Top 10 Adventure Sports Destinations for Solo Travelers in 2025

If you love the rush of adrenaline but prefer traveling alone, 2025 is shaping up to be an incredible year for solo adventure seekers. More countries are improving infrastructure for independent travelers, hostels are organizing daily group activities, and local guides are easier than ever to book on the spot. The beauty of solo adventure travel is simple: you choose the pace, the risk level, and the people you share the experience with—only when you want to.

I’ve spent the last eight years traveling alone to over 60 countries, focusing almost entirely on adventure sports. I’ve surfed empty breaks at dawn, climbed volcanoes by headlamp, and paraglided over mountains without anyone telling me to hurry up. These are the ten destinations that, right now, offer the best combination of world-class adventure, solo-friendly vibes, safety, and reasonable costs for 2025.

1. Ericeira, Portugal – Surfing Capital of Europe

Portugal has become the number-one European destination for solo surfers, and the small fishing village of Ericeira (just 45 minutes north of Lisbon) is the heart of it.

Why Solo Travelers Love It

• World-class waves for every level (over 20 breaks within 10 km)
• Extremely safe—Portugal consistently ranks among the top five safest countries in the world
• Huge community of digital nomads and traveling surfers staying in surf hostels
• Affordable board rentals (€15–20/day) and lessons (€40–60)

Best Time to Go

April–October for warm water and consistent swell.

Practical Tips

Stay at Lapoint Surf Camp or Magic Quiver Hostel—both run daily surf shuttles and group dinners so you’re never forced to eat alone unless you want to. Book your first two lessons in advance, then rent gear and chase empty peaks on your own.

Pros: Cheap flights from everywhere in Europe and North America, English widely spoken, great nightlife.
Cons: Can get crowded in July–August.

2. Queenstown, New Zealand – The Original Adventure Capital

Queenstown invented the term “adventure capital” with the world’s first commercial bungee jump in 1988. In 2025 it’s still unmatched for variety.

Top Solo-Friendly Activities

• AJ Hackett Bungy (Kawarau Bridge or Nevis)
• Skydiving over Lake Wakatipu
• Canyon swing, jet boating, white-water rafting
• Multi-day trekking on the Routeburn or Kepler Track

Why It Works for Solo Travelers

Almost every activity operator offers single-rider pricing with no extra fee, and hostels like Adventure Q2 or Absoloot run nightly group events. You’ll meet people instantly.

Best months: December–March (summer) or June–August (winter sports).

3. Interlaken, Switzerland – Paragliding and Canyoning Heaven

Nestled between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz with the Jungfrau massif as backdrop, Interlaken is ridiculously scenic and perfectly set up for solo adventurers.

Must-Do Activities

• Tandem paragliding (no experience needed)
• Canyoning in Grimsel or Saxeten
• Ice climbing or via ferrata in winter
• Skydiving from a helicopter

Solo Traveler Advantages

English is the default language in adventure offices. Book activities the day before or even the same morning—there’s always space for one more person. Stay at Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof or Balmers; both have bars that turn into instant friend-making zones.

4. Siargao, Philippines – Surfing + Island Hopping Without the Crowds

Bali and Lombok have become packed. Siargao is the new sweet spot—world-class waves, cheap living, and a laid-back vibe that welcomes solo travelers.

Highlights

• Cloud 9 boardwalk and barreling reef breaks
• Solo-friendly island-hopping tours to Naked Island, Daku, and Guyam
• Cave pools and mangrove kayaking

Safety & Logistics

Direct flights from Manila or Cebu make it easy. Stay in surf hostels like Harana or Mad Monkey—both organize daily surf trips and boat tours so you never have to plan alone.

Best time: March–October.

5. Pokhara, Nepal – Paragliding and Short Treks

Pokhara offers one of the most beautiful tandem paragliding flights on earth—take off from Sarangkot and land by Phewa Lake with the Annapurna range filling your view.

Other Activities

• 3–5 day Poon Hill or Mardi Himal solo treks (no permit needed if you stay on main trail)
• World Peace Pagoda sunrise hike
• Ultra-light flights and bungee/slide at HighGround

Why Solo Works Perfectly

You can hire a porter/guide for $20–25/day if you want company, or walk completely alone. Hundreds of independent travelers do the short treks every day, so you’re never really isolated.

Best seasons: March–May and September–November.

6. San Gil, Colombia – South America’s Adventure Hub

San Gil is a small mountain town that punches way above its weight.

Activities

• Class V white-water rafting on Río Suárez
• Paragliding over Chicamocha Canyon (one of the world’s deepest)
• Caving in Cueva del Indio
• Mountain biking and abseiling waterfalls

Solo Traveler Scene

Hostels like Sam’s VIP and Macondo organize daily group departures, so you pay normal price even as a single traveler. Colombia has become dramatically safer in the last decade, and San Gil feels as safe as any European town.

7. Moab, Utah, USA – Canyoneering and Desert Adventures

Moab is the ultimate playground for rock climbers, mountain bikers, and canyoneers.

Top Picks

• Canyoneering in slots like Mystery or Moonflower (guided half-day trips perfect for solos)
• Slickrock mountain bike trail
• Arches and Canyonlands National Park sunrise hikes
• Colorado River rafting

Practical tip: Stay at Lazy Lizard Hostel—the cheapest beds in town and walking distance to outfitters.

Best time: March–May and September–November (avoid summer heat).

8. Cape Town, South Africa – Shark Diving and Table Mountain

Cape Town combines city convenience with wild adventure.

Highlights

• Cage diving with great white sharks (False Bay or Gansbaai)
• Abseil or hike Table Mountain
• Sandboarding in Atlantis dunes
• Kloofing (canyoning) in Suicide Gorge

Solo Safety Note

Stick to the well-touristed areas and book through registered operators. The adventure scene is extremely professional and English-speaking.

9. Bali, Indonesia (Canggu & Amed) – Surf + Dive Combo

Even though Bali is popular, certain pockets still feel relaxed for solo travelers.

Best Areas

• Canggu for surfing and digital-nomad cafes
• Amed for quiet beaches and incredible muck diving/freediving

Why It Still Works in 2025

Hundreds of surf schools and dive centers cater to walk-ins. Hostels like Tribal and The Farm have pools, coworking, and daily group activities.

10. Chamonix, France – Summer Alpinism and Winter Extremes

Chamonix is famous for winter sports, but summer offers incredible via ferrata, trail running, and the famous Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc race spectating.

Summer Activities

• Aiguille du Midi cable car + Vallée Blanche descent
• Via ferrata and rock climbing
• Paragliding tandem flights

Solo Bonus

The town is packed with international climbers and runners staying in hostels or campsites. You’ll never struggle to find a climbing partner if you want one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is adventure travel alone dangerous?

Not if you prepare properly. Choose reputable operators, share your itinerary with someone at home, buy good travel insurance (I use World Nomads or SafetyWing), and trust your gut. I’ve done over 200 solo adventure activities and never had a serious incident.

How do solo travelers avoid paying single supplements on tours?

Look for operators that guarantee no single supplement or hostels that organize daily group trips (common in Portugal, Colombia, Philippines, and Nepal). Worst case, you usually only pay 10–20% extra, which is still cheaper than bringing a friend who might slow you down.

What’s the best travel insurance for adventure sports?

Standard policies exclude “extreme sports.” You need a policy that specifically covers the activities you plan to do. I’ve used World Nomads for 8 years—they cover almost everything except base jumping and solo big-wall climbing without guides.

How do I meet people when traveling solo for adventure?

Stay in social hostels with bars or organized activities (Lapoint in Portugal, Balmers in Switzerland, Sam’s VIP in Colombia, etc.). Show up to the morning surf shuttle or canyoning meeting point—conversation happens instantly when everyone is excited and a little nervous.

Which destination is cheapest for solo adventure travel in 2025?

Right now, Portugal (Ericeira offers the best value in Europe, while Colombia (San Gil) and the Philippines (Siargao) are unbeatable in their regions. You can easily keep daily costs under $50 including accommodation, food, and one paid activity.

Do I need to be super fit to enjoy these places?

No. Almost every destination offers beginner-friendly options. Start with a tandem skydive or surf lesson—zero fitness required. Then gradually level up to multi-day treks or Class V rafting when you feel ready.

Final Thoughts

Solo adventure travel in 2025 has never been easier or safer. Better hostels, instant booking apps, and a huge community of like-minded travelers mean you can push your limits without ever feeling lonely—unless you want to. Pick one destination from this list, book the flight, and go. The stoke you’ll feel watching the sunrise from a board in Portugal or flying over the Himalayas in a paraglider is worth every second of planning.

Safe travels and big airs!

Author Bio
Tom Shard is a British adventure traveler and photographer who has been living out of a backpack since 2016. He’s surfed in 25 countries, paraglided on four continents, and still gets nervous before every big jump. He writes about solo adventure travel at tomshard.com and is currently somewhere chasing the next swell.