There's a moment that happens on almost every Pure Trails trip. It usually comes somewhere on day two or three — on a ridge above the treeline, or over dinner in a mountain guesthouse, or at the end of a long descent when the group stops to catch their breath and someone says something that makes everyone laugh.
And you realise: these people, who were strangers 48 hours ago, already feel like friends you've known for years.
That moment is why over 90% of our guests travel solo. Not despite the fact that they don't know anyone — because of it.
This is the complete guide to solo trail running holidays. What to expect, what to pack, which trips are best suited to solo travellers, and why the question "will I be okay on my own?" almost never needs to be asked.
Why solo trail running holidays work
Solo travel can feel daunting. The logistics, the unfamiliar places, the uncertainty about who you'll meet. A solo city break is one thing — a solo trail running holiday in the Albanian Alps or the Himalayan foothills is quite another.
But here's what we've learned from running hundreds of trips with thousands of guests: the solo traveller almost always has a better time than they expected. Not a slightly better time. Dramatically, life-changingly better.
The reason is simple. Trail running creates bonds between people faster than almost any other shared experience. When you're navigating a high mountain pass together, pushing through the last climb of the day, or sharing a meal after six hours on your feet — the social barriers that normally take weeks or months to break down dissolve within hours.
You're not just on holiday with these people. You're sharing something genuinely hard and genuinely beautiful. That combination is unusually powerful.
"Whilst it's impossible to capture the experience in a review, it's genuinely one of the most memorable trips I've ever taken. For me, it's opened a door to the joys of running together, having fun, and focusing on the shared experience rather than the running stats."— Matt C-K · Albania · Pure Trails Guest 2025
Who goes on a Pure Trails trip solo?
Our solo guests are as varied as the destinations we visit. We have people in their 30s who've never done anything like this before alongside seasoned adventurers in their 60s who've run in a dozen countries. Road runners making their first foray into trail. Ultra runners looking for something more cultural and less competitive. People coming off a big life change — a job transition, the end of a relationship, a milestone birthday — who want an experience that feels significant.
What they share isn't a running CV. It's a disposition. Curiosity. Openness. A willingness to push themselves and an appreciation for the places they're running through. Most of them, in our experience, are better company on a mountain than anyone you'd specifically select to travel with.
Most of our guests are in their 30s to 50s, though we regularly welcome guests in their 20s and 70s. Our oldest guest to date was in their early 70s. Our youngest was 18. The range is part of what makes the groups work — different backgrounds, different life experiences, a shared love of trails.
"I was a solo traveller and when I spoke to Charlie before booking, he told me many of the participants tend to be solo travellers. This was spot on and the group really gelled together well. It was a remarkable feeling to make friends with so many strangers so quickly."— Joe N · Georgia · Pure Trails Guest 2023
What to expect when you arrive alone
The first few hours of any trip are the ones solo travellers worry about most. Walking into a hotel bar where everyone else seems to already know each other. Not knowing where to sit at dinner. That slightly self-conscious feeling of being the new person in a room full of strangers.
We've thought carefully about how to handle this. On every Pure Trails trip, one of our guides will be at the meeting point from the moment arrivals begin. There's no awkward hovering — you're met, welcomed and introduced straight away. The first evening is deliberately structured to make the group feel like a group as quickly as possible: drinks together, a shared dinner, a briefing about the days ahead that gets everyone talking about what they're excited and nervous about.
By the end of the first evening, the group almost always feels like it's been together for days. By the end of day two on the trail, it feels like weeks.
"I honestly don't really have the words to say what this all meant to me. The group were brilliant — so many laughs and taking in some incredible scenery together was so bonding."— Grace T · Amalfi · Pure Trails Guest 2025
All Pure Trails trips are priced on a twin-share basis — you'll share a room with another solo traveller of the same gender. If you'd prefer your own space, a private room upgrade is available on most trips. We'll always try to pair solo guests thoughtfully, and in our experience twin-share guests often end up being firm friends by the end of the trip.
Best trips for solo trail runners
Every Pure Trails trip welcomes solo travellers — and the vast majority of every group will be travelling alone. But some trips tend to attract a particularly high proportion of solo guests, and some are especially well-suited to people joining alone for the first time.
Mallorca: Into the Tramuntana
Our most popular solo trip. The shorter duration (4 nights) makes it a perfect first solo running holiday — enough time to properly bond with the group, not so long that it feels like a big commitment. Consistently one of our most socially vibrant trips.
View Trip →Amalfi: Path of the Gods
The combination of extraordinary scenery, Italian food and wine, and the natural camaraderie that forms on the trail makes the Amalfi trip one of our most loved. The shared dinners in Amalfi and Positano are the stuff of lasting memories.
View Trip →Albania: The Accursed Mountains
Remote, raw and utterly unforgettable. The shared experience of running through the Albanian Alps — genuinely off the beaten track — creates some of the strongest group bonds we see on any of our trips. Solo guests consistently rate this as a life highlight.
View Trip →Mountain Trails: Crossing the Lake District
Our most accessible solo trip — no flights, no long-haul travel, just three days of exceptional trail running through one of Britain's most beautiful National Parks. Perfect for solo runners who want to test the water before committing to a longer international adventure.
View Trip →Nepal: Journey to Annapurna
For solo travellers who want to go properly deep — this is the trip. Thirteen days in the Himalayas, running the Annapurna circuit and Mardi Himal. The shared challenge of altitude and remote terrain creates bonds that genuinely last. Many guests from this trip stay in touch for years.
View Trip →Practical considerations for solo travellers
Getting there
All Pure Trails trips include a group transfer from the arrival airport or meeting point. You don't need to worry about navigating to the hotel alone — you'll be met and transferred with the group. Full arrival instructions are sent in advance so you know exactly where to go and when.
Accommodation
All trips are priced on a twin-share basis. Solo travellers are paired with another solo guest of the same gender. If you'd prefer your own room, a private room upgrade is available on most trips — typically £150–200 for the duration. Let us know when booking and we'll sort it.
Running ability
Every Pure Trails trip is designed to cater for a range of running abilities within the group. We never leave anyone behind — with two guides on most trips, the group naturally spreads out on trail and everyone runs at their own comfortable pace. The important thing is showing up fit enough to enjoy the experience, not to be the fastest person in the group.
The social side
Dinners are always together as a group. Lunches on the trail are together. The evenings are unstructured — some people want an early night, others want to stay up talking. There's no pressure either way. What almost always happens naturally is that the group finds its own rhythm quickly, and the evenings become one of the highlights of the trip.
"As someone who usually runs solo in the mountains, the idea of not having to organise a single thing was new and exciting. Our group was of mixed abilities and backgrounds, and developed a really good connection for the short amount of time we spent together."— Matt C-K · Albania · Pure Trails Guest 2025
FAQ: Solo travel with Pure Trails
Almost certainly not. Over 90% of our guests travel solo. On most trips, every single person in the group will have arrived alone. You won't be the odd one out — you'll be the norm.
Most of our guests are between their 30s and 50s, though we regularly welcome guests in their 20s and 70s. Groups tend to be mixed in age, which in our experience is part of what makes them work — different perspectives, different stories, all united by a love of trails.
No. You need to be fit enough to enjoy the experience — which means being comfortable on your feet for 4–6 hours a day and having done some trail or hilly running in preparation. But our trips are adventures, not races. Pace doesn't matter. Enjoyment does.
Completely fine. The group dynamic on our trips is relaxed and low-pressure. Some people want to socialise every evening; others prefer quieter nights. There's no expectation to be "on" the whole time — and the trails themselves offer plenty of space for your own thoughts.
Always. We actively encourage it. Book a free 10-minute call with Charlie or one of the team — no sales pressure, just a conversation to make sure the trip is right for you. Many of our solo guests say that call was what gave them the confidence to book.
Read what our solo guests say on the Testimonials page → — the vast majority of reviews are from people who travelled alone. Their words are more convincing than ours.