Originally posted in Forbes | Nov. 11, 2024
In the first of a series of articles looking at travel trends for the year ahead, today, I look at how women are exploring the world. Of course, women have always travelled—this is not new—and there is a long history of pioneering female explorers and intrepid travellers to be inspired by. However, recent data and expert insights reveal that female travellers are traversing the world in new ways.
Women going solo
With better connectivity, inspiration from social media and an increase in safe spaces for women, more female travelers are making plans to travel solo. This trend continues to grow at such a rapid pace that a&o Hostels, the largest hostel chain in Europe, has added a significant additional number of female dorms to their hostels to cater to this segment and offer safe, social and budget-friendly accommodation.
Oliver Winter, CEO and founder of a&o Hostels, comments: “There has been a remarkable increase in solo travelers since last year across the portfolio. Notably, we’ve seen a significant bump in solo female travelers. This trend continues to grow at such a rapid pace that we’ve added a significant additional number of female dorms to our hostels. As the largest hostel chain in Europe, female travelers can stay at our hostels in premier European cities such as Berlin, Venice, Salzberg and more.”
Virtuoso—the leading global network specializing in luxury and experiential travel—agrees that solo female travelers are on the rise, with Virtuoso’s recent trends report showing that females now make up 71% of solo travelers. It is a sector that has been dubbed as ‘wander women’—by Globetrender—the trends forecaster. Backing this up, according to the U.S. Travel Association, Google searches for ‘solo female travel’ increased by an astounding 131 per cent over 2023.
Adventure Travel
Women now make up over half of the bookings with adventure travel companies, according to data from the Adventure Travel Trade Association. What’s more, it is not confined to younger women. A global study of 1,000 women found that adventure travel was the most sought-after type of travel among those over aged 50. Among some of the most popular adventure-focused trips are Adventure Life’s Fly-and-Cruise Antarctica—an eight-day journey, starting in Punta Arenas, Chile. You then fly two hours to King George Island, board the Magellan Explorer and cruise among the icebergs, penguins, seals, and whales of the white continent.
Escape Adventure’s Mountain Bike Canyonlands sees cyclists travel across Utah’s 100-mile White Rim Trail. Across four days, travellers will cycle and camp the famous off-road route, while detouring to admire hidden slot canyons, natural rock arches and ancient Puebloan ruins. Meanwhile, Flying Pig Adventures’s Yellowstone Horseback Fly Fishing will see you ride on horseback into Yellowstone National Park’s interior and cast for trout on seldom-fished streams.
Pioneering travel operator, Geographic Expeditions (GeoEx), is also catering to the demand by expanding its ‘Women of the World’ Collection, with new women-only itineraries, Treasures of Türkiye and Cuba Unveiled. The crafted journeys are designed for women seeking meaningful connections with like-minded travelers, one-of-a-kind cultural experiences, and transformative adventures, with departure dates beginning in October 2025 to Türkiye and November 2025 to Cuba.
Tim Gunstone, HotelPlanner’s chief of communications, agrees that the trend is gaining pace as more women become financially independent. “There has been a glorious history of female adventurers, such as Amelia Earhart or Nellie Bly. Safety is still key, though, and I would recommend doing your research on local customs, accommodation, available travel services (such as taxis) and routes around where you will be travelling.”
Buahan, a Banyan Tree Resort in Bali, reports it is seeing a rise in solo female travelers and groups of women drawn to deeper, more meaningful adventures. “Our ‘no walls, no doors’ approach allows women to embrace a sense of freedom and connection to nature that’s both empowering and transformative. From jungle treks to mindful wellness experiences, we’re thrilled to provide a sanctuary where female adventurers can push their boundaries, find solitude, and immerse themselves in the heart of Bali’s wilderness.”
Female companionship
Women traveling in groups of either lifelong friends, or complete strangers, to explore their feminine power, is on the rise, says Melissa Krueger, CEO of Classic Vacations.
“Marketing to women often revolves around telling us what we need—how we should look, act or consume—but when it comes to women in their 50s, particularly regarding travel, there’s a glaring gap. As a woman in my 50s, I often travel alone for business, relishing the freedom to explore on my terms, which is incredibly liberating. In contrast to the prescriptive marketing women are used to, this stage of life is less about being told what we need and more about embracing our self-expression and autonomy. As the mother of three daughters, I’ve seen first hand how the journey of self-identity is crucial for personal growth, and it’s no different for women in midlife. The rising trend of female-focused travel aligns beautifully with this—helping women build resilience, adaptability and independence. Travel becomes a powerful tool for shaping us into well-rounded individuals and global citizens.”
Since 1992, we at Escape Adventures have been blessed to shape and lead adventure travel vacations through some of the most awe-inspiring natural destinations in the world. Each successive season, our passion for adventure grows through memorable moments with our guests. Fresh air, faith, fitness and friends are the building blocks for our ventures, the treasured experiences that keep us moving forward. For those of you who have trekked and traveled with us over the past quarter century, Heather and I express our sincerest gratitude. The memories are priceless.
