Intrepid traveller turned entrepreneur, travel writer Sumitra Senapaty turned her passion for globetrotting into an innovative new venture, becoming the founder of India’s first travel club for women. Founded in 2005, Women on Wanderlust (WoW) is a travel meet up club which hosts over 75 tours a year, connecting a sisterhood of 25 to 65 year old ‘young at heart’ wanderers to adventurous and off the beaten path experiences within India and around the world.

Desi Globetrotter interviews Sumitra to find out more about the WoW experience and how it helps inspire women from India to travel the world and their country, safely and confidently.

Q + A

Can you tell us a little about yourself and how the idea of WoW, or Women on Wanderlust as it’s known, come about?
“I trained in the hospitality industry, but my love for the English Language (and excelling in it during my school and college days) drew me to English print media. Finally, my passion for travel made me into a Travel writer. This gave me the opportunity to globe trot and to get introduced to the best travel products. During my overseas travel I came across small groups of women traveling and having a great time, while back home, the women were lamenting that they could not travel by themselves due to security and social factors. I realized that there was a gap in the market. The rest, as they say is history!”

What is the WoW travel experience like and how is the concept different from other travel groups?
“First and foremost, we are a travel club for like-minded women. That is why, we have a mechanism in place to find women who are metro in outlook and mentally and financially emancipated, with passion for travel. Thus, our groups are homogeneous in more ways than one. They come as strangers and often strike up lasting friendships. We build up plenty of experiences, don’t serve Indian food, use centrally located 4/5 star hotels, and provide almost door step service with plenty of hand holding and detailing. Besides that, we also connect up socially from time to time, with wine and cheese evenings, lunches, and group movies.”

Who makes a WoW traveller and what does a WoW traveller desire? For a traveller like me who embraces independent exploring, but loves the interaction with other travellers, would a WoW tour be suitable for me or more suitable for a new traveller?
“We advocate Group travel because it gives economy of scale (making better things of life affordable), companionship, safety, and finally, we also give some personal time to explore on your own as well. Our travelers like in-depth travel experiences, rather than photo ops that others provide. They are passionate about travel, and knowledgeable. They are homemakers, single women, professionals, and entrepreneurs. As for you, WoW travel will do a one up on the way you like to travel- independence, better quality, smallest details taken care of, and great companions! Many of our travelers are very well traveled, while the first time travelers also feel secure doing it.”

There has been an international media spotlight cast on India lately regarding women’s safety and travelling alone. Many women travellers in the West have a desire to travel to India, but safety is one of their top concerns. Are your tours open to foreigners and NRI’s? What are your personal thoughts on solo travel through India?
“We don’t believe solo travel in India, or anywhere in the world is a better option [than group travel]. Our groups are very often joined by NRI’s and a few foreigners also join us. But frankly, our hands are rather full, and have not really worked to bring in foreigners into the pail. We are sure, that the best way for them to travel in India is in small groups, and with us. We have [brought] some American women groups into India in the past.”

For many women who either travel solo, in groups or travel out of their comfort zone for the first time find the experience liberating, inspiring and especially empowering. The challenge of being away from familiar family and friends back home, talking to a new group of strangers on a tour group or pushing themselves to understand a new culture can give just about any woman a confidence boost. Can travellers find the WoW experience to be similar to this?
“Our groups are exactly that – talking to strangers (fellow travelers,) being away from family and friends, which is inspiring and empowering, and our travel groups are given ample opportunity to experience the local culture – we don’t serve Indian food, [travellers] will surely take in the culture of music and dance of that land, etc. In addition to all of this, we ensure that you don’t suffer the flip side of solo travel – loneliness, high experience of single occupancy, poor hotels because you didn’t know, leaving out something important, or doing something that does not deserve to be done but advised by somebody back home.”

Where have some of your most memorable moments been while travelling?
“South America, Egypt, Ladakh, Gokarna, Africa, Japan-the list is endless.”

What are the future plans for WoW?
“To participate in a social cause related to women. To reach out to more women and allow them the empowerment and freedom that travel gives, to also showcase India to the world in an authentic manner.”

Where can readers find out more about your upcoming tours and booking information?
“Our Facebook page , and our website are very extensive, with all the details that you may require, announcing a choice of more than 20 trips at a time over a span of more than 3 months – giving you chance to plan and prepare, well in advance.”

WoW offers escorted and un-escorted group trips, Mom and child tours, short getaways and DIY options. Escorted trips are accompanied by a WoW buddy, “a woman with zest and zeal, truly passionate about travel.”

To find out more about WoW:
www.wowsumitra.com
www.facebook.com/wowclub
www.twitter.com/wowclub

Photo Credit: WoW Club.