What do you love? What are your hobbies? Do you love archeology? Go to a place where you can visit sites such as Skara Brae in Orkney, Scotland.
Is painting your thing? Plan a painting vacation and join a week-long course in Spain.
Maybe cooking is what interests you. Join a cooking class in Italy!
My solo trip to Glastonbury was all about my passion for King Arthur’s legend. It became about many other things too.
Planning a trip with a theme will take a lot of research, patience and passion. You need to be flexible and believe that things will work out in the end!
Plan 60% of your trip and be spontaneous for the rest of it. It’s scary and loads of fun!
When I planned my “King Arthur trip” I almost gave it up a few times because it was a challenge to find information about public transportation in the Somerset area.
I decided to let that subject go and focus on the rest of the trip and come back to transport later on. I’m glad I did.
Breakfast at a cafe.
Late morning foodie walk with a group. You will eat a lot and won’t need to make plans for lunch.
Afternoon visit to an area you passed by on your foodie tour or visit a museum.
Unplanned classical concert at a cathedral.
Unplanned dinner at a cafe or a pub.
My solo trip to Glastonbury in Somerset had several themes: King Arthur’s legend, lay lines, the Chalice Well, and walks.
When you design your trip with a theme, Make sure you make it about you!
My trip was also about discovering Somerset’s landscape, its myth and history.
It is a myth that you have to be alone all the time when you travel solo.
You will learn how to be alone, how to entertain yourself, how to eat out alone and you will also meet lots of other solo travelers and groups who will make your journey a blast!
Groups provide camaraderie and shared experiences.
I have always liked to walk, but it was during this trip that I discovered my passion for it.
I met many people during my walks.
I took long and leisurely daily walks and stopped to take photos and sketch.
Traveling alone forced me out of my comfort zone, make an effort to meet new people, learn how to be safe at all times, enjoy solitude.
I stayed with Storm, her husband, and a pup. My friendly hostess was a warm, welcoming, beautiful person.
They shared a lot of information about Somerset, and made my stay so special because I felt I was almost a local.
It turns out that Glastonbury is a fantastic base for staying in Somerset.
Public transportation is a challenge around UK’s smaller towns.
I did not want to rent a car.
Always have some sort of entertainment when you travel solo.
The camera and my sketchbook entertained me during the long waits in between buses and trains.
The Chalice Well is about a 15-minute walk from downtown Glastonbury.
The well is at the bottom of the Tor, and legend says this is where the Island of Avalon was.
Read the book The Mists of Avalon!
The Holy Grail was believed to have been placed at the Chalice.
The Chalice is the female symbol, while the Tor is the male symbol.
The island of Avalon may have been located there.
I went there on different occasions and saw many groups of women on their pilgrimage to the Chalice.
The Chalice Well was a fantastic place to go at the end of the day. The blooming flowers seemed to have a stronger aroma, there were many birds, and I enjoyed all the different benches with their particular views.
The Chalice Well has an educational center where they teach essence workshops, energy fields, and other exciting things throughout the year.
The Tor is a gorgeous hill with the beautiful St. Michael’s Tower.
Legend says that this is King Arthur’s burial site.
The National Trust states that it’s thought that there is a hidden cave where you can go to the fairy realm of Annwn.
Gwynd ab Nudd, the Celtic lord of the underworld, lives in the cave with the cauldron of Rebirth.
The Holy Grail was supposed to have been brought here!
So… the Holy Grail was here and at the Chalice.
Hmmm. The thing about mythology is not to get attached to specifics and just enjoy the stories. I love mythology.
The views are breathtaking, and it’s a fantastic place to sketch, photograph, meditate, and relive Avalon and its mysteries.
There are several ways to get there. You can take a bus part of the way and then climb up, or you can walk all the way.
So much to see and learn about in Glastonbury.
What is the first things to do when planning a trip with a theme?
Choose something you want to learn about or a place you always wanted to visit and research the subject.
How complex should your research be?
Read a few great books about the history and culture of the place. Travel with a good idea about what you will be seeing.
Should you plan to visit places near your area?
Yes! Make plans to visit nearby towns because it will give a greater depth about your subject and allow you take a break and see new things.
Should you enrol in classes?
Joining classes is a fun way to meet people interested in your subject and will make your trip more exciting.
Should you join day group tours during your solo trip?
Yes! Traveling solo does not mean you have to do everything alone. Group tours are also great for getting more local information.
How do I know when to travel to my destination.
Study the weather and choose the best time of the year to visit.
What do I do if I get bored of being alone all the time?
Take things to do when you feel alone or bored.
Take a journal with you and jot down what you did and where you went.
Doodle and sketch.
Photograph your daily events.
Group tours will help you shift your mood, be around people and avoid boredom!
Look for spas so that you can spend a day relaxing.
Rent a bike when you can and get to know your area- take a picnic on your outings!
Facetime a friend or family member when you feel lonely.
Stay curious.
Myths and Legends for Chalice Well
It depends!
Be independent when you travel. Make sure you can carry all your things and don’t count on people helping.
I love the soft-backed cubes. They organize your clothes; if you buy anything new, they can be squeezed in easily! I use the Eagle Creek soft cubes:
Photos of my packing cubes
You can buy packing cubes with more structure like these compression cubes.
Some people prefer not to pack with cubes, and they use the rolling method.
And other people have specific ways of folding.
I like to use a mixture of all of these! I fold and roll and use a soft packing cube.
For good and comprehensive packing tips read: Packing for a fantastic 3 day trip to Lisbon
You can get this little gadget and place it on the floor.
I think you must move to another hotel in a different area if you feel unsafe. It’s better to spend a little more money and sleep well.
Meetup-up events
Day tours
Foodie tours
cooking classes
Check out the group InterNations
Keep a paper journal where you can write, draw, and paste things to remind you of the trip. Journals are fun and will entertain you on those solo evenings during your trip.
Create a photo diary on your phone and keep it all organized in a file on your phone.
Take your medication. Do not count on finding what you need.
Always take your prescription medication in its original package with a prescription signed by your doctor.
Verify if you can take that specific medication into the country because many countries ban certain types of medication.
Pack a few aspirins or equivalent, cold medicine, or anything you need in an emergency.
These items will add weight, and you will buy them when you arrive at your destination.
I take my a small bottle of my conditioner with me and use whatever shampoo is available. The conditioner will fix any crappy shampoo effect!
What an excellent opportunity to de-clutter!
This is a vacation! If you need anything else, you can get it at your destination.
I loved the idea of traveling with a theme and adopted it for many other trips, such as the one to Lindisfarne and my trip to Paris to see the famous Paris Photo Exhibit.
updated June 2025
Marguerite Beaty, Blogger, Photographer & Artist
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