Women across all age groups are embracing the joys of travelling alone

For Ipshita Sharma, travel is an experience best enjoyed alone. The business development professional and travel agent refers to herself as an introvert who likes moving to her own rhythm. Being on her own allows her to chase down her own interests, while interacting with local communities at her own pace. The most rewarding moments for her have come from solo trips, she says.

Like the moment in Florence, where she arrived at the hilltop basilica of San Miniato al Monte just in time for vespers, the evening prayer.

“It’s the closest I’ve been to the concept of heaven that I was told about in school,” the 41-year-old Dubai resident says. “The choir’s voices, the Latin sermon and then to come out and see the sun setting on Florence... it was surreal. That church is such a hidden gem.”

At number 14 on Tripadvisor’s list of things to do in the Italian renaissance capital, well behind tourist magnets such as the city’s iconic Duomo, the Ponte Vecchio and the Uffizi and Accademia galleries. But that’s precisely the appeal.

Travellers on their own don’t need to factor in group vibes, compromise on personal desires with family-friendly itineraries or trudge along to places that don’t immediately strike their fancy. “While I love to experience the top 10 spots, I’ll frequently meander off the beaten track and check out local food and flea markets, smaller museums and galleries,” Sharma says.

She’s among a cohort of women who are rethinking how they travel, shedding the old checklist routine and embracing journeys that resonate with who they are. It’s an expression of the breakout trend of 2025.

More than 40 per cent of female travellers voiced interest in exploring the world on their own, the tourism market research firm Future Partners found in a 2024 survey. That’s an increase of eight percentage points over a year earlier. In fact, 30 per cent of solo visa applications last year were from women, according to data from processing firm Atlys.

As more women seek out independent travel experiences, operators and agents are increasingly tailoring their services to meet the needs of this demographic.

“There’s been a major shift in women’s confidence towards exploring the world, with more resources, communities, and safer options available. Female travellers are also seeking immersive experiences, focusing on cultural connections, adventure and personal growth,” says Stephanie Neuer, who runs SCN Travel & More, a UAE-based agency that’s part of the larger Travel Counsellors tourism solutions network.

Her own agency offers customised trips for women, including itineraries for both individuals and small groups.

One sample scheduled departure to Armenia takes place this weekend. The four-day trip from Abu Dhabi, priced from Dh3,500 on a twin-sharing basis, covers the city of Yerevan and the UNESCO heritage site of Zvartnots, including visits to the country’s highest lake, craft markets, a grape-themed spa, photo sessions, traditional music performances and cooking masterclasses.

SCN also shares travel information and trip ideas on its Facebook group, Female Explorers. More than 1,800 women are members, about 80% of whom are from the UAE.

Both in the UAE and internationally, women-only itineraries are now widely available, including to formerly once-inaccessible places or destinations that are considered challenging for female travellers.

Women-led agency Dubai Musts advertises tours to Pakistan, Uzbekistan, South Korea and Japan on its website. Similarly, AFC Holidays puts together package holidays exclusively for women, including single travellers, such as a recent departure to Azerbaijan.

Internationally, the Melbourne-headquartered Intrepid Travel announced the global launch of its 12-day Women’s Expedition to Saudi Arabia in November. The tour takes in Riyadh, Jeddah, Medinah and sites such as Hegra (Mada’in Saleh). It supports female-owned and operated businesses and offers a way to connect with local women in a way not possible in mixed groups. The agency already organises tours to Morocco, Pakistan and Nepal.

In India, the F5 Escapes agency has been catering to women travellers for several years with itineraries spanning ancient cave temples such as those in Ajanta and Ellora, former Himalayan kingdoms like Kinnaur and Sangla, and tea plantations in southern India.

Broad interest across ages and stages

The solo travel trend spans different demographic groups. Late Boomers and Gen X are seeking solitude on the road – perhaps because their child-rearing duties are mostly complete. According to preliminary data from an online survey of 1,600 women across 50 countries conducted by Canadian internet publisher JourneyWoman and the travel agencies Collette Travel, Intrepid Travel and Aurora Expeditions, 41 per cent of respondents travel solo most of the time. Another 26 per cent of women who travel alone use a travel agent or company. All respondents were aged 50 years or more.

Communications professional Mita Srinivasan, 68, has been heading out on her own for several decades. She has been to more than 25 countries, some more than once.

“I love travelling as an older woman! Aging has given me a sense of freedom—I can do what I want without worrying about what others think,” she says. On previous trips, she says, group dynamics occasionally forced her to forgo experiences she would have otherwise chosen. “The only real downside is that as you age, you need to be more mindful of access to medical care in case of emergencies — but that’s why travel insurance exists!”

But although solo travel is now far more normalized than when she was younger, she doesn’t think women necessarily need special services or itineraries.

“Just good common sense and awareness,” she declares.

She does acknowledge, though, that travelling to remote areas requires a bit more planning. “But if you’re adventurous enough to go off the beaten path, you likely already know how to adapt.”

When challenges do occur, it’s worth paying attention to on-ground travel professionals. Srinivasan tells of how while fundraising effort for an orphanage in Nepal, her social media posts attracted criticism from political groups.

“Ultimately, we trusted the team organising the trip. They knew the realities on the ground far better than any external commentary,” she says. “To look beyond the headlines, you have to connect with real people on the ground. Media outlets focus on what drives clicks and sells papers; reality is often much more nuanced.”

Since her 50th birthday, Srinivasan has been particularly fond of adventure trips, including climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and supporting a cycling trip to Lhasa. “I wouldn’t call myself an adventure traveller by default—I became one to try something different, especially to celebrate my 50th birthday,” she says.

Millennials and Gen Z also seem to prefer their own company when venturing abroad, the charge card provider American Express pointed out in its Global Travel Trends Report last year. More than half of respondents – both male and female – were more inclined to choose a brief solo weekend getaway over an extended trip, with nearly one-third expressing a preference for solo travel to explore a new city.

Experience is the best guide

Online content creator Suhri Al Samman says she has been to 168 countries, many by herself. As a Canadian of Syrian origin, she doesn’t need a visa for many countries, but even when she does, the trip is worth the effort – particularly when travelling alone.

“Solo journeys allow me to tap into my inner self and discover the world at my own pace,” she says. On her own, she can seek out the immersive experiences she likes, try out local dishes and explore traditional cultures and myths without worrying what others in her group think. Capturing these for her Instagram feed have helped her build a following as an influencer and won her work promoting tourism destinations.

Among her most unforgettable travel experiences was going into the Amazon forest in Brazil, where she says she spent a couple of days in the wilderness appreciating the simple joys of communing with nature. It’s her tip for Middle Eastern travellers, alongside countries such as Vietnam and Uganda – which she believes don’t get the attention they deserve.

A large majority of women value tried-and-tested travel tips. Some 71% of respondents in the JourneyWoman survey said they decide where to go following tips recommendations from other women, proof that this is a category looking for tried-and-tested options. About half of all respondents said they also consult travel company websites and online travel sources.

Emirati influencer and content creator Shurouq Lashkari, 34, says at least two people told her they’d visited Montenegro after she made a recent trip there. The Balkan nation has been trending among travellers looking for alternatives to European clichés. “I’m not someone take risks when travelling, but I usually look for unique experiences and hidden gems,” the Sharjah native says, “and also for a connection with my own culture.” The hospitality and attention to detail in Japanese tea ceremonies, for instance, immediately reminded her of how Arabs welcome visitors with green coffee and dates.

Lashkari has been to 41 countries. As someone who wears the hijab, she often finds herself in the unwitting role of cultural ambassador for the UAE, the Arab world and for Muslim women.

“Sometimes this is mistaken by others as being rigid or, you know, not fun to be around with, or someone who very scary to communicate with,” she says. “Throughout my travels, I’ve really enjoyed the fact that I get to change the view of Arab Muslim women, that we get to do everything like a normal woman who’s interested in activities and travel.

"Nothing stops us unless it’s against our religion or our culture. Other than that, we live our lives normally and get to do everything that any person on this planet gets to do. We’re exactly the same.”

Women often feel unsafe when travelling – but they keep going

Some 88 per cent of women have felt unsafe when travelling, according to a 2024 report by accommodation finder Monasteries.com, which facilitates overnight stays in abbeys and convents.

Every woman we spoke to for this article agreed. “Safety is number one,” says Emirati influencer and content creator Shurouq Lashkari.

Negative experiences include street harassment, theft, and unfamiliarity with new places and local cultural expectations. Subtle or outright racism can also be a problem.

Dubai-based Ipshita Sharma says she has been tripped on the street and abused on a number of different occasions while travelling in Europe. She takes extra care, she says, such as by wearing a crossbody bag under her jacket so it’s harder to steal. She also makes sure to return to her hotel before it gets too dark.

But she doesn’t let the dangers – perceived or real – stop her. After going to Tehran, she was often asked whether she felt scared or unsafe. “It was one of my top experiences. It was safe, lovely and so rich in every way. The people are so welcoming and hospitable, they would keep feeding me and giving me gifts! All women have to be covered but that doesn’t seem to make the men see the women as any less than themselves. They’re working side by side with the men and the respect is unparalleled,” she says.

“I have frequently felt unsafe but I can’t let it stop me from travelling. I have so much to see.”

Agent and organiser Stephanie Neuer of SCN Travel & More says her team constantly assesses exactly how apprehensive a female traveller is when planning the trip.

She advises solo women travellers to prepare their trip carefully, choose accommodations in safe areas, and connect with local women’s networks. She points to a few basic guidelines: dressing according to local rules, learning a few words of the local language, carrying a local SIM or e-SIM so you can orient yourself, and downloading GPS apps if necessary. In addition, she also recommends considering guided experiences in unfamiliar regions for a better learning experience and added security.

“I don’t think that there are particular destinations better for female travellers. A lot depends on what you do and how you prepare.”