Explore and Intrepid alternatives for people who travel on their own

If you are looking for Explore and Intrepid alternatives because you travel on your own, Spice Escapes is a UK tour operator running small hosted group holidays where most people have booked alone. A host travels with the group, and the trips range from snorkelling in the Maldives to walking in northern Spain.

We have no connection to Explore or to Intrepid. Here is what Intrepid says about its own trips, what we do differently, and which of our holidays suit an adventure traveller. If the other company would suit you better, we would rather you knew.

What Intrepid says about its small group adventures

All of this comes from Intrepid's own website.

• A long record. Intrepid says it has led travellers around the world for over 35 years, and calls itself the world's largest purpose-led adventure travel company. It says it is B Corp certified.
• Small groups and local leaders. Its solo travel page talks of a close-knit crew of up to 14 travellers, with a local leader to show you around.
• Plenty of solo travellers. Intrepid says over half of its travellers go solo, and that its groups span all age brackets and backgrounds.
• Rooms. Rooming is on a twin-share basis, with solo travellers paired with another traveller of the same gender. If you want your own space, Intrepid says you can pay for an individual room on most trips for an additional cost.
• A choice of styles. Trips come in Basic, Original, Comfort and Premium styles, with hundreds of trips to choose from. Comfort trips mostly use private vehicles and comfortable hotels.

That is a strong offer. If you want the widest choice of countries, a local leader in each place and the option of sharing a twin room with another solo traveller, Intrepid may well be the right company for you.

And Explore

We only describe another company from its own website, and we could not read Explore's site when we wrote this page, so we have not described their trips. If you have travelled with them, you know how their groups and rooms work better than we could tell you.

Where a Spice Escapes trip feels different

The biggest difference is who is in the group. On a mixed adventure tour you might be one of a few solo travellers among couples and friends. On a Spice Escapes holiday, most people have come on their own, so the whole group starts from the same place. Nobody is the spare seat at a table for two.

Our holidays are for people in their 40s, 50s and 60s. Groups are around fifteen people, and some reach twenty, which is a little larger than the number Intrepid gives. In exchange you get a host who travels with you and makes sure dinner is something people do together. Read what makes a Spice Escape different for the longer version.

We should be just as straight about rooms. Every Spice Escapes holiday carries a single supplement or a cost for a room to yourself, and our single supplement page explains how it works.

We run a shorter list than an adventure company, mostly in Europe, with long-haul trips under worldwide adventures and the more active weeks under adventure holidays. Five we would suggest first:

Reef, boat and whale sharks: the Maldives

Maldives Wildlife Cruise & Beach Chillout is our closest thing to a classic small group adventure. You spend seven nights aboard MV Felicity, a wooden boat that takes twelve guests at most, snorkelling reefs where you may meet turtles, reef sharks and rays. A tour leader gives a safety briefing, helps with kit and acts as your spotter in the water. One whole day is given over to searching for whale sharks off Dhigurah, with no promise you will see one. The trip finishes with three nights on Fulhadhoo with nothing scheduled.

12 nights, departing 27 Nov 2027 – 9 Dec 2027, from £4,199, hosted by Jonathan Banks. Places: 2 places left.

Cape Town and a night in the bush

South Africa Discovery is based in Cape Town at The Vineyard Hotel, on the slopes of Table Mountain. Sue, your local host, meets you at arrivals and stays for the whole trip. One day takes in Chapman's Peak Drive, Cape Point and the penguins at Boulders Beach, another goes into the winelands at Franschhoek. The trip includes an overnight at a private game reserve with a sunrise game drive. Our South Africa page has more.

10 nights, departing 29 Mar 2027 – 8 Apr 2027, from £3,499, hosted by Sue Giddings. Places: 8 places left.

Boots on in Cantabria

If walking days were your favourite part of an adventure tour, try the Cantabrian Walking Week. Jen and Jim, who chose the routes themselves, take you along coastal, river and forest paths from under three miles to nearly nine. Jen keeps a more leisurely pace and Jim is happy to push on for anyone who wants to go faster. You stay at Agara, a large renovated house with every meal included and local wine and beer to help yourself to. Be aware that some bedrooms share bathrooms and an ensuite room costs extra.

7 nights, departing 9 May 2027 – 16 May 2027, from £999, hosted by Jen & Jim. Places: 7 places left.

Fire and ice in a long weekend

Iceland Discovery is a short break of raw landscape. A full day on the Golden Circle covers Thingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss, entrance to the Blue Lagoon is included, and a panoramic tour introduces Reykjavik. You stay at the central Centerhotel Plaza, which has a bar. We hope for the Northern Lights, but they do not appear to order.

4 nights, departing 12 Nov 2026 – 16 Nov 2026, from £1,065, hosted by Jackie Whyte. Places: 3 places left.

A total eclipse in Andalucía

For something rarer, Chasing the Eclipse puts you in the path of a total solar eclipse, based in the whitewashed hilltop town of Vejer de la Frontera. Dr Matthew Bothwell, the University of Cambridge Public Astronomer, is with the group for the week. Around the eclipse there are days in Jerez for sherry and flamenco and in Cádiz by the Atlantic. You stay at Hotel Tugasa Convento San Francisco, a restored former Franciscan monastery.

7 nights, departing 31 Jul 2027 – 7 Aug 2027, from £2,899, hosted by Rob Thompson. Places: 18 places left.

Questions people ask

Is Spice Escapes connected to Explore or Intrepid?

No, Spice Escapes is an independent UK tour operator with no connection to either company. We run our own small hosted group holidays, and our flight-inclusive holidays are ATOL protected.

Will I have to share a room with a stranger?

Every Spice Escapes holiday carries a single supplement or a cost for a room to yourself, and the price is shown clearly on each holiday. If you want to know the room options for a particular trip, ask us before you book.

Are your trips as active as an adventure tour?

Some are and some are not. Our walking and snorkelling trips have proper active days, while others mix sightseeing with free time, and each holiday page says what the days involve.

What does the host actually do?

The host travels with the group, gets everyone together for meals and outings, and is the person to go to if something goes wrong. On guided days a local guide or leader may take the lead while the host looks after the group.

I have never travelled with a group before. Is that a problem?

Not at all, and most people who book come on their own. Our first-time solo travellers page explains what the first evening is like.

Tell us where you went last time

Tell us about the adventure tours you have done, what you loved and what you would change. We will suggest the holiday that fits and tell you how many places are left. Rob Thompson, who owns Spice Escapes and hosts trips himself, and the rest of the team are happy to talk it through by phone or email. Our over 50s solo holidays and unique holidays abroad pages have more ideas, and when you are ready, get in touch with the team.