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Women leave the guys in the dust on women-only adventures ranging from surfing in Bali to trekking through the Himalayas. The no-men-allowed policy of women-only travel companies allows women to bond with each other and challenge themselves to new adventures in a friendly and nurturing environment.
These trips are a hit with women of all ages and backgrounds, from single ladies in their 30s to busy moms looking for a getaway. Some women travel alone while others join friends, mothers, daughters or sisters to share a new experience. Regardless of background, all of the women enjoy the chance to experience a unique vacation with no planning involved on their parts. These women-only travel companies take care of all the details, from organizing museum outings or zip-line tours through forest canopies, to finding the best restaurants or hotels in each destination.
Gutsy Women Travel
The Gutsy Women mantra says it all -- "It's Your Life -- Live It!" With this in mind, the tour company invites women to live out their vacation dreams in exotic locales like India's Pushkar Camel Fair or quaint inns in Charleston, SC. The exotic Queen of the Nile trip includes visits to the area's famed pyramids and temples, including Karnak and Luxor, as well as some unique modes of transport with a Nile River cruise and camel ride. A professional tour manager accompanies the group for each stop along the way, providing consistency throughout the trip.
Adventure Women
Founded in 1982, Adventure Women is a pioneer in the realm of women-only traveling. The average age of travelers is 55, but the women range in age from 30 to 75. Age isn't a factor for these female globetrotters who join the trip to challenge themselves and acquire new skills. The Adventure Women trips are not passive tours, and trips are rated as easy, moderate or high energy. City slickers can live like cowgirls on a working dude ranch in Montana or kayak through Baja, Mexico, on a whale-watching excursion. Humanitarian adventures, called Humanitours, invite women to give back in communities in Africa and Vietnam.
Canyon Calling
The founder of Canyon Calling first started organizing women's trips around Arizona in 1996. Based on customer demand, the venture soon branched out to Utah's national parks and the Rockies. While there are still Arizona trips, women can break out their passports for adventures in New Zealand, Peru and the Swiss Alps. Many of the trips combine different activities like hiking, rafting and cooking demonstrations. Moms will especially love the chance to pass on the role of family photographer on this vacation as the staff takes pictures and mails a complimentary CD of highlights after the trip.
Adventurous Wench
Adventurous Wench trips are a favorite with solo sojourners who quickly bond with fellow travelers in small groups of 10 to 12 women. This company offers short getaways like the 3-day Sedona Adventure as well as longer adventures including hiking through Ireland's 40 shades of green, wine-tasting in Napa and experiencing Patagonia's glaciers, mountains and cool penguin colonies. Each guest has the freedom to customize her itinerary so the trip takes on a choose-your-own-adventure vibe with choices ranging from hiking, white-water rafting, horseback riding or even zip-line tours.
Surf Goddess Retreats
A Surf Goddess retreat is truly a divine and exotic escape that begins at the surf goddess sanctuary, a private villa on Bali's west coast. This all-inclusive getaway includes 12 hours of surf instruction and access to all the necessary equipment from surfboards to rash guards. There's daily yoga, an Ayurvedic spa and tasty Balinese food made with local organic foods. The "Follow Your Bliss" day invites guests to choose a special activity like kite-surfing, an Indonesian cooking class or a bike tour through Balinese villages. Once you master the art of hanging ten, you're welcome to return for a Surfari Adventure trip, a surfing tour of the best waves in Bali for women who want to take their skills to the next level.
Sights and Souls Travels
Sights and Souls Travels orchestrates high-end cultural tours highlighting Europe's undiscovered cities and towns. While many of the usual suspects are included like the Amalfi Coast and Rome, other trips focus on less-traveled spots like Lisbon's Silver Coast, Croatia and Vienna. Each trip strives to strike a balance between the city life and country with a maximum of 2 hotel changes and accommodations ranging from boutique luxury hotels to mountain spas. Sights and Souls encourages mother-daughter trips for duos of all ages. Many guests are so thrilled with their experience that they want to share it with their husbands or the rest of the families. While men are not permitted to crash a trip, groups can work with Sights and Souls to customize a co-ed trip.
