For women over 50, solo travel has become a new rite of passage, a way to rediscover identity beyond family roles and routines According to research from JourneyWoman, a website dedicated to solo women travelers, about 65% of all travelers in North America are women — and roughly a quarter of them travel solo. But among women over 55, that number jumps dramatically: more than 60% prefer to travel alone.*

“Women over 50 are adventurous, curious, and empowered to make their own financial decisions,” says Carolyn Ray, JourneyWoman’s CEO. “They’re seeking experiences that are authentic, meaningful, and on their own terms.”

Women Travel Solo for Many Reasons

I interviewed three solo women travelers: Kelly, Leyla, and Cari. Each of them has traveled solo for her own reasons, in her own way.

Kelly’s First Solo Trip With Collette Left Her in Awe

For many women traveling alone isn’t about escaping something — it’s about returning to themselves.

That was true for Kelly P., 63, an Army Civil Servant from Fort Bragg, North Carolina. When her partner passed away, she found herself standing at a crossroads.

“I knew I needed to continue traveling as he and I had always planned to do once our kids were grown,” says Peters. “If I didn’t go solo, I’d miss out on the opportunity altogether, because my friends don’t really like to travel overseas.”

So, in February 2025, Peters boarded a plane to Peru — her first trip with Collette. She says her experience at Machu Picchu was both awe-inspiring and unexpectedly intimate. “I didn’t realize we would be allowed to walk through the ruins,” she says. “I thought we would only be allowed to view them from the periphery. I was in awe.”

Another unexpected delight? The train ride. “There was a musical group on board and one train car was open so people could dance as we traveled through the mountains. So. Much. Fun.”

Leyla Opted for a Guided Group Tour and Loved It

For Leyla P., a 61-year-old from Southern California, travel has always been a part of life. “I travel by myself when there’s nobody else to go with me,” she says. “Maybe my friends don’t like the place I want to go, or it’s not convenient for them. But I don’t wait around. I have one life, and I want to live it to the fullest.”

When she decided to visit Peru last year, she opted for a guided tour — her first. “I was hesitant. I don’t like to be told what to do, where to go, what to eat,” she laughs. “But with Peru, when I was trying to figure it all out, it just seemed too overwhelming. The guided experience exceeded my expectations — it was so organized. They ran a tight ship. I loved it.”

And unexpectedly, she also loved the company. “I didn’t expect to make friends because I’m not the mingling type,” she admits. “But I met this couple — postal workers from Pennsylvania — they were hilarious. Making friends just brought such variety and fun.”

But the moment that defined it all came high in the Andes at Machu Picchu. “It was a dream come true,” she says. “The mist, the mountains, the green — I’m not a spiritual person but it was spiritual. I wanted to cry. It’s difficult to explain, but yeah — it was breathtaking.”

Their Advice For Women Traveling Solo

For women who’ve embraced solo travel later in life, each journey becomes more than a getaway — it’s a statement of independence, a declaration that life’s biggest adventures don’t have an expiration date.

When asked what advice she’d give to other women considering going it alone, Kelly Peters doesn’t hesitate. “You have nothing to fear but fear itself,” she says. “My spirit and soul thrive when I travel. I like to think I’m relatively knowledgeable about societies in the international community, but traveling to other countries reminds me how little I know about the world.”

Her words echo a sentiment shared by many women in this stage of life — a recognition that curiosity doesn’t fade with age; if anything, it sharpens. The world opens up again, not as something to conquer, but to connect with.

For Cari F., 67, from Fort Worth, Texas, that connection begins with reclaiming time for herself. “It’s me time and I'm going to enjoy that time,” she says. “And I do. It's not selfish. We’ve done all that. We’ve worked hard, raising kids or working jobs or doing both.”

Her advice to other solo travelers? “Just go for it.”

Felker’s philosophy reflects a growing chorus among seasoned women travelers: permission granted. Permission to rest, to wander, to explore without apology. For some, it’s the reward after decades of responsibility. For others, it’s a long-awaited rediscovery of joy.