The group chat that never delivers
You know how it goes. Someone drops a "let's travel!" message, everyone reacts with fire emojis, and then three weeks of conflicting dates and budget debates later — nothing happens. It is a universal frustration, and increasingly, people are deciding they would rather just go.
A 2026 survey by travel platform Opodo, which polled 9,000 travellers across multiple countries, puts some numbers to what many already feel. The top reason people travel solo? Freedom — the ability to build each day around their own curiosity, at their own pace, without negotiating with anyone else.
Among younger travellers aged 25 to 34, that pull towards freedom has grown sharply. In 2023, 35% of this age group named it as their primary motivation. By the time of this survey, that figure had jumped to 47%. The trend is clearly finding its momentum.
What solo travellers actually pack — and why it matters
Going alone does not mean going unprepared. The survey found that 40% of solo travellers make safety a deliberate packing priority — think first aid kits, secure cash holders and written emergency contacts. Women travellers are notably more cautious, with 44% prioritising health and safety essentials compared to 34% of men.
Beyond what goes in the bag, solo travellers also do their groundwork before departure — booking tickets in advance, downloading offline maps and confirming GPS access. These small steps, the survey notes, make those first hours in an unfamiliar place feel far less daunting and give travellers the confidence to explore more freely.
Alone, but not lonely
One of the more interesting findings from the survey is what solo travel does to the quality of human connection. Fifteen percent of respondents said that travelling alone actually deepened their relationships with the world around them — because without a travel companion to default to, everyday encounters with strangers become more intentional and more memorable.
The personal returns are significant too. Nearly half of solo travellers — 47% — said the experience made them feel more capable after returning home. A third said it gave them space to think, and 27% felt more open to understanding different cultures and ways of living. Solo travel, it turns out, is as much an internal journey as a geographical one.
Why this matters for a solo travel audience in India
India has quietly become one of the most compelling countries in the world for solo travel — and not just for international visitors. Domestic solo travel is growing, particularly among young urban Indians in their mid-twenties and thirties, which maps almost exactly onto the age group driving this global trend.
The motivations the survey identifies — freedom, self-discovery, meeting new people — resonate strongly in an Indian context where group travel has long been the default. Weekend solo trips to hill stations, solo backpacking through the Northeast, or simply spending a few days alone in a city you have never visited are becoming more normalised choices.
The safety dimension is equally relevant here. Women travelling alone in India face a specific set of considerations, and the survey's finding that female solo travellers are more likely to prioritise safety planning reflects a reality that Indian women navigating solo trips know well. Preparation — knowing your route, keeping contacts accessible, choosing accommodation carefully — is not anxiety, it is smart travel.
What the Opodo survey ultimately confirms is that solo travel is not a niche or a last resort. It is a considered, purposeful choice — and in India, that choice is very much on the rise.