Latest news with #femaleTravel
CNA
06-07-2025
- CNA
The female founders of these boutique travel companies are changing how Singapore women explore the world
From self-discovery retreats in nature to off-the-grid hikes, boutique stays to botanical art journeys, a new wave of women is redefining the female travel experience – centring it on purpose, impact, and real connection. We hear from the women leading this movement and explore the transformative experiences they offer. SHAN CHINA TOURS: BOUTIQUE JOURNEYS INTO CHINA'S WILD BEAUTY Lianne Ngoi's fascination with Chinese culture dates back to childhood, where she consumed palace dramas, Chinese classics and music. At 12, a trip to Beijing and the Forbidden City left her spellbound, and even as she built a successful career in banking, logistics (as part of Ninja Van's founding team), and crypto, China remained a constant pull. In 2017, while hiking in Sichuan, she summited Mt Aotaina, her first 5,000-metre mountain. 'Back then, people didn't think of China as a hiking destination,' she said. 'But it's as wild and beautiful as Nepal or Patagonia.' She was also captivated by Mount Siguniang (Four Sisters Mountain), where she hiked and ice-climbed against a backdrop of over 50 snow-capped peaks and alpine lakes. Frustrated by cookie-cutter mass market tours, Ngoi began crafting slower journeys for friends and family. In late 2024, she launched Shan China Tours. The personalised tours span both iconic cities and lesser-known regions – from the imperial capital of Beijing, the misty peaks of Zhangjiajie to the calm waters of Guilin, the wild and rugged Sichuan, the relaxed charm of Yunnan, to the lush greenery of Guizhou. Each itinerary is crafted for unhurried discovery: Stylish stays, English-speaking guides and real community interaction. In 2025 alone, she's planning close to 100 journeys, supported by a lean, all-women team of three. Tours average S$2,500 per person, per week. Her tours especially resonate with style-savvy women – around 70 per cent of enquiries come from women, many of whom are planning trips for their partners or families. Looking ahead, Ngoi, 38, wants to dig deep to develop more interesting tours, especially in Yunnan and western Sichuan, along the dramatic Sichuan-Tibet Highway – known for its scenic beauty and challenging terrain. 'I want to show people the most beautiful places in China,' she said. BOTANICAL ART JOURNEY: CREATIVE EXPRESSION IN ASIA'S GARDENS Led by Carrie-Ann Lee, president of the Botanical Art Society (Singapore) and founder of Botanical Art Journey, the art organisation offers intimate workshops across Asia that pair botanical illustration with cultural immersion – drawing a community of mostly female participants. 'When I started Botanical Art Journey, I wanted to create a platform to bring together enthusiasts with those who want to start teaching, but are not quite ready to take on the challenge of organising the whole suite of activities and sourcing venues at the same time,' said the 51-year-old. 'I also wanted to raise the profile of botanical artists in Asia to the greater worldwide community, as well as raise awareness of flora native to this part of the world,' she added. The first official botanical art journey launches in October in Taipei: A week-long masterclass led by Taiwanese artist Annie Chen, combining indoor and outdoor sketching in colour pencil to capture the delicate details and vibrant hues of nature, with visits to the botanical garden and a flower market. In early 2026, two retreats will be hosted in Chiang Mai, Thailand, focused on graphite and watercolour techniques, led respectively by artist Kelly Bassett and plant scientist Dr Sasivimon Swangpol of Mahidol University. Field visits include Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden, Doi Inthanon National Park, and the city's annual flower festival. Future field trips are planned for Sabah and West Malaysia, where the rich flora will provide further inspiration and botanical learning. FEELS LIKE OM: LIVE LIKE A LOCAL IN SIKKIM, INDIA In the misty foothills of the Sikkim Himalayas, guests with Feels Like Om don't just visit – they are welcomed as family. Through community-led experiences, guests slip into the rhythm of local life: Foraging for vegetables, churning butter, chopping firewood and sharing Sikkimese home-cooked meals. It's a slower way of living that invites rest, reflection and reconnection with nature. Founder Lim Zi Hui's path to this work began with a university service-learning trip to Sikkim in 2015. The serene Indian state – bordered by Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan – left a deep imprint on her. 'Their reverence for nature and the interconnectedness of everything stayed with me,' she said. 'Growing up in Singapore, we're so used to fulfilling an agenda. But in Sikkim, people just wanted to be our friend.' The 29-year-old recalls rituals where locals tossed rice to the earth in gratitude or sought nature's permission before ceremonies. Over nine years and seven return visits, she learned the local language and forged deep ties with guides and homestay families. With a background in education, Lim spent years helping students explore their life purpose, before finding her own. In 2022, after her grandparents' passing, a five-day solo trek in the Sikkim Himalayas brought clarity: Dedicate her life to honouring this land and the community that shaped her. In June 2025, she formally registered Feels Like Om as an experiences it is not a travel agency in the traditional sense, Lim works closely with local partners to design and host small-scale, community-based experiences steeped in nature and culture. One signature experience is the 11-day Feels Like Home journey in Yuksom, co-created with Elan, her first friend there. Anchored at his family's cosy homestay, Ejam Residency, the experience is about living in rhythm with the land, like connecting with nature through mindful treks and gaining clarity about what life truly means. Contributions from her experiences directly support local community projects, including sanitary pad distribution, flood relief, toilet construction and upcoming efforts in education and tree planting. GOING SLOW ADVENTURES: STILLNESS AND SELF-DISCOVERY Over six days in January 2026, a small group of guests will unplug from their digital lives and reconnect with nature, community and themselves. The overseas retreat is co-led by two Singapore-based facilitators: Jane Tor, 33, co-founder of the human design academy Let Me Be SG, and Omsira Barry, a soul consciousness guide. Under Let Me Be SG's new retreat business Going Slow Adventures, Tor collaborates with local partners to offer curated retreats and healing experiences that blend personal transformation with deep rest in nature. In an ancient mossy forest, then later in the cooling tea hills of Cameron Highlands in Malaysia, there's 'no phone signal, no rush, and no rigid agenda, only space to breathe', says Tor. Days centre around kundalini yoga, sun-gazing, forest bathing, barefoot waterfall walks, rebirthing ceremonies, guided vision boarding and communal healing circles, which nurture a return to childlike wonder. The food is as intentional as the programming: Organic, vegetarian and grown at Terra Tree House in the Malaysian highlands, using biodynamic methods. For Tor, the retreats are rooted in personal transformation. Following a divorce, she turned inward, devoting herself to the work of self-discovery and energetic awareness. 'When I finally gave myself permission to be, everything changed,' she says. Through Let Me Be SG, she now helps other women navigate their own return to authenticity. CANVAS TRAILS: BOUTIQUE ADVENTURES IN THE WORLD'S WILD PLACES Canvas Trails founder Seet Ming Juan curates experiences in some of the world's most visually stunning and remote destinations – Xinjiang and Yunnan in China; Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia; and Pakistan. In these expansive landscapes, travellers traverse ancient Silk Road cities, ride horses through grasslands and connect with locals whose lives are deeply rooted in the land. Confronted by the vastness of nature, city dwellers learn to slow down, reconnect and explore. Photography is a key offering, where Seet, 39, partners with local tour operators whose driver-guides double as photographers and drone pilots, capturing stunning visuals. In some places like Yunnan, she arranges makeup and photo shoots in traditional ethnic wear. Her clients – mostly women in their late twenties to forties – are willing to pay a premium for boutique stays and quality photography. In April, Seet hosted her first all-women's trip to Pakistan during apricot blossomseason, where travellers soaked up the vibrant blooms. Operating solo, she runs tours averaging S$2,500 per person. Before founding Canvas Trails in late 2024, Seet worked in commercial real estate and data centres – 'a fast-paced world of deals and numbers'. Like many busy professionals, she didn't have time to plan her own trips, but longed for holidays that were adventurous, immersive, and comfortable. After taking a few local tours, she saw a gap in the market for such experiences. It's also a way for her to share her love for hiking. While many focus on reaching the summit, Seet is more drawn to the journey itself, tackling one major hike each year. Through Canvas Trails, she also offers hiking training in Singapore, Taiwan and China, creating a community where women can train, grow, and explore together. For Seet, being in nature is infinitely rewarding. 'In the face of snow-capped mountains and rolling grasslands – which we don't have in Singapore – we're reminded of how small we are, just fleeting visitors on this vast land. It puts our problems into perspective, and our hearts just open up in nature.'
The Independent
12-06-2025
- The Independent
Solo female traveler reveals why Mexico is great for visiting alone (though there is a city she won't return to)
There's no denying that Mexico has a crime problem — its murder rate is three times higher than America's, for example. But one travel expert says that it's a bucket-list-worthy country for female travelers regardless, whether they're alone or with companions. Sam Saenz, from Texas, has spent a huge amount of time in Mexico and tells The Independent that she is "fascinated by the country", having had joyously memorable experiences there with friends and on solo adventures in places that include Mexico City, the resort town of Puerto Vallarta and the Teotihuacan ruins. However, the 38-year-old, who runs travel blog eatwelladventureoften, admits that solo women vacationers do need "street smarts" to stay out of trouble and admits there is one place she'll never return to. The content creator explains: "Mexico can be a dangerous vacation destination for solo female travelers if they do not have street smarts or if they act like the stereotypical obnoxious tourist. "There are some parts of Mexico, like any country, that aren't safe for solo female traveling. For example, there are parts of Miami I would not go by myself and I lived there for four years." Sam takes precautions such as sharing her Google location and trip details with multiple friends and family and staying in hotels rather than Airbnbs. She explains: "With hotels there's an added layer of security. There's often only one entry point, unlike an Airbnb, which can have multiple. There are also lots of people around, so if you need help there are people to ask. If something goes wrong, the hotel staff are more likely to find out faster than if you're staying at an Airbnb, isolated. "Also, you can get local recommendations from the hotel staff. I also think hotels are cheaper now than Airbnbs, so that is another benefit." Sam's first international solo trip was to Cabo San Lucas, a resort city on the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California peninsula. And this 2016 vacation was a huge confidence booster. Sam tells The Independent: "I was kind of lonely on this trip. I also didn't feel as comfortable as I do now, being a more seasoned traveler. "So the first day I didn't explore the town as I was intimidated to be out alone in Mexico. "However, I ended up making friends with another woman who was solo traveling and we explored the next day together, so that was fun and memorable, just because I feel like you can make fast friends solo traveling." Sam had a similarly happy experience on a cruise. She said: "I also had people kind of adopt me on a cruise from Florida to California back in 2023. "I got adopted by a group and it was awesome, because I could have as much or as little solo interaction as I wanted. "If I wanted to, I could hang at the pool all day by myself then have dinner with the group. "I ended up staying at a condo in Puerto Vallarta, a resort town on Mexico's Pacific coast, that belonged to a couple in the group. So, I think you are more likely to make connections when you are solo traveling." Asked to name her favorite spots in Mexico and Sam is quick to sing the praises of Mexico City. She says: "I'm always down to return to Mexico City. I love the vibe of the city. The food is incredible, the people-watching is incredible, the art and culture is great. I mean, there are something like 150 museums and art galleries. "In 2016, I went on a Bumble date and on the date, we booked flights to Mexico City for literally six hours later and spent an entire weekend there exploring. It was definitely one of the greatest memories of my life. So romantic and exciting. I wrote a book based on this adventure and I am hoping to publish it in the next year. "When I went, everyone asked me why I was going there and told me it was dangerous — and now several people on my social media have since made the trip after seeing my experiences and pictures." Other Mexico highlights for Sam include experiencing the Unesco-listed Teotihuacan ruins, which she describes as "mindblowing"; being "two pina coladas deep on Isla Mujeres on a rope swing over the water and feeling so happy and free"; going across the "amazing" Jorullo suspension bridge in an all-terrain vehicle; and visiting the aforementioned Puerto Vallarta, which she describes as "extremely solo-traveler friendly". She adds: "I wouldn't be quick to tell people in Puerto Vallarta you're alone, but I went all over the city and took tours and felt very safe. People are also very welcoming there, so I think it helps." One place she isn't keen to return to, however, is the city of Oaxaca [wuh haa kuh]. Sam explains: "I don't think I would go to Oaxaca as a solo female traveler. I went with my business partner who was female and we just didn't feel that welcome in the city. "I didn't feel unsafe, but I definitely didn't feel welcome and I hate to say that. I think Oaxaca has an incredible food scene and unique culture." For anyone who is hovering over the "book" button for a solo trip to Mexico but is feeling nervous about going, Sam says: "If you've done your research, then FIBI. That's short for 'f*** it, book it'. Usually, taking the first step by booking your trip helps everything else come together, and the fear becomes excitement. "Just don't forget the seaweed. Many people don't know about sargassum [a brown tropical seaweed] and how it affects different regions of Mexico at different levels of intensity until after they get to their destination." For those who are particularly jittery, Sam recommends a cruise. She remarks: "I think a cruise is good for those looking to ease into solo travel and/or see different parts of Mexico — and it's a good way to experience Mexico safely."
