Many people travel solo by choice and like to join a group for a day. A shared tour can be an easy way to see more with someone else handling transport. What it cannot promise is how well you will get on with the other passengers, so judge it on the things the operator does publish: where it starts, who guides it, how big it is, what it asks of you and how you get back.
1. Know what you want from the day
Be specific: do you want conversation and a shared lunch, or mainly someone else to drive? A fixed programme, or plenty of free time? A guide in your own language? Your answers decide which details matter, and they are about preference, not about being alone.
2. Shared or private: read what is actually offered
Operators use these words differently, so look for the facts behind them. Royal Caribbean, for example, describes its accessible tours as small group tours with a limited number of participants, and says private arrangements may be available in ports that have no accessible excursions. Royal Caribbean also states that if a tour booked through it is delayed, the ship will wait or the line will arrange your return at no cost; for guests who book their own excursions, it says being on board on time is their responsibility. That is one line's policy; ask yours.
3. Check the meeting point and what transfer is included
An island operator's pages show why this matters. S Tours on Kos, as its pages listed on 26 October 2026:
- Its Full Day Excursion to Nisyros starts from "your accommodation", includes hotel pick-up and drop-off, and departs from Kardamena port at 09:30, returning at 16:30. The times are given as approximate and subject to change.
- The same tour is priced at €40 per adult with transfer or €30 without, and the €5 volcano entrance fee is not included. Check before you book.
- Its Kos to Bodrum trip (North) starts with a bus pick-up from Kardamena or Mastichari and asks for full name, date of birth, passport number and nationality at booking.
Pickups like these are organised around hotels and resorts. The pages read do not mention cruise-port pickups, so if you arrive by ship, ask the operator in writing where you would join and whether the timings fit your all-aboard time.
4. Ask about language, group size and activity
Language is often fixed by day. S Tours lists its Kos Island Tour in German on Monday and Friday and in English on Saturday, and gives the Nisyros escort languages as English and German. Group size is not stated on the Kos pages read; the Bodrum page only says the city tour runs by minibus or on foot depending on group size. Ask directly.
Practical demands, as the operator states them: S Tours says the Nisyros excursion is not recommended for people with mobility problems and recommends sturdy footwear in the crater. Ask any operator about walking, steps, boat boarding and time on your feet, and decide from the answers.
5. Plan your own way back
Even on a guided day, know how you would get back alone if you left early or the group ran late. S Tours notes that its Bodrum return times can change, especially because of passport control and occasional security delays, and its tours accept cancellations up to 48 hours before departure. Save the operator's office number (S Tours lists its Kos office as +30 2242020604), your ship's port details and a taxi option on paper as well as on your phone.
6. A solo booking checklist
| Question | Answer | Where it says so |
|---|---|---|
| Shared or private, and how many people at most? | ||
| Exact meeting point or pickup, and at what time? | ||
| Is a transfer included, and from where? | ||
| Guide or escort language on my date? | ||
| Walking, steps, boats, time standing? | ||
| What is not included (fees, meals)? | ||
| Cancellation deadline? | ||
| Return time, and who waits if it runs late? | ||
| Operator phone number for the day? |
No checklist can promise good company, but it can make sure the day works either way. For Kos crossings see the Kos ferry hub, and for comparing terms see ship tour or independent tour.