Girls just want to have fun — in the wilderness, that is. That’s the idea behind these travel groups for women and nonbinary adventurers. Whether you’re a thrill seeker keen to kayak some rapids or a wellness enthusiast more interested in practicing your yoga poses in the serene outdoors, there’s a female-focused trip or retreat for you.
With the guidance of these adventure tour operators, you’ll learn a new skill, conquer a physical challenge, explore new surroundings, and likely meet some amazing women along the way. So buckle your helmet for a days-long cycling trip or strap into your climbing shoes for a multi-pitch send — here are some travel groups that could be right for you.
Adventures in Good Company
This tour company specializes in small-group expeditions in more than 100 destinations on every continent except Antarctica. Adventures range from climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania to camping on the Sea of Cortez to kayaking in Greenland. Trips are categorized by activity level — one through five — to accommodate women of all abilities. Adventures in Good Company welcomes all women — including trans women — and nonbinary people “who identify with the women’s community.”
To book: adventuresingoodcompany.com
AdventureWomen
Operating since 1982, this trusted female-focused group leads hikes through the Himalayan Mountains, transports travelers to the Galápagos Islands by private yacht, and facilitates multisport adventures in the Canadian Rockies, among some 60 other options. You might opt to go alone and meet new friends or treat your mom to one of its mother-daughter trips, all ranging from moderate to active, high-energy, and challenging.
To book: adventurewomen.com
Balanced Rock
Balanced Rock hosts groups of women in Yosemite National Park. These trips lean less toward the adventurous and more toward the spiritual, “inspir[ing] healing and wellness through yoga, hiking, Ayurveda, creative expression, and community.” The nonprofit runs a variety of programs throughout the year, including annual Women of Color retreats. Trips are for “any individual who self-identifies as trans, woman, nonbinary, intersex, two-spirit, and/or genderqueer.”
To book: balancedrock.org
Damesly
Damesly trips — ranging from Cuba to Bhutan, Uzbekistan, the Grand Canyon, and beyond — cater to “creative and professional women” between 30 and 65, though any woman 21 or older can join. Offerings include high-energy adventures and self-discovery workshops alike. The groups are kept small (12 women max), making for an intimate experience. And you can bet this women-owned business supports as many females as possible on said trips.
To book: damesly.com
Explorer Chick
Explorer Chick’s trips include hiking, snorkeling, kayaking, rafting, rock climbing, and sometimes even whiskey tours, glamping, or survival workshops. Destinations range from Uganda (ehem, gorilla trekking) to Patagonia to Croatia, among many others. Women on these trips range in age from 20s to 60s — the only demographics this group discriminates against are “mean girls” and “Debbie Downers.”
To book: explorerchick.com
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Fit & Fly
Instructor-led daily workouts anchor retreats to sunshiny locales like Bali, Morocco, and Mexico City (also Iceland — not so sunshiny). Fitness opportunities might include a surf lesson, a glacier hike, or yoga in the desert. Accommodations are high-end and comfortable, ideal for post-workout recovery, and time outside of “class” often involves good food and spa treatments.
To book: fitandflygirl.com
REI Women’s Adventures
The outdoor retailer REI invites any traveler who identifies as a woman on adventures in U.S. national parks and beyond. Choose between backpacking in Joshua Tree, kayaking in the San Juan Islands, camping in Bryce Canyon, section hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, and more. You won’t need a passport for any of them. Activity levels for said trips range from two (“easy active”) to five (“strenuous”). One major selling point of an REI Women’s Adventure? Members get a discounted price.
To book: rei.com/adventures/t/womens
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WHOA Travel
The concept of WHOA is apparent in the name “Women High On Adventure.” These itineraries are for women who want to climb mountains. This is your chance to hike to great heights in Mount Cook National Park, New Zealand, to ice climb a volcano in Iceland, or to scale a trio of peaks in Ecuador. Tours are also offered in Patagonia, Antarctica, Peru, and more. Some trips, billed as WHOA Plus, are just for “curvy” or plus-sized women.
To book: whoatravel.com
Wild Women Expeditions
Wild Women Expeditions welcomes indeed wild women “of all ages, sexual orientations, and identities” on trips in every corner of the world. Adventures might include taking a dinghy to see Greenland’s glaciers up close, horseback riding in Mongolia, or sailing the Nile River in Egypt. If you ever wondered whether you “fit” on an expedition, Wild Women is here to remind you it’s accommodated girls and women from eight to 86.
To book: wildwomenexpeditions.com
Intrepid Women’s Expeditions
Intrepid Travel is the biggest adventure travel company and world’s largest B Corporation. It isn’t totally women-focused, but it does host a number of women-only adventures to Jordan, Pakistan, India, Morocco, and beyond. These trips are specifically designed to create “immersive local experiences for women that are ordinarily off limits on our regular group departures,” the company says. On these expeditions, visitors get the chance to support women-owned businesses and employment through tourism.
To book: intrepidtravel.com/us/womens-expeditions
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