Solo retreat: going on a retreat alone

By Anna VanAgtmael · Updated 11 Oct 2026

A solo retreat can mean two different things: joining a group retreat on your own, or taking a retreat for one, with no group at all. Which one you want depends on how much company and how much quiet you are after, and this guide helps you decide before you book.

What is a solo retreat?

A solo retreat is a retreat you do by yourself, in one of two ways. Either you sign up for a retreat run for a group and arrive alone, or you spend time away on your own plan with nobody else on it.

People use the same words for both, which is why searches for a solo retreat turn up such different things. The first kind has a host, a schedule and other guests. The second has whatever you build for it. Neither is the more serious choice. They are two ways of spending time away, and the right one is the one that matches what you want from the days.

Should I join a group retreat alone, or go on a retreat for one?

Join a group retreat alone if you want a plan made for you and people around you when you want them. Go on a retreat for one if you want to set every hour yourself and see nobody unless you choose to.

Some questions to put to yourself:

1. Do you want someone else to organize the days, or would you rather decide them?
2. Would you like meals and conversation on offer, even if you skip some?
3. Are you happy to work out travel, food and a place to stay yourself?
4. Is there a theme or a teacher you want, such as yoga, writing or meditation?

If you answered yes to the first, second and fourth, a group retreat joined alone is likely to suit you. If the third sounds like a pleasure and not a chore, a retreat for one may be what you are after.

On hosted/trips, every trip has a named host, so what you will mostly find are retreats run for a group that you can join on your own. A retreat for one is usually something you arrange yourself. If you like a host's place or approach, you can ask whether they take single guests outside a group retreat. Some will say yes and some will not.

What is it like to arrive at a retreat on your own?

On a group retreat, arriving alone is ordinary. Many people come without knowing anyone, and the first session or the first meal is where names get swapped. You are all there for the same reason, which gives you something to say to the person beside you.

The first evening can feel a little awkward, and it passes. A few things make it easier:

• Go to the welcome session or first meal, even if you would rather sit in your room.
• Ask the person next to you what brought them there. It works for a reason.
• Tell the host you are traveling alone. Hosts hear this often, and many will introduce you around.
• Say yes to one optional thing early, then skip what you do not fancy.

Our guide to going solo on a group trip goes into more detail on settling in, and the same advice applies here.

How much time alone will I get?

That depends on the host, and it ranges a lot. Some retreats fill every hour with sessions and shared meals. Others leave whole afternoons open and treat the sessions as optional. A few ask for quiet for part of the day or all of it.

If you want mostly company, look for a retreat with shared meals and a full schedule. If you want mostly quiet, look for long gaps in the day, or a retreat built around silence. Our guide to silent retreats explains how those work, including what is and is not allowed.

Read the daily outline, and if there is not one, ask for it. Questions that help:

• How many hours a day are guided, and how many are free?
• Are sessions optional?
• Are meals shared, and can I eat alone if I want to?
• Is there a quiet space I can use when I want to be by myself?

You can want both. Plenty of people go to a group retreat to have people nearby and still spend most of the day on their own.

What kinds of solo wellness retreats are there?

Solo wellness retreats are usually ordinary wellness retreats that you happen to join alone. They tend to mix movement, rest, food and time outdoors, with the balance set by the host. Some are gentle and some are busy, and the label alone does not tell you which. Our guide to wellness retreats explains the usual types and how to compare them.

If you have a health condition or an injury, speak to your own doctor about whether a retreat's activities suit you, and tell the host before you book.

How do rooms work when I go alone?

Many retreats price a room for two. If you want a room to yourself, the host may add a single supplement, and some hosts offer shared rooms or pair you with another solo guest. Our guide to going solo on a group trip covers the single supplement and the room questions in full.

Ask what your room would cost, and whether you can meet a roommate before you arrive.

How do I find solo retreats near me?

Start with how far you are willing to travel and when you are free. Solo retreats near you are found by place and date, so decide on both, then look at what hosts are running in that area.

On hosted/trips, you can browse retreats and look for ones in your region. The list is ordered by the soonest booking-closing date, and you can re-sort it by earliest, latest or price. Nobody can pay to move up, and sponsored spots are always labeled. If nothing is listed near you yet, set a trip alert for your place or for the kind of retreat, and you will get an email when a new one appears.

A retreat close to home is easier to plan and cheaper to reach. A longer journey may suit you if you want distance from your normal week. Neither is better.

What should I ask the host before I book?

Ask what you would want to know if a friend were going. Because you will arrive alone, add a few questions about the group.

• Do guests often come alone?
• Is there an introductions email, a group chat or a welcome call before we arrive?
• What does a typical day look like, and how much of it is free?
• What are the room options, and is there a single supplement?
• Are meals shared, and can you cater for my needs?
• What is included in the price, and what is extra?
• What are the deposit and cancellation terms?

You book directly with the host on their own site. hosted/trips takes no bookings or payments and no cut of what you pay the host, so every question about money and terms goes straight to the person who can answer it. Before you pay, read how to book safely for a short checklist.

Find a trip

You can browse retreats and read each host's schedule and terms. If the right one is not listed yet, set a trip alert for the kind or the place you like, and you will get an email when a new retreat is listed.

Common questions

Is it normal to go on a retreat alone?

Yes. Many guests on any retreat arrive without anyone they know, and hosts are used to it. A shared schedule and shared meals give everyone something to talk about.

What is the difference between a solo retreat and a silent retreat?

A solo retreat describes how you travel, which is on your own. A silent retreat describes how the days run, with quiet kept for some or all of the time. You can go to a silent retreat alone, and you can join a solo retreat that is not silent at all.

Can I go on a retreat for one through hosted/trips?

hosted/trips lists trips that hosts run, and each has a named host. Most of what you will find are retreats for a group that you can join on your own. If you want a retreat for one, ask a host you like whether they offer it.

Will I have to share a room if I go alone?

It depends on the host. Some price a room for two and add a single supplement for a private room, and some offer shared rooms or pair guests who come alone. Ask what your room would cost before you book.