The all-girl getaway tends to be something confined to our late teens or early twenties. With age, those exciting girls and bff vacations get replaced by family holidays, couples retreats, and destination weddings. But nothing is quite as fun as getting the ladies in your life together for a week away to solidify your friendship, create memories and live the carefree days of youth. The girls getaway seems to be having a resurgence of late, with more women opting to organise a trip with their besties for some quality time, bonding and shared experiences where they can grow together.
Ideal Locations in Asia for a Girls Getaway
Choosing the right destination for your all-girls holiday is not always straightforward. There needs to be a consensus on where to go and what activities and facilities everyone prioritises. We’ve chosen two destinations that tick all the boxes when it comes to creating the perfect girls holiday – time to relax, options for adventure, discovery of something new and celebrating friendship and wellbeing. Which one is perfect for you and your friends?
Phuket: Ideal for a Sophisticated Girls Holiday
The beauty of Phuket is undisputed and this diverse tropical paradise offers stunning natural and cultural attractions, luxury experiences and plenty of fun. With something for everyone, the Thai island provides a stunning tropical backdrop to explore with your female friends.
Relax in your own Private Villa
When it comes to finding the right accommodation for your girls getaway, proximity to the sea, great views and the option of privacy when you need it are a must. For us, renting a villa is the best option for a trip with the girls, offering privacy, luxury and a homely feel with all the amenities of a hotel just a stone’s throw away. Each villa at The Pavilions Phuket offers contemporary amenities with authentic Thai elements, set in the heart of the resort with sweeping views of surrounding nature. With your own private pool and private garden, you can spend some quality time poolside, or soak up the sun on the terrace. Splurge on a private 4-bedroom pool villa, or cozy up in a spacious 1 bedroom suite, the choice is yours!
A Wave of Wellness Activities
Your trip away should leave you and your girlfriends coming back healthier and happier, which is why Phuket is ideal thanks to its many wellness activities. Experience The Pavilions Phuket’s renowned spa therapies with traditional Thai healing, or therapies like Reiki and other signature massages. You’re sure to find the treatment each of your friends is looking for, from relieving muscular tension to rehydrating your skin from head to toe.
Phuket is also a fantastic destination for yoga giving you and your girlfriends the chance to experience the spiritual side of the island. With a range of practice styles available, from Vinyasa to Hatha, The Pavilions Phuket can arrange a private yoga class each morning in the heart of the resort’s tranquil environment. Quiet your mind and share a relaxing spiritual experience with a morning yoga session.
Thai Cooking Class
Phuket’s local dining scene and food culture are diverse enough to meet anyone’s tastes and no doubt sampling the delicious food on offer will leave you keen to learn how to make it. Taking a Thai cooking class is the perfect opportunity to learn about local ingredients, cooking methods and try your hand at making a few of the most popular dishes. Even better, combined with atrip to the local market, you’ll get an insight into the authentic taste of Thailand, the island’s passion for fresh produce and learn how to infuse Thai flavours into each dish. A cooking class is a great shared experience that you can take with you back home, reuniting with your female friends to create authentic Thai dinners and relive the moments from your trip.
Activities and Excursions
Getting into the local Culture
In the historic Phuket Old Town,you can explore traditional Thai shrines and temples, and 19th-century shophouses. In the evening, experience spectacular shows and performances including traditional Thai dances to get a better idea of the culture and heritage. Held in luxurious venues with the chance to meet the performers backstage, after a day of exploring, a cultural evening excursion makes for the perfect girls’ night.
Island Hopping
Phuket is a gateway to a number of other stunning islands with little to no development, perfect for beach hopping by boat. The Similan national park, a chain of nine uninhabited islands and some of the most pristine in Thailand, offer fantastic coral reefs, warm blue waters and some of the world’s best dive spots. Similarly, the Racha Islands and its horseshoe-shaped bay are great for those seeking great beaches and snorkeling spots.
Nepal: Perfect for Adventurous Friends
Nepal may be a less orthodox destination for an all-girls holiday, but it’s perfect if you want to make your getaway that little bit more intrepid. The roof of the world offers up a wide range of adventures guaranteed to strengthen the bonds of friendship, combined with a friendly, hospitable culture and element of relaxation you and your pals will find hard to leave.
Location, Location, Location
While Kathmandu is an exciting city, it’s also hectic. The maze of streets, sputtering scooters, shouting merchants and the sheer volume of people can make for a little sensory overload. If you and your girls and more interested in discovering the beauty and tranquillity of the Himalayas, head instead to a lushly forested Pokhara valley. The Pavilions Himalayas eco-sensitive luxury boutique resort is situated in this perfect hideaway and features its very own on-site farm, Himalayas salt pool and spa all surrounded by the picturesque mountain range. It’s the perfect place for ladies looking to relax and recharge while having access to all the adventures the mountains have to offer.
Activities and Excursions
Trekking
If you and your girls embrace the active lifestyle, you’re in luck, because Pokhara is the start and ending point for many of Nepal’s treks, including the Annapurna Circuit. There are also many shorter treks across surrounding hills where you can visit villages to experience a slice of traditional life in Nepal. Enjoy panoramic views of the Himalayan mountain range as you and your girls hike through unpaved tracks and sub-tropical forest.
Cooking Class
Nepalese cuisine blends Indian, Chinese, and Tibetan elements to make its own unique and delicious style. At The Pavilions Himalayas, the majority of the cuisine comes from the resort’s onsite organic farm, guaranteeing fresh, local produce that also supports the surrounding community. If you want to try your hand at making local cuisine for yourself, a cooking class is a perfect chance to learn how to make delicious momos – Nepalese dumplings – or even take part in an early morning buffalo or cow milking experience should you and your friends be so inclined.
Local Sights
In the surrounding valley, there’s much to explore and discover, from natural wonders to spiritual temples. A girls’ excursion to Phewa Lake allows you to rent boats and kayaks on the calm crystal waters. There’s also plenty to do around the shoreline with eateries and cultural wonders to behold. With no shortage of spiritual sites to discover, like Bindhyabasini Temple, the centre of religious activity in the old bazaar, you can watch worshipers pay their respects. Or Barahi Temple, the most important religious monument in Pokhara. Dedicated to the protectress deity representing the female force, it’s the perfect place for your group of girls to explore your femininity.
Which destination do you think your close friends would most enjoy visiting? Do you prefer beaches or mountains, relaxing or keeping active?