What to look for in women only group tours in India for first-time travellers

A few years ago, I was on a women only group tour in India with F5 Escapes. It was a mixed group of women across different Indian cities, age groups and professions. One day, we were enjoying a sumptuous meal at a restaurant, laughing at our own jokes, when a person nearby approached us and said how wonderful it was to see all the women in the family step outside and have fun together. I accepted the compliment but had to explain that before a few days, we were complete strangers. That we were on an all-women tour and what brought us together was our love for travelling.

This came as a surprise – the idea of an all-women group of travellers, strangers at first, but leaving as friends for life.

The idea of women only group tours in India has evolved since then. Today there are several all women travel groups that’s reshaping how women travel in India and overseas. Women travelling together is about forging new friendships, acceptance, learning new things and so much more. And while more women today are choosing to travel on group tours, there are many others new to the concept and with questions.

‘Is it safe?’
‘Is it reliable?’
‘Will I get along with the group?’
‘Will I find people in the same age group?’

These concerns are understandable. And, it’s always better to ask questions than be unsure.

If you haven’t tried travelling in women-only groups but are curious and keen to experience group travelling, here are some of the things to look for as a first time traveller.

Things to look for in women only group tours in India as a first time traveller

Let’s look at some of the things you should look for in women group tours as a first time traveller.

Online Reviews and What Customers say about the Women Travel Group

Reviews are both a method of selection and elimination. Customer reviews on third-party external platforms like Google Reviews are usually genuine. Since this is the first time you will be travelling with the group, a good place to start is by vetting the travel group.

Check for things like:

– Overall Rating: A rating of 4.2 stars and above is credible

– Number of Reviews: If the travel operator has been in business for 5+ years, a minimum of 50+ reviews should be available

– Recency of Reviews: Always go for the newest-first reviews. This will tell you if the operator is still functional and the quality of their current services.

Pro-tip for reading women travel group reviews:

Always read the good and bad reviews. The good reviews will show consistency in services. The bad reviews will tell you about the misses or unreasonable customer expectations.

For instance, if a customer review for a desert safari camp says they were put up in a tent without attached washrooms, that’s a somewhat unreasonable expectation. Many tent-like accommodations will have a common washroom, unless you are choosing a premium cottage-style tent.

But, if you are travelling to a place like Ladakh, Spiti, or any other high-altitude destination, and the travel company did not advise you about high altitude travel and precautions, that’s a miss. When scanning reviews, assess them mindfully.

Ideally, read a couple of reviews for an overall assessment. If the overall vibe of the reviews is positive, you know they can be trusted. If the overall vibe is mixed or neutral, maybe you should find another women travel company.

Also, do check if the reviews mention anything about the ease of communication with the business and post-sales services.

A travel itinerary that matches your interest level

When identifying the best group tours for women in India, another factor to consider is the right match. There are different types of women travel groups – some that focus on the experiences and others on destination. For instance, the experience of going on a women’s yoga retreat will be different from a food walk themed trip, or a festive all women Durga Puja trip to Kolkata, and even a heritage trail of South Indian temples.

When you select your travel group, make sure that your travelling interests are aligned.

For instance, when I joined F5’s group tour to Hampi several years ago, I was clear on my expectations. I wanted to visit and explore the UNESCO world heritage site, especially the Vijay Vitthala temple chariot and learn about the history of the Vijayanagara empire. The itinerary ticked most of my check boxes and we even had a well-informed guide with us.

As such, always understand the style of the group, the destination, activities, attractions covered, and then decide.

Pro-trip for selecting a group tour vendor:

Read, read, read the itinerary. It is honestly that simple. And then, follow it up with questions.

Size of the group

This may seem trivial, but the group size is probably one of the most important criteria for selecting a women group tour. The larger the group, the lesser the bonding (in most cases).

I have travelled in groups of only 4 travellers to 15+ travellers, and I have genuinely felt the difference between the two. In the latter case, there were several misses – especially in terms of time management, quality of stays (e.g. the group was put up in different homestays as a single place couldn’t accommodate the numbers), and the camaraderie between the travellers.

Honestly, many things will be impacted by the size of the group. The time taken to check-in, the choice of stays and vehicles, the time spent in any activity or sightseeing. Also, it’s genuinely a challenge for the tour-lead to manage a large group. Ideally, a group size of 6-10 fellow women travellers is the sweet spot.

Also, as a first-time traveller looking for a women only group tour, a balanced group size will be less overwhelming. You’ll get space to engage with other travellers while having some time to unwind.

Pro-tip for checking the group-size of a female travel group in India:

Check the website. Most businesses will have the minimum/maximum number mentioned on their website. If not, ask. Don’t assume.

What’s included and what’s not in your group tour package

The temptation to read through the itinerary quickly, check if the top-spots are being covered or not, and the trip price is understandable – but spare some time to read through the inclusions and exclusions and the cancellation policies, terms and conditions as well.

When shortlisting the best group tours for women in India, your goal should be to find one that provides you with an overall good experience and value. And that means, transparency.

This may include things like:

– Upfront pricing: Check for hidden costs like entrance fees to monuments, activity prices, number of days, etc.

– Inclusion of Meals: Number of major meals included/excluded

– Cost of additional services: Single occupancy supplement, extra stays or sightseeing options, etc.

– Transfers and transportation

The idea is to have transparency on these details for you to make an informed decision. For instance, if a travel company mentions that only breakfast cost is included in the trip pricing, and all other meals are to be paid on actuals, that’s absolutely alright. You have clarity. However, if after booking a trip, you understand that the airport transfer cost is on you, that’s disappointing.

Pro-tip for selecting an all-women travel group:

Here’s a travel deal tip for first-time travellers. Look for an all-inclusive package. You don’t want to make random payments during the trip. It takes away a lot of the fun. Check the inclusions/exclusions carefully for details on – meals, stays, transport, sightseeing, activities, and additional/optional services. More inclusions, less exclusions.

Presence of a trip-lead, local guide and ground support

Pick one: When visiting a place/monument, would you rather:
– Browse through travel guide books and plaques for information
– Listen to an audio guide
– Have a registered guide provide historical context and share stories about the place

I am guessing that most of you will pick the third option – the presence of a local guide for your trips.

And that is exactly what you should ensure when selecting your women only group tour partner.

Having a guide with you should not stop you from researching the destination and attraction.In fact, it’s recommended. Over the years, many of our travellers have shared their travel experiences for fellow travelers – a look at Madurai’s culture and history beyond temples, details on health precautions, climate, and sightseeing in Ladakh, a solo-trip to unseen Pondicherry – the reference points are plenty. But they are no substitute for an authentic, seasoned, expert guide.

A guide brings a unique energy to the trip. From sharing the local secrets to navigating queues, language barriers, and cultural norms, there’s a lot of value a guide can add to your trip. When selecting your women travel company, always check if they have a registered travel guide on board.

Pro-tip for travelling in a women-only group:

Along with a guide, check if there’s a female tour-lead accompanying the trip. The tour-lead is not a guide, but more of a coordinator, facilitator, and travel-buddy, so that if any travel contingency appears, you have someone with you to help you navigate it smoothly.

Before going on your all women travel group trip

Before you go on your first women-only group tour, here’s something to remember. Travelling with a group of women is not the same as travelling as travelling as a solo-female. When you travel solo, you are on your own – literally. You can plan your days the way you want to, visit places that you want to, budget your expenses and choose your accommodations the way you want to. In brief, you are the planner and the traveller.

But when you join a group trip, the energy shifts. You may come alone, but you will meet a group of like minded people. Your day, accommodation, meals will be pre-planned (ok, with some flexibility) and you don’t have to worry about it at all. You’ll get to share and listen to stories and make new friends while having your own time and space. There are some simple ways to enjoy travelling in groups which are great to know, especially if you are a first time traveller.

On that note, here’s wishing you join your first group trip and make lots of new friends and memories to cherish, always.

This post is originally written by Sohini Banerjee – fiction reader, movie enthusiast, traveller, chai lover and currently managing processes at F5 Escapes.

Want to know more about the F5 team? Get in touch.