Lifestyle Trend:Discover lifestyle trends, travel ideas, and practical tips related to Lifestyle Trend: The private members club set on changing the solo travel industry You Should Know – You Should Know
Solo travel — especially female solo travel — is on the rise. Women now account for the majority of solo bookings worldwide, and nearly 40 per cent said they planned a solo trip in 2025, according to the BBC.
Clearly, it’s much more than just a travel buzzword. But there’s still a surprising lack of companies that cater to this growing sector, especially women looking for a luxury experience.
This is the driving force behind Club Avandra, which launched at the tail-end of 2025 with an apparently unique offering: a private members club specialising in solo travel for women.
“Lots of women, whether they are with a partner and family or not, have got to a life stage where they want to travel solo,” says Club Avandra’s lifestyle director Marianne Jones. “Women are so much more confident than they were in the past, and of course they now have a lot more economic clout.”
The club offers high-end, thoughtfully curated options for those looking to travel in style in small, like-minded groups of up to 10. Think of it as a kind of ‘solo together’ option.
“You get to a stage, I think, where you don’t want to be backpacking, you don’t want to be looking at three- or four-star stuff, and you’re past the point of needing to compromise,” says Jones. “Club Avandra is for the sort of woman who orders from the middle of the wine list. I use the acronym ‘Swans’, which stands for ‘sorted, worldly and no sh*ts given’.”
And where might the ‘Swans’ want to travel? If you ask Jones, they’re probably up for a spa-heavy ski trip to Verbier, a six-day journey through ancient Jordan, a foodie tour of Galicia, or a tour of the Marrakech souks with veteran fashion editor Jo Elvin.
More solo travel trips for 2026
Amalfi coast
Pexels
Who wouldn’t want to spend 16 days crossing the length of Italy, hopping from the glittering Amalfi Coast to the canals of Venice? All the better if you can do it among a group of adventurous women. Stops on the way include Perugia and Florence, with all the wining, dining and masterpiece-marvelling you’d hope for along the way.
Departure dates from May to August 2026
You don’t have to be a fan of The Traitors to see the appeal of a bracing trip to the Highlands. This guided adventure welcomes solo travellers, promising cold loch plunges, pine-scented hikes, fireside whisky and wildlife-spotting aplenty. The Isle of Mull and rugged Cairngorms National Park will be highlights.
Departure dates from April 2026
Pakistan might not seem like an obvious choice for a solo travel venture, but this guided women-only tour is the ideal way to explore this oft-overlooked destination. It takes in the beauty of Gilgit Baltistan and food-focused Hunza, while also taking travellers off the beaten track to meet locals and forge unique connections.
Departure dates from September 2026