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Perillo Tours is expanding its Italy portfolio with the launch of two women-only escorted itineraries for 2027, signaling the company’s entry into one of the fastest-growing niches in guided travel.
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New small-group focus on women travelers
Publicly available information shows that Perillo Tours will debut two dedicated women-only trips in Italy for the 2027 season, both structured as nine-day escorted journeys. The move positions the long-established Italy specialist in the increasingly competitive arena of curated group experiences designed specifically for female travelers.
According to recent trade coverage, the new departures will be capped at about 20 guests and led by female tour directors, with an emphasis on creating a relaxed environment for women traveling solo or with friends. The itineraries are being added alongside Perillo’s broader escorted program and are marketed as part of its small-group collection rather than as stand-alone products.
The launch follows several years in which Perillo and other operators have reported a rising share of women booking independently, often without a partner or family group. Industry reports indicate that this has encouraged tour brands to develop itineraries that blend the structure and safety of an escorted trip with programming and pacing tailored to women’s interests.
Women in Sorrento: coastal Italy through a female lens
Details published on Perillo’s Italy program pages describe one of the new departures as a “Women in Sorrento” itinerary, centered on the Amalfi Coast and the Gulf of Naples. Guests are based for seven nights in a cliffside property overlooking the sea, using Sorrento as a hub for excursions by boat and coach.
The route includes visits to Capri, Positano, Amalfi and Pompeii, combining classic sightseeing with experiences such as lemon grove visits, wine tastings and mozzarella-making demonstrations. The program is promoted as a balance of relaxation and exploration, with free time built into most days for shopping, café-hopping or independent walks along Sorrento’s waterfront.
Marketing descriptions highlight a focus on convivial social experiences, from shared meals to small-group activities structured to encourage conversation. The design reflects a broader trend in women-only travel toward itineraries that emphasize connection and community as much as destination checklists, giving solo participants a ready-made group while leaving space for individual downtime.
Women in Umbria: culture, cuisine and countryside
The second new trip, “Women in Umbria,” shifts the focus inland to central Italy’s hill towns and rural landscapes. Perillo’s tour descriptions outline a journey through Umbria and neighboring Tuscany, with an emphasis on food, wine and artisan culture in smaller cities and villages.
According to the published itinerary overview, activities include truffle hunting in the Umbrian countryside, olive oil and wine tastings, and guided visits to medieval hill towns known for crafts and local markets. Time in Florence introduces participants to Renaissance art and architecture, rounding out a route that mixes rural experiences with one of Italy’s most visited cultural centers.
The trip is described as being designed “exclusively for women,” with small-group dynamics intended to create a welcoming setting for first-time solo travelers as well as friends traveling together. The itinerary echoes elements long present in Perillo’s custom women-only vacations, such as cooking classes and encounters with local artisans, but packages them into an escorted, fixed-date format for 2027.
Part of a wider boom in women-only group travel
Perillo’s decision to introduce women-only Italy departures comes as major tour operators and smaller specialists alike expand offerings for this segment. Other brands have recently unveiled women-only versions of existing European itineraries, including routes in Italy, often citing sustained interest from solo female travelers seeking structured group environments.
Industry analyses point to several factors behind the growth. Organized group tours can address common concerns about logistics, language and safety, particularly in destinations where travelers may feel more comfortable with guided support. At the same time, niche departures allow companies to tailor programming, restaurant choices and pacing to likely preferences of women traveling without family groups.
Within Italy, a number of boutique providers have also introduced women-only small-group trips that emphasize immersive culinary experiences, support of women-owned businesses and slower, place-based travel. Perillo’s new trips enter this space with the backing of a large operator known for long-running escorted tours, potentially bringing the concept to a broader audience of North American travelers familiar with its brand.
Competitive positioning in Italy’s escorted tour market
Perillo has built its reputation on escorted Italy holidays over several decades, and the addition of women-only departures appears to be an evolution of that model rather than a pivot. The new itineraries sit alongside more traditional mixed-gender tours, including broader Italy circuits and regional programs in southern and northern Italy.
By capping group size and situating the new products in its small-group collection, Perillo is aligning with a shift across the escorted sector toward more intimate departures and specialized themes. Published price points place the women-only trips in the mid to upper range of mainstream escorted Italy programs, reflecting their limited capacity and experience-driven inclusions.
For travel advisors, the women-only itineraries provide an additional option for first-time solo clients who might be hesitant about joining a larger mixed group, as well as for existing Perillo guests who want to return to Italy in a different format. As booking windows for 2027 open, the performance of these departures is likely to be watched closely as an indicator of how far demand for women-only travel has moved from a niche into a core product line for major tour operators.