About Lily Valley Journeys
A small company with a clear purpose — and a founder who has walked in your shoes.
Founder, Lily Valley Journeys
From overwhelmed dreamer to curated journey maker
Like so many of the women she now travels with, Monica spent years dreaming of Europe — the cobblestone streets, the long lunches, the kind of travel that feels less like a vacation and more like coming home to a part of yourself you’d forgotten.
But planning it alone always felt overwhelming. The logistics, the safety concerns, the quiet hesitation of “should I really do this by myself?” — even though the desire never went away.
That’s the gap Lily Valley Journeys was built to fill.
Each journey is small by design — never more than a handful of women — because the real magic happens in the conversations over dinner, the shared laugh on a quiet street, the moment someone says “I’m so glad we did this together.”
Every detail is thought through so you don’t have to think about it. Where to stay, how to get there, what to see, when to simply sit with a coffee and watch the world go by. You arrive, and everything is already taken care of.
Named after the lily of the valley — a flower that symbolizes renewal and the return of joy — this is travel for women who are ready to bloom again, on their own terms.
Why we exist
To make meaningful European travel accessible, joyful, and safe for women 50+ — through beautifully designed small-group journeys where every detail is thoughtfully handled, and every woman feels truly welcome.
Our four guiding principles
Safety First
Every accommodation is personally vetted. Every guide is licensed, fluent in English, and briefed on our group's needs. Emergency contacts are shared before departure. You should feel safe from the moment you book.
Sisterhood
Groups of 8 to 12 women mean you're never lost in a crowd. Friendships that begin over dinner in Vienna or a boat ride in the Douro have a way of lasting a lifetime. Many of our travellers come back — often with a friend they made on the previous trip.
Slow Travel
We spend fewer days doing more ticking. More time in each place — space to wander without a schedule, to return to the café you loved, to simply be. Depth over breadth, always.
Cultural Respect
We travel as guests, not spectators. Local guides, family-owned restaurants, cultural briefings before each visit. We aim to leave every place we visit a little better than we found it.