More than 70 per cent of solo travellers are women, but that statistic doesn’t tell the full story. Even when women are travelling independently, many still hope to find a like-minded community on the road, a need served by women-only, small group trips. This desire is equally true for female Muslim travellers, according to the 2025 Global Muslim Travel Index, a report by CrescentRating, a Singapore-based halal research organisation. But trips specifically tailored for Muslim women have practical as well as communal considerations. Many things make a trip halal, including the availability of women-only spaces and rooms, alcohol-free environments, and a shared understanding of daily life for practising Muslims, including prayer times. Safety is at the top of the list of concerns as well.
This holistic understanding of halal travel, including faith-driven values of community, compassion and respect for others, are increasingly becoming the norm. The following women-only group tours don’t shy away from the challenge that visiting non-Muslim-majority countries can bring, and support local communities regardless of religion. Here are the best halal, small group trips for Muslim women travellers.
For a cultural deep dive
Burgundy Roots Retreats embraces culture and identity by working with local cultures and communities in each destination, and by enabling women travellers to flourish too. The experiences have become known for their focus on making a positive social impact, eschewing resorts and all-inclusives for locally owned companies. The brand’s hallmark trip is to Jamaica, where founder Wafa Kensho visited growing up, and where the Rastafari community showed her the beauty of embracing one’s unique identity. The small group trips offer deep dives into subcultures, whether at the Siwa Oasis in Egypt or embracing the samba culture of resistance in Brazil, without compromising on fun. On the Jamaica trip, you’re swimming in a lagoon, learning about the West African roots of Islam in the Caribbean from a Rasta community member, or having a private party at the villa with a DJ.
For hiking in nature
For those who aren’t afraid to get messy, Ma’wa Collective hosts intense hiking trips designed to fully immerse Muslim women in nature. Avid hiker Nadah Feteih designs diverse treks for beginners to experts in locales across the world, from one-to-two-week-long adventures at Kilimanjaro, Everest and Machu Picchu to weekend trips in North America’s natural landscapes, from Banff to Joshua Tree. The trips are mostly focused on remote mountain landscapes, but the cultural angle is not forgotten; community interaction and locally invested tourism dollars are fundamental to the Collective’s ethos. In Chile, travellers take a break from hiking to learn traditional weaving from Indigenous Kawésqar women, and in Ecuador, hikers stay in a jungle lodge run by an Indigenous Kichwa family.
For a spiritual journey
Deen Journeys encourages women to explore how even travel can be an act of worship, using slow moments of relaxation and community to grow their faith. The trips are gentle and invite reflection in nature, from making tasbih in a botanical garden to a dua workshop on the coast. The trips are designed to connect travellers not only with each other but also with the local community. Every itinerary includes an act of service to give back to the hosting community, whether that’s packing meals for displaced persons or helping out at a non-profit second-hand shop. Co-founders Iman and Fariaa vet the places they visit. The company launched in early 2025, and there are three trips planned this year – Orlando, San Diego, and Puerto Rico – with an expanded portfolio planned for 2026.
For a blend of action and relaxation
Some solo female travellers want adventure and jam-packed itineraries, while others are looking for a week of rest and relaxation – Sisters Getaway has established itself as a blend of both. Attracting travellers from across the globe, the company’s split itineraries – four days in a rural setting and two days in a historic city – as well as its mandate to “do as little or as much as you please”, satisfy most types of traveller. The retreat-style portion of the trips allows travellers to practise yoga, make pottery, take a hike or just read a book. What’s always present is a property with a private pool and a private chef to create halal meals. The city break part of each trip focuses on sightseeing at historic landmarks, wandering local markets and learning about the ways in which Islamic heritage are woven into a destination. The company’s signature trip is southern Spain, where founder Abdiya Meddings has spent more than a decade. This itinerary puts you at a relaxing Alpujarra mountain retreat to start, and finishes with explorations of Granada, where the remnants of the Islamic empire are on full display at the Alhambra.
For cultural exchange
Recognising the power of travel to change perspectives, Palanquin Tours offers trips that centre cultural exchange and understanding and are designed particularly for South Asian women. Founded by Pakistan-native Zehra Wamiq and joined by her intrepid daughter, the responsible travel company takes Muslim women on enriching historical trips across the world, from Uzbekistan to Peru. The organisers aim to break down barriers in the places the tours visit by sharing inspiring stories, especially of the ways a destination has been influenced by Islam. Palanquin only runs a couple of trips each year to varying locations; 2025 trips included Morocco and Uzbekistan, and next year’s line-up features South Africa and Japan.
To follow the path less travelled
Qaflh, meaning “caravan” in Arabic, was created to expand the destinations that travellers from the Middle East often visit. Founded by Rasha Yousif, a Bahraini photographer and the first hijabi to visit every country in the world, destinations are selected from her personal experiences finding less-well-trodden stops around the globe. Through these unique trips, like sailing in a dhow around Lamu island in Kenya, learning about ancient Arab trade connections, Yousif brings Muslim women to places with multifaceted cultures and soul-quenching natural beauty. Aiming to not only inspire self-discovery but also leave a positive impact on the places, travellers visit local establishments and markets, and learn about life for indigenous groups in the places they visit.
Source: https://www.cntravellerme.com/story/these-halal-trips-are-designed-for-solo-muslim-women
