Women's group travel: the kinds of trip and how groups form

By Stacy Earl · Updated 11 Oct 2026

Women's group travel is any trip run for a group of women, from a walking week to a retreat or a cruise. The label tells you who the trip is for, and the host, the plan and the terms tell you everything else.

What is women's group travel?

It is travel where a host organizes a trip and a group of women goes together. The host sets the dates, the place, the plan and the price. You book, turn up and travel with the group.

You will see it described in several ways: women travel, women traveling with women, trips for women, women only tours. People use these phrases for the same broad idea. On hosted/trips, a trip can carry an identity label such as women only, and the label sits on the trip page where you can see it early.

People have different reasons for choosing a women only trip, and you do not need one. Some like the idea of a group with something in common. Others found a trip they wanted and noticed afterwards who it was for. The practical questions are the same ones any traveler should ask.

What kinds of group trips for women are there?

Almost any kind of group trip can be planned for women. These are the main ones.

• Retreats, built around rest, movement, quiet or making things. Our guide to women's retreats explains how to choose one, and you can browse retreats directly.
• Tours, where you move through a place with a guide and a plan. Our guide to small group adventure tours covers how those work.
• Cruises, where a host brings a group aboard a ship. You can browse cruises to see which ones are listed.
• Workshops, where learning something is the main point of the trip. See workshops.
• Event trips, built around a festival, a match, a race or a show. See event trips.

A trip can fit more than one of these. A writing workshop at a coastal house is also a retreat, for example. Read the daily outline, since the title does not always say how busy the days are.

Should I choose a women only trip or a mixed group?

Neither is better. Choose the one that fits what you want from the group. Both are normal, and plenty of people go on one kind this year and the other kind next.

A women only trip is planned for women and says so on the trip page. Some people like that the group shares one thing in common, or prefer how rooms and conversations feel. Others choose it for no reason beyond liking the trip. Hosts mean slightly different things by the label, so ask who the trip is open to and how rooms are arranged.

A mixed group is open to everyone and may include couples, friends traveling together and other solo travelers. Some people like that variety, and it suits you if the trip you want most is not labeled women only.

In both cases the label tells you who the trip is for. It does not tell you the pace, the price, the plan or how well the host runs things. Judge those separately.

How are the groups put together?

Each host decides, so ask them. Some trips are open to any woman who signs up. Others are built for a particular group, such as a community, a club or a faith. Sizes and ages vary from one trip to the next.

Things worth asking:

• How many people usually come?
• What is the usual age range?
• Do most people arrive alone, or in pairs and groups?
• Who exactly is the trip open to, and how does the host describe it?
• Is there a way to meet the group before the trip, such as a call or a chat?

Hosts mean slightly different things by the same label, so a plain answer from the host tells you more than the label. If you want a group of a certain kind, say so when you ask. A good host will tell you honestly whether the trip is a fit.

Can I join with friends, or on my own?

Both are common. A trip may hold a mix of people who came together and people who came alone, and it is worth asking the host how they handle both.

If you are going with friends, ask whether you can share a room, how the group is split for activities and whether you can book at the same time. If one of you cancels, find out how that affects the others.

If you are going on your own, you will find company on a group trip, since everyone is there for the same thing and meals are usually shared. Our guide to solo travel for women covers choosing between a women only group and a mixed one, and what to expect on arrival. Ask about rooms before you book, because a single supplement may apply.

How do I check who is running a women's group trip?

Look for a named person and read what they say. On hosted/trips every trip has a named host, and you book directly with that host on their own site. hosted/trips takes no bookings or payments and no cut of what you pay.

People sometimes search for women travel companies. The name on the front of a business tells you less than the person who will answer your questions. Whatever the host calls themselves, the checks are the same.

• Who is the named host, and how do they describe their own experience of running trips?
• Who leads on the ground? It may be the host, a local guide or someone else, and you should know before you go.
• Is the plan clear? A good listing has a daily outline, what is included and the terms in plain words.
• Can you reach the host before you book? Note how clearly they reply.
• What happens if the plan changes, or if the trip does not go ahead?
• Where do you pay, and what do the terms say about deposits and the balance?

Do not take a trip on trust because the listing sounds warm. Read what it says, and ask about anything it leaves out. You are looking for a host who answers plainly.

What does women's group travel cost?

There is no standard price, because every host sets their own. The cost depends on the place, the length, the room you choose, the size of the group and what is included.

Compare what each price covers before you compare totals. Meals, transport between places, entry fees, guides and airport transfers may be inside the price or charged on top. A private room usually costs more than a shared one, and a single supplement may apply if you travel alone.

Then find out the deposit, when the balance is due and what happens if you need to cancel. Our guide to deposits and cancellations explains what to look for. On hosted/trips you can re-sort the list by price, and each host's own page gives their terms.

What should I ask before I book?

Ask what you would want to know if a friend were going. The host will know the answers.

• Who is this trip for, and what does the label mean here?
• Who is the host, and who leads day to day?
• What does a typical day involve?
• How many people come, and who usually joins?
• What does the price include, and what costs extra?
• What are the room options?
• What are the deposit and cancellation terms?
• How active is the trip, and what should I know about the pace?

If you have an injury, an allergy or a health condition, tell the host before you book and speak to your own doctor about whether the trip suits you. Before you pay, read our short checklist for booking with a host.

Find a trip

You can browse group trips and look for the women only label on the trip page. The list is ordered by the soonest booking closing date, and you can re-sort it by earliest, latest or price. Nobody can pay to move up, and sponsored spots are labeled. If the right trip is not listed yet, set a trip alert for the kind, theme or place you like, and you will get an email when a new one is listed.

Common questions

Is women's group travel only for people who travel alone?

No. Some people come alone, some with a friend and some with a group. Ask the host how many usually come on their own.

Do all women's group trips have the same rules about who can join?

No. Each host defines who the trip is for. Ask what the label means for their trip and who is welcome.

Are women only trips more expensive?

The label does not set the price. The host, the place, the length, the room and what is included do. Compare what each price covers.

Can I find women's group travel near home?

That depends on what is listed. Look at trips by place and date, and set a trip alert for your area. You will get an email when a new trip is listed.