Women’s Day 2024: Experience safe travel in India through women-only travel groups

Empowering women to explore India safely through women-only travel groups, fostering friendships and unforgettable experiences.

In the quaint village of Turtuk, one of the northernmost villages in India deep in the Himalayas, close to the Line of Control between India and Pakistan , surrounded by strangers- turned-friends, I celebrated my 22nd birthday. Freezing toes, a cake made of halwa and a night filled with Kishore Kumar songs set the scene. I had met the women I was travelling with just a week ago. Yet, in the dark of the night, with only the stars to guide us, our group of 20-somethings paraded our way through narrow bylanes like we had known each other for years.

Exploring new destinations solo can initially seem daunting, especially without the familiar comfort of friends or family by your side. However, over the past decade, many women have courageously embraced this opportunity, empowered by increased disposable income and a desire to broaden their horizons with fresh experiences. It is in this dynamic landscape that women-only travel groups emerge as sanctuaries for those who desire the freedom to explore.

Trips go on anywhere between four and ten days depending on the destination and are priced at an average of ₹15,000 for most domestic trips. A start and end point is decided where travellers are expected to reach by themselves. Since most travel organizations do not set an upper age limit, the responsibility to ensure perfect health for the trips signed up for, falls on the travellers themselves. Especially on trips to the mountains and those with adventure activities like trekking, camping and water sports, travellers are advised to use their own discretion.

These curated expeditions offer more than just destinations; they provide a haven where like-minded women can weave tales of adventure, laughter, and newfound friendships.

In 2016, Nitesh Chauhan, founder of travel group Jugni, a year-old organisation, found himself in Gangtok, Sikkim, with only three women who had signed up for the trip. Even though the minimum number of travellers for the group was capped at 15, he led these women on a four-day journey into the mountains of north-eastern India. “I did not want to cancel the trip because we had made a promise,” he says, emphasising his humble beginnings. Jugni now boasts of having successfully organised trips in over 30 countries and is one of the most reviewed women-only travel groups in the country. 

At a time when the country is once again been put under the spotlight as an unsafe destination for women travellers, one of the major concerns about travelling as a woman is safety on the road. “I’ve travelled solo, in a mixed group, and also in a women-only group, and felt safer travelling with other women. I’ve made friends more easily. I’m still friends with the women I met on these trips over two years ago,” says Varsha Mullick, an avid traveller, adding that even if the women she met were strangers, she never felt that way and was comfortable sharing her personal space with them.

Akshankaha Bumb, 40, the co-founder of F5 Escapes, a women-only travel group that was founded in 2013 after the Nirbhaya case in Delhi, says, “India’s view on travel for women changed after that incident, and it started being perceived as unsafe. We knew that it was not the case, and that India can be safe if done right. We wanted to be the ones to provide that space.” F5 Escapes aims to redefine the way women travel in India and has led trips to over 40 destinations all over the country, with a focus on authenticity in terms of food and stays that are rooted in local experiences.