There's a light at the end of the travel tunnel--and what better way to spend your next life-changing adventure than with a group of kick-ass ladies. From Utah to Namibia, we rounded up 40 women’s-only trips for when you're ready to plan your dream getaway, post-Covid.
The pandemic had a surprising impact on travel bookings for Wild Women Expeditions, an outfitter that organizes small group trips for 6-12 women across the globe: they’re booming. “Our sales are higher than we’ve ever seen,” says owner Jennifer Haddow. “Women are saying, ‘You know what? I’ve put off this big once-in-a-lifetime dream trip [like Antarctica], and I realize I don’t want to do that anymore. I’m going.’”
Some 70% of travelers who book trips with AdventureWomen, a females-only travel outfitter, are solo—until they join their group, that is. Why? Outfitter-planned journeys take a lot of the guesswork, meal stresses and safety worries out of globetrotting alone while female, thanks to expert guides along for the ride. Even better: as the trip rolls on, guests often develop the giggly, ‘ladies night’ vibe hanging out together as a bonus. “We’re seeing women who are thinking, ‘look, if I’m going to go, I want to be with a group, but I don’t want to be with other couples and kids. I don’t want complications that come with sexual dynamics in a [coed] group,’” Haddow says. Plus: “It’s just fun when you get the girls together. There’s a different dynamic that emerges.”
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North America
Eye-Candy in Utah
Pack your hiking boots. On AdventureWomen’s new 7-day Zion & Bryce National Parks itinerary, you’ll ride horseback through Zion’s red rock canyons; hike a mile up the waters of the Virgin River through The Narrows, a slim slot canyon under thousand-foot-tall cliffs; and try your hand at canyoneering—descending redstone walls in a safety harness—with the help of pro guides. Indulgences await every evening at the lodge, including al fresco hut tubs and s'mores around the fire. From $3,790; departing September 19, 2021
The Wonders of Wyoming
Geothermal pools? Check. Rainbow-hued canyons? Check. A safari through the “Serengeti of North America” to spy wolves, elk, bison, pronghorn and more? You know it. Wild Women Expeditions’ new 7-day tour through northwest Wyoming may be one of the most transformative of your life, including camping under a canopy of stars and horseback riding through landscapes worthy of “Legends of the Fall”—and thanks to medically-trained guides, entirely worry-free. From $2,995; departing June 20, 2021.
A Writing Workshop in Colorado
Damesly pairs travel with classes to give women a total reset with each trip. Their three day creative writing and horseback riding tour is based in Denver, but explores plenty of Colorado: you’ll tinker with your memoir, non-fiction and poetry writing in between daily adventures, including riding in Estes Park and whitewater rafting. From $1,850; departing June 10, 2021
Finding Life in Death Valley, California
On this new AdventureWomen trip, you’ll stroll the dunes of Death Valley National Park at sunset and ogle the world’s rarest fish—the endangered, shimmering cobalt blue devil’s hole pupfish—which lives in the 93-degree water at Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. The high point, literally? Summiting 9,064-foot Wildrose Peak. From $5,150; departing March 14, 2021
A Polar Bear Safari in Manitoba, Canada
Everything from dog mushing through northern boreal forests to riding tundra buggies over the Churchill Wildlife Management Area—where you’ll spot polar bears galore—is on the itinerary of Wild Women Expeditions’ new 5 day trip. The best part? Plenty of opportunity to scan the skies for a common sight in this corner of the globe: aurora borealis. From $6,595; departing November 5, 2022
Chasing Culture in Cuba
If Cuba seems out of reach as a solo traveler, Damesly has the answer: an expert-led 8-day group romp across the nation, including horseback rides through lush tobacco fields in Viñales Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site; salsa lessons and waterfall hikes in Trinidad; and even nightclubbing under jaw-dropping stalagmites in an actual cave. From $2,450; departing May 22, 2021
Living it up in the Smoky Mountains
Ever wondered why so many country music stars croon about the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina? Even Dolly Parton would be impressed by REI’s 4-day tour of the region, which includes everything from tipples of moonshine at a local distillery to zip lining over the Nantahala River Gorge. From $1,899 for REI Members, or $2,079 for non-members; departing July 4, 2021.
Supporting Female Entrepreneurs in Costa Rica
This newly launched 8-day Austin Adventures jaunt through Costa Rica is geared around supporting women-owned businesses that run the gamut, including whitewater rafting the Toro river, visiting a spice farm in a volcanic rainforest, and meeting with textile and jewelry artists—each one owned by women. We love that you’ll spend an entire evening steeping in the rainforest-shrouded EcoTermales hot springs—warmed to up to 106 degrees by the Arenal volcano. From $6,738; departing October 2, 2021
Adventuring Through Belize
Unexpected thrills are daily fodder on Adventures in Good Company’s 9-day trip through Belize: you’ll spend a night in an actual zoo with ocelots and tapirs as your neighbors; kayak the Barrier Reef in Southwater Caye Marine Reserve, where you’re likely to spot magnificent frigatebirds and brown boobys aplenty; and even putter around in Mayan ruins from 500 BC—now home to significant monkey and toucan populations. From $3,845; departing April 2, 2022
Photogenic Yosemite, California
It’s no wonder Ansel Adams spent so much time capturing Yosemite National Park’s awe-inspiring granite monoliths. On REI’s 4-day backpacking trip, you’ll join up to 9 other women in hiking 5 to 12 miles a day, eventually summiting 8,842-foot Half Dome. Bonus: the guides do all the cooking. From $1,399 for REI members, and $1,499 for non-members; departing July 14, 2022
Hiking the Appalachian Trail in Vermont
We’ve found that hiking long distances is oh-so-much-easier when you have company along for the ride. On this 9-day, expertly guided trek with Adventure’s in Good Company, you’ll summit 4,229-foot-high Killington Peak to get a birds-eye view of four (four!) other states, including New Hampshire, New York, Massachusetts, and Maine, and have the option of jumping into Little Rock Pond. Thoreau would be so proud. From $1,395; departing August 28, 2022
Greenland’s Best
Cruising doesn’t get any more adventurous than Wild Women’s Expeditions 15-day exploits around Greenland and Labrador aboard the aptly named Ocean Endeavour—and plenty of Zodiacs. You’ll stop by an Inuit village; cruise around icebergs; and leaf peep through the eye popping pristine Torngat Mountains National Park—visited by less than 600 people a year. From $5,945; departing September 25, 2022.
Solace in Sedona
Sedona, Arizona is much more than a trove of destination spas, as REI’s 4-day women’s adventure will attest. You’ll hike through cacti forests in a 30,000-acre preserve of the Sonoran Desert; watch hummingbirds brunching on a red and green ocotillo plant after your morning yoga session; and tour ancient red rock cliff dwellings with your expert female guides. From $1,999 for REI members or $2,199 for non-members; departing May 13, 2021
South America
Cruise the Galapagos on a Private Yacht
It’s no wonder the Galapagos Islands top many bucket lists—where else can you spy blue-footed boobies and ginormous land tortoises more than a century old? AdventureWomen’s eight-day tour makes the experience even more memorable, thanks to its tricked-out yacht (complete with en-suite bathrooms and a jacuzzi on the top deck) and insider tours of Charles Darwin Station and snorkeling alongside sea lions and fur seals on Rábida Island. From $5,190; departing August 14, 2021
Hike and Kayak Through Patagonia
The “Wild” experience of trekking all by your lonesome isn’t for everybody. You’ll join up to 16 other women plus pro female guides for this newly offered nine-day jaunt through the craggy peaks of Patagonia—with hikes through a Lenga forest to Torres del Paine National Park, arguably some of the world’s most famous peaks, and zodiac boat rides and crampon-donning ice hikes through glacier-strewn Lake Grey. From $3,950; departing November 19, 2021
Culture of Every Kind in Guatemala
On Adventures in Good Company’s 9-day whirlwind tour of Guatemala, you’ll hike through a cloud forest to 8,700-foot-high Acatenango Volcano; kayak along lakeside Mayan villages; and even have an astrological reading with a Mayan shaman. From $3,550; departing April 29, 20
Walking to Machu Picchu, Peru
It’s no wonder Machu Picchu tops so many South American bucket lists: there may be nothing more jaw-dropping than the sight of the 15th century emerald-green city emerging from the clouds. On this 10-day Adventures in Good Company trip with bilingual local guides, you’ll do everything from hike to the ‘Lost City of the Incas’ to explore Cusco’s Coricancha Sun Temple, sheathed in gold until a 1533 raid by Spain. From $5,650; departing June 18, 2022
Europe
Switzerland’s High Life
If you’ve always wanted to recreate that scene from “The Sound of Music'' where Maria von Trapp twirls on a mountain top, hiking the Alps on AdventureWomen’s latest journey will be a dream come true. Included on your eight-day trip? Wandering car-free UNESCO-heritage site St. Gallen village; prepping fondue with monks at a Benedictine Monastery in Engelberg; and summiting Mount Titlis via railcar and hike, with a wine and cheese luncheon at the peak. Maria would love it. From $5,590; departing June 6, 2021.
A Culture Tour in Turkey
You’ll deep-dive into regional traditions with Intrepid Travel’s 12-Day expedition through Turkey: making earrings with Syrian refugees who run Drop Earrings Not Bombs; steeping in an Ottoman hammam; and dining on Anatolian fare in the cave home of Nuray Abla in Cappadocia. One of the more magical adventures happens on day five in Ucagiz, a teensy fishing village, when Sabahat, a female skipper, will bring the group by boat to spy a sunken city north of the island. From $1,940; departing May 9, 2021.
Horseback Riding in Iceland
Icelandic horses could put even clydesdales to shame, with their fairytale manes and ultra-plush winter fur. On AdventureWomen’s Icelandic horseback tour, you’ll have your own dedicated trusty steed for a week of exploits, including riding over black sand beaches and to steaming hot springs the vikings used in Deildartunguhver. (You’ll leave your mount behind when you harvest scallops on Breiðafjördur Bay, and can eat them raw—just like a viking maiden may have done.) From $6,990; departing June 20, 2021.
Kayaking through Croatian Islands
The turquoise, crystalline seas on Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast look like a screensaver sprung to life—and with REI’s new 8-day, multisport tour, you and 11 other women can dive deep into their Instagram-ready waters via kayak and stand-up-paddle board. Also on your to-do list? Baking Croatian hrapoćuša cakes with local women; and exploring tumbledown Roman-era palaces and subterranean labyrinths. From $3,899 for REI Members, or $4,299 for non-members; departing May 2021.
Saunter Through Castles in Germany
Pack your dirndl: this 6-day WHOA Travel tour of Bavaria is timed to coincide with Oktoberfest for good reason. Also on your to-do list? Paragliding over nearly 10,000-foot-high Zugspitze mountain, sipping your way through Munich’s Chinesischer Turm beer garden, and biking to Neuschwanstein Castle—the 1886 stunner that inspired the design of the castle in Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. From $2,950; departing September 16, 2021.
Hiking the Camino de Santiago in Spain
Centuries of pilgrims can’t be wrong. On Wild Women Expeditions’ 7-day walk from mountain plateaus to seafront villages alongside the 9th century pilgrimage trail, you’ll have a decidedly pampered experience, with a support van tracing your steps (and carrying your luggage and plenty of snacks). On your itinerary: wandering eucalyptus and pine plantations and lunching on fresh-caught fish in dreamy coastal towns. From $2,995; departing September 30, 2021.
Hike Across Wales
If you’ve ever wanted to recreate scenes from any number of Jane Austin-inspired movies, Adventures in Good Company has a 10-day trip through three Welsh National Parks that are as cinematic as they come (Mr. Darcy not included). You’ll summit 3,560-foot-high Mount Snowdon via its 1896 narrow gauge railway and wander 12th century Carreg Cennen Castle. From $3,590; departing September 4, 2021
A Trademark Tour of Ireland
When you dream of lush, emerald-green Ireland, you’re likely conjuring the exact sorts of exploits Wild Women Expeditions has planned on their 8-day tour of the nation. On the itinerary? Hiking the towering cliffs at Slieve League (keep an eye out for seals and whales in the Atlantic below); taking a seaweed bath in an Edwardian-era bath house in the fishing village of Enniscrone; and even climbing to a burian cairn of mythological warrior queen Meabh. From $4,695; departing September 5, 2021.
Africa
A Namibian Safari
You could call this a “surf and turf” safari—literally. On Damesly’s 11-day journey, you’ll likely spy everything from oryx, springbok and Hardmann’s Mountain zebra in the rolling deserts of Namib Naukluft National Park to pelicans and flamingos from your kayak in the Walvis Bay Lagoon. You’ll also spend two full days in Etosha National Park mingling with the locals (well, spotting them from your game drive): lions, elephants, cheetahs, giraffes, and oh-so-much-more. From $3,850; departing July 9, 2021.
Hiking Across Morocco
Intrepid Travel’s 8-day expedition through Morocco includes dining with Berber families in their own homes; visiting female-led rug-weaving co-ops in rural villages; henna and kohl make-up lessons with the locals; and hiking (including in the M’goun Valley, where centuries-old architecture and some of the highest peaks in the Atlas Mountains will undoubtedly drop your jaw). Did we mention that a team of mules will schlep all your heavy bags while you hike? Bliss. From $1,125; departing October 9, 2021.
A Foodie Tour Across Egypt
Former Food Network and Cooking Channel art director Rani Cheema adores gastronomy so much she founded Cheema’s Travel, an outfitter for food and culture-obsessives. One of their new group tours for self-identifying women: a 9-day insider’s expedition in Egypt, including truly unexpected exploits—from riding by tuk tuk to meet refugees learning the restaurant business at Dawar Kitchen to a Bedouin lunch (including bread baked in subterranean ovens) in the foothills of Mt. Sinai. From $5,500; departing December 27, 2021.
Trekking in Tanzania
You’ll live the high life, literally, during this 9-day hiking tour of Tanzania from Wild Women Expeditions—especially when you reach the 19,340-foot summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. Along the way, you’ll likely spot monkeys, leopards and elephants galore. Bonus: your certified guide will be a female Tanzanian (rare in these parts). From $4,295; departing September 14, 2021.
Asia
Hiking Everest
Yes, Everest. If “the big one” is on your goal sheet, WHOA Travel’s 15-day Himalayan trek will get you close. Their local female guides from Take on Nepal will lead you to Everest Base Camp at 17,598 feet, which some call “the steps to heaven”—and ideal for getting soaking up all the alpine splendor without the three month commitment a summit would take. After hiking through jagged peaks and weaving under prayer flags each day, you’ll stop in at Nepalese tea houses for R&R. From $3,550; departing October 19, 2021
On the Trail of Japanese Traditions
If mingling with some of Japan’s most interesting women—including Ama pearl divers and mountain ascetic priestesses—sounds fun, this 10-day trip across Japan with AdventureWomen is for you. Because you’ll do all that and much, much more, including stroll Nara Park alongside some 1,000 resident deer and steep in hot springs at ryokan (inns) on the UNESCO-heritage Kumano Kodo route. From $8,995; departing April 6, 2022
Marvels of Mongolia
For a chance to truly live like a local in the Mongolian wilderness, WHOA Travel’s new 13-day tour does it right. You’ll stay in gers (yurts) with host families in Erdenedalai, where the desert meets the steppe; plant trees with conservationist Byamba Tseyen and her daughter-in-law; and even fly to the Chinese border to meet with Aigerim, a female eagle hunter. Marvels, indeed. From $4,200; departing June 8, 2021.
Eye Candy India
You’ll bed down in romantic safari tents with en-suite bathrooms on this 11-day Warwari horseback riding jaunt across India with Wild Women Expeditions, but that’s only the beginning of your cinematic experience. Also on the itinerary? A tuk tuk ride driven by female drivers with Pink City Rickshaw Co. to a sunset cruise on Lake Pichola; a twilight leopard safari in an Acacia scrub forest; and riding over a pink granite sand landscape to circa 1459 Mehrangarh Fort. From $4,395; departing November 2, 2021
Befriend the Women of Jordan
Intrepid Travel geared this 8-day expedition through Jordan around meeting and mingling with the local ladies. You’ll milk a goat with a female shepherd; bathe in mineral mud at the women’s-only beach; and take Arabic cooking classes in people’s own homes. And yes, you’ll check bucket list sights like the Dead Sea and Petra, the 5th century BC city fortress built into sandstone, off your list. From $2,265; departing September 20, 2021
Vietnam with a Local
This 14-day curated journey through Northern Vietnam by Wild Women Expeditions is as insidery as it gets. You’ll speak privately with a monk at Truc Lam Sung Phuc Zen Monastery; stay with a Red Dao ethnic minority family in Ta Phin village; weave shrimp catching baskets with locals on a farm in Mai Chau, and so much more. From $2,895; departing September 18, 2021
Oceania
A Foodie Frolic Through Adelaide with Locals
Australian company Sisterhood Womens Travel knows Oz intimately. Arrive hungry for their five-day Adelaide Food and Wine Mini Break tour, because you’ll have a bountiful buffet of activities—including chocolate and wine tastings at Barossa Valley Chocolate Company; afternoon tea in the German village of Hahndorf; and vineyard and olive-grove meanderings in McLaren Vale, an oenophile mecca a la California’s Napa. From $1,965; departing November 11, 2021.
Antics Across New Zealand
You’ll understand instantly why so many movies are filmed in New Zealand on WHOA’s new 11-day tour of the nation. Among the cinematic sights on your itinerary? Bedding down on a boat in Milford Sound fjord; sea kayaking with fur seals and dolphins; and hiking to spy the smallest penguins on earth—12”-tall blue penguins—edging the ocean in Oamaru. From $5,500; departing December 2, 2021.
Antarctica
Island Hopping Adventures
Cole Banks founded Sisters Traveling Solo to inspire black women to explore the world. Their 12-day Antarctica cruise includes such postcard-worthy sights as navigating treacherous Drake Passage; eyeing humpback whales, orcas, and leopard seals; and hiking to spot thousands of penguins on the romantically-named Deception Islands. From $8,995; departing December 5, 2022
Exploring a Penguin Paradise
