People of all ages love to travel. In fact, the average adventure traveler is a 47-year old woman, rather than a cis white man, according to Tourism Tiger.
Older people – and in particular older lesbians – aren’t always the target audience for travel. This makes it tricky to pick our tours, because we usually aren’t the focus.
I’ll be honest, I’m not a big fan of group travel, and this is a big part of the reason why.
Tour group itineraries rarely reflect me. And tour groups tend to be homogenous environments where I stick out like a sore thumb! I’d rather take the time to plan out my own trip and do exactly what I want to do without making awkward small talk or trying to guess whether the other trip participants will be welcoming by their home state!
Many people don’t have the time or the interest to plan their own travel. They would prefer to go with a group, especially if it’s to a destination that’s a bit outside their comfort zone.
If you’re looking for the most popular group tours for older lesbians, it’s Olivia Cruises โ a pioneer in the lesbian travel space. If you’re looking for an adventure travel operator that’s lesbian friendly, check out Wild Women Expeditions.
But don’t stop there. There are five great option for older gay women looking to travel the world in the company of likeminded ladies. So keep reading to explore all the amazing options, and learn why travel is a bit different for older women.
Traveling as an Older Woman
I hope to travel as long as I am able, and I know I’m not alone in that regard.
Older women have more time on their hands, and they often have more disposable income. Older lesbians and bisexual women still want to travel and forge new connectionsโฆromantic and platonic. They want to be themselves on group trips, without having to explain to everyone on their tour group that no, they didn’t leave a husband back home. They never had a husband โ or if they did, they divorced when they figured out their sexuality later in life.
There are specific challenges that older lesbians face. While many lesbians don’t let challenges hold them back from adventure, it’s worth highlighting a few of the ways travel is different for older women:
- Mobility and accessibility needs – Travelers of all ages can experience mobility and accessibility needs. As women age, they face a higher likelihood of navigating airports, cruise ships, and public spaces with reduced mobility and chronic pain.
- Different health needs – From menopause to chronic health conditions that require daily medication, older women tend to have more health needs than younger women. Travel insurance is a life-saver. I buy it every time I travel for the peace of mind!
- Safety concerns – Group tours create safety in numbers. Tours created by women for women protect female traveler safety while fostering a sense of autonomy and freedom. Let’s face it, it’s difficult to have fun on the road when you’re faced with constant reminders of your vulnerability as a result of gender-based violence.
- Concerns about inclusion and belonging – Our queer elders grew up in times when they had to hide their identity to protect themselves. Some older lesbians are proudly out, while others are more cautious in coming out. Many tour operators say they are committed to inclusivity, but the five group tour providers on this list go beyond a verbal commitment. They show inclusivity on all tours, including LGBT-exclusive tours.
- Desire for community – We never stop wanting connection, no matter how old we are. Group trips provide queer women with a fun an affirming social environment. This can be vital for older women who live alone, those who live in retirement communities where they’re not fully out, and women ready to reinvent themselves after an empty nest. When group tour itineraries include LGBT events, LGBT-owned businesses, and LGBT-friendly hotels, trips become an opportunity to savor and celebrate the LGBT community.
Companies that address these concerns foster a more welcoming and inclusive environment for travelers of every age. Keep reading to discover how the top tours for older lesbians go above and beyond to meet these needs.
Olivia Cruises
Olivia Cruises is the leader in lesbian travel. Since 1990, the company has been offering exclusively lesbian cruises to destinations around the globe, chartering out the entire boat for the lesbian community.
OWL programs aren’t a part of every cruise Olivia offers, so you’ll want to check their upcoming events if this is of interest to you. For their 2024-2025 calendar, it looks like there are older lesbian trips to the Caribbean, the Greek Isles, Alaska, and Mexico. Land-based resort trips that are older lesbian friendly include a Cancun resort vacation and a Puerto Vallarta resort trip.
Olivia has also cultivated a vibrant and supportive community for its older travelers. The “OWL” affinity group (which stands for Older, Wiser, Lesbian) brings together women over 60 to bond, find connections, and plan trips! Onboard, older lesbians can find OWL-sponsored events designed to help them find their holiday friends!
Not yet 60? If you are traveling with an OWL, you are welcome at their gatherings!
WalkingWomen
WalkingWomen is a lesbian-owned walking tour company. The walking tour company’s founders are now over 60, and they’ve stated their commitment to help older lesbians stay active as they age in a poignant blog post.
Their trips feature four different activity levels, from low intensity to challenging. A low intensity walk might be a city walk. A challenging walk might be a mountain trek. While only some of their trips are exclusively lesbian, every walk is all-female. If your ideal vacation is a walking holiday in Sicily, the French Alps, the Lakes District of England, or walking the historic Camino de Santiago, a WalkingWomen tour might be the perfect lesbian vacation for you.
Road Scholar
Not-for-profit Road Scholar hosts over 100,000 older adults on educational group trips. Anyone over 50 is welcome to join a Road Scholar trip.
While Road Scholar is open to men and women of all orientations, almost 70 percent of Road Scholar travelers are women. Among solo travelers, the percentage of women jumps to 85!
Road Scholar has held LGBTQ trips in the past, including a voyage on the Queen Mary II, themed on exploring gay connections in the London Arts scene. There are no LGBTQ affinity trips planned at present.
However, if you don’t mind traveling with a general interest group (especially one that’s majority female), they could be a good pick. Road Scholars are passionate and curious people – lifelong learners who want to do more than see the sights, they want the bigger picture.
Wild Women Expeditions
Wild Women Expeditions started back in 1991 as a Canadian adventure outfitter for women. Since then, they’ve grown to a women’s adventure travel operator with tours in 30 countries. If your idea of a dream vacation is riding Icelandic horses along the beautiful South Coast, sailing the Galapagos, or a Machu Picchu trek alongside your lesbian besties and an all-female group, check out their upcoming adventures!
Wild Women Expeditions participants are all ages, from 8 to 86. The average age of participants is 35 to 55. Women come from all over, and have a variety of life experiences. Some are first-timers who want the comfort of learning a new outdoor skill in a group environment, while some are passionate hobbyists.
A trip with them won’t be just older women, or even just lesbians. The company has a stated commitment to LGBTQ inclusivity in their FAQ. Here’s an except, so you can see where Wild Women Expeditions stands on LGBTQ inclusion:
“We celebrate and encourage the participation of women of all ages, sexual orientation, size, identity (yes, transgender women!) and pronouns.”
NextTribe
NextTribe is a media company turned travel company, targeting the women over 45 demographic. They run small group trips, which are usually capped at 16 participants. Domestically, NextTribe leads short getaways to cities like New York and Santa Fe, New Mexico. Their international trips include India, Vietnam, Peru, and Cuba. With a motto of “No cliques, no politics, and no whining,” their trips are LGBTQ inclusive.
Each of these tour companies was chosen for their focus on older women and specifically lesbians.
Looking for more tour-related content? Check out our list of the best trips for single lesbians, top gay tour companies, or bespoke travel companies that can help you plan a fabulous queer holiday!
I’m excited to find so many general interest tours that include LGBTQ-friendly programming, and I’m looking forward to seeing even more growth in this space. Older women are out there traveling – and they want to be able to celebrate their identities in a supportive environment!
Do you know of a good older lesbian vacation experience not listed here? Shoot me an email and I’ll add it to the list!
