The notion of men traveling more than women isn’t just antiquated, it’s untrue. Female solo travel and female travel as a whole have been on the rise in recent years. Women represent a huge purchasing power in the travel industry and are estimated to make 80 percent of all travel decisions. This means, regardless of the trip, who they go with, or who pays for the trip, women are the ones calling the shots for the trip. Additionally, there are 67 million participants in female travel and the potential of the women’s travel market surpasses $19 trillion yearly.
And women aren’t just taking and making decisions for any kind of trips, they are going on increasingly adventurous ones. Women are more and more participating in outdoor adventures such as biking, hiking, kayaking, canoeing, rock-climbing, parasailing, hang- gliding, and more. Pretty badass! People have previously held antiquated notions about these types of trips being for men, but more and more women are proving those naysayers wrong by participating in those trips by the thousands and exercising a really strong purchasing power. Many outdoor adventure companies are taking note of the trend and are focusing more of their services towards women, wanting to provide female travelers with the best in adventure travel. Women Traveling the World is one such company. Our adventurous tours all over the world include hiking, nature and other outdoor related activities that women are sure to love. We were built to give women the ultimate life-changing experiences in international travel and we are happy to reflect any trends that female travelers are exhibiting, including this recent trend for adventure based vacationing.
Cynthia Dunbar, who presides over outdoor adventure behemoth REI, corroborated the notion that female travelers are getting more and more adventurous: “since 2010, women traveling with us has grown by 60 percent, and we continue to see this figure grow steadily each year. Last year alone, 58 percent of all our guests were women.”
So we can all certainly agree that the trend is happening, but why exactly is it occurring? Well, many people cite the long awaited female empowerment and new wave of feminism that is rampant in the media and in overall popular culture these days. Women no longer feel they need to defer to the men in their lives for anything, least of all for travel plans. This empowerment has been exemplified in the media as well. Cheryl Strayed, author of wildly popular book turned movie, Wild, manifests the notion of female empowerment via adventurous outdoor experiences. Many people have replicated their own version of Wild, going places they never thought they would. It is this adventurous spirit that leads women to dare to travel, to dare to travel on their own and to dare to try adventurous, free-spirited tours such as those found at Women Traveling the World.

Have you ever wanted to go to Africa? Well, you’re not alone. Africa is a jet-setting destination for men and women alike, but we’re talking about the girls here! Well, luckily for you gals, Women Traveling the World offers two awesome tours to help you explore the wondrous continent. These include our Gorilla Trekking Safari in Uganda and our South African Safari that explores Cape Town and Victoria Falls. If you want to get a little more of a feel for the countries before committing, read on to discover amazing highlights from both South Africa and Uganda.

Cape Town, South Africa

In Women Traveling the World’s South Africa Safari, you will get to explore South Africa’s jewel, Cape Town. Perhaps the most popular tourist attractions in the city are Table Mountain, the Cape of Good Hope and Constantia Valley. Table Mountain hovers over Cape Town, just south of  the city center. The mountain is flat-topped, which helps to give it its name. The mountaintop is the most prominent feature found in Table Mountain National Park- which also includes tourist attractions such as Boulders Beach and the Cape of Good Hope. But Table Mountain is the park’s crown jewel, offering experiences such as hiking to the mountain’s summit on one of numerous trails or reaching the destination via cable car. Another awesome destination in Table Mountain National Park is the Cape of Good Hope. This peninsula divides the Atlantic Ocean and False Bay and features incredible beaches as a result. There are miles of walking trails and an amazing variety of flora and fauna to gawk at. The highlight of the area is Cape Point, a strip of land that juts out into the Atlantic and serves as Africa’s southernmost point. This area is about an hour away from central Cape Town, but totally worth the trip for the scenic views. Lastly, a good place to visit in Cape Town is Constantia Valley, the heart of South Africa’s wine country. The region includes oak-lined streets, historic mansions and award-winning wineries. Sip on famous wines and relax in the valley on your next trip to Africa.

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

When in Victoria Falls, you definitely have to visit the town’s namesake, a stunning waterfall. It has been described as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and standing at 108 meters tall, it’s no wonder why. Located on the Zambezi River, the waterfall forms the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Surrounding the area is Mosi-oa-Tunya, or Victoria Falls National Park, where you can further explore quintessential African beauty.

Uganda

Most visitors who have traveled to Uganda cite trips to Murchison Falls National Park and Kazinga Channel as absolutely necessary parts of a proper Uganda vacation. Murchison Falls National Park is located right on Lake Albert, in northwest Uganda. The crown jewel of the park is Murchison Falls, where the Nile River plummets over a massive drop. Kazing Channel is a 32-kilometer long natural channel that is a part of Queen Elizabeth National Park, a great site for exploring safaris, a feature of Women Traveling the World’s Gorilla Trekking Safari in Uganda.

If you love wine and picturesque sights, a visit to a European wine region is the best vacation for you. Relax over a glass of riesling while taking in the views and the perfect weather. Check out Women Traveling the World’s Spain Highlights Tour, Italy’s Umbria, Rome & Florence Tour with optional Venice and Amalfi Coast trips, or the Italian Splendor Tour, which features Venice, Rome, Florence, Umbria and the Amalfi Coast. These tours not only give a great display of the regions’ cultures and histories, but also let you have a truly european experience sampling countless wines! To get you in the wine-sipping mood (or if you’re already there), read on to discover the top wine regions in Europe.

Burgundy

Burgundy is one of France’s two top winemaking regions and a must-see for any wine-lover. Getting in the cellar door is not necessarily easy, though. There are a series of options for gaining entrance, including overnight tours that display scenic rivers and canals or trips on land featuring the area’s Romanesque churches, rolling green hills and the medieval city of Dijon. These tours will secure you access to the best wine cellars, but make sure to book them in advance. This might all sound like a lot of work, but as soon as you taste the area’s signature pinot noirs and chardonnays, it will all be worth it.

Bordeaux

Bordeaux, in the southwest of France, is one of the largest wine regions in Europe. Bordelais (the french word for inhabitants of the town) have been fermenting grapes into tasty blends since the eighth century. To get a feel for the area, head to the town of Saint-Émilion. This town is easily accessible by train from Bordeaux city (the center of the area) and offers attractions beyond vineyard tours and wine tastings, but it’s okay if you just wanna sip wine too!

Tuscany

Tuscany, which is located in central Italy and stretches from the Apennines to the Tyrrhenian Sea, boasts an artistic heritage and fascinating cities- Florence being the first. There are many types of nature you will find in Tuscany, including: long, sandy beaches like the Versilia Beach, rocky cliffs and steep headlands, and rich vegetation in areas such as the islands of the Tuscan Archipelago. There are also many types of wines! Tuscany is famous for its chiantis, brunello di montalcinos and bolgheris.

La Rioja

La Rioja is a small region in northern Spain that has grown famous due to Tempranillo, a black grape variety widely grown to make full-bodied red wines. These wines gain their robust character from the long time they spend aging in oak barrels. The best way to sample La Rioja wines is on a night-long tapas and wine crawl through the regional capital of Logroño. You can get to Rioja by long-distance train from spain’s major cities, just keep in mind that they require reservations.

Top Dish to Try in Spain:

Spain is a country rife with culinary options, so it felt appropriate to include two complimentary options. Take your pick, or even better, try both!

Paella: Paella is absolutely synonymous with Spanish culture. The dish originated in Valencia, but you can now find it all over the world. Paella valenciana, the original form, is a rice and meat dish, usually containing chicken and rabbit and sometimes snails (today it’s likely to only have chicken in most places). The vegetables will most traditionally be green beans and butter beans. A popular spin on paella is seafood paella, which contains mussels and prawns.

Patatas Bravas: The easiest way to describe patatas bravas (literally translated: brave potatoes) would be to call them Spanish home fries, but that doesn’t seem to do them justice. A staple at tapas, these fried potatoes melt in your mouth, especially when topped with the spicy sauce or aioli that usually accompanies them.

Top Dish to Try in Italy:

Bottarga: Bottarga is a traditional Italian delicacy of salted, cured fish roe (the eggs from which caviar is made), typically using grey mullet or bluefin tuna. It is most common in Sicilian and Sardinian cultures. Try it on bread or a crostini, or as part of a pasta dish. And be sure to wash it down with the best wine in the region!

Top Dish to Try in Morocco:

Couscous: This quintessential Moroccan dish has to be tried in its country of origin. This wheat pasta is typically rolled by hand, then steamed over a stew of vegetables and meat. It is typically served as part of a dish in which meat is covered by a pyramid of couscous, with vegetables and accompanying sauce on the side. It is a staple of the Maghreb culture, which encompasses most of northwestern Africa.

Top Dish to Try in Bali:

Babi guling: Babi guling, or suckling pig, is one of Bali’s signature delicacies. But this is no typical pig- a 150 pound pig is rubbed with turmeric then stuffed with a spice paste, usually including a combination of coriander seeds, lemongrass, Asian lime leaves, salam leaves, chillies, black pepper, garlic, red shallots, ginger and kencur. While this dish can be tried all over the country due to its popularity, locals say the best places to sample it are either Ibu Oka or Pak Malen Warung, depending on what region you are exploring.

Top Dish to Try in Chile:

Completo: Spanish for “complete,” the chilean delicacy completo is just that. A variation on the hot dog, it features a crazy amount of meat with all manner of toppings: mayonnaise, tomatoes, onions, pickles and sauerkraut. The best place to try it is por la calle, or, on the street.

Top Dish to Try in Argentina:

Asado: Also known as parillada, asado is Argentina in a dish. It refers to a variety of meats being barbequed in the asado fashion, Argentina’s preferred form of cooking. In fact, it is Argentina’s official national dish, reminiscent of the gauchos, or cowboys, who would subsist solely on the delicious meat. Try it salted, topped with chimichurri sauce and paired with a malbec or one of Argentina’s other classic wines.

Top Dish to Try in the Greek Islands:

Moussaka: Probably the most recognized Greek dish of all time, Moussaka earns its fame with its crispy layers of baked eggplant, spiced meat and bechamel sauce. Make sure to pair it with a slice of baklava for dessert!

If you are a looking for a majestic, otherworldly land to venture to, then look no further than New Zealand. Our next trip this May is sure to offer you many memorable opportunities that you cannot experience anywhere else. Here are the top 5 vacation spots for single women on our trip to New Zealand.

Mountains

When you close your eyes and think of New Zealand, you often imagine the beautiful mountains and green wonderland that it is. Well now you can actually witness the plethora of beautiful mountains, from the epic cliffs of Lake Te Anau to its equally majestic waterfalls.

Auckland

Do you want to visit the best city in New Zealand? Look no further than Auckland. This town in particular offers several forms of casual entertainment. These include boating, lovely cafes, shopping, and Mount Eden, Auckland’s highest extinct volcano.

Haka

An exciting piece of New Zealand history, the Haka is a tribal war dance of the Māori, the Indigenous people of native New Zealand. Witnessing this dance is the climax of excitement for your night. It is both a unique and astounding show that will engross your imagination into the Māori culture.

Waitomo Caves

Here comes the fairytale experience you’ve been looking for. Take a boat ride through the Waitomo caves, and see the colorful glow worms light up against the limestone cave. The whole journey is something that needs to be seen in order to fully experience.

Hobbiton

You knew this was coming. Peter Jackson’s Middle Earth films (the Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit) helped put the beauty of New Zealand in the public consciousness of Pop culture. Now you can actually experience that world by walking through Hobbiton, the beautifully preserved sets from Frodo’s majestic hometown.

More vacation spots for single women

No matter which site may be your favorite, it is important to remember that this is only a fraction of the wonder that you will see on the tour. There are far more vacation spots for single women than just those listed here. And on this beautiful island nation, we will be sure to take advantage of every memorable opportunity.

For our future travel opportunities, be sure to check out our tour page here.

Sources:

http://www.newzealand.com/int/feature/haka/

http://travel.cnn.com/explorations/escape/10-great-new-zealand-beaches-358798/

http://www.hobbitontours.com