Thinking of travelling solo in Nepal? You're in the right place

Are you itching to trek to Everest Base Camp or complete the Annapurna Circuit but none of your mates are keen? There's no need to wait around to embark on the adventure of a lifetime in Nepal – not when you travel with us. Our small group tours are designed with solo travellers in mind. You'll not only be part of a like-minded crew who share the same gusto for travel as you, but you'll also have an expert local leader to ensure everything runs smoothly and help you get the most out of your trip. So, let's go and have a ball in Nepal!

Our Nepal solo tours

15 Days From 996

Embark on the trek of a lifetime to Everest Base Camp on this tour. Fly into Lukla and...

15 Days From 920

Go trekking in Nepal on an adventure that takes you around the Annapurna Circuit. From...

15 Days From 855

Embark on the trek of a lifetime to Everest Base Camp on this trekking trip. Fly into...

9 Days From 2016

Take a Premium adventure that encompasses much of what makes Nepal so beloved by...

15 Days From 720

Embark on a 15-day Annapurna trekking experience in Nepal. Cross the Himalayas,...

Tailor-Made trips

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

11 Days From 1573

Journey around Nepal from Kathmandu to Pokhara and Bandipur, meet the creatures of...

17 Days From 6345

Embark on a 17-day Premium adventure through the mysterious mountain kingdoms of Bhutan...

19 Days From 1309

Take the ultimate trek. Walk in the Himalayas surrounded by some of the most incredible...

15 Days From 1292

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

8 Days From 330

Trek your way through Nepal on a low-altitude adventure from Kathmandu to Trisuli River...

18 Days From 4595

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

10 Days From 1269

Travel from Kathmandu to discover Nepal’s hidden gems. Explore medieval Bhaktapur,...

The perks of solo travel in Nepal with Intrepid

Eleven Intrepid travellers posing for a photo on Poon Hill in Nepal

Ready-made friends

When you reach Everest Base Camp or witness a magical sunrise over the Annapurna ranges, you're gonna want someone to share the special moments with. That's the perk of travelling solo on a small group tour. There's plenty of free time built into our itineraries, but you'll never be stuck for someone to have a natter with over breakfast, snap a photo of you for the highlight reel or share the thrill of rafting down the Trisuli River.

An Intrepid leader pointing and explaining something on a hike in Nepal

A local leader

Curious about what to do in your free time or where to find the best momos in Kathmandu? Enter your local leader. We think the best folks to show you around a destination are the people who live there. As well as keeping you safe, your leader will teach you about Nepalese culture and introduce you to the best local experiences so you can really get to know the people and places you’ll be visiting.

Two local Nepalese people in Kathmandu creating a sand mandala on the floor

Safety

Safety is our number one priority. Nepal is generally a safe country for travellers, but there are a few cultural norms you'll need to adhere to (not to mention avoiding altitude sickness and patching up blisters when you're trekking in the Himalayas). Whether it's getting you from A to B smoothly or keeping you in the know about social etiquette, our leaders are expertly trained to ensure you stay safe and healthy.

Three local women in Madu Valley in Nepal holding a dish they cooked and smiling

Logistics and convenience

Many of us travel to break the rut of daily life and have fun, right? The beauty of our small group tours means you can leave the paperwork and planning to us so you can concentrate on what you do best: travelling! From securing hiking permits and tea houses (B&Bs) to booking local bus and train tickets, we'll take care of all the logistics and help you navigate any hiccups that put the ‘adventure’ in ‘adventure travel’.

Reviews

FAQs

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

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

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. 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.

Airports are not yet equipped to international accessibility standards and there are few (if any) adapted vehicles available for hire. Only a few high-end hotels have custom built bathrooms ie. with safety rails or roll in showers. Getting around can be challenging for travellers with disabilities as pedestrians often share the road with vehicles, cities and towns are crowded and streets winding and chaotic. Rickshaws and taxis can be hired easily in Kathmandu, although traffic congestion can be severe. Porters and assistants are readily available for trekking trips. The country is keen to make headway in the accessibility space, with an annual conference on Accessible Tourism being held since 2014 and a shift towards more positive attitudes in the way people with disabilities are perceived in the region. The first “accessible trekking trail” in the country was opened near Pokhara in 2018. Travel companies have arranged custom treks and adventures in Nepal for travellers with disabilities, including on the popular Everest Base Camp route.

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 Nepal