Here’s What It’s Like Being a Solo Traveler on a Group Tour

Me: “I’m going to Egypt finally! “

You: That’s amazing who are you going with?

Me: Exodus Travels:  Great, who are you going with?

Me: Myself

You: Wait, you are traveling across the world by yourself?

Yes, yes I am. I had an opportunity and I went for it.

In the months leading up to my incredible tour of the Nile River and Aswan with Exodus Travels, I had this conversation many times. “You are going on a group tour by yourself????”

Traveling solo on a group tour is THE BEST. In fact, there are 2 other smart, interesting, worldly, curious, funny women traveling alone in our group of 9. We laughed, took care of each other, shared stories, had delicious Gin Fizz cocktails watched a traditional Egyptian dance, did our own thing, and learned about each other’s lives and families and partners and careers. There are 3 couples in our group as well and we have formed a mini-family.

This is why a small group tour with Exodus Travels is a perfect way to go on an adventure. You are alone, together.

The itinerary of the Premium Nile River and Aswan tour begins in Cairo. Flying from DC to Doha, Qatar, and then transferring to Cairo was a long journey. Cairo Airport is chaotic, to say the least. Descending the escalator after traveling 24 hours and seeing a smiling face and my name on a big sign instantly put me at ease. Maneuvering through the massive crowds with expert precision, my guide had my luggage and we were in the car to the hotel before I knew it.

We started the next day early with a quick meeting to meet our WONDERFUL guide Sayid and the rest of the group that had flown in from London the night before. Then off to a 10th-century Mosque, a crazy busy bazaar filled with everything you could dream of, and then to the Cairo Museum.

Sayid took a few minutes at every location to tell the history, significance, fun facts and local legend, and funny tidbits, then we had free time on our own to explore. That is why traveling with Exodus Travels is so great. There are only 9 of us,so we are not constantly waiting for each other, spending a lot of time getting on and off a bus, or having to listen to that person that has 5,000 questions (nothing wrong with having questions, but you know what I mean) We have more time to learn and see and explore than to be in a huge group. I am not on anyone else’s trip, I am on my own trip, going at my own pace, seeing what I want to see in a safe, secure, relaxing environment. We have our own driver, we have the best guide ever, Sayid, and 9 lovely people seeing ancient wonders of the world together and having at least 1 mango popsicle at each stop.

We are currently cruising up The Nile towards Aswan and I am maybe going to go have a cocktail, or maybe read up on the next site we are going to visit, or maybe join the card game my new friends are playing, or maybe I will just watch this ancient landscape that has not changed for thousands of years. On an Exodus Travels group tour it’s up to me.