More companies catering to solo women travelers

The idea of vacationing solo can be daunting for anyone. It may be particularly intimidating for single women with safety concerns or other worries about being alone in a foreign land.

But that's no excuse to stay at home.

Web sites specializing in women's travel offer a host of opportunities, from luxury travel to rugged outdoor adventures. Most of the sites were founded by women for women, and many seek to create a safe environment that allows women to form bonds of friendship while seeing the world.

Cheryl Fleet began the travel company Canyon Calling after noticing that some women in coed travel groups didn't speak up. Fleet writes on her Web page — www.canyoncalling.com — that women who vacation together in the outdoors "bond quickly and forgive each other's little quirks. ... Many experience a boost in their confidence and a greater sense of self-esteem." Her company's trips range from canyon hikes in Arizona to sea kayaking in New Zealand to dogsledding on glaciers in Iceland.

Seattle-based Adventure Associates offers many trips for women only (plus coed trips), from sea-kayaking in the San Juan Islands to climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and trekking in Peru.

www.adventureassociates.net Outward Bound, a well-known adventure-education organization that leads wilderness trips around the world, offers women-only courses: — www.outwardboundwilderness.org/type/women_only.html

Tango Diva is a resource aimed at women traveling alone. At www.tangodiva.com you'll find answers in advice columns and stories about the exotic travels of other single women.. A trip-planning section offers links to basics such as language lessons, travel insurance, visa advice and security alert information.

Sacred Journeys, www.sacredjourneys.com, is a tour company formed for women looking for a travel experience beyond sightseeing. The company offers a yoga retreat in Bali, pilgrimages to England, and a spa retreat to Mexico.

Adventurous Wench, www.adventurouswench.com , organizes whitewater rafting, jungle wildlife tours — and luxury yacht sailing and trips to the spa, too.

Gordon's Guide, http://womens-travel.gordonsguide.com , lets you search for women's trips by region or by keyword.