The Rise of Female-Only Tours, Which Empower Women and Solo Travelers
Judy Koutsky | March 19, 2025
Courtesy of Road Scholar
The concept of female-only travel tours is not new, but it has evolved significantly in the past decade. As conversations around gender equality, personal empowerment, and solo travel have gained momentum, women have embraced the freedom and confidence that come with exploring the world.
Tour companies have taken notice, and female-only tours have become a thriving niche in the travel industry, offering women a way to easily and safely experience previously complex destinations. Luxury cruise line Uniworld is even hosting a Women-Only Cruise to France this summer.
"We've seen a remarkable increase in demand for women-only travel experiences, driven by a growing desire for adventure, personal growth, and deeper connections — both with fellow travelers and the communities we visit," says Renata Haas, Head of Adventure Operations, North America, Natural Habitat Adventures.
Maeve Hartney, Chief Program Officer at Road Scholar, which provides educational travel programs geared toward older adults, found that "Women in the Boomer generation are much more independent-minded and financially independent than their mothers and grandmothers, and we're seeing that reflected in the wave of women interested in traveling solo," she said.
Credit: Courtesy of Intrepid Travel
One driving force behind the rise of female-only travel across different age groups is the desire for personal growth. Says Haas: "Women's Journeys provide a space for personal transformation. Time and time again, we see women stepping outside their comfort zones and discovering strengths they didn't know they had. When women feel supported and encouraged, they become more open to new experiences, whether that's building meaningful connections, developing new skills, or gaining confidence through adventure."
Of course, safety is another reason why women seek out female-only travel experiences, as women often have to navigate harassment or cultural norms that restrict their movement when traveling. Female-only tours provide a secure and supportive environment that allows women to explore without worry. Many of these tours are led by female guides, and itineraries are designed with safety in mind, selecting accommodations, transportation, and activities that prioritize this.
As solo female travel continues to rise, so too does the demand for experiences that prioritize safety, connection, and personal enrichment. Female-only tours are more than just a trend — they're a testament to the evolving role of women in the travel industry. Here are some of our favorite tour providers.
Natural Habitat Adventures
Credit: Getty Images/pkujiahe
One of the world's leading conservation travel companies, Natural Habitat Adventures, in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), expanded its series of guided small-group (14 participants max) nature journeys by creating Women's Journeys.
Led by female expedition leaders, female travelers will interact with communities where women play a vital role in conservation. Travelers will experience intimate wildlife encounters while learning about the matriarchs of the animal kingdom, from polar bear and northern lights viewing in Churchill, Manitoba, to watching the monarch butterfly migration in Mexico. The brand offers over 15 Women's Journeys, which are in such high demand that the brand introduced seven new destinations this year. One of the most popular itineraries is Alaska Bear Camp, a six-day tour that takes place from June to August and offers unparalleled bear-viewing opportunities deep in the Alaska wilderness.
Insight Vacations
Credit: Getty Images/Carlos Duarte
Insight Vacations has 11 women-only itineraries in Europe, the United States, Africa, South America, and Asia. The brand limits groups to 22 and designs its tours so that travelers can connect with local women.
In Best of Morocco, for example, they'll meet with Chef Najat Kaanache to sample her food and learn about her culinary experience, which includes training at world-renowned Michelin-starred restaurants such as El Bulli, The French Laundry, Noma, Per Se, and Alinea, under famous chefs like Ferran Adrià and Thomas Keller. Kaanache now serves innovative Moroccan cuisine at Nur restaurant in Fes, offering a tasting menu that blends traditional flavors with modern techniques — think delicate pastillas, seasonal tagines, and artfully plated seafood. In Peru with Machu Picchu, they can learn from the women in charge of creating and preserving ancient weaving customs in the Sacred Valley.
One of the most popular women-only tours is The Northern Capitals, a 10-day adventure that explores Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. A highlight of this itinerary is dinner with Isabelle Sandstedt Pedersen, a decorated hurdler specializing in the 100-meter who has competed at the highest levels of the sport, including the World Championships and the 2016 Summer Olympics, earning multiple national titles and international accolades throughout her career.
Intrepid
Credit: Courtesy of Intrepid Travel
Intrepid's Women's Expeditions focus on offering insights into local women's daily lives and challenges. They're also led by local women. Singular experiences include visiting a women-only bathhouse in Turkey, interacting with a woman-owned salon owner who works out of her house in Pakistan, and riding the women-only carriages of Delhi's metro system.
On Intrepid's Morocco Women's Expedition, travelers can explore how an artist-run co-op is empowering female rug-weavers in small villages. Evenings of this eight-day tour, limited to eight women, are filled with henna art, dancing to Amazigh music, and plenty of tea-fueled storytelling.
Credit: Courtesy of Intrepid Travel
Since launching their first women's tour in Morocco in 2018, Intrepid is now the largest employer of female tour guides in Morocco. They also have female-only itineraries in Pakistan, Nepal, India, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia.
Wildland Trekking
Credit: Getty Images/swissmediavision
Wildland's Women's Adventure Trips focus on backcountry trekking adventures in America's iconic national parks. Of its 17 female-only trips, 10 are new for 2025; the brand has more than doubled its offerings since last year to keep up with demand. New tours include Best of Moab Base Camp, Enchanted Valley Backpacking, and Wild Alaska Coast and Glacier Trek. As a result of the success of these tours, 60% of Wildland's new guides for 2024 were women. That number continues to grow, reflecting the expanding demand for women-led outdoor adventures. Trips vary in length from four to nine days and see guests sleeping in tents and eating "backcountry cuisine," which is simple and filling food that is prepared by the guide and travels well.
World Expeditions
Credit: Getty Images/Edwin Tan
World Expeditions has an upcoming women-only 50th Anniversary Trek to Nepal, which will be led by an expert female local guide. With the opportunity to meet Nepali women and learn about their mountain culture, the 14-day tour is a perfect mix of outdoor exploration and cultural immersion. Highlights include views of Everest, Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Nuptse, and surrounding Himalayan peaks; experiencing the spiritual heart of the Khumbu region at Thyangboche monastery; and exploring the Namche Bazaar, the Sherpa capital of Nepal.
Another women-only trip that World Expeditions offers this year is Highlights of Morocco, which dives into the cultural and natural diversity of the country, from the snow-capped Atlas Mountains to the blue-washed homes of Chefchouen. Travelers on this 14-day walking tour will stay in a combination of hotels and riads.
Inside Travel Group
Credit: Getty Images/lechatnoir
For the past 20 years, Inside Travel Group has focused on creating one-of-a-kind experiences in Japan and Asia. Across their two brands, Inside Japan and Inside Asia, the tour company creates self-guided tours in Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Borneo, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Two of their more popular destinations, which can be combined, are Japan and South Korea. Self-guided tours can be tailored to showcase the role of women in East Asian societies, from tea ceremonies with geishas in Kyoto to visiting Korea's Jeju Island to watch the famous haenyo female free-divers harvest fresh seafood in a thousand-year-old tradition.
Road Scholar
Credit: Grand Canal, Venice, Italy / iStock / RudyBalasko
Road Scholar's women-only tours are designed for women 50 and older. These tours focus on active learning, and each activity is planned and executed by someone with extensive experience in their field, from archeologists to award-winning historians and authors.
There are a variety of women-only tours, though a popular one is a six-day trip to Sedona to learn about holistic healing and to practice Qigong, yoga, and meditation in nature. In Santa Fe, female travelers can soak in hot springs and learn about restorative traditions used by Native American healers. In Venice, art, music, architecture, and la dolce vita await.
Backroads
Credit: Getty Images/Vuk Saric
Founder Tom Hale's wife, Liz, and daughter, Avery, were the inspiration behind Backroads Women's Adventures. Throughout Backroads' 45-year history, women have consistently comprised more than 50% of its executive team and trip leader population. Backroads focuses on active travel and offers biking, hiking, walking, and multi-adventure trips in more than 50 countries. Two of their most popular female-only tours are England's Cotswolds, to visit the Cotswolds' famous castles, gardens, and traditional English pubs, and A Taste of Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage trek that centers on transformation and mindfulness.
