Shilpi Madan
28-Mar-2026
Vidhi Bubna blogs about the growing trend of women globetrotting with their girlfriends, and adding memories to their travel repertoire.
There has been a surge in women travelling together in female only groups - it’s a special feeling after all. Women have been shunning the idea of going out with men and are choosing to go solo on the travel circuit, or team up with their girlfriends for group travel.
AGE NO BAR
My mother chose to travel to Spiti Valley with her girl gang of five friends. They travelled across the beautiful rugged mountains of Spiti Valley and took a break from their families to simply be together and have fun. They went stargazing at night in -10 degrees and saw the Milky Way line, drove for over 6 hours by car every day, lived in homestays and explored monasteries.
My maternal grandmother opted for something more easygoing - a trip to Vietnam with her girl gang. Seeing her made me feel empowered, a group of 60-year-old women on a holiday together, exploring the world, trying out new cuisines and cultures and having fun together. She also did the infamous Halong Bay multi-day cruise with her friends. No girl drama, just relaxation, fun and ease together.
The old-age idea of women not liking each other and being dramatic with each other seems like a laugh today. Women have each other’s back and create a safe space with others of their tribe to experience true freedom. Away from the male gaze, most women find time to truly be themselves rather than put up a front.
CUTTING ACROSS
I recently travelled on a girls trip to Satpura at Denwa Backwater Escape Satpura where I met four women. All of them made me feel empowered and seen. The conversations hit different. We spoke about everything ranging from mid-life crisis to environmental change and Darwin’s theory of evolution. We shared interests and bonded over that.
While going on safaris every day and sighting unique species, we learned more about nature, environment, the impact of climate change and experienced collective growth. We weren’t trying to pull on a facade, we were just trying to be and the experience felt like coming home to myself.
It made me want to take more women focused and women led journeys where I can connect with them at a deeper level, bond over life experiences and feel understood. Women make me feel understood in a way no man can.
FACTOR IN
Many women today are making time for all-girl trips. It’s important to travel with a girl gang. Rakshita Singh, 27, a resident of Mumbai says “My ideal trip with my girl gang would be to go skiing because women are non-competitive and with men, they can sometimes make things competitive. With women, you can slow down and go at your own pace.”
For many women, they find solace in learning new things around fellow women who support and encourage them. Rachana Singh, a recent returnee from London says “Travelling can be intimidating and there is so much comfort in discovering a new place with people that understand your non -verbal communication thanks to similar lived experiences and expectations.” She adds some perks of travelling with women include “More naps, better photographs, shared vacation wardrobes and quirkier shopping hauls.”
Sukirti Agarwal, a resident of Dubai says “Travelling with girls is comforting, it’s easier to share space, communicate openly and genuinely have fun”. She adds “While travelling with girls, there are no blurred boundaries, mixed signals – it all about having a good time together.”
Dhvani Sanghavi, a resident of Mumbai says “I love travelling with my girls because what my girls would do for me, I genuinely believe no guy will. The bond is just different. My ideal trip with my girls is to Spain - I love the beaches, vibe and the food.”
Understanding the perspectives of female travellers who want to travel in groups, makes me realise how special travelling with women is. The experience is starkly unique and creates a lasting impression. I am looking forward to my next memorable trip with my girl gang.
