A large chalet, 17 solo travellers and a week of skiing in Les Deux Alpes offered one visitor the chance to find a ski group and take a break from family life. The trip was organised by Friendship Travel, a company specialising in solo holidays for more than 20 years.
The guests had joined for different reasons. Some were navigating a breakup or retirement, while others were new to skiing or wanted to travel without a partner who did not ski. The writer, whose friends were not skiers, was also hoping for a few nights of uninterrupted sleep.
The group stayed in a chalet near the resort’s main street. Hosts Sam and Mike welcomed guests, who could choose a private room or share with another traveller of the same sex. The group of 17 included nine women and eight men, and its first evening began with a briefing, a welcome drink and a three-course dinner.
On the first morning, the travellers headed to the ski lockers at the foot of the slopes. They later split into smaller groups based on their ability. The writer joined an advanced group with four other skiers and a guide, Luke. Les Deux Alpes’ Jandri 3S cable car took them to 3,200 metres in 17 minutes, where they looked out over the peaks of Écrins National Park.
The group skied blue and red runs, along with some less demanding black runs. The writer said the skiers soon began looking out for one another, including on off-piste sections. One member said she would not have attempted that terrain alone.
After skiing, some guests met for après-ski at Skandal, while messages in the chalet’s WhatsApp group helped organise evening drinks. The trip also brought small challenges of shared travel, from waiting for latecomers to deciding when to spend time apart from the group.
Friendship Travel founder Colum McLornan, who established the company in 1999, said attitudes to travelling alone had changed. He said more travellers now value independence, flexibility and personal growth, and that solo holidays have become a fast-growing part of the travel industry.
The writer left the trip having formed connections with fellow guests and intending to stay in touch with some of them. The package was provided by Friendship Travel and included a private room in a shared chalet, daily breakfast and afternoon tea, dinner with wine on five evenings, and six days of group ski lessons. Prices started at £1,820 per person for seven nights. Return rail travel from London to Grenoble was provided by Eurostar.
Sources: The Guardian Travel.