Best for: making friends

A road trip gives the solo traveller a chance to get off the beaten path and enjoy a kaleidoscope of new destinations. South America offers both vibrant cities and untouched nature aplenty, and with tour operators providing group road trips across the continent, there’s no excuse not to hit the open road – and meet some new and interesting people along the way.

Companies such as WeRoad specialise in carefully curated road trips all across South America. If you’ve wanted to visit Machu Picchu, Patagonia or Cuba – but can’t convince your friends to commit the time – join other solo travellers on its expertly planned itineraries. The Peru itinerary takes in Machu Picchu, but also Inca cities, canyons, the floating islands of Lake Titicaca and the awe-inspiring Rainbow Mountain.

Best for: incredible views

Coasting along the Nile at a steady pace, as ancient monuments flank the shores, is an experience lifted from a William Somerset Maugham or Agatha Christie novel. There is a certain romance to the treasures of the Nile that is arguably best enjoyed alone, in your own time, or perhaps with a reliable guide to help you unearth the mysteries of the ancient Egyptians.

Turn to Nour El Nil, which has more than 20 years’ experience operating some of the most luxurious traditional dahabiya boats in the Nile, built by cheery resident sailor Memdouh. Unlike other Nile cruises, Nour El Nil offers a more intimate experience, with delicious food and attentive service. The classic six-day itinerary brings you in-land, with genuine Egyptologists to explore some of the lesser-visited sites, and each boat is tastefully furnished, mixing Egyptian and Nubian designs with contemporary flourishes. Think of it as a boutique hotel on the water.

nourelnil.com

Best for: challenging yourself

Georgia is a hiker’s paradise. And walking is the simplest way to experience the epic Caucasus Mountains range, a land steeped in folklore and ancient cultures. The famous Svaneti hike to Ushguli – a Unesco heritage site known for its magnificent towers – brings you through haunting villages, glaciers, meadows and sleepy forests. With various routes to the top, it’s perfect for everyone, whatever level you are. Your path to the highest settled village in Europe starts in the bohemian town of Mestia, and en route you’ll be greeted with a choice of cosy guesthouses. The trail is busy enough that solo travellers often have company the entire way (should you want it), but the experienced team at Georgia Explore has a variety of accessible itineraries if you want to join a group.

georgiaexplore.com

Best for: enjoying local cuisine

Hong Kong is the kind of place where grand institutions meet bustling market carts. Locals point to neighbourhood restaurants such as Lau Sum Kee for noodles, home-cooked dishes at Tung Po, and the Michelin-approved Din Tai Fung for dumplings. And that’s just for starters. Book one of the many city-wide group food tours to immerse yourself into Hong Kong’s authentic gourmet scene and meet other hungry travellers in the process.

Why not pair your culinary adventures with a traditional event, too? The annual Dragon Boat Festival is famous for allowing visitors to indulge in delicious morsels of rice dumplings. As crowds gather to observe the races, restaurants prepare steaming dim sum for revellers. Locals recommend the popular Mott 32. It’s an excuse to mix your gastronomic adventures with an unforgettable cultural spectacle.

hongkongfoodietours.com

Best for: resetting your body

A solo trip is the perfect excuse for much-needed TLC and switch-off. Block out the noise, turn on your out-of-office and book yourself into a specialist wellness resort where the main objective is to keep you healthy, relaxed and recharged for when you return home. SHA Wellness Clinic is renowned for its world-leading longevity destinations, with resorts in Alicante, Spain, Mexico’s Riviera Maya and one to come in the Emirates. The clinic’s selling point is the unique SHA Method, a combination of holistic disciplines to help guests achieve their personal goals – set against a serene backdrop. Not only are there five-star accommodations, spa and gym amenities, but the programmes have an added focus on mental wellbeing as well as physical.

shawellnessclinic.com

Best for: immersing yourself in culture

If a concentration of culture is top of your solo wish list, then the city that gave us Mozart, Klimt and sachertorte is a good place to start. The Austrian capital not only has world-class museums and galleries, such as the Albertina and the Leopold, but thriving areas such as Spittelberg and the Naschmarkt that show a new side to the city’s culture.

Whatever you do in Vienna, make sure to find some time for the opera, which is among the best in the world. The Wiener Staatsoper opera house is one of the more solo-friendly locations. Not content merely watching the show? Go to an introduction, available before selected performances, where a member of the dramaturgy or ballet dramaturgy department will offer insights into the work, as well as the special features to look out for in the spectacular production you are about to watch.

leopoldmuseum.org

Best for: learning a new skill

Whether you’re a seasoned photographer or someone with a passing interest, the majesty of Africa’s dazzling sunsets and wildlife are waiting to be captured through your lens. The award-winning Rhino Africa has built a reputation for crafting luxurious bespoke holidays for small numbers of visitors that can be catered around photo safaris. The handsomely furnished lodges in Botswana, South Africa and Zambia are a cosy hub from which you will be driven to see the best sights. Guests are offered the chance to take pictures of the famous “big five”, rare bird species, or witness the great wildebeest migration, all with expert rangers and photography specialists. Our choice? Botswana. One of the last remaining wildlife sanctuaries on earth, Rhino Africa offers a photography safari in traditional dug-out canoes in the Okavango Delta, which glide silently as you observe and film nature.

rhinoafrica.com