Solo travel is booming, with more holidaymakers than ever opting to travel alone.
And a travel company has uncovered the most popular countries to go to.
Explore reckons there has been a more than 30 per cent uptick in solo travel bookings in the past year.
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Aussie favourite Japan came out on top for solo travellers as well. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)
It may be no surprise as it’s also popular with many other travel cohorts from families to couples, but Aussie favourite Japan came out on top yet again.
It’s not the first time the nation has been named best for all things solo travel recently.
It’s safe, can be affordable, and is renowned for perfectly on-time public transport. It also has plenty of day trips you can do from the major cities.
The best places to visit in Japan – besides Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka
After that came Thailand, with the south-east Asian nation famous for tropical islands renowned for stretching those dollars.
Next on the list was India, which offers both packed cities and beach getaways and is on many people’s bucket lists.
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Thailand is a great budget option for solo travellers. (Getty)
Australia and New Zealand both made the top 10 in most popular nations overall, too.
As Aussies will know you can discover vast landscapes, welcoming locals and easy to navigate travel routes which all attract solo travellers.
“Japan’s position at the top is no surprise, it’s a place renowned for its safety and welcoming culture, which is key for those traveling alone, especially first-timers,” Laura Dewar, Senior PR and Communications Manager at Explore says.
“Thailand and India continue to appeal to solo travellers with the countries’ culture, affordability and vibrant, social atmospheres.”
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Australia and New Zealand both made the top 10 in most popular nations. (iStock)
And there was a surprise in the country which is fastest growing with solo travellers, which the travel firm did a separate survey on.
While most nations topping the chart were in Asia, this one is far from there.
Iceland is booming, Explore reckons with the European nation attracting almost 200 per cent more interest than last year.
“The draw of Iceland for solo travellers lies in the extensive natural beauty it has to offer, from waterfalls and lagoons to unforgettable views of the Northern Lights,” Explore says.
Reykjavik the capital city of Iceland, which is surging in popularity. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Last year, other tour operators noted seeing Aussie travellers express interest in alternative European destinations.
Intrepid Travel saw a 23 per cent increase in bookings for the Nordics, while bookings for Bunnik Tours’ Discover Iceland trip for 2026 were up 42 per cent.
Oman, New Zealand, Slovenia, and Kyrgyzstan rounded off the top five as the fastest growing destinations for solo travel, signalling folk just want to get away from the crowds and discover somewhere new.
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Seeing India is on many travellers’ wishlists. (Getty)
Laura says travellers want to travel at their own pace and try “immersive” experiences when on holiday.
“Over the past year we have seen a 33 per cent rise in bookings for solo travellers among our customers,” she says.
“With more people sharing their solo travel stories online, 2026 could be the biggest year yet for going it alone.
Explore analysed over 500 global destinations using data from Google Keyword Planner to find the data.
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The top 10 countries for solo travel in 2026JapanThailandIndiaVietnamItalyAustraliaCosta RicaIrelandNew ZealandPortugal
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The top 10 trending solo travel destinationsIcelandOmanNew ZealandSloveniaKyrgyzstanBoliviaKazakhstanChinaCyprusPoland
Solo travellers are flocking to this Asian city for one big reason
AloJapan.com