The old saying there’s safety in numbers has never been truer, as adventures for solo female globetrotters become one of the travel industry’s fastest growing sectors.

Gerringong travel agent Kelly Morrison, one of the many women travelling alone or on female-only tours, has tapped into the growing market with Travel Focus Group’s new business venture – ROAM, a travel experience designed specifically for women.

A 2025 travel trends report found solo female travellers are on the rise, with Tourism Research Australia and Austrade data showing women travelling alone made up 40 per cent of the domestic market, with 30 per cent of women heading overseas solo.

Morrison, who joined Travel Focus Group as an agent three months ago after moving to the area for a sea change, embraced solo travel after divorcing and becoming an empty nester.

But she says there are downsides to going it alone, with clients reporting safety as the top concern for female travellers, not to mention the higher cost of a singles supplement.

When Morrison and her sister decided to embark on a Moroccan adventure, they chose to travel with an all-women’s group tour “for the safety aspect”.

“It was one of the best trips I’ve been on,” she said.

After the group tour ended, the sisters had two days on their own in Morocco’s bustling capital and safety quickly became an issue.

“We got followed by a male and had to duck into a shop and hide behind the racks,” she explained.

Kelly in Morocco.

The safety scare sparked the idea for ROAM and Morrison held the group’s first breakfast recently for like-minded females to travel together.

The get-together was a hit, with more than a dozen women registering their interest in the small-group, female-only adventures.

The first tour, in November, will be to New Zealand and include good food, fine wine, a health spa and jet boat ride.

“There are a lot of adventurous women out there who want to go off the beaten track but still have that safety net of travelling with a group,” she added

Morrison has designed the inaugural itinerary around the things she likes to do as a traveller; a bit of sightseeing, an off-the-beaten track adventure, excellent food and wine and boutique accommodation.

“Many organised tours are extremely structured; you have to get up at 6am to be on a bus by 7am to visit multiple tourist attractions every day. Those sorts of tours are very cookie-cutter, very generic.”

Her idea of a good holiday involves more peace than pace.

“You won’t experience jam-packed schedules or tourist traps on our tours. ROAM is all about leisurely mornings, local culture and meaningful experiences.

“My mum did a bus trip through Europe and she said it was the most exhausting holiday she had ever been on. One day she just refused to get out of bed, maybe that’s where I get it from!”

ROAM group tours will be much more fluid, allowing people to linger over a nice breakfast before they “go off and do things” and incorporating experiences that allow women to give back to the communities they visit.

“On a trip to India or Vietnam we might visit an orphanage and ask women to bring some baby clothes to donate. It’s all about letting women share experiences in a safe environment,” Morrison said.

“The beauty of these tours is that they try and cater for everyone’s interests. Travelling doesn’t have to be go, go, go, it’s just as important to slow down, take things in, immerse yourself in the experience so you have a chance to enjoy it while you’re there.”

Photo: Lara Mathewson

Many solo female adventurers are also looking to link with other women to share the cost of the dreaded singles supplement - an extra fee charged to those travelling alone when booking accommodations or tours designed for dual occupancy.

With enquiries on the rise, Morrison also plans to link up solo travellers interested in similar experience, with a view to them sharing the cost of a double room or tours for two.

“We’ve had several women in their 80s come in and say I really want to go to Antarctica but they don’t want to travel by themselves,” she explained.

“The single supplement is so expensive and we help them find a like-minded person who they can travel with and share a room with to avoid that cost. It’s not only cheaper but much more fun when you share the experience with someone else.”

Morrison said all-female group tours are the opposite of a “draincation” - a phrase coined to describe travelling with kids or a partner where the mental load is still high – and involve more wine and less whine.

“Travelling with children or a partner is not always a holiday, you still carry the same burdens as at home, just in a different location,” said Morrison.

“Sometimes it’s even harder because kids are out of their routine and comfort zone.

“On a ROAM tour you don’t have to worry if everyone has packed enough underwear or will eat what’s on the menu, you just get to focus on yourself and the things you like to do. And let’s be honest wine always tastes better with girlfriends.”