Solo trips by Indian women surge 9X as independent travel takes off

Indian women are travelling more independently than ever before. And what that looks like: they are booking solo trips, exploring international destinations, and taking greater control over how they plan and pay for their journeys.

New travel data clearly shows that women are planning trips earlier, spending more on comfort, and increasingly making travel decisions on their own.

One of the most striking trends is the sharp rise in solo travel. According to Scapia, solo travel among women on its platform has grown nearly 9X year-on-year, highlighting how more women are choosing to travel independently rather than in traditional family groups.

The shift towards independent travel is also playing out in personal stories. Sneha Singh, a PhD scholar in biotechnology, first ventured into solo travel 4-5 years ago. But her most recent adventure - a trek to the Everest Base Camp - changed how she approaches travel.

“Doing the Everest Base Camp trek solo was intimidating at first, but it turned out to be one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.  The sense of freedom and achievement you get from trekking and doing it on your own might is incredible,” she says.

However, beach destinations remain the most popular choice domestically. Over 80% of domestic leisure bookings by women are for beach locations, with destinations such as Goa, Port Blair, Varkala and Kovalam among the most booked.

Internationally, Southeast Asia continues to dominate women’s travel plans. Scapia’s data shows that nearly one in two international trips by young Indian women are to Southeast Asia, driven partly by easier visa policies and short travel times. Countries such as Thailand, Vietnam and Sri Lanka remain particularly popular.

What are the trends behind women’s travel?

Travel patterns also differ sharply across age groups. Among gen-Z women, heritage and culture-focused destinations are gaining traction. Locations such as Jaisalmer, Udaipur, Hampi and Varanasi are seeing growing interest alongside island and Asia-Pacific destinations.

Another standout trend is the growing popularity of Japan. Cities such as Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka are emerging as the top non–Southeast Asian destinations among women travellers on the Scapia platform.

At the same time, millennial women are increasingly opting for more premium travel experiences. Scapia says nearly one in three millennial women travellers choose luxury stays, the highest among all age groups.

Cleartrip’s travel trends tracker PeekABoo also highlights another emerging pattern: the rise of women travelling in groups without male companions. All-women international group travel has surged by nearly 36% year-on-year. It's another signal of greater comfort with travelling independently.

Women travellers are also showing stronger planning behaviour and more direct control over payments. Cleartrip data shows a 40% rise in UPI usage and a 17% increase in credit card transactions among women booking international trips.

Beyond bookings, spending on travel add-ons is also increasing. There has been a 34% rise in pre-booked meals, a 23.7% increase in seat selection, and 33.2% growth in baggage add-ons, indicating greater focus on comfort and preparedness.

On the international front, destinations such as Denpasar, London, Colombo and Singapore are among the most booked by women travellers.

Outbound departures are led by India’s major metro cities, Bengaluru, Delhi and Mumbai, suggesting strong participation from working professionals and urban travellers.

Domestically, expanding air connectivity is also opening up new routes for women travellers. Cities such as Ghaziabad, Gorakhpur and Darbhanga have seen significant booking jumps.

Despite the rise in luxury travel among some cohorts, budget and mid-range hotels remain the most preferred accommodation segment, indicating that affordability continues to play an important role even as women travellers explore new destinations.