TORONTO — Always a force to be reckoned with in the travel industry, women are in the spotlight today with International Women’s Day. Travel companies including Intrepid, G Adventures, Exodus, Luxury Gold and Trafalgar are marking March 8 with women-only tours, women-focused excursions and ideas for how travel can make a life-changing impact for women around the world.

Here’s a look at some of the highlights:

INTREPID TRAVEL
Intrepid Travel has developed a new line of women-only expeditions in Morocco, Iran and Jordan. The limited-edition tours are available to book starting today.

Intrepid has already committed to diversity and inclusion at all levels of the business, with the ultimate goal of doubling its number of female tour leaders globally by 2020.

“With all the hallmarks of a classic Intrepid Travel adventure – local leadership, local transport, real life experiences – and an added focus on female travel and female empowerment, this new line of Women’s Expeditions offers a unique opportunity for female travelers from around the world to connect with each other and learn more about Middle Eastern women and their day-to-day lives,” says Jenny Gray, regional product manager for the Middle East and Africa.

For more information about the Women’s Expeditions, or to book, visit: intrepidtravel.com/womens-expeditions.

EXODUS TRAVELS
Exodus has also launched all-female departures, experiences focused on championing and inspiring women in adventure travel.

The tours range from an exploration of the strong cultural traditions of Iran to cycling through Central America’s tropical scenery.

“We want to connect with females from all cultures and challenge ourselves to go beyond our comfort zones while on vacation, as well as in our day to day lives,” says Robin Brooks, Marketing & PR Manager. “There’s a growing demand for trips that go beyond spa and yoga retreats with girlfriends. Adventure and exploration is not a boys’ club anymore. In 2017, 65% of our travellers were female and we have seen a huge increase in women looking for active adventures such as cycling, walking, trekking and responsible wildlife tours.”

Women will journey with an all-female group made up of 4-16 travellers, led by local female guides, creating more opportunities for women working in a traditionally male-dominated profession in many countries across the globe, adds Brooks.

The trips include: the 15-day Journey to Persia (from Can$4,555, March 3 – 17, 2019); the 15-day Cycle Nicaragua, Costa Rica & Panama (from $4,085, March 30 – April 13, 2018); the 11-day Highlights of China (from $2,945, May 12 – 22, 2019); and the 8-day Walking the Amalfi Coast (from $1,765, Nov. 10 – 17, 2018).

LUXURY GOLD & LUXURY GOLD CARES
Luxury Gold Cares, in partnership with its non-profit foundation The TreadRight Foundation, is highlighting the power of impactful tourism to the local communities they visit across the globe.

Joining these select transformative journeys with Luxury Gold, means clients will have the opportunity to meet and interact with inspirational women and learn more about their daily lives and artistic efforts, says the company.

The trips include: the 12-day Treasures of the Incas; the 21-day La Serenissima, where guests can meet expert weaver Marta Cucchia; the 19-day Trans-Canadian Grandeur with Stampede and Via Rail Prestige; and the 16-day Imperial Rajasthan with Me to We Experience where guests have the chance to walk with local women as they collect water, care for livestock and cook for their families before participating in projects to help enhance their community like building schools, enabling mobile health clinics, and agricultural training.

TRAFALGAR
Now more than ever clients have the opportunity to see firsthand and interact with inspirational women on a growing list of Trafalgar trips, and experience how the transformative power of tourism across the globe can promote sustainable initiatives and economic empowerment.

“As we look to our female forces working in the field, delivering exceptional experiences to our guests, I am delighted to confirm that within our exclusive ‘Be My Guest’ experiences, 48% of these in Europe and Britain are hosted by women,” says Gavin Tollman, Trafalgar Global CEO. “As I look around the world, we are privileged to work with a selected network of inspirational and truly individual women, each with their own tale to tell.”

Trafalgar’s trips include the 8-day Best of Devon and Cornwall, where travellers can meet yoga teacher and owner of Trefranck Farm in Cornwall, Gemma Kempthorne. As part of Trafalgar’s ‘Be My Guest’ experience, Gemma hosts guests for lunch and tales of farming heritage at her homely Cornish farmstead which has been in their family since the early 18th century.

And new for 2018, Trafalgar’s 11-day Wonders of Italy program, offers guests the opportunity to meet with a former chef who gave it all up to run her family’s Tuscan wine estate. Diana Lenzi is a woman led by her heart, says Trafalgar. Following her mother’s motto, ‘learn as you go’, she threw herself into the business of running the Fattoria di Petroio estate, which produces “the most wonderful Chianti”, says the tour company.

G ADVENTURES
The March 8, 2018 issue of Travelweek includes an interview with Adrienne Lee, Director of Development at G Adventures’ non-profit partner Planeterra. Check out the interview here.