I'm a solo traveler in my 20s. My first guided group trip was filled with surprises, and I was the youngest one there by decades.

27.10.2023 - 12:34 / insider.com

As a 23-year-old solo traveler, I'm used to a particular way of traveling. Most of my nights are spent in hostels with people my age.

But earlier this year, feeling exhausted and fulfilled after a solo trip in Jordan, I longed for some relief from the constant stress of traveling alone as a woman. So I decided to spend my next trip traveling around Morocco on a budget bus tour with 30 other tourists, most of whom were retirees, for a week. 

Instead of hostels, I would be arriving at a four-star, sleek hotel for my first night in Rabat. Plus, I would no longer be alone. 

For just over $832, the eight-day "Classic Morocco" tour took us from Rabat to places like Fès, Marrakech, and Casablanca.  

Every tour group member had a big, swinging audio transceiver and earbuds around their neck, astutely listening to our tour guide, who spoke into his own little headset.

We all wore big lanyards with the tour company's logo on them. I was mortified. 

The first few days of my trip, I tried to shrink into the mass of tourists the best I could, fearful that I would be grouped with the likes of "people who book bus tours."

Being young and an experienced traveler, I tend to rebuke these types of tours. But I eventually got over all of that. 

This style of sightseeing was not conducive to slow travel, nor was it a way to travel deeply in one place or gain a complex understanding of the culture. 

But on my trip through Morocco, the day-to-day itinerary felt full. It was a lovely surprise to be able to completely relax and let go of the logistics. Without the stress of getting lost or missing public transport, I was able to focus on the historical and cultural facts that the guide prepared.

Navigating the traditional markets of Morocco (known as souks) was made easier with our tour group, but where we shopped and wandered was limited. 

Like any big tour, we had to make our planned stops. The autonomy of wandering was lost, and sometimes, I felt we were herded into a carpet or tannery shop for far too long.  

Through the staged theater of it all, I found a sense of solidarity and humor with other guests. 

It quickly became clear that I was the youngest person on my tour, beating most people by decades. I was also the only solo traveler on the trip. 

However, the tour group provided a built-in social network, which can be a relief when coming off of extended travel or solo adventuring. As a 23-year-old, bonding and traveling with retirees was an entirely different experience. 

The evenings were slow, and meals were quiet but often filled with insightful conversations (and sometimes disagreements) about current affairs and generational outlooks. 

My "best friends" on the trip were a man in his early 80s and his wife, both