Women exploring a castle on a Sights and Soul Travel tour of Portugal's Silver Coast. Photos by Yolanta Barnes.

GoNOMAD's Top Ten Women-Only Tour Companies

Women-only tours have become all the rage in recent years. Wives, mothers, singles, divorcees and widows are all finding the value in traveling in the safety of a same-sex group while finding camaraderie amongst like-minded travelers.

Whether you're hiking to Machu Pichu, taking a cooking class in Delhi or birdwatching in Costa Rica, women-only group tours can offer instant friendships and dinner parties on the road while you are led by experts on the region.

A lot of large tour companies are adding women-only offerings to take advantage of this new trend, but here's a list of pioneers in the field, companies run by and for women.

Let them know you read about them on GoNOMAD.

Our list was compiled by Beth Whitman, founder of Wanderlust and Lipstick. The photos are by Yolanta Barnes of Sights and Soul Travel.

Wanderlust and Lipstick
PO Box 16102
Seattle, WA 98116
206-937-6789
info@wanderlustandlipstick.com

Specializing in soft-adventure tours for women that focus on cultural and outdoor activites.

Gutsy Women Travel
801 E. Katella Ave
2nd Floor
Anaheim, CA 92805-6636
866-464-8879

Small group travel designed for women to many destinations around the world.

 

Sights and Soul Travels
13610 Chrisbar Ct.
Germantown, MD 20874, USA
TOLL FREE: 866-737-9602
FROM OUTSIDE THE US: 240-350-5643
info@sightsandsoul.com

Discover Europe, South and North America, and Africa the way "drive by" tourists never do: very small groups, knowledgeable and enthusiastic guides, cultural immersion, relaxed pace, women-centered activities, carefully selected accommodations, a la carte gourmet dining, personal touch and attention to detail.

Castle in Portugal's Obidos

AdventureWomen
15033 Kelly Canyon Road
Bozeman, MT 59715 United States
Phone: 800-804-8686
Fax: 406-587-9449
advwomen@aol.com

The "Grande Dame" of worldwide adventure travel for active women over 30. Antarctica to Africa, Grand Canyon to Galapagos: hike, canoe, horsepack, sail, ski, raft and sea kayak in the world's most amazing destinations. Small, congenial, non-smoking groups.

Adventures in Good Company
5398 Pleasant View Rd.
Red Lion, PA 17356
877-439-4042
fax 717-246-5028
gotrips@goodadventure.com

Adventurous Wench
866-419-3624
info@adventurouswench.com

Small group tours, affordable adventure travel for every woman. Hiking, canoeing, rock climbing, backpacking, sea kayaking, dog sledding and multi-activity adventures. Most trips are suitable for both beginning and experienced outdoorswomen.

Sights and Soul travelers with local children at an Amazon village

 

Canyon Calling Tours
200 Carol Canyon Dr
Sedona, AZ 86336 United States
Phone: 800-664-8922
Fax: 520-282-3586
canyonct@sedona.net

Multi-sport adventures for women over 30 to the most beautiful places in the world.

Adventures for Women
15 Victoria Lane
Morristown, NJ 07960 United States
Phone: 973-644-3592
Fax: 973-644-3598
contactus@adventuresforwomen.org

Trolley of like-minded women travelers.

Hiking vacations in the Adirondacks and Austria since 1981. Welcoming women of all ages, abilities.


Driftwood Ltd
681 Paerata Ridge Road
RD2 Opotiki, 3092 New Zealand
Phone: +64-7-315-6353
Fax: +64-7-315-6353
driftwood@e3.net.nz

Adventure tours through North Island New Zealand for go-getting women. Many different activities!

 

 

 

 

Read more GoNOMAD articles about women-only tours:

Vacations Designed for Women: All of the Fun, None of the Hassles

Women-Only Tours: Finding Freedom and Forming Friendships

Wanderlust and Lipstick: The Skinny on Traveling Solo

What Makes a Perfect Women-Only Tour?

The Future of Women's Travel: More Adventure, Less Shopping

South Africa Safari Tours: The Next Step in Women-Only Travel

 

René Madonna writes:

A true inspiration for women who love to travel! Indeed, some of us have been so inspired by the rise of women-only tour companies, we've turned around and started our own: wayfaringwomentours.com