Solo Travellers never Ride Alone here

"Of all the reasons people give for not booking a cycling holiday, this is the quietest and the most common: I would love to, but I would be going on my own. If that thought has ever held you back, we want to put it to rest right now. On our tours, solo travellers never ride alone. Making sure of that is not an afterthought. It is one of our most important jobs."

You would be in very good company

First, know that you are not unusual. A meaningful share of the guests who join us book solo, and they do so for all sorts of reasons. Some are between travelling companions. Some have friends who do not cycle. And many simply love the idea of an adventure that is entirely their own, with new faces to share it with. A solo travel cycling tour is one of the most quietly rewarding ways to see the world, and here it is completely normal.

Our riders tend to be interesting people from all walks of life. One thing in common? The Brompton Bike. A tour becomes a little community for a week; it's interesting how the connections are built on the road and over a coffee. You arrive as one, and you leave as part of a group.

Solo is not the same as lonely

Here is the distinction that matters most. Travelling solo and feeling lonely are two completely different things, and a good small group tour gives you the first without ever the second.

You keep all the freedom of a solo trip, to wander, to rest, to please only yourself, but you are wrapped in easy company whenever you want it. You are never eating dinner alone in a hotel, and never puzzling over a map by yourself at a junction.

That balance is the whole art of a cycling tour for solo travellers. Independence when you want it, companionship when you want it, and never a moment where you feel like the odd one out. On a small group tour that is solo friendly by design, being on your own is a freedom, not a burden.

How we look after our Solo Guests

We take practical care of this, so you never have to feel awkward about it. Solo travellers never have to scramble to make up their own numbers, because that is our problem to solve, not yours. We handle the pairing and the arrangements quietly in the background, so you slot into the group without a second thought. At meals you are always seated with everyone else, and on the road our guides and marshals make a point of riding alongside you and making the introductions on that first day, when a friendly face means the most.

Within a ride or two, the group knits together on its own. The stops for photographs and coffee do the rest, and the shared small triumphs of the day, a hill climbed, a view earned, a wonderful meal found, become the glue. You will be swapping stories and phone numbers before you know it.

And when the day is done, your time is entirely your own. If you would like company in the evening, there is always someone glad to share a meal or a gentle stroll. If you would rather have a quiet night to yourself, that is perfectly welcome too. We give you the group when you want it, and your own space the moment you need it.

A Story we love to see

Time and again we watch the same happy Arc unfold. Someone arrives on the first morning a little nervous, keeping to themselves, quietly wondering if they have made a mistake. By the third day they are the one organising the group photo.

"Taiwan Sun Moon Lake was Jerry’s and my first overseas cycling trip. We were honestly a little anxious at the start, wondering if we could keep up as we weren’t exactly experienced riders. But it turned out to be such an enjoyable experience — and the start of many, many cycling trips with BE.

Eugene and his team took such good care of us that all we had to worry about was showing up every morning and getting on the bike. Everything else was taken care of. Since then, we’ve joined many more trips with BE, met so many wonderful people, and made friendships, memories and countless laughs along the way.

For me, that’s the most valuable part of these trips — not just the cycling, but the friendships and camaraderie with people who share the same passion.

If you’re thinking about joining an overseas cycling trip but feel you’re not experienced enough, just go for it. BE will take good care of you. You might be surprised where the first ride takes you!"

-Tour Participant Sun Moon Lake 2023

We would rather show you than tell you, which is why the stories of our solo guests mean so much to us. They arrived alone. They did not stay that way for a single day.

Want to hear more stories from our Tour riders? Read them here