Black travel groups are not new, but over the past decade, we have seen an explosion of Black-owned companies taking travelers around the world. From group trips to Ghana and South Africa to yacht weeks, European getaways, Caribbean cruises, and luxury escapes, Black travelers now have more options than ever to see the world together.
For years, many traditional escorted tours, cruises, and group travel experiences were not really marketed with Black travelers in mind. The destinations may have appealed to us, but the itineraries, entertainment, and overall experience did not always reflect how we wanted to travel. And while people of every background enjoy meeting new people, there is something special about traveling with people who share parts of your culture, understand the vibe, and may even have some of the same experiences you do.
Independent Black tour operators have helped change the way Black Americans travel by creating their own itineraries and building experiences specifically for our community. These companies are not simply placing Black travelers on somebody else’s tour. They are organizing trips around the destinations, activities, music, food, culture, and social experiences their travelers actually want.
In this guide, we are highlighting 10 of our favorite Black travel groups and tour operators. We have included information about each company, who founded it, the types of travelers it serves, and where you can learn more about upcoming trips. Whether you are looking for a girls’ getaway, a co-ed group trip, an LGBTQ+ travel experience, a cultural journey, or simply a way to see the world without waiting on your friends, there may be a group here for you.
1. Travel Divas
Founder and CEO: Shanterria Earley
Traveler type: Black women
Best for: Upscale girls’ trips, cruises, milestone celebrations, and mature travelers
Website: thetraveldivas.com
Founded in 2007, Travel Divas is one of the most established names in Black women’s group travel. Shanterria Earley created the company to give Black women sophisticated, community-centered experiences where they could explore the world together without managing every detail themselves.
The company hosts domestic and international trips ranging from cruises and Caribbean escapes to journeys across Africa, Asia, Europe, and even Antarctica. The Travel Divas experience leans upscale, celebratory, and social. Travelers can expect carefully planned itineraries, stylish group events, and plenty of opportunities to dress up and make memories. This is a strong option for women who want the ease of organized travel but still want the trip to feel like a real girls’ getaway instead of a traditional bus tour. Learn more about Travel Divas and its founder.
2. Up in the Air Life
Founder and CEO: Claire Soares
Traveler type: Co-ed Black travelers
Best for: Luxury travel, food and wine experiences, and well-traveled professionals
Website: upintheairlife.com
Claire Soares founded Up in the Air Life to create elevated travel experiences where Black travelers could relax, connect, and feel fully considered. The company is known for combining luxury accommodations with culturally rich itineraries, good food, wine, nightlife, and memorable social experiences.
Up in the Air Life serves co-ed groups and attracts travelers who appreciate a more polished, upscale style of travel. Its trips have taken travelers to destinations across Africa, Europe, Asia, Latin America, and beyond. The company also offers private planning, but its hosted experiences are especially suited to professionals and experienced travelers who want to meet other Black people while seeing the world in comfort. As the company puts it, the goal is to create space for Black travelers to let their guard down and travel with confidence. Read more about Claire Soares and Up in the Air Life.
3. Melanin Globe
Founder and CEO: Romira Young
Traveler type: Co-ed, women, and families, depending on the trip
Best for: Cultural immersion, first-time group travelers, small groups, and family experiences
Website: melaninglobe.com
Founded in 2016, Melanin Globe is a Black-owned cultural group travel company focused on connection, confidence, and community. The company creates domestic and international experiences for travelers who want more than a quick sightseeing trip. Its itineraries are built around cultural appreciation, meaningful activities, and opportunities to connect with both the destination and the people traveling alongside you.
Melanin Globe offers several travel styles, including cultural immersion trips, leisure getaways, women’s experiences, Mommy & Me vacations, weekend trips, and day getaways. That variety makes it one of the more flexible companies on this list. Upcoming experiences span destinations in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean, and the Americas. It is a good match for culturally curious travelers who want structure and support without feeling like they are being rushed from one attraction to the next. Explore Melanin Globe’s group experiences.
4. Luxe Tribes
Founder: Chidi Ashley
Traveler type: Co-ed professionals
Best for: Millennials, solo travelers, bucket-list destinations, and stylish group trips
Website: luxetribes.com
Luxe Tribes is a full-service travel company and community founded by Chidi Ashley. The brand grew from a familiar problem: wanting to travel but not always having friends who were ready, available, or willing to commit. Its group trips bring working professionals together in bucket-list destinations, making it easier for solo travelers to join a crew without having to organize one themselves.
The company’s itineraries blend cultural experiences, adventure, relaxation, and luxury. Luxe Tribes also offers flexible payment plans and private customized trips, but its hosted meetups are the heart of its travel community. The overall energy is social, youthful, and polished, making it a natural fit for millennial and younger Gen X travelers who want to meet new people and still travel in style. The company also says that part of each trip supports community initiatives in the destinations it visits. Read more about Luxe Tribes.
5. Black & Abroad
Founders: Kent Johnson and Eric Martin
Traveler type: Co-ed Black travelers
Best for: Culturally conscious luxury, adventure, and travelers interested in the global Black experience
Website: blackandabroad.com
Founded in 2015 by Kent Johnson and Eric Martin, Black & Abroad is a travel and lifestyle company created to redefine international travel for modern Black travelers. The company operates at the intersection of travel, culture, and storytelling, offering curated trips while also producing content and tools that center the Black travel experience.
Black & Abroad’s journeys are designed for co-ed groups and typically combine cultural awareness, adventure, and elevated accommodations. What makes the company stand out is its focus on the broader African diaspora and the cultural stories connecting Black people across destinations. This is not simply about taking a group picture in a beautiful location. The goal is to create travel experiences that feel relevant to who we are and how we move through the world. Learn more about Black & Abroad’s story and its current travel experiences.
6. African American Travelers
Founder and CEO: Lawrence McLean
Traveler type: Co-ed Black travelers
Best for: Africa, major international itineraries, cultural experiences, and repeat group travelers
Website: africanamericantravelers.com
Lawrence McLean developed African American Travelers in 2012 after repeatedly dealing with friends backing out of travel plans or not sharing his interest in destinations beyond the Caribbean. He first created African American Travelers of Philadelphia and later added a New York chapter. What started as a local community grew into an international group travel company that has taken thousands of travelers around the world.
African American Travelers offers co-ed trips across Africa, Asia, Europe, South America, and the Caribbean. The company is especially well known for its African itineraries and annual holiday experiences, including trips tied to Ghana’s Detty December season. Its scheduled journeys often combine historic sites, cultural activities, nightlife, group dinners, and destination highlights. This is a good option for travelers who want an active itinerary, a strong social atmosphere, and a company with years of experience moving sizable groups internationally. View African American Travelers’ upcoming trips.
7. Green Book Vacations
Founder and owner: Teneka Hughey
Traveler type: Co-ed, women, couples, and adults, depending on the trip
Best for: Caribbean getaways, women’s trips, cruises, and culturally connected group travel
Website: greenbookvacations.com
Green Book Vacations was founded by Teneka Hughey, a travel professional with more than 20 years of industry experience. The company’s name is inspired by the historic Negro Travelers’ Green Book, and Teneka has a personal family connection to the Harriett Cornwell Tourist Home in Columbia, South Carolina, which once welcomed Black travelers during segregation.
Today, Green Book Vacations organizes group departures alongside customized vacations and other travel-planning services. Its scheduled trips include Caribbean getaways, women’s adventures, cruises, and longer international experiences. Current offerings have included Antigua, Dubai, Costa Rica, Tanzania, and Greece. The company serves different traveler types depending on the departure, so readers should review the description for each individual trip. This is a strong choice for travelers who appreciate organized itineraries, cultural togetherness, and the personal feel of a Black-owned travel agency. Browse Green Book Vacations group trips.
8. Haitian Nomad
Founder: Richard Cantave
Traveler type: Co-ed travelers
Best for: Premium small groups, cultural immersion, diaspora travel, and less-common destinations
Website: haitiannomad.com
Founded by Haitian-born world traveler Richard Cantave, Haitian Nomad is a premium group travel company offering culturally immersive journeys around the world. The company’s story began when Richard suggested that friends hold a Haitian food-themed gathering at his home in Haiti. That idea unexpectedly turned into a trip for dozens of people and eventually grew into a full travel business.
Haitian Nomad brings together co-ed groups of curious travelers who value meaningful connections, quality accommodations, and authentic local experiences. Although Haiti remains central to the company’s identity, its trips extend far beyond the Caribbean, with journeys across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and other parts of the world. It is particularly appealing to travelers who want to explore culture and history without giving up comfort. The itineraries often reach destinations and experiences that may not appear on the standard Black group-trip circuit. Learn more about Haitian Nomad.
9. Busy Mom Playdates
Founder and CEO: Michelle Rose
Traveler type type: Moms of Color
Best for: Momcations, self-care, wellness, sisterhood, and select mother-and-child trips
Website: busymomplaydates.com
Michelle Rose launched Busy Mom Playdates in 2021 to create a space where Moms of Color could step away from the many roles they carry, prioritize themselves without guilt, and reconnect with who they are beyond motherhood. With more than 12 years of experience in event and travel management, Michelle has grown the company into a global lifestyle and travel community centered on self-care, wellness, friendship, and cultural exploration.
Its signature “Momcations” give mothers the opportunity to travel with women who understand the balancing act without turning the vacation into another responsibility. The company offers international experiences in destinations such as Bali, Japan, Zanzibar, South Africa, Ghana, Brazil, and Thailand. While most departures are adults-only breaks for moms, Busy Mom Playdates also offers select Mom & Me experiences for mothers and their children. For busy moms who need rest, fun, and real community, this group provides something the broader Black travel market often overlooks.
10. Salty Travels
Founder and CEO: Jay Flynn
Traveler type: Black and brown gay and queer men
Best for: LGBTQ+ travelers, nightlife, beaches, culture, and making new friends
Website: saltytravels.co
Salty Travels fills a space that has often been overlooked in both mainstream travel and the larger Black travel movement. Founded by Jay Flynn, the company creates international group experiences specifically for Black and brown men in the LGBTQ+ community.
Trips are designed around culture, food, nightlife, beaches, and connection, while still giving travelers enough freedom to relax or explore on their own. Jay created the company after realizing that travel helped him build genuine friendships outside the sometimes-cliquish social scenes he had experienced at home. That idea became the foundation of Salty Travels: bring queer men of color together in a new environment and let the shared experience create community. Destinations have included Brazil, Bali, Cape Town, Cartagena, Curaçao, and other international favorites. For Black gay men who want to see the world with people who understand both parts of that identity, Salty Travels offers something genuinely different. Read more about Salty Travels.
How to Choose the Right Black Travel Group
All Black travel groups are not the same, and the prettiest Instagram photos should not be the only thing helping you make a decision. Some companies cater primarily to women, some are co-ed, and others serve a specific age group, identity, budget, or travel style. Before paying a deposit, consider:
- Who the trip is designed for and whether that matches the experience you want
- What is included and, just as importantly, what is not included
- Whether airfare must be purchased separately
- The deposit, payment schedule, cancellation terms, and refund policy
- Roommate-matching rules and what happens if a match is unavailable
- How much free time is included in the itinerary
- Whether a company representative or host will travel with the group
- The company’s recent reviews and how it has handled past problems
- Whether travel insurance covers the risks that matter for your specific trip
Final Thoughts
Black travel groups have made the world feel more accessible to travelers who may not want to go alone or who simply want an experience created with them in mind. These companies are giving us more ways to explore our history, enjoy luxury, meet new people, celebrate milestones, and be fully ourselves while seeing the world.
The right group will depend on your personality, budget, destination, and preferred travel style. Take your time, compare the itineraries, read the policies, and choose the company that best matches the kind of trip you actually want. Then get out of the group chat, make the deposit, and go.
