That said, cash is still king, especially outside of cities like Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai.

Intrepid is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. That’s why we do our best to help as many people see the world as possible, regardless of any physical or mental limitations they might have. However, we’re always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them towards the most suitable itinerary for their needs and where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.

Learn more about Accessible Travel with Intrepid

Our solo travel safety guide

Good advice for us all, but particularly for people travelling solo. Make copies of your itinerary, contact details, passport and travel insurance, then email them to yourself and to one or two friends/family at home. Check-in on social media when you can so people can keep track of where you are. 

If you’re arriving late in a city by yourself, book a hotel with a front desk or concierge service (many hotels also offer private transfers that don’t cost the earth from the airport or train station). If you're travelling with us, we can help you organise an arrival transfer. Read your maps before you head out for a walk (you can use a map app on your smartphone – or take screenshots of where you’re going if you don’t want to use up your precious data). If you need to check your map when you’re out and about, duck into a shop or café to do it. Leave the blingy jewellery, wedding rings and designer clothes at home, and aim to dress like the locals do – hit up the local markets if you haven’t packed the right outfits. Aim to keep track of travel times, so you’re not caught out after dark.

Most mobile/cell providers now offer travel passes to help manage your international roaming costs (which, let’s face it, are expensive!). For a few dollars a day, you’ll have access to data, which means you can log into your apps (like Skype, email and WhatsApp) when you’re out of WiFi zones and quickly get in touch with someone – a friend at home, someone in your group, or the police – if you need to. It might also be worth checking out the local cell/mobile providers as these can be quite cost effective. 

Solo travellers are way more likely to be ‘taken for a ride’ at the airport by unscrupulous taxi drivers, so do your research before you arrive. Make sure you get a cab from the airport/station taxi rank – if you’re not sure where to go, just head to the information desk for help. Touts tend to hang out in the arrivals area and promise cheaper rates, but can often be dodgy. When you get to the cab rank, ask the driver to use the meter or request a cost estimate before you hop in the car – if it’s way higher than it should be, pick another vehicle. A lot of airports have train stations attached as well, so consider public transport if you want to save a dollar or two.

It’s one of the advantages of travelling solo on a group tour: safety in numbers. The big, 50-person bus groups stand out on the road, but a small Intrepid group of eight or nine people, with a local leader showing the way – including areas to avoid and getting around safely – won’t draw much attention. Plus, it’s a great way to see parts of the world you may feel uncomfortable exploring on your own. If you want to do things on your own, consider a day tour to familiarise yourself with a city and get to know the local way of life. 

Solo travel is all about confidence. If you’re relaxed and self-assured on the street, you’re more likely to blend in. When you meet new people, don’t assume they’re all out to get you, but be sensible too and trust your gut. If it feels wrong, it probably is. Remember: the popular tourist areas are often the most well-lit and secure, but they’re often a juicier target for pickpockets and scammers. Just use your common sense; half of travel safety is simply being aware of your surroundings.

Read more about travel in India