India top solo travel destination for 2025: Culture, history and wellness high on the list for travellers
Solo travel continues to trend.
A new report from Kensington, a private guided luxury travel service, ranked the top countries for a solo trip in 2025. For this ranking, Kensington took into account findings from “affluent” travellers based on 2024 customer data and two external surveys conducted with Opinium Research and Dig Insight.
According to the report, solo travel dropped significantly after the pandemic, but is starting to pick up and will continue to increase in years to come.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.In 2019, 5.5 per cent of Kensington’s business was solo travel. That number dropped to 4% in 2023 and went up slightly to 4.2% in 2024.
“We’re seeing a strong preference for immersive, individualised experiences that offer a blend of cultural depth and spiritual experiences and unparalleled hospitality,” Matt Cammaert, Kensington’s SVP of Marketing and Outside Sales, tells CNBC Make It.
The survey also found that 76 per cent of travellers are extremely to somewhat open to travelling by themselves internationally in the next three years.
The number of trips associated with celebrating external milestones, like birthdays or reunions with family, is falling and being replaced by travel that’s about more personal or internal motivations.
“Solo travelers are increasingly choosing destinations with deep cultural significance and unique landscapes,” Kensington said in a press release shared with CNBC Make It.
More than 73 per cent of respondents said their primary purpose for upcoming travel was enjoyment, with nearly 50 per cent saying the trip was “to fulfill a dream or check off a bucket list destination.”
The 10 countries on Kensington’s ranking are places travellers wanted to visit, according to user data.
Countries like India and Thailand ranked highly because of the history and culture they have to offer, while places like Australia, New Zealand, and Iceland are further away from North America and “perceived as being uniquely isolated.”
Cammaert explained that neither the United States or nor any other country in North America made the list because, though there is a rise in interest for North American parks, it’s just not at the level of demand Kensington is seeing for international travel.
“Our customers tend to look abroad and that’s not to say they don’t do domestic travel. I think they just do domestic travel differently,” he says.
India is the No. 1 solo travel destination for 2025
India is the top destination for those looking to adventure alone.
“In India, we’re seeing they offer world-class accommodations that are renowned for wellness retreats and a rich tapestry of history and tradition,” Cammaert says.
“From the vibrant streets of Jaipur to the tranquil backwaters of Kerala, [India is] just so rich. The tapestries of India and the fact that they offer such five-star luxury, world-class accommodations really does stand out for solo travellers.”
The country is home to one of the modern-day Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal. The marble mausoleum in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
According to the report, India offers travellers “an alluring depth of history and culture that many travelers dream of for decades.”
The top 10 solo travel destinations 2025
- India
- Italy
- Japan
- Egypt
- Thailand
- Australia
- Spain
- Iceland
- France
- New Zealand
Italy ranked as the No. 2 solo travel destination. It was also the No. 1 destination for overall travel in 2025, which Cammaert says, should come as no surprise.
“Italy has such vast diversity experiences, whether that’s touring the Colosseum or going to more remote places,” he says.
Though Italy is always a popular locale, a solo traveler going to the European country “is likely fulfilling a unique personal dream,” the report states. “And is looking for experiences and places that are outside the mainstream.”
This is consistent with the trend reports from Expedia and Booking.com, which showed vacationers are skipping fancy trips to major global destinations for quieter excursions in lesser-known and far less crowded places.
About 63 per cent of travellers said they will likely visit an off-the-beaten-track destination on their next trip, according to Expedia’s “Unpack 25” travel trend report.
The country is home to many famous monuments, including the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Colosseum, and the Duomo di Milano.
Originally published on CNBC
