🥳 Happy 10th birthday to us! + How we got here and where to next

Hi Reader,

This week is a very special one for us.

🥳 🥳 Our community is turning 10 years old! 🥳 🥳

A decade of Solo Female Travelers.

3,650 days of empowering women to travel the world on their own.

Of curating and leading a movement that was in its early stages and has turned into a global trend.

We started as a grassroots community that brought women with a shared passion for solo travel together, and have grown into a platform for female empowerment with a website filled with free resources, a community that is close to half a million members, and women-led and focused tours that bring you experiences of a lifetime that amplify and support women in tourism around the world.

And it's all thanks to you.

We could not do any of what we do if it wasn't for all the women in our virtual village that support our mission and believe in making their vacation count too.

We can continue with our efforts to train more women to become guides or give them employment opportunities because there are women like you who want to cheer them on and help them succeed too.

We can moderate and host a vibrant and useful community online thanks to the thousands of members who share their knowledge and help others every day.

This birthday celebration is for all of you: Happy birthday to us!

In this week's email 📩:

How we got here: the timeline that gave birth to SFT
Where to next? Our plans for the future
Our 10th Anniversary offer is live!

How we got here

SFT is the result of fate; Of many happy coincidences that brought us to where we are today.

We never intended to build a community or a platform, or a business. But the universe wanted us to.

So here we are.

This is the 10-year evolution of Solo Female Travelers.

=> 2015: The birth 🍼🍼

A common friend of Meg & I who just wanted a space to connect with women who were also interested in solo travel, created the Facebook group.

Back then, solo travel wasn't as pervasive and visible as it is today and finding a likeminded community was tough, so she created one.

=> 2016-2019: Slow and steady 🦥🦥

By the end of 2019, our friend was planning to go on a 6-month trip and knew she wouldn't be able to take care of the group, so she looked for someone to take over the group management.

I heard about it and reached out to Meg to see if she would be keen to do it with me.

We had no grand plans, we merely wanted to continue nurturing the community while sharing our solo travel experience, which we had both been doing for over 15 years.

=> 2020: Taking off 🚀🚀

At the beginning of 2020, the group had around 25,000 members. Then the pandemic arrived, and growth skyrocketed. By June 2020, we had 100,000 members.

In parallel, Meg and I decided to launch a website that would serve as repository of all the community and our knowledge on solo female travel, so we could refer the most commonly asked questions to the resources on the website to reduce repetition.

Our website was born in May 2020.

Meg and I were stuck in Singapore and Australia during the pandemic.

She was living in Tasmania, with plenty of space and minimal human interaction, but with tight border controls making it very difficult to return if you left Australia.

I was living in Singapore where, as a non-citizen, if I left the country, I needed permission to return, and a 2-3 week quarantine in a hotel at my own expense.

Travel was out of the equation for us, but the passion lived online, in the community.

At the end of 2020, our "baby" had grown much faster than we ever anticipated and we needed to find a way to hire a team to help us manage the group, a 24/7 task that required 4-6 hours of continued work spread over a 24h period every day of the year.

To hire a team, we needed to build a sustainable business.

We didn't want to turn the community into a commercial venture with advertising.

We also didn't want to turn it into an NGO, at the mercy of donors' whims.

We launched our first Solo Female Travel Trends Survey in November 2020 to help us understand what women wanted. The survey is now on its 5th edition.

=> 2021: Tours launch 🌍🌍

With the survey results in hand, we realised a lot of the concerns women have when traveling solo can be addressed with small group trips:

Worries about safety
Concerns about feeling lonely, getting lost or bored, or about not speaking the language
Dislike for the process of planning
Not having someone to share the beautiful moments, and the costs with
etc.

Tours for solo female travelers, that made sense.

But we wanted to make it count, we wanted our venture to have a social mission, to make the world a better place, one that would be more equitable for women.

So we decided to focus on designing tours for women traveling solo that would also support women at the destinations we visited.

By partnering with businesses owned by local women and who employed and supported women
By amplifying the efforts of local women through meet-ups over tea or coffee where they could share their stories and we could exchange thoughts
By visiting businesses owned by women and meeting them to learn about their crafts
By bringing more women to the travel industry, so they would have access to financial resources for them and their families. This is an industry that offers women, especially single mothers, a lot of flexibility
By providing employment opportunities and training to women who wanted to start their own projects in tourism
By supporting small and new female owned businesses that were starting out in male-dominated environments and had limited opportunities
By helping some of the women in our network in whatever way we can; sharing our expertise, our skills, our experience. This could be business training, website design, helping them build a business plan, social media consultations, etc.
By engaging the media and using our reach and visibility to continue to advocate for women in tourism

For our guests, this would be a unique and enriching opportunity to go on a holiday that has a meaningful impact in the local women in the community, while also creating the space for them both, visitors and locals, to connect in an organic manner.

After having taken over 1,150 guests on tours to more than 15 countries, I know that what guests remember at the end of the trip is not the Sagrada Familia, but the women they met and the connections they forged with other guests and the local women.

Solo Female Travelers Tours was born in April 2021, when I was still in lock down in Singapore.

Our first tours were to Tanzania (the Value Tanzania version of the tour) and Iceland that same year. The photo above from Iceland was taken during our first ever tour.

Almost simultaneously,

We launched our tours
Facebook accepted us into their Communities Accelerator Program that ran until July 2022 and provided us with funding and support
Meg found out she was pregnant

Alex was born in November 2021, on the last day of our first 3 tours, when I was still in Zanzibar with the guests.

Through the Accelerator, we hired a team of 2 people to help us out with the group management, social media and the website, and they were great help during Meg's maternity leave.

Our first 3 tours were a learning for us, not least because most of the world was still in lock down or under strict controls.

They were also a taster for what was to come, with happy guests in tears and the magic of bringing women together clearer than ever.

=> 2022: First full year of tours 💡💡

In 2022, we launched tours to Tuscany, the Amalfi Coast, Barcelona and beyond, Venice, Sudan, Morocco and Kilimanjaro, and I set out to curate trips to Cuba, the Seychelles, Croatia & Montenegro and Greece, while returning to Tanzania with both our Value and our Luxe tours and Iceland.

Meg took maternity leave during the first few months of the year to focus on her son, even though she never really disconnected from our baby, it was just not possible for me to manage everything alone, so she continued to help with the group.

With so many new destinations in our portfolio, we continued to learn a lot about working with people and found our footing and our community of likeminded women who shared our passion for female empowerment.

Most of them continue to be our partners today, and we have grown to be much stronger together.

It takes a village to raise a child and to build a meaningful business and we have always been extremely fortunate to find other women who share our commitment.

They have become our sounding board, our inspiration and our refuge.

2022 was a challenging year because of the growth in the business and the changes in our personal lives. COVID was still very present in our tours and in Singapore and Australia where we both lived.

Meg managed to juggle being an entrepreneur of a growing business that required her 24/7 presence and a baby, and I spent much more time away than at home, while being in a long distance relationship.

I still don't know how she did it, and continues to do so, but I can testify to Meg's incredible resilience and strength, and to her being the best business partner and friend one could ever hope for. She is also a terrific mother and beautiful person.

The media really took notice of us and we were featured on many pieces by main publications, from The New York Times to Conde Nast or Vogue.

Tedx invited us to share our story and the rise of solo travel, but the intense and extremely time-consuming requirements, and the fact that they wouldn't accommodate the time zone and expected me to do all the sessions (over 9 months) and recordings past midnight made me decline the offer.

I felt the lack of inclusivity in many spaced more than ever and vowed to never do the same to others.

=> 2023: Expansion and finally meeting IRL ✈️✈️

Meeting in person for the first time since 2015

In 2023, we added trips to Egypt, Greece, Cuba, and Croatia & Montenegro to the portfolio, and I curated new itineraries to Europe's Christmas markets, Scotland, and Oaxaca while returning to Tuscany, Amalfi and Morocco after the earthquake.

Like in 2022, I spent much more time on the road than at home.

The best part of the year was that Meg and I got to finally met in June of 2023 in Barcelona (photo above when we could finally hug in person).

We had not seen each other in person since 2015, and it was amazing to spend a month together in Spain and Greece, where we co-hosted our island-hopping sailing trip. Alex came with us to Spain too, as that is the reality of being a single mum with a toddler.

Unfortunately, the war in Sudan made it impossible for us to return and the situation has sadly not improved much since then.

In March of that year, for International Women's Day, we had the most kick ass group of women climb Kilimanjaro with us.

We returned to the mountain for the 3rd consecutive year, as the only company who climbs with an all-female guiding team and a 60-70% female porter team, and we made waves with 14 women who all made it to the top and took up space while doing so.

Our Kili climb continues to be the trip I am most proud of and where we make most of a difference by helping pay for guiding certification and training of female porters and guides.

Towards the end of the year, we moved our reviews from Facebook, where spam was out of control, to Google and have since received close to 175 reviews from guests there, and dozens more by email from guests who don't use Google. All our reviews are on the website, where you can also see recap videos of each trip with real guests.

=> 2024: Growth and time together 🤹‍♀️🤹‍♀️

Last year was tough for me personally.

The constant travel around the world took a toll in my personal health and, at the end of the year, I found myself more burnt out than ever and really struggling to keep smiling and managing the ups and downs of a new business in the travel industry, and the insane travel schedule that had me in 3 continents in the same month.

We hosted our first tours to Oaxaca, the Xmas markets, Scotland and Australia, and I returned to Greece.

I also scouted new trips to Madagascar, Georgia and the Swedish Arctic on my own, and to Bali with Meg.

I returned to Egypt and Tuscany to co-host the tours with our new guides and went on a couple of personal trips to Mauritania, the Azores and Cape Verde.

We also launched our Refer a friend bonus, which rewards guests who recommend us to their friends. You can get $50 credit every time someone mentions your name when booking.

Private tours is something we started doing in 2024 too, and we will continue to offer to families (mixed gender) who want to make their vacation count and support women while going on an itinerary like the ones we offer on set departures.

But the best part of the year was that Meg and I saw each other.

We spent 10 days in Bali, over 2 weeks in Australia during our first tour there, and almost a month in between Greece and Spain in June. It was so great to be together.

We were also invited to be a part of a 20-min segment on the BBC World News on solo travel, and Meg did a terrific job, especially considering it was 1am for her.

By the end of the year, I swore I would take 2025 easy, and slow down, and that we would be more intentional with our choices, say No a lot more and prioritise our personal health.

Burn out is very real and nobody can escape it.

=> 2025: Adventures and resetting 🧘‍♀️🧘‍♀️

2025 started off with a lot more travel than ever before.

By mid January I was in the Caribbean going on the island-hopping trip that is part of our 10th Anniversary celebrations, followed by a scouting trip to Ecuador, with visits to the Amazon and the Galapagos, followed by a 2-week expedition to Antarctica, all in the same 7-week trip.

At the end of it, I was exhausted physically and mentally and very much felt my physical limitations and my mortality.

I joined our first trips to the Swedish Arctic and Bali, followed by a scouting trip to Japan for our new tour, and 2 consecutive island-hopping cruises in Greece.

By the end of it all, I just couldn't go on any further.

I am taking the summer off from traveling, and spending as much time at home and with friends as I can, taking a short solo trip to Menorca and maybe one to Slovakia with my best friend, but otherwise resting and recuperating to be fully present for the second half of the year.

Meg bought a new house this summer (yay!), and we turn 10 this week, so we have a lot to celebrate!

At the end of the summer, I will join our inaugural tour to Georgia, with a side trip to Armenia to design our new itinerary as an extension from 2026, and then our first Madagascar tour with a small group of adventurers.

After Madagascar, I will be taking a 2-week trip through some of the Indian Ocean island-countries with a few friends, and perhaps another one to Ethiopia in November with a group of extreme travelers.

In December, there may be a trip to Saudi Arabia to scout a new trip. But it will depend on how I feel.

2025 has to be the year to prioritise our health and well being. There can be no more SFT if both Meg and I are not in tip top shape!

Where to next?

Like with all small businesses, building something that is sustainable and does not ruin your health and personal life is a constant battle.

Both Meg and I are single now, even though we were not when SFT started.

We are also older, and wiser, and we have learned that it is critical to make sure we manage the pace of growth and say no to opportunities, no matter how amazing they sound, to preserve our mental and physical health.

And we need to learn to say No even more often.

It is not possible to be upbeat, optimistic and smiling while on tour with 14 women, while making sure everything is going smoothly and guests are having the best time, if you are exhausted inside. Pretending has never been my strong suite.

As we look into the next 10 years, we want to make sure we never lose track of why we got started: To empower women to travel while making the travel industry more equitable for women.

People always need to come before profits for us, because we are a for profit company with a social impact mission.

We never want to be sidetracked by opportunities that do not align with our values, regardless of how lucrative they may sound, or by becoming so big that we are disconnected from what our guests want and from the places where we can have greater positive impact.

We never started Solo Female Travelers to become rich or to grow a business we would sell and retire.

We started it to make a difference, and we want to stay true to ourselves and to that original motivation that continues to move us every day.

You can expect new destinations being added every year, and some being discontinued for a variety of reasons. You can find the tentative list of new destinations and join the waitlist here.

You can also be sure that we will always look for ways to improve our tours, by staying up to date with the local developments and making sure the partners we work with keep their high standards too.

Celebrate our 10th Anniversary!

Our 10th Anniversary offer is now live and will be available until the end of the week, Sunday 20th July.

10th Anniversary $200 / €200 / £200 discount

We would love to get to know more of you in person next year and for you all to join us in this incredible milestone that is the first decade of Solo Female Travelers.

To celebrate with you, we are announcing a $200 / €200 / £200 discount on any of our 2026 trips, starting with our NYE trips to Cuba, Oaxaca and Tanzania this December 2025.

Book during the Anniversary week to enjoy this celebration discount!

The fine print:

This offer applies to NEW BOOKINGS ONLY for any 2026 trip including the trips that start in December 2025 and end in January 2026.
Bookings need to be made between the 14th and the 20th of July, 2025
The discount needs to be mentioned when making the booking in the Notes field.
The $200 / €200 / £200 will be applied to the balance.
Discount cannot be transferred or used in conjunction with other credits you may have with us. If the booking is cancelled, the discount will be lost.
There is no limit to the number of bookings a guest can make.

10th Anniversary luxury Caribbean island hopping trip

Have you booked your spot on our 10th anniversary Caribbean island-hopping trip onboard a luxury super yacht?

We are chartering the boat of your dreams and taking you on a voyage through 7 fabulous islands in the Caribbean.

That's right, both me and Meg will host this anniversary trip, and take you on a sailing adventure round-trip from Puerto Rico. This is also a chance to meet us both, and the entire team behind SFT.

We will make calls in St John, Anguilla, St. Barth's, St Martin and Virgin Gorda. Six fabulous islands and a few smaller stops that will be filled with glamour, over the top experiences such as caviar parties on the beach and dancing on deck of our fabulous luxury yacht.

Our luxury super yacht has spacious, beautiful cabins, 6 decks with various restaurant, bars, sun loungers, a pool and various jacuzzi, and all day gourmet dining and drinking included.

This will be a celebration you will not want to miss out on.

Book your spot on our Caribbean island-hopping trip

Last availability for 2025

Here are the last few spots left on this year's tours:

🔔 1 (mostly) SINGLE SPOT opened up on our previously sold out Tuscany trip 31 August to 7 September. Enjoy a single room for the price of a shared spot => BOOK TUSCANY
🔔 1 SPOT opened up on our previously sold out Bali tour 11 to 19 October => BOOK BALI
🔔 1 SPOT left on our Australia tour 12 to 23 October => BOOK AUSTRALIA
🔔 1 SPOTS left on our Xmas markets tour 22 to 29 November => BOOK XMAS MARKETS

=> You can also see the FULL CALENDAR of tours with all the destinations.