A new report highlights that solo female travellers want physically active, culturally rich and historic exploration trips in 2026 – and they’re willing to spend USD$5,000 to $12,000 (around AUD$7,500 – $18,000) on their ideal holiday.
The AdventureWomen survey of women aged 35 to 75 found hiking and trekking (40%) are the top activities sought by solo female travellers in 2026, followed by cultural journeys and historic site exploration (30%). Around 13 per cent are keen on wildlife viewing and safaris.
Most respondents prefer trips lasting from eight to 14 days, balancing active travel with other responsibilities.
When it comes to destinations trending with solo female travellers, more than 45 per cent of respondents said they’re open to exploring anywhere they’ve never been.
In addition, while 45 per cent of the participants indicated they are in relationships, 54 per cent said they primarily travel solo and many choose destinations their partners may not be interested in.
The US-based, women-run small-group adventure travel company discovered that while women clearly enjoy active travel, they also value balance, with two to three hours of strenuous physical activity per day being the preferred level.
And no matter what type of trip solo female travellers have their sights set on for 2026, money does not appear to be much of a barrier or concern.
The solo female traveller category has risen remarkably in the last 15 years with more women than ever interested in holidaying on their own.
Google searches for ‘solo female travel’ rose 131 per cent in 2024 and Virtuoso’s latest trends report revealed 71 per cent of its solo clients are female.
AdventureWomen President Paige Davis said: “Women today are redefining what adventure means. What’s most inspiring to us is seeing how many women are choosing to travel solo, not because they don’t have partners, but because they want to live their own travel dreams on their own terms.”
