Photo Courtesy of Ananda in the Himalayas
Ananda in the Himalayas: Wellness for women with structure, outcomes, and continuity (Uttarakhand, India)
On a 100‑acre palace estate above the Ganges valley, Ananda in the Himalayas gives women and all guests a clear wellness arc that begins with a pre‑arrival consultation, continues through onsite goal setting and daily practice, and extends with post‑stay follow‑up. Women experience significantly higher levels of burnout compared to men, with 46 percent reporting extreme stress versus 37 percent for men according to Deloitte’s Women at Work Report 2023. For many guests, choosing to travel alone becomes an act of self‑care leading to transformation, and Ananda meets them with a grounding arrival ritual. They are welcomed with a floral garland, dressed in crisp white kurta pajama, and invited to unwind in an environment that feels safe and unhurried. Days unfold with sunrise yoga, guided meditation, and Vedanta philosophy sessions that center the mind. Elements such as sunrise treks to Kunjapuri Temple, mantra chanting, and birdwatching in the Himalayan forests create a thoughtful balance of solitude, nature, and intentional movement. Afternoons continue with targeted therapies ranging from Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine to physiotherapy and emotional healing. Women-centered pathways in menstrual health, hormonal balance, and fertility enhancement offer specialized care. Meals follow a wellness cuisine philosophy that treats food as ritual and aligns menus with each guest’s constitution, so that healthy nutrition becomes a practice they can continue at home. The heart of Ananda is its spa, blending classical therapies with contemporary diagnostics, so progress feels tangible and grounded.
Programming note: Women leave with a structured plan designed for real life and a timeline for refining it as new routines begin to take hold.
Why it stands out: Ananda turns intention into practice through clear structure, personalized milestones, and a supportive environment that helps women maintain momentum long after the retreat ends.
Woman to Watch: Aashica Khanna, Executive Director, brings more than a decade of leadership in wellness programming and has shaped Ananda’s evidence-based approach to women’s health. She works at the intersection of science and tradition and ensures that programs deliver meaningful, measurable outcomes while staying rooted in cultural authenticity. Her vision centers on creating rituals that endure beyond the retreat. More to come on her leadership separately for Women’s History Month.
Photo Courtesy of The Dylan Amsterdam
The Dylan Amsterdam: Quiet luxury rituals and frictionless urban movement (Netherlands)
On the Keizersgracht, The Dylan Amsterdam offers an intimate, design-led refuge where culinary artistry and modern recovery support a city-based reset for women traveling solo. Studio Linse’s refresh layers warm textures and tactile materials into rooms that function as quiet sanctuaries between museum hours and canal walks. Concierge arranges private gallery visits and neighborhood art strolls that feel participatory rather than performative, while mornings lend themselves to canal-edge loops that set a measured pace before the city crowds arrive. Two Michelin starred Restaurant Vinkeles delivers precision with restraint, and the High Wine ritual reframes late afternoon as a gentle pause rather than a rush. A new Technogym facility opening in Spring 2026 supports energy, sleep, and recovery, so fitness becomes rhythm rather than pressure, and the hotel’s intimate scale keeps check‑in smooth and movement intuitive throughout the stay. The result is urban autonomy with a clear pathway back to calm, where navigating the city feels natural, not effortful.
Programming note: Concierge led private culture walks begin at the hotel and return to the courtyard or lounge, keeping movement simple and secure for solo women.
Why it stands out: The Dylan pairs quiet luxury with operational clarity, with clear routes, low friction, and unobtrusive support that keeps solo women comfortable and in control. A women led operations spine understands what solo female travelers value, from comfort and privacy to emotional ease. Personalization is quiet and continuous, embedded in daily rhythms rather than a labeled program. At reservations, preferences are gathered discreetly and carried through to arrival, including lighting, room placement, and turndown touchpoints, so care feels intuitive, not announced.
Woman to Watch: Renee Holten, Rooms Division Manager (5 years), leads guest facing operations with an all-women leadership team: Carol Domacassé, Reservations Manager (22 years), and Anna Kulak, Housekeeping Manager. Together, they shape every touchpoint with an ethos of empathy and thoughtful service. Renee oversees arrivals, room readiness, and subtle safety cues so solo women feel ‘seen without being overseen.’ Close to the lived guest experience, she helps solo women feel confidence, trust, and calm, translating design into dependable autonomy throughout the stay. More to come on her leadership separately for Women’s History Month.
Photo Courtesy of Hotel Belmar
Hotel Belmar: Regeneration, creativity, and nature led confidence (Monteverde, Costa Rica)
Set in Monteverde’s cloud forest, Hotel Belmar makes traveling solo feel hands on, restorative, and connected to place rather than passive. Women traveling alone can join forest bathing walks in the property’s reserve, take artist led workshops through the hotel’s Artist Residency, and engage with sustainability at Finca Madre Tierra, hotel’s bio sustainable farm. From bio intensive beds to garden to glass mixology, environmental values become lived skills rather than abstractions. Many solo women note the staff culture. There is a clear understanding of what it means to travel alone, expressed through respect, kindness, and quiet attentiveness that allows guests to feel comfortable without being monitored. Support is present but never intrusive, so autonomy is preserved and confidence can settle in naturally. Guest rooms with warm woods and private terraces encourage daily wind down rituals such as journaling, breathwork, tea, and twilight stillness, practices that travel easily and become part of a personal rhythm. Travel becomes not just an escape, but a toolkit for grounding. Every March, Hotel Belmar embraces Women’s History Month. This is not a seasonal activation but a long-standing tradition that reflects the hotel’s culture. Programming typically includes documentary screenings, self-defense workshops, women’s circles, and spaces for reflection, learning, and collective strength. Over time, this focus has helped shape an environment where women feel welcomed, visible, and supported year-round.
Programming note: Activities are small group or private and paced for reflection. At Savia, the private reserve, forest immersions offer nature-based anchors guided by interpretation and conversation rather than instruction. Cultural moments, including artist residencies, live music, and community led gatherings, appear at thoughtful intervals to invite connection without overwhelm.
Why it stands out: Hotel Belmar builds confidence through participation, creativity, nature-based rituals, and tangible sustainability; it is actively working toward Costa Rica’s Red Sofía certification for women’s safety, aligning internal training and operations with national standards.
Woman to Watch: Vera Zeledón, Co-founder and Executive Advisor, pioneered eco luxury hospitality in Monteverde and shaped Hotel Belmar’s closed loop sustainability model, including Finca Madre Tierra’s regenerative farm and guest facing experiences. Her leadership connects creativity, community, and conservation, demonstrating how responsibility and luxury reinforce each other. More on her leadership to follow for Women’s History Month.
Photo Courtesy of Unsplash
Naya Traveler: Female solo journeys in Indonesia and Uzbekistan
Founded and led by Sofia Mascotena with an all‑women team, Naya Traveler crafts solo itineraries that feel personal, secure, and deeply contextual, pairing 24/7 behind‑the‑scenes support with trusted local field experts so women traveling solo move with confidence. Their philosophy centers on tailor‑made journeys designed from scratch, led by local personalities and specialists, with Naya remaining present throughout the trip for round‑the‑clock assistance. This approach turns logistics into quiet ease. Naya emphasizes individually shaped trips from scratch and 24‑hour assistance throughout each journey. In Indonesia, Naya’s solo‑friendly arc looks beyond the usual loop, revealing the archipelago’s diversity—from Java’s temple landscapes and Bali’s creative enclaves to Lombok’s calm beaches, Komodo’s snorkeling corridors, and slow time in rural villages—balanced with boutique stays and intuitive routing so travelers can explore at their own pace. In Uzbekistan, their curated arc cut traces the living Silk Road through Samarkand’s minarets and madrasas, Bukhara’s labyrinthine bazaars, and fortified Khiva, pairing artisan encounters and market meals with time to absorb the region’s layered past in safety and calm. Across each route, thoughtful design makes transformational travel feel both safe and deeply enriching.
Programming note: Naya’s women‑led, safety‑first design extends across a wider map—Portugal, Morocco, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Mexico, and more—using art‑, food‑, and craft‑led frameworks that center hosts, context, and community benefit. Journeys are designed by experts with deep first‑hand knowledge and an extensive on‑the‑ground network, ensuring seamless planning and support before, during, and after the trip.
Why it stands out: An all‑women leadership lens, 24/7 support, and trip curation make ambitious solo itineraries feel ethical, immersive, and logistically easy, with local experts creating space for authentic connection rather than performance.
Woman to Watch: Sofia Mascotena, Founder and CEO, leads an all‑women team designing safety‑first journeys where transformation feels personal and ethical. Her itineraries in Indonesia, Uzbekistan, and beyond center local hosts and context, while team members Jennifer McClymont, María Recondo, and Paula Espinoza tailor rhythm and creative access so independent journeys feel informed, grounded, and secure. More to come on their leadership separately for Women’s History Month.
Photo Courtesy of New Material Research Laboratory
Imperial Hotel, Kyoto: Heritage reimagined for unhurried, independent immersion (Japan)
Opening on March 5, 2026, inside Gion’s restored Yasaka Kaikan, the 55-room Imperial Hotel, Kyoto blends preserved architectural detail with a contemporary rhythm, creating a sanctuary for solo women who value cultural depth, spatial clarity, and unhurried immersion. Set within one of Kyoto’s most storied districts, the hotel’s scale and walkability make orientation simple, and membership in The Leading Hotels of the World signals consistent standards and attentive service. Mornings can begin before dawn at a nearby shrine or with a private moment inside a Gion ochaya arranged through the hotel. Guests may explore techniques behind Gosho-ningyo doll painting at an artisan atelier, then return to afternoon tea as lanterns flicker across narrow lanes. Public spaces are designed for stillness rather than spectacle, inviting guests to pause without performance. Guest rooms balance minimal lines with warm materiality and gentle lighting, turning the aesthetics of calm into a daily ritual. In the evening, the Old Imperial Bar’s Kyoto originals and cocktails serve as an endnote that honors the pace of the day, reinforcing an atmosphere of unhurried independence.
Programming note: The team arranges bespoke cultural experiences from ochaya etiquette to calligraphy and artisan encounters, timed to avoid peak periods so women traveling solo engage on their own terms while feeling supported but not supervised.
Why it stands out: The Imperial Hotel, Kyoto offers deep cultural access paired with sanctuary grade design, thoughtful pacing, and anticipatory service that makes solo exploration feel effortless and safe. The hotel’s intimate scale and neighborhood immersion allow solo travelers to navigate independently while knowing a culturally fluent team is in the background when needed.
Woman to Watch: Reiko Sakata, General Manager, brings 24 years of experience with Imperial Hotel to the Kyoto opening, leading with a people‑centered ethos shaped by the city’s traditions of hospitality and restraint. She champions discreet, anticipatory service that supports autonomy while smoothing cultural immersion for women traveling alone, a modern expression of omotenashi attuned to guests who prefer independence with thoughtful backup. Close to the lived guest experience, she helps solo women feel grounded, confident, and at ease as they navigate Kyoto on their own terms. More to come on her leadership separately for Women’s History Month.