Featured image: Day trips are a great way to learn more about local cultures | Photo by lucigerma on Envato

Day trips recommended by our writers

by JourneyWoman staff

When it comes to learning about history, culture or food, there’s nothing like a day trip to stimulate curiosity and enhance understanding. While Google search and AI provide a wealth of options, most women rely on first-hand recommendations from others, as our well-travelled writers point out.

Some women have their go-to resources like Viator, Get Your Guide and TripAdvisor, while others prefer to seek out day tours directly. While cost is always a factor, many women seek out day tours that are led by women, like these ones from Women in Travel CIC. Other important criteria include tours that don’t involve too much walking, the length of the trip, flexibility and previous experiences.

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Five day trips recommended by our writers

1. Diana Eden, our Women Over 80 writer

Where: Maui, Hawaii in August 2025

2. Karen Gershowitz, Our Women over 70 writer

Where: London, England, in December 2023

Her choice of day trip: Street Art Tour with Tours by Foot in London’s East End

Cost: Free then (but now £39.00). I gave Malcom a £20 tip (about US$25) for the three-hour tour. I’d taken several tours over the years with Tours by Foot, and they’ve been uniformly terrific.

Why she chose it: Expertise. When I became interested in street art, I knew I’d have to take a tour in London’s East End – it is one of the best outdoor “galleries” on the globe. In December 2023, I met up with Malcom, a guide with Tours by Foot, near the Whitechapel Art Gallery.  We set off at a brisk pace and for the next three hours saw an astonishing variety of art by dozens of street artists.

Malcolm was knowledgeable and took the group to off-the-beaten-track locations that none of us would ever have found on our own. He gave great explanations about when, where, and how this art was created.  As in other cities, much of it is illegally painted, often at odd hours of the night. But as the art form becomes more popular, people are offering wall space to known artists.  Malcolm and I chatted as we walked; we each recognized a kindred spirit. He told me that I had to see the street art in Brixton (another London neighbourhood). Next trip.

Book the tour here.

Why she chose it: Flexibility. HVG Travel was open to modifying their one-day trip itinerary to include the wetlands, caves and an overnight stay at a guesthouse in the park on Mac Lake. The standout was the langurs, of course and the haunting call of the gibbons. It was inspiring to see the massive effort that is being funnelled into the Endangered Primate Rescue Centre research and rehabilitation programs. While the HGV Travel trip price was the initial attraction, it was their prompt replies and willingness to revise their set itinerary that made this trip most fulfilling.

Book the tour here.

5. Maureen Littlejohn, our Culinary Travel writer

What she did: Gullah Geechee Culture with Sites and Insights Tours

Where: Charleston, South Carolina

What she did: On a trip to Charleston earlier this year, I had the pleasure of learning about Gullah Geechee culture. It was a three-hour tour led by lively company owner and guide, Al Miller. He loves his job and has been doing it for 38 years. After hopping in his mini-bus, he gave us commentary on many landmarks and drove us to a number of communities. We learned that Gullah Geechee people are descendants of enslaved Africans brought to work on the area’s huge rice plantations.

Al told us about their language, which is a vernacular that mixes English, Creole, Western, and Central African dialects. Plus, he showed us their beautiful basket weaving, spoke about religious practices, and described the cuisine. Not only did he have deep knowledge of the Gullah Geechee culture, but he also had a great voice. In no time, he had us all singing along to “It Ain’t Necessarily So,” from Porgy and Bess. George Gershwin wrote the opera while staying on Folly Island, near Charleston. The story was inspired by local Gullah culture.

Cost: $40 USD

Why she chose it: I chose this tour because the reviews on TripAdvisor were terrific, and I was so glad I did.

Learn more here.

Other day trips recommended by JourneyWoman readers

“I swear by GetYourGuide and Viator for most day trips and on Airbnb experiences for more unique, personalized, smaller group experiences” — Fetchin G.

“I did a great tour in Tokyo with Arigato Tours. We did their evening tour, but their fish market is the most popular. The food stops and information were awesome. What I didn’t like was that the tour guide was an expat, not a true local in the cultural sense, although he had lived there for 20 years. I found that a lot in Japan that the tour guides are often not locals. A lot of it has to do with demand for English-speaking guides.” — Lindsay N.

“Did some fabulous ones in Portugal with Desireable Tours, there’s a wonderful historic pub tour in London that I’ve done twice now (and will go next time as well!).” – Jennifer P.

“For small group tours, I might find the company through 3rd party sites, but after checking reviews, I go to the actual company to book the tour, and I can get direct communication with them to make sure I understand the group size, pickup options, etc. I presume the local tour company/guide gets more money that way as well.” – Debbie P.

“In Iceland for four nights last October, I opted to take a few mini-bus tours outside of Reykjavík. The driver/guide was terrific, and the long days were totally worth it. I booked with Get Your Guide and was pleasantly surprised by the quality. The small group was perfect. About 8-12 each trip. Comfy bus, amazing sights. The bus pick-up point was a three-minute walk from the Alda hotel, where I stayed, which was very quaint. If you are thinking about Iceland, I highly recommend it. Felt completely safe as a solo traveller. Icelandair has free stopovers also and very competitive airfares.” — Chris P.

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“One of my favourite things to do if I’m going to be spending a few days in a city is to find a hop-on/hop-off city bus tour. I will buy a ticket and hop on as early in the day as possible. I won’t hop off immediately, though. I like to stay on for the entire first tour, making note of interesting-looking spots, etc. Then, start on the second go-round, but this time I start the ‘hop on/hop off’ to see and visit those interesting places. I find that, by doing that first overall tour, I have a better idea of what there is and how much time I want to devote to various stops. I’ve done this in many cities, from Canada, Asia, South America, etc.” — Marilyn McG.

“If you want a female-led tour in Jordan, join Amman Food Tours, where a local female guide will give you a glimpse into life in Amman as a woman as you indulge in an evening of local food, drink and restaurants.” — Lindsay N.

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