Going solo? Riviera Travel has you covered with tours and cruises for 2019

UK escorted tour and river cruise company Riviera Travel unveils its new “For Solo Travellers” collection featuring destinations such as China, Morocco, Sicily, Madeira and the Dalmatian Coast for the first time.

The new collection is aimed at solo travellers after ABTA’s latest Holiday Habits Survey revealed that an increasing number of UK travellers choose to travel alone. Solo travel is popular among people in retirement age or those over 65s. Survey reveals that 18% of them have travelled alone in the past 12 months with 81% states that they did so for the opportunity to be able to do what they want.

Will Sarson, head of specialist product at Riviera Travel, said: “Riviera Travel has long embraced solo travellers – for many years we’ve welcomed and catered for lone travellers on our escorted tour itineraries and featured sole occupancy cabins with no single supplements on many of our river cruises. As we saw increasing demand for this type of holiday, in 2017 we launched our first collection designed exclusively for solos which was a great success.”

“This year we’ve more than doubled the number of passengers on our solo holidays”

“We also introduced dedicated solo river cruises for the first time for 2018, which filled up at such a healthy rate that we added an extra date. This year we’ve more than doubled the number of passengers on our solo holidays and we’re immensely proud to offer such a diverse range of destinations and itineraries. We look forward to bringing even more fantastic holiday options to the collection in years to come,” he added.

New solo worldwide escorted tours

Grand Tour of China

A 16-day Grand Tour of China for Solo Travellers with Yangtze River cruise for GBP 3,399 (USD  4,488) per person departing on 19 March 2019. Highlights include visits to the Longshen Rice Terraces, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, the Temple of Heaven and the imperial gardens at the Summer Palace in Beijing.

The itinerary includes a five-star full-board Yangtze River Cruise through the breathtaking Three Gorges Dam, walking the Great Wall of China and seeing the world-famous Terracotta Army. Price includes return flights, transfers, 11 nights’ accommodation in four-star hotels, three nights aboard a five-star ship and all tours and meals mentioned in the itinerary.

Marrakesh & The Atlas Mountains

A six-day Marrakesh & The Atlas Mountains for Solo Travellers tour for GBP 749 (USD 989) per person that explores Morocco’s vibrant capital and its countless gems including the medieval medina, atmospheric souks and the extraordinary Jemaa el-Fnaa square.

The tour includes visits to Essaouira, a 15th Century coastal town, and the Atlas Mountains as well as the stunning Jardin Majorelle, once home to Yves St Laurent. Moreover, Riviera Travel is offering five nights half-board at a four-star hotel with a programme of daily tours and visits, including transfers and return flights.

New solo European escorted tours

Valencia and the Orange Grove Coast

An eight-day Valencia and the Orange Grove Coast for Solo Travellers tour takes guests to the incredible Spanish city of Valencia its surrounding Mediterranean coastline including the coastal town of Peñiscola and the Moorish town of Elche for GBP 1,199 (USD 1583) per person.

Highlights include a pottery workshop in the charming village of Manises, a paella cooking class at a traditional farm villa and a cruise on the Ebro Delta, one of Europe’s largest wetlands home to rice paddies and thriving birdlife. Riviera Travel is also offering seven nights in four-star accommodation on a half board basis including a welcome dinner, programme of daily tours, transfers and return flights.

Budapest, Bratislava & Vienna

A one-week Budapest, Bratislava & Vienna for Solo Travellers tour that visits the magnificent capital cities of Austria, Hungry and Slovakia as well as central Europe’s largest lake, Balaton for GBP 1,499 (USD 1,979) per person.

The trip includes tours of Hungary’s Gödöllő Palace, Vienna’s world-famous Schönbrunn Palace and the hilltop ruins of Slovakia’s Devin castle. Riviera Travel is offering seven nights in four-star accommodation on a half-board basis with a programme of daily tours and visits, including transfers and return flights.

Madeira, the Pearl of the Atlantic

An eight-day Madeira, the Pearl of the Atlantic for Solo Travellers tour that explores the subtropical island paradise of Madeira, taking in world-famous Madeira wines, beautiful gardens and both the eastern and western coasts for GBP 1,349 (USD 1781).

Highlights include a walking tour of picturesque Funchal’s old town, often called ‘Little Lisbon’, the UNESCO-listed Ribeiro Frio forest park and the Monte Palace Tropical Gardens. Riviera Travel is offering seven nights in five-star accommodation on a half-board basis with a welcome dinner and a programme of daily tours, including transfers and return flights.

Sicily: Classic and Undiscovered

A one-week Sicily: Classic and Undiscovered for Solo Travellers tour takes in the historic sights of Syracuse, Ragusa’s medieval old town and the beautiful Baroque architecture in hilltop Noto, a town completely rebuilt after the 1693 earthquake for GBP 1,399 per person.

The tour will include visits to the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, a vineyard on the lower slopes of Mount Etna and 4th Century mosaics at the Villa Romana del Casale in Piazza Armerina. Riviera Travel is offering seven nights half-board stay in four-star accommodation with a programme of daily tours and visits, including transfers and return flights from London or Manchester.

Paris

A three-night Paris for Solo Travellers explores the city’s most iconic sites and is perfect for first-time visitors for GBP 469 per person. Highlights include visits to the town of Versailles, picturesque Montmartre, home of the artists’ quarter, and a Paris ‘By Night’ tour experiencing some of the world’s most tastefully illuminated buildings.

Riviera Travel is offering three-nights in three-star accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis plus a welcome dinner and a programme of daily tours. Price includes return Eurostar train travel and transfers. Return rail connections available on selected dates from over fifty regional stations.

New solo cruises

The Douro, Porto & Salamanca River Cruise

An eight-day full-board The Douro, Porto & Salamanca River Cruise for Solo Travellers starts from GBP 1,699 departing on 31 March 2019 aboard the MS Douro Splendour.

The cruise passes through the picturesque Douro Valley with its dramatic cliffs and vineyards, a guided tour of tour of Porto with a visit to Port wine cellars and a full day excursion to Salamanca with guided tour and flamenco show. Price includes return flights and all activities in the itinerary.

The Dalmatian Coast Yacht Cruise

Riviera Travel’s eight-day The Dalmatian Coast Yacht Cruise for Solo Travellers starts from GBP 2,499 per person departing on 5 May 2019 aboard the MV Corona.

The cruise includes guided tours of Split and Emperor Diocletian’s monumental palace, one of the greatest structures of the Roman Empire, as well as the stunning Croatian islands of Hvar and Mljet. Price includes seven nights’ half-board accommodation, flights, transfers and activities as detailed in the itinerary.