The Best Women-Only Adventure Travel Companies

Wild Women Expeditions

For more than 25 years, Wild Women Expeditions has been organizing fantastic trips to the far corners of the globe. Amongst the destinations that the company covers are places like Nepal, Mongolia, New Zealand, and Chile. Activities range from trekking and cycling to horseback riding and sailing. There are even opportunities to go on yoga retreats and learn to surf and stand-up paddleboard too.

Additionally, Wild Women takes a shared leadership approach to its trips, giving travelers an opportunity to weigh in on important decisions and have their voice be heard. All trips are sustainable and environmentally-friendly as well, making it a great model for modern adventure travel.

The company's Goddesses, Queens, and Heroines Tour of Egypt is an especially interesting experience that celebrates the strength and resiliency of women throughout the history of that ancient country.

The Women's Travel Group

The Women's Travel Group bills itself as a travel company specifically designed for women of all ages who are interested in going solo — without ever having to pay a single-traveler surcharge no less. Trips span a variety of genres, including cooking in Tuscany, safaris in Tanzania, and a 10-day trip across China and Mongolia. Most itineraries include at least one activity that is specifically geared toward women, such as guest speakers or shopping at a local, woman-owned coop.

While the organization has several tours that are amongst its staples each year, it also offers new and unique opportunities on a regular basis as well. Many of its clients are return customers, coming back to try a different itinerary as well, which says a lot about the quality of the service. The group's Italy cooking and spa deals are particular favorites.

Adventures in Good Company

Adventures in Good Company, which launched back in 1999, offers active vacations to destinations near and far, including hiking in the Adirondacks, kayaking in Belize, and island-hopping in Greece. Couples, groups, families, and solo travelers are all welcome, and the company offers flexible itineraries, a supportive environment, and deep cultural immersion with a host of great trips across North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Good news for mindful travelers: The sustainability-focused company contributes 15 percent of its revenue to non-profit organizations each year. It also works with local operators to develop its itineraries and practices a leave-no-trace principle on all trips, making it a good choice for those looking for an eco-conscious option.

AdventureWomen

Completely owned and run by a team of driven ladies, AdventureWomen has been offering trips designed for females since 1982. That fact alone makes the company a pioneer in this travel field, but it continues to innovate with a wide variety of destinations and activities too.

AdventureWomen offers a selection of trips designed specifically for ladies age 30 and older. The trips range from Big Sky and Yellowstone hiking to Baja sea kayaking, and Iceland horseback riding, just to name a few. It seems that the company is doing something right, as more than 70 percent of its customers return for another tour. That alone is quite a testament to the quality of its tours and how accommodating the guides and staff are.

The Women's Wilderness Institute

The Women's Wilderness Institute offers more than 50 different courses that teach solid skills to women who want to explore the backcountry completely on their own. Those courses include options for building leadership skills, learning to navigate in remote places, and basic survival lessons. There are even options for learning to climb, using wilderness medicine techniques, and tracking wildlife in the woods.

One of the best courses that the institute offers is its Discovery Days option for girls in 6th through 8th grade. The trip includes 5 days of hiking, games, and outdoor adventures built specifically with middle-schoolers in mind. The goal here is to enticing more young women to interact with nature and their own adventurous spirits, building lifelong adventurers and travelers in the process.

REI Women's Adventures

Outdoor gear retailer REI has even gotten into the women-only adventure market with the introduction of its Force of Nature campaign. This intuitive includes a host of female-only travel itineraries that are designed to make the experience more accommodating. Trips include options to explore South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, Peru, Greece, and many more. The gear retailer even offers women-only mountaineering expeditions and backpacking trips.

And of course, if you need any gear or travel equipment, REI can help you find everything you need for your journey, ensuring that you travel in comfort and style.

Women High on Adventure (WHOA)

Women High on Adventure is another adventure travel company dedicated to helping female clients get in touch with their wild side. The company offers ladies-only climbs up Kilimanjaro, treks to Machu Picchu, and excursions to India. It also offers special expeditions to Everest Base Camp and Iceland as well.

The philosophy behind WHOA is that through shared experiences, women can create lasting memories and bonds that cross age, culture, and professions. The company also partners with local nonprofits in the places that it operates, focusing on creating sustainable travel opportunities that are as good for the planet as they are for the traveler.

Wanderlust and Lipstick

Founded by women's travel expert Beth Whitman, Wanderlust and Lipstick is a company that not only challenges women to "be bold" but helps them achieve that mantra too. Tours include options to visit places like Papua New Guinea and Morocco, where clients get a chance to experience the trip of a lifetime. These are real experiences with a deep level of cultural immersion on a grand scale. The company's website also includes nice photo and video galleries to get a sense of what they do, as well as an active community of fellow female travelers sharing thoughts, tips, and ideas.

Explorer Chick

Active, adventurous women looking for a fantastic, old school journey will want to have a look at the itineraries offered by Explorer Chick. The goal is to remind travelers how to get outside and play, without worrying\ about how they look, what they eat, or who is watching. The process begins by taking them to some tremendous destinations that offer cultural immersion and adrenaline-inducing adventures, not to mention stunning scenery.

The company offers trips to Iceland, Peru, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and more. Along the way, clients go from complete strangers to best friends over the course of just a few days, making the experience all the more memorable and impactful.

Fit & Fly

The focus of Fit & Fly is to not only bring women together for an amazing travel experience, but to work in some exercise and healthy living lessons as well. The company offers fitness retreats to places like Costa Rica, Mykonos, and Morocco, giving travelers a chance to not only experience those places, but become more connected with themselves too. The goal is to encourage more meaningful travel, create friendships along the way, and encourage a healthier lifestyle that incorporates best practices for body, mind, and soul.

Damesly

At Damesly, the goal isn't just to create memorable trips for women but to create a connection that can last a lifetime. Like the other tour operators on this list, the company takes female travelers to some amazing destinations, like the Grand Canyon and Colorado. But, those trips aren't just about experiencing an adventure. They also serve as a workshop for clients to collect some skills along the way too, including photography, writing, public relations, and more. This is a travel company designed to appeal to creative types, with plenty to offer the adventurous too.

Sight and Soul Travels

If your looking for women-only travel options that span the globe, look no further than Sight and Soul Travels. The company organizes excursions to Egypt, Jordan, South Africa, France, Iceland, and numerous other places. You can even book a trip to Easter Island with Sight and Soul, taking you to one of the most remote places on Earth. As with the other entires on this list, the goal here is to provide a safe, accommodating, and welcoming environment for all women who want to explore the world, adding a health dose of adventure into the mix too.

Gutsy Women

Specializing in small-group tours for adventurous women, Gutsy can take fearless travelers to Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America, and the South Pacific. The company even offers some compelling river cruises as well, with options for travelers who don't necessarily enjoy a traditional cruise. Most trips average between 10 and 16 people, Itineraries vary from locally hosted excursions to fully escorted tours, with stays in small inns, resorts, and spas. For the woman who wants to join a group and have most things taken care of for her, this is the travel company for them. Gutsy takes care of airport transfers, all meals, and tips while providing ample free time to explore on your own.

Women Traveling Together

More than 80% of the ladies who join a Women Traveling Together tour do so completely solo. That says a lot about the welcoming and accommodating atmosphere that the company creates for its clients. Group sizes are intentionally kept small for a more intimate experience, and a travel expert accompanies each departure to provide information and assistance. Itineraries include visits to domestic destinations like New York City, Mackinac Island, and Yosemite National Park, mixed in with more exotic escapes to London, Paris, Iceland, and Tanzania.