More travel, higher spends---Indian women drive surge in experiential international travel

Indian women travellers driving internation demand.

Indian women are increasingly reshaping international travel trends, with more choosing to travel with friends, plan trips earlier and spend more on curated experiences, according to insights from Pickyourtrail, a travel platform.

Hari Ganapathy, Co-founder and CEO of the travel platform, said the company is seeing a steady rise in women travelling with other women, particularly in small friend groups, and a growing demand from senior travellers.

“Women are planning further ahead, allocating higher budgets, and choosing curated experiences over fixed templates,” Ganapathy said, adding that this behavioural shift is influencing how international travel products are designed.

Safety remains a key consideration for women travellers, but there is also strong demand for experience-driven holidays, including wellness retreats, cultural workshops and food-focused trips.

The segment is also spending more. On an average, international travellers spend about Rs 1 lakh per person, but women-only trips typically range between Rs 1.1 lakh and Rs 1.2 lakh, around 12–20 percent higher than the platform average, as travellers prioritise premium stays, safety and curated experiences.

Women travellers are also planning earlier. While honeymoon trips are typically booked 60–75 days in advance, group trips by women are often confirmed 4-5 months ahead, reflecting a preference for securing better accommodation and experiences early.

Data from Pickyourtrail shows the trend cutting across age groups. Around 40–46 percent of women travellers are Gen Z and younger millennials, while women aged 45–60 influence up to 80 percent of spending in the segment, often opting for wellness and cultural travel.

Group travel is also gaining momentum. Nearly 60–70 percent of women travelling internationally in groups do so with friends, while mother–daughter trips are also becoming more common.

According to Ganapathy, this shift is expanding the overall travel market rather than replacing traditional family vacations. “Interest-based travel like women-only trips, wellness holidays or cultural experiences is adding new demand to the market,” he said.

Pickyourtrail data also noted that online searches for solo female travel have increased 72 percent year-over-year.

Globally, the women’s travel market is growing at a 13–14 percent Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR), with interest in independent travel rising 8 percentage points between 2024 and 2025.

Vietnam, Bali, Georgia, and Thailand lead bookings for women travelling in groups, with the UAE emerging strongly and Sri Lanka continuing to resonate for its safety, cultural depth, and natural beauty.

Destinations like Bali and Azerbaijan are becoming popular for women travellers. "We recently had a group of women travel to Azerbaijan specifically for a wine-focused experience. Sometimes the motivations are quite personal—celebrations like 40th birthdays or milestone trips with friends," Ganapathy said.

Women travellers are increasingly signing up for workshops and cultural experiences during their trips, he added. "In Bali, for instance, we have seen strong interest in Balinese art workshops. Culinary experiences—such as pastry-making sessions—are also gaining traction."

What’s interesting is that many of these trips are not necessarily tied to traditional holiday windows like summer vacations. Women travellers are increasingly deciding to travel simply because they want a break from work, family responsibilities, or everyday routines.