Featured image: New cultural tours promote connection and understanding | Photo by jorgeliz via Envato

Tours are designed and led by women of Syrian, Ukrainian, Saudi Arabian, Indian and Iberian heritage

Women in Travel CIC has launched new walking tours in London and Edinburgh that explore the world through the lens of women, showing that connection, understanding and celebration start right on our doorstep. These unique, story-rich experiences are part of Women in Travel CIC’s Tour Guiding Academy, made possible with support from the TUI Care Foundation and Google. Each guide is a graduate of the programme, which provides mentoring and training. Many of these women have faced barriers to work or community connection. 

“These tours go far beyond sightseeing, they’re a way to spark dialogue, break down barriers, and bring people together through shared stories and lived experience,” says Alessandra LoTufo Alonso, Managing Director, Women in Travel CIC, an award-winning social enterprise dedicated to fostering gender inclusion in the travel, tourism and hospitality industry. “We believe that when women lead, they not only guide us through cities, they guide us toward greater understanding.”

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Seven tours led by women storytellers

The new tours are in addition to others that highlight Indian and Ethiopian culture, as well as a history of how the WW2 shaped the East End of London. All tours range from £58–£87 per person and run for 2 to 3 hours.

1. Saudi Cultural Experience in London: Traditional Hospitality & Belly Dancing

Led by Amal Ahmed, this tour is three hours and starts at £87 per person. This vibrant experience begins with Saudi Arabian hospitality, Arabic coffee and traditional dishes shared in a local café, where Amal shares stories of gender, customs and change within Saudi society. The tour then winds through perfumeries on Oxford Street, where you’ll learn about the ritual of burning Bukhur and the allure of Arabian musk. Hear the untold stories of Saudi female musicians in a musical instrument shop and feel the power of expression through an introduction to belly dance. A beautiful blend of storytelling, scent, sound and movement.

2. Exploring Syrian Heritage in London: Stories of Art, Food & Tradition

Led by Nadia Aburdene, this tour lasts 3 hours and starts at £77 per person. Step into the beauty and culture of Damascus through Nadia’s eyes. Raised in London but deeply connected to her Syrian-Palestinian roots, Nadia begins her tour at the stunning Arab Hall in Leighton House. Along the way, you’ll learn how to make manoushe, a beloved Middle Eastern flatbread, and explore the culinary staples of Syria, from za’atar to Aleppo soap. The experience ends at a traditional Syrian ice cream parlour, where guests witness the unique preparation of booza, a stretchy treat dating back centuries.

3. Bridges Across Borders in Edinburgh: Tracing Ukrainian Roots

Led by Nataliya Bezborodova, this tour is 2 hours and starts at £57 per person. This heartfelt walk tells stories of displacement, resilience and cultural pride. Nataliya, a Ukrainian refugee and passionate storyteller, leads a route through iconic Edinburgh sites linked to Ukraine, from the National Galleries to the Holodomor Memorial and the Ukrainian Community Centre founded in 1947. The tour is a powerful mix of history and lived experience, finishing with a feast blending Ukrainian and Scottish flavours in a local café.

4. Iberian Footprints in London: Queens, Wine & Waterways

Led by Florbela Trindade, this tour lasts 3 hours and starts at £77 per person.  Walk the banks of the Thames through the lens of Iberian heritage. Florbela shares stories of queens, refugees, and explorers from Spain and Portugal who helped shape London’s past. Visit historic docks, churches and landmarks, learn how a Portuguese princess popularised tea in England, and finish with a glass of port or sherry in a riverside pub. It’s history, heritage and hospitality in one unforgettable experience.

5. Immersive Indian Community Tour in North London

Led by Vaishali Patel, this tour lasts three hours and starts at £65 per person. Be whisked away to the vibrant streets of India, right here in London! Join guide Vaishali, a proud member of the Women in Travel social enterprise, and venture along the enchanting Ealing Road, where you’ll uncover the rich tapestry of flavours, cultures, clothing and traditions that define India.

Christine Winebrenner Irick, Host, Soul of Travel Podcast, joined Patel for her tour in June.  “I enjoyed feeling as if I continent-hopped to be immersed in Indian culture,” she says. “Vaishali welcomed us warmly, excited to share about the tour she created as a part of the Women in Travel, CIC Tour Guiding Academy.  We began with a tour of a majestic Hindu temple where she shared about the many gods represented.  I had the opportunity to try on a beautiful saree while Vaishali shared with our women-only group about the different fabrics available in a local fabric shop. As we wandered the brightly coloured streets, we tasted traditional foods and sweets. We ended our tour with the most delicious meal of Indian food I’ve experienced.  Vaishali shared the typical regional street foods that you might not commonly find when dining at an Indian restaurant.  I left the tour with a greater understanding of the regional culture and a personal  connection with my host and other guests.” 

Listen to Christine’s interview with Vaishali on the Soul of Travel Podcast here.

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6. Ethiopian Flavours in Shepherd’s Bush with Coffee Ceremony

Led by Sefanit, this tour lasts three hours and starts at £84 per person. Be whisked away to Ethiopia without leaving London! Join Sefanit, a warm and welcoming Ethiopian woman, as she guides you through Shepherd’s Bush Market to discover the rich flavours, vibrant cultures and cherished traditions of her homeland. Finish your adventure with an authentic Ethiopian coffee ceremony and tasty snacks.

7. Canning Town – From Surviving to Thriving with Halimot

Led by Halimot, this tour lasts three hours and starts at £18 per person, and is not recommended for those under 15.  Halimot’s walking tour of Canning Town, East London presents an array of stories about the industries that shaped this area when the Royal Victoria Dock was established, how it shaped the area’s character over time, the impact of the Second World War, and hear how Newham was home to many important Suffragettes.

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