March 11, 2026 Team Contibutor
Women are no longer waiting for partners, friends, or family to be ready. They are booking the trip, choosing the experience, and creating memories. Interestingly, this shift is forcing airlines, hotels, and tour operators to prioritise safety, connection, and wellness.
A quick look at the market trends. Intrepid Travel reported a 59% increase between 2024 and 2025 in bookings for its Women’s Expeditions. A JourneyWoman report found that 61% of women over 50 prefer travelling solo, and the women-over-50 travel market in Canada and the US is projected to grow from $245 billion to $519 billion by 2035.
It is the fastest-growing segment in travel. And women-only travel tours in Europe are right at the centre of it.
What Tauck just announced
Award-winning tour operator Tauck this week opened bookings for three women-only European departures in late 2026, each capped at 20 to 24 guests and led by a female Tauck Director.
The destinations are Ireland, Italy’s Piedmont region, and Portugal — scheduled consecutively in September and October, so travellers can link two or all three into one extended journey.
Tauck CEO Jennifer Tombaugh put it plainly: “Whether it’s mothers and daughters marking a milestone, sisters planning a long-awaited journey, friends reuniting for a special getaway, or solo travellers looking to connect with like-minded women, these departures offer a built-in sense of ease, encouragement, and belonging.”
That framing matters. This is travel designed around how you feel, not just where you go.
Inside the three itineraries
Ireland (September 23, from $7,890 USD): Tauck takes you on an eight-day tour through castles, coastlines and cobblestone towns. Highlights include a two-night stay at the 16th-century Dromoland Castle, visits to the Cliffs of Moher and Blarney Castle, a private recital at Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral in Cork, a hands-on cooking experience at Ballyknocken House, and time in both Kinsale and Dublin.
Piedmont, Italy (October 1, from $8,390 USD): Italy’s slow-food heartland at its most indulgent. Truffle hunting in the Langhe hills, a wine tasting lunch at Banca del Vino, an exclusive early-access visit to La Venaria Reale, and a chef-hosted cooking class.
The journey ends at the iconic Grand Hotel des Iles Borromées in Stresa, on Lake Maggiore.
Portugal (October 10, from $7,190 USD): Tourists can savour Porto’s riverfront to Lisbon’s grand avenues. A Port house tour and tasting in Porto, exploration of Coimbra, Évora, Sintra and Cascais, and a private farewell dinner at the 18th-century Palácio de Queluz.
Accommodation includes a restored 15th-century convent in Évora — the kind of stay that’s hard to spot in a standard package holiday.
All three include airport transfers, hand-selected accommodation, most meals, and exclusive access experiences.
If you are interested in Tauck’s broader small-ship portfolio, we covered their 2027 Baltic and Mediterranean sailings here.
Bookings are open now at tauck.ca. Given the small group sizes and the growing demand for female solo travel Europe, these will fill fast.
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