Embark on a journey of discovery in Alaska, Vancouver Island, or Desolation Sound while reveling in the freedom of solo exploration

In a world that demands our attention at every turn, there's a growing desire among travelers to break free from the norm and embark on an adventure of their own.

Small group adventures are an alluring option for solo travelers seeking to explore in the company of likeminded people, but expedition cruises often require a single supplement to pay for the high level of experience they offer.

For the first time, boutique wilderness cruise company Maple Leaf Adventures is offering this kind of traveler an incentive, by waiving its single supplement fee on many of its popular destinations. Trips that qualify for this special offer include wildlife-filled itineraries in Alaska’s inside passage, Vancouver Island and the Great Bear Rainforest.

Qualifying trips:

• Alaska Adventure (June 14-23, June 23-July 2, aboard Swell), Alaska Supervoyage (July 3-11, Aug 6-17 aboard Swell), Alaska Supervoyage with Canadian Geographic (July 26-Aug 6, aboard Swell), Vancouver Island’s Wild Side (July 9-15, aboard Cascadia), Whales & Wild Isles (July 23-31, Aug 3-11, aboard Cascadia), and Desolation Sound & Fjords of BC (Oct 17-24, aboard Cascadia)

Maple Leaf Adventures has pioneered safari-like trips in Alaska and British Columbia since 1986, with small group exploration at its core. Ships carry either 8, 12 or 24 guests and when ashore, guests are usually in groups of about 12 people.

The nature of this style of travel eliminates the barriers a solo traveler may face on larger ships; compared to bigger boats, guests do not feel overwhelmed by hordes of strangers . Guiding crew are essentially “built-in” solo travellers to share the journey with guests—their expertise and warmth are as much a part of the trip as the place, wildlife and ship.

Marion Freeman, a frequent solo traveller from Victoria, says that a trip with Maple Leaf Adventures “satisfies a personal and spiritual need to connect with views of a world that aligns with my core values.”

Marion’s partner doesn’t seek the same sort of travel experiences as she does, so a few years ago she decided to search for a “different sort of travel experience that opens up a world you wouldn’t have even thought of.” She’s kayaked the Arctic and explored the entire coast of Alaska and BC on board Maple Leaf Adventures’ three expedition vessels.

Solo travel has been on the rise this past decade. Interest in adventuring alone is expected to continue to increase this year; according to Kayak, searches for single-traveler flights are 36% higher for 2023 travel than for 2022 travel. 

“Whatever your reason for traveling solo, it doesn’t mean you want to travel alone. My mum is the perfect example… She lost my dad in 2010, but travelling feeds her soul,” said Maureen Gordon, one of Maple Leaf Adventures’ owners. “We’ve always had high proportion of solo travellers on our sailing ship, and now we’re seeing what the reception is to this solo traveler option on our 2023 trips aboard our ships with private ensuite cabins, Swell and Cascadia.”

For more information, visit Maple Leaf Adventures’ Special Offers or call +1-250-386-7245

About Maple Leaf Adventures

Selected for Canada's “Signature Experiences Collection” by the Canadian Tourism Commission, Maple Leaf Adventures has provided conservation-focused, big adventures aboard small ships since 1986. With a reputation as one of Canada's top sustainable tour operators, its multi-day excursions give guests one-of-a-kind experiences in some of the most beautiful and rare places in the world, often in areas that were once under threat of destruction or in dire need of protection. In 2012, Maple Leaf was awarded the Parks Canada Sustainable Tourism Award, for promoting the appreciation of Canada's natural, cultural and aesthetic heritage, while also protecting them. As a long-time practitioner of ecotourism, Maple Leaf Adventures pioneered travel in BC's Great Bear Rainforest and northwestern Vancouver Island and has made significant contributions to conservation. National Geographic Adventure has rated Maple Leaf Adventures one of the “Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth”. For more information, visit www.MapleLeafAdventures.com.

Media Contact

• Maureen Gordon, Maple Leaf Adventures Maureen@MapleLeafAdventures.com or +1-250-881-6143 (mobile)
• Jordan Lambe, Maple Leaf Adventures, jordan@mapleleafadventures.com or +1-236-979-7632 (mobile)

Photos:

*You may use these photos royalty free with information about Maple Leaf Adventures trips only, as long as photo credit is given as follows: [photographer name] / Maple Leaf Adventures. The photographer name is in the file info. Photos: https://mapleleafadventures.smugmug.com/Public/Presskit