The small-group tour company AdventureWomen is both women-owned and women-run, and has been focused on helping women travel the world since 1982. Solely dedicated to tours for women, its trips range from moderately paced (cultural journeys through Oman and Morocco, for example) to challenging adventure-based tours (trekking to Everest base camp, hiking to Machu Picchu).
AdventureWomen offers a different experience from tour companies that offer women-only travel groups as part of their broader offerings. As a company dedicated specifically to women’s travel, there’s a lot of support focused on solo women travelers (about 70% of tour guests are solo travelers) and on helping all guests find confidence out of their traditional comfort zones. There’s also a underlying sense of being taken care of that is particularly appealing to women who, either through family or work, find themselves in charge of the all the details most of the time.
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One of my favorite parts of AdventureWomen itineraries are its women-to-women experiences, in which travelers meet and learn from local women chefs, artists, and entrepreneurs.
It’s also worth noting that although it’s a smaller tour company, AdventureWomen has serious industry cred. Its current owners (the mother-daughter trio of Judi Wineland, Nicole Wineland-Thomson, and Erica Landerson) include the founder of Overseas Adventure Travel and Thomson Safaris.
TourScoop takeaways: AdventureWomen
- Continents covered: 6
- Tour size range: Average of 12 to 14 guests
- Tour types: Active and adventure tours that include hiking excursions, private cruises, and multi-sport adventures
How to book
Nearly all AdventureWomen participants book directly with the company either over the phone or online. The company’s new website (debuted in December 2024) gives travelers the option to simply book online. If you’re unsure if a tour is a good fit, you should call and take advantage of AdventureWomen’s trip matchmaking expertise.
Credibility check
AdventureWomen is a member of the Adventure Travel Trade Association. It has also been recognized as one of the world’s best tour operators by TourScoop, Travel + Leisure, and Condé Nast Traveller. More than 70 percent of guests are repeat customers.
Tour destinations
AdventureWomen offers more than 50 trips that travel to more than 65 countries on six continents. Newer tours include excursions to Antarctica and Sri Lanka.
New tours for 2025 and 2026
For many years, AdventureWomen offered a very similar lineup of tours, but in 2025 and 2026, it’s offering a 20 new itineraries (10 new each year).
Among the most noteworthy new tours for 2025 are the company’s 12-day Exclusive Europe by Private Plane tour, Arctic wildlife tour, Mont Blanc hiking trip, and its seasonal French Christmas Markets tour.
For 2026, Australia departure spots are already booking. There’s also a French Barge journey, a culinary-focused trip to Piedmont in Italy, and an Iceland Eclipse tour.
Tour types
AdventureWomen leads women-only, small-group active and adventure travel tours where participants tend to feel supported trying new things. Tours include women-to-women cultural exchanges in the destinations, where participants can meet with female artisans, educators, and business owners to experience a location through the perspective of local women.
AdventureWomen’s tour guides
Tours include local vetted and experienced guides who share their first-hand knowledge of the destination with participants. About 70% of tours also feature an AdventureWomen Ambassador (a mix of expert locals, AdventureWomen employees, and even past guests who have been on multiple tours) who provides communication and organizational support and helps create a comfortable environment for participants. AdventureWomen maintains close relationships with its in-country guides, many whom have worked with the company for a decade or longer.
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Inclusions and extras on AdventureWomen tours
Once participants arrive at their trip destination, nearly everything is included, including:
- Lodging
- Ground transportation
- Most meals and activities
- Guides
- Some gratuities
Pre- and post-trip transportation is not included in the tour price. Alcoholic beverages, some gratuities, and some meals are also an extra charge.
Typical travelers on AdventureWomen tours
AdventureWomen travelers are typically women in their mid-40s and older. Participants include solo travelers, first-time adventure travelers, friend groups, mothers and daughters, and groups of sisters. The company says guests find commonality beyond age through a shared “state of mind, an adventurous approach to travel with a positive, active way of living life.”
Communication
Participants are introduced to their trip manager after booking a tour. Their personal trip manager serves as their point person to help them prepare for the trip and is available to answer questions from the time of booking through the end of the trip.
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The company answers every call that comes into the office during the workday (800-804-8686) and prides itself on the fact that it’s easy for guests to speak with someone for needed support.
Final trip documents are sent out about three to four weeks before the tour departure date, followed by an email with further trip guidance for participants.
Private tour options with AdventureWomen
AdventureWomen offers its signature trips as the basis to personalize experiences for a group’s interests. The company has hosted private tours for all sorts of all-women groups, including healthcare professionals, college friends, and mothers and grown daughters.
Sustainability efforts
AdventureWomen’s education and activities focus on topics like ecosystems, natural resources, the sharing of local traditions, and supporting local communities. Each AdventureWomen tour interacts with women at a local level, often learning from and supporting female entrepreneurs in the tour’s destination.
Health and safety practices
All in-country operators have a destination-specific crisis and emergency plan based on the local protocols and medical services available. AdventureWomen also monitors tour destinations and provides needed updates to participants before departure. Guests have 24/7 access to an emergency phone number for assistance on their way to, during, and on their way back from a trip.
More from TourScoop:
- How to choose the perfect European tour for your interests and budget
- 8 best senior tour companies for older travelers
- 8 best group tour companies for young people and college students
This article includes additional reporting by Christine Sarkis.
