Sights and Soul Travels is a boutique tour operator specializing in luxury tours and vacations for women, with destinations in Europe, South America, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Antarctica. The small group tours incorporate historical and cultural exploration, outdoor activities, fine dining, wine tastings, spas and luxury hotels, and cultural experiences. The company is based in Germantown, Maryland, in the greater Washington, DC area. Sights and Soul Travels was founded in 2004, and currently has four full-time employees who collaborate with several off-site partners and Tour Directors.

It’s been amazing! We have no other words to describe the past twenty plus years. Even before the idea of a women-only tour company became a reality, we have been dreaming, planning and traveling to countries around the world, gathering ideas and information, making contacts and mental checklists. In 2004, we managed to turn our passion into reality and Sights and Soul Travels, Tours and Vacations for Women was born. 

We started out with great hopes, very little money and no clients, but with lots of determination and a strong belief that there are women out there who will appreciate this approach to travel. The first year was challenging. Many people were puzzled by the idea of women-only travel. We did a lot of explaining. 

Meanwhile, we were slowly laying out the groundwork for what was to become the most trusted women-only tour operator. Soon, the demand exceeded the spaces we had on our tours and we had to resist the temptation to add more tours so that we could maintain the “friends traveling together” quality. But with time, we gathered a dedicated team of devoted travel professionals focused on building bridges between cultures and introducing more women to the wonders of world travel, and we could increase our offer. It is this dream team, who puts together our tours and sets the stage for our tour directors, which allows us to provide awesome experiences to more and more women. We are both very proud and very thankful. Today, Sights and Soul Travels runs over 60 tours a year, we have welcomed more than 10,000 tour guests, many of them several times and we made just as many friends. Our scale might have changed, but our original intention holds true: to share with other women the incredible experience of discovering the world, and to do so with heart and dedication, providing unique journeys and authentic experiences to each and every woman who trusts us with her travel dreams.

All our tours are defined by high style and in-depth cultural exploration, and each is tailor-made to highlight the most captivating aspects of its destination, but also meticulously paced so that we can savor every intriguing stop on our itinerary. Add in our inspiring guides, awesome tour directors, like-minded fellow travelers, truly fine dining, beautiful hotels and access to extraordinary places and special experiences, and you'll get a luxury, yet mind-expanding adventure like no other.

High-quality experiences tend to attract high-quality people. And as we meet many amazing women, we are grateful for and cherish each friendship and each connection we make. We are honored that you trust us with your vacation time and we love getting to know each woman who travels with us. We are thankful to those who share Sights and Soul with others, as we wouldn't be where we are today without your continued support. If you're only starting to get familiar with us, please know that we look forward to hearing from you. We answer each email within a day and answer each phone call in person. We love chatting about travel and helping you with turning your travel plans into reality.

What Others Are Saying about Us

ANDREA RICAURTE, Tour Manager

Areas of expertise: Ecuador, Brazil & Argentina, Costa Rica, Chile, Peru, Morocco, Spain, Eastern Europe (Hungary, Austria, Czechia), The Baltic Countries (Lithuania, Latvia & Estonia), Amalfi Coast, Rome
Favorite destination: Amalfi Coast
Bucket list trips: Greece, Iceland, Italy
What travel means to me: Travel means the ability to bring joy and happy memories for the years to come, and the happiest memories in my life come from the travels I have done. Working at Sights and Soul Travels, we have the opportunity to empower women to travel, encourage them to be adventurous, see new places, make new friends, and try new things. I joined this team to be a part of the process, where we creat travel memories that last a lifetime and curate these fantastic experiences for other women. I find it fascinating to discover the history, culture, and food native to each destination, and it is my never-ending curiosity that keeps me traveling to new places every year.

EMILY WILBERG, Tour Manager

Areas of expertise: England, Ireland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Bali, Turkey
Favorite destination: Nepal
Bucket list trips: River cruise on the Nile, Amazon jungle, Transylvania
What travel means to me: My grandmother, a world traveler, once told me she had never regretted a minute or a dollar she had spent on travel. I have found that travel is a crucial part of education; not only you learn about a new place, but also about yourself! I love planning trips and either remembering about where I've been or daydreaming about where I might go. I joined the Sights and Soul Travels team because I wanted to be involved in assisting women make lifelong memories and friendships, as they see the natural and cultural wonders of our world. It brings me great joy to share my travel experiences and unleash the magic of each destination with our clients and I am forever grateful for enriching the lives of women through travel.

JO ANNE BANKY, Tour Manager

Areas of expertise: Germany, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Holland and Belgium, Croatia, Iceland
Favorite destination: Australia
Bucket list trips: England, Portugal
What travel means to me: I joined Sights and Soul to support women in accessing thoughtfully curated experiences that celebrate the cultural and natural wonders of our planet, providing them with a safe and enriching space to explore, reflect, and connect on a global scale. International travel is a transformative journey that opens us to new perspectives, fosters personal growth, and deepens our understanding of the world. By exploring different countries and immersing ourselves in diverse cultures, we discover the beauty of both shared values and unique traditions, broadening our worldviews while building connections that transcend borders. Each tour that I manage offers invaluable lessons about history, humanity, and ourselves, reminding us that we are lifelong learners in an ever-expanding classroom.

REBECA CHRISTE, Tour Manager
 

Areas of expertise: Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Greece, Switzerland, Scotland, Italy, Tanzania, Brazil

Favorite destination: Greece, Israel

Bucket list trips: Seychelles, Morocco, New Zealand

What travel means to me: To me, travel is far more than just seeing new places; it’s a chance to create meaningful memories with and for people you care about, to grow personally, and to deepen my understanding of the world. Every journey allows us to step away from the routines of daily life, immerse ourselves in different cultures, and gain firsthand insight into history that no book or documentary can fully capture. Whether it’s tasting traditional dishes, wandering through ancient sites, or connecting with locals, travel unlocks experiences that enrich our perspective on both the world and ourselves. Through these moments, we can feel a stronger bond with others and a profound appreciation for the vibrant tapestry of human stories.