Traveling solo on group tours can be costly when you factor in single supplements, but Intrepid Travel is easing the financial burden with three tours that are strictly for solo travelers. For lodging, the company will match you up with another member of the group. But, if you prefer your own room, that’s possible by paying a supplement. The three tours are the 15-day Classic Rajasthan (http://tinyurl.com/zmocslu) in India, priced from $1,310; the 10-day South Morocco Discovery (http://tinyurl.com/jkwllcu), priced from $900, and the nine-day Cafe Colombia (http://tinyurl.com/zyb7hpc), priced from $1,890. These are active, small-group trips, with the average group size numbering about 10 travelers, depending on the trip. On the Morocco vacation, there’s a trek to a Berber village in the High Atlas Mountains, a ride into the Sahara Desert aboard camels and a visit to the famed Djemaa el Fna in Marrakech, which by day features snake charmers and other attractions and by night becomes a massive food court. Pricing for the tours does not include international airfare and most meals.
Under-the-radar Europe
The folks over at Jetsetter like to compile lists, and one of their most recent offerings is what they call 13 Secret European Villages You Have to Visit. Heading their list is Poznan, Poland, heavily damaged during World War II but worth a visit, they say, for attractions such as its Old Market Square. Other towns on the list are Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina; Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany; Korcula, Croatia; Valladolid, Spain; Folegandros, Greece; Aeroskobing, Denmark; San Cassiano, Italy; Budva, Montenegro; Marvao, Portugal; Hallstatt, Austria; Reine, Norway; and Gordes, France. You can check out the details of all of these spots and see if they fit into your future travels by going to http://tinyurl.com/j59xc77.
More REI adventures
REI Adventures, an offshoot of REI, my favorite adult toy store, is marking its 30th year of offering active vacations worldwide. I did an REI biking trip in Vietnam and Cambodia a few years ago, and it was a wonderful way to experience both countries. For 2017, the company has added new adventures in Australia, Europe, Latin America and the U.S. An outing on Italy’s Amalfi coast and islands is aimed at families and includes hiking and sea kayaking. It’s priced from $3,799 per person, double occupancy for REI members and $4,199 for nonmembers. Given that a lifetime membership to REI is $20, that’s a no-brainer. A seven-day Patagonia Multisport trip promises cycling, hiking and kayaking in the iconic region shared by Argentina and Chile. It’s priced from $3,999 for members. Prices don’t include international air. Info: 800-622-2236, http://tinyurl.com/z8dsdml
Phil Marty is a freelance writer.
