Black Americans spend $40 million on travel…annually. And that number is steadily growing due to the increase in membership in Black travel groups on social media. And while some Black owned travel tour companies have made headlines for some not so savory acts, there are plenty of Black women owned travel tour companies that are available to cater to your travel desires. In honor of Black History Month, here are some tour operators that are Black women owned, each with their own niche, taking the world by storm.
Sisters Traveling Solo- Owned by Cole Banks
Sisters Traveling Solo seeks to take the fear out of solo travel. Specifically for Black women, the group’s goal is to empower women to travel solo and just in general. If Black women want to travel, but their friends or family may not be ready to go, they can join Sisters Traveling Solo for their 20+ trips a year. You’ve got to be a member of the Facebook group or STS membership to join a trip and last year they hosted the first Sisters in Travel Conference. For more information visit SistersTravelingSolo.com.
Bucket List Beasts- Owned by Sonjia “Lioness” Mackey
Looking to have bucket list experiences and adventures when you travel? Then Bucket List Beasts has a trip for you. The group takes on “taboo” (some say) countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran, along with the signature “Mystery Trip” where travelers don’t know where they are going until they get to the airport. Sonjia also hosts a Girls Gone Glamping trip annually. She is known to participate in crazy bucket list items, like wrestling alligators. Check out the piece I did on Sonjia here, and visit her group Bucket List Beasts to join one of her trips.
Up in the Air Life- Owned by Claire Soares
Upscale travel is the name of the game for Up in the Air Life. High-end experiences and hotels are customary when traveling with UITAL to far-flung destinations like Antarctica. And don’t forget the numerous sailing trips like Croatia Yacht Week, and Seychelles and Thailand sailing trips. They offer a wide variety of trip locations every year and you will always get swag. For more information visit UpInTheAirLife.com/trips.
Been There Seen That- Owned by ME, Tyra Hughley Smith, The Traveling Esquire
I had to throw myself in the mix. So if you have followed The Traveling Esquire (formerly BarrisTourista) for more than two seconds, you realize that I have a love of travel…and food. That’s why Been There Seen That was created: to host culinary experiences and foodie group trips the world over and encourage everyone to join us around the table. And we can’t forget wine and adult beverage experiences as well. The signature trip this year is a Tacos & Tastings trip to Baja California in May, along with a foodie/wino trip to Seattle and Vancouver in the fall, with many more locations coming in 2021. For more information visit BeenThereSeenThatTours.com.
Nomadness Travel Tribe- Owned by Evita Turquoise Robinson
Nomadness was the originator in large group Black travel back in 2011. What started with annual trips to Holi Festival in India has now evolved to groups all over the globe. And last year was the second year, the Audacity Festival, Black travel’s first travel festival, has occurred (Oakland, Memphis, this year’s festival is in NYC). This year, travelers will visit the likes of Cape Verde, Banff, and Peru with Tribe. To join the group, visit NomadnessTV.com.
Adventure is a Lifestyle Trips (by Outdoorsy Diva)- Owned by Lauren Gay
The outdoors saved her life, and now she is bringing the outdoors to adventurous travelers. Lauren Gay, owner of the travel blog Outdoorsy Diva, loves hiking, kayaking, and other outdoorsy activities that aren’t typically thought of as extending to people of color. Adventure is a Lifestyle is offering a Mountains and Mimosas weekend mountain getaway where “outdoor adventure meets pampered glam” in the Smokey Mountains later this month. For more information visit LaurenRGay.com.
Check out Outdoorsy Diva’s list of Black Outdoorsy Instagram accounts to follow for inspo!
Kenna L Williams LLC-Owned by Kenna Williams
Ever heard #BookDatIsht? The phrase, coined by Kenna Williams, is the mantra for travelers around the globe. Now an expat in South Africa, Kenna hosts trips all over the world, including her signature Dubai Blackout trip. Her trips are relatively affordable and her focus is on large groups (one Dubai Blackout trip boasted 500 people!). Her trips, like Fiji and Panama, sell out in record time, and they are always an experience. For more information visit KennaLWilliamsLLC.com or her Kennaleo Facebook page.
Roni The Travel Guru- Owned by Roni Faida
Roni has been traveling for over 20 years, is fluent in Spanish and French, is a two-time expat and has been writing about her travels to share with the world via her Roni the Travel Guru blog. She has two happy places: Paris (which she has written a book about) and South Africa. And she is hosting trips to both countries this year. One will be a luxe safari in JoBurg, but both trips will be small, intimate, but posh experiences. For more information visit RoniTheTravelGuru.com/JoBurg.
Fat Girls Traveling- Owned by Annette Richmond
Body positive, yes please! Fat Girls Traveling was created by Annette Richmond of From Annette with love. With an emphasis on body positivity, self love, and creating an inclusive travel community, all of the Fat Girls Traveling trips are sure to be fatastic. The signature trip is Fat Camp, which is not at all what you would think of like a weight loss camp, but is instead “fat-focused” and will include speakers and luxe experiences. For more information visit FromAnnette.com.
Black Women Owned Travel Tour Companies
There you have it. Several Black women owned travel tour companies, each with their own take on and approach to travel, and each taking travelers to experience the world. Go forth, and travel.
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