The rise of the solo traveller
Why women are travelling solo.
Across the UK and Europe, more women are choosing to travel alone. For many, this is not about making a statement but about finding time that is genuinely their own. One area where this trend is especially visible is the steady rise in solo attendance at wellbeing retreats.
Retreats offer something that conventional solo travel often cannot: independence without isolation. Women who travel alone are looking for an environment where they can step back from work and domestic pressures without taking on the full burden of planning, logistics or safety. A retreat provides a clear structure, skilled instruction and a predictable rhythm to the day, while still allowing space for personal time.
Activities that support both physical and mental reset have become increasingly influential in this shift. Walking and hiking, for example, are now core components of many retreats. The appeal is both practical and psychological: steady movement outdoors creates a natural break in thought patterns, and landscapes that are quiet and uncrowded offer a sense of perspective that is difficult to access in daily life.
Cold-water experiences are also attracting growing interest. The combination of controlled exposure, expert guidance and group support allows women to try something they might not attempt alone. Whether it is a short wild swim in a lake or a dip in a sheltered coastal spot, the effect is often the same: a moment of clarity, a stronger connection to their body and a sense of achievement that lasts well beyond the retreat itself.
Swimming more generally plays a similar role. For women who carry stress in the body, time in the water can provide relief without intensity. It is accessible, low impact and, when paired with a calm environment, supports rest as much as exertion.
ZestLife, established in 2010, has seen these patterns firsthand. Increasing numbers of guests arrive alone and are drawn to retreats that combine thoughtful yoga practice with time outdoors, whether on guided hikes, coastal walks or wild swims. Many describe the appeal as twofold: the chance to be physically active in nature, and the reassurance of being supported by experienced teachers and hosts.
What women often report afterwards is not a dramatic transformation but a practical shift in how they feel. Better sleep. A clearer head. More confidence in being outdoors alone. The return of simple habits that get eroded under the weight of routine.
For a demographic that has spent years balancing careers, families and responsibilities, these retreats provide rare conditions: time away from noise, predictable care, and environments where nothing is demanded of them. They offer a kind of reset that is measurable rather than abstract, shaped by good food, steady movement, time in nature and the relief of not having to make constant decisions.
The rise of the solo retreat reflects a wider change in how women are valuing their time and wellbeing. Travelling alone is no longer seen as unusual. It is increasingly viewed as a practical route to rest, renewal and the space to rethink what a balanced life might look like.
If a trip abroad with a group of like minded, enthusiastic women sounds like your cup of tea, browse our retreat page for up to date offers. https://www.zestlife.co.uk/explore-retreats
