19 of the Best Women’s-Only Adventures You Have to Experience Before 2020

Explorer Chick was founded in the wake of CEO Nicki Bruckmann’s divorce in 2014. Her break-up, she says, presented her with “the greatest gift of all”: a do-over. What she did with her second chance was create a company that empowers other women to be adventurous. While Explorer Chick is known for its U.S. and Caribbean adventures (including learning trapeze and jumping off waterfalls in the Dominican Republic), it now also offers Norway and Patagonia.

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Women-only adventure companies have been popping up, left, right and centre, but AdventureWomen is an old hand at the game — started by Susan Eckert, it’s been around since 1982. It now offer departures to 65 countries around the world, including Croatia. Board a small ship to sail to small island destinations, where you’ll hike, snorkel and cycle.

Wish you were buds with Jane Goodall? Wild Women Expeditions' owner Jennifer Haddow actually is. Beyond being brag-worthy, that alone gives you a sense of the values driving Wild Women. The Canadian company offers women-only tours to 30 countries worldwide, where the guides are also female-identifying. A perfect example is its new itinerary in Morocco, where everyone from your bus driver, to the owner of the eco-lodge you’ll stay at is female.

“Women have always been active in the outdoors but in the past, it’s been hard to be heard in a culture that can sometimes feel quite male-dominated,” says Rachael Gavan, Wilderness Scotland's program manager. That’s not the case at Wilderness Scotland, where 55 per cent of its positions are held by women. As of 2019, this also now extends to its tours, where women-only departures will see you hiking on the Isle of Skype, the Outer Hebrides, or in the West Highlands.

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It only made sense for a company with 60 per cent female tours guide to launch its own multisport women’s-only departures.

“We want to get away from the idea that vacations for women should be spent at the spa,” explains vice-president Kasey Austin, who designed the tours. “The idea behind these trips is that we want to challenge our ladies by day and treat them like queens by night.”

New for 2019 is a seven-day cycling and hiking vacation in France’s Loire Valley. Bonus: With all that activity, you’ll be able to eat all the baguettes you want.

It’s not women-only, but this safari lodge’s backstory will have you packing your bags. An award-winning luxury destination in Kenya, Angama Mara was founded by Kate and Nicky Fitzgerald, a mother-daughter duo. Kate was actually born in a hotel, and now helps runs the Anagma Foundation, which provides support for neighbouring community initiatives, such as the Oloololo Wildlife Community Trust.

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So, here’s the thing: We can’t all start an amazing luxury safari lodge with our moms. But we can sign-up for the ultimate mother-daughter trip. Adeventures in Good Company is a good — actually great — place to start, as it mainly caters to women between the ages of 40 and 70. However, it fully lives up to the “adventure” in its name. Think hut-to-hut hiking in BC, riding across the Mongol Els on a camel, or white water rafting in Alaska.

With this many mainstay adventure companies launching women’s-only itineraries, you know it’s not a fad. MT Sobek is the latest to add female-friendly tours to its offerings. Yes, you’re going to get wet on their six-day Cataract Canyon Women's Rafting Adventure on the Colorado River, but there’s daily yoga and massages on-offer, too. New for 2019? An all-women departure to New Zealand, where you’ll hike to epic views at Mount Cook.

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If you’re looking for skills development, rather than an all-inclusive vacation, She Went Wild is your go-to. Focused on hosting events that promote inclusivity in outdoor adventure sports, its workshops are held across Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Sign-up for a weekend excursion to learn how to rock climb, boulder, canyon or orienteer.

If you’re already comfortable on a motorcycle, these group rides are for you. Led by a moto-journalist and demo ride leader, motorcycle tours are mainly in the American Southwest, with inclusive meals. Or, in 2020, you can join other badass babes on bikes for the Suffragists Centennial Motorcycle Ride, a cross-country celebration of women who fought for equality in the voting booth.

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You might know what a hijab or niqab is — but do you know what it truly means for the women who wear them? There’s no better way to learn than by travelling to the Middle East. With Intrepid Travel's new expedition to Jordan, you’ll spend eight days learning the art of henna, Arabic cooking, and develop a deeper understanding of the traditional cultural values of the country’s women.

The laid-back British Columbia town of Tofino is where you’ll find Surf Sister, a female-focused surfing school. Founded in 1999, its classes are co-ed, but it’s instructors are not—it’s one of the biggest female instructor surf schools in the world. You can drop by for a day lesson or sign-up for one of its intensive surfing camps—including in Panama or El Salvador.

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You don’t have to be gutsy to attend this retreat in northern Saskatchewan — but you do have to be down with guts. At Reel Women’s fishing lodge, which was designed for and is used exclusively by women (complete with hot tub), you’ll learn to catch northern Pike and walleye. Beginners are welcome, and all gear is provided. Basically, it’s the perfect — and unexpected—custom getaway for a group of you and up to seven of your friends.

Looking for an experience that’s like WHOA? This boutique adventure company offers intimate and incredible experiences. What sets them apart though, is the recognition that adventure comes in all shapes and sizes. When Christa Singleton, a WHOA tour guide (and a proud plus-sized woman) completed her first Kilimanjaro climb, she realized there were unique challenges for plus sized women in adventure travel. Join WHOA Plus to summit the very mountain where Singleton landed on the idea.

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This Toronto-based company is brand-new, but it’s starting on the right note. With a focus on mindful travel, Millie’s small group trips are truly intimate; just six travellers can take part. Each itinerary includes at least one private dinner with a local change agent, dignitary, or thought leader. On an upcoming tour to Jordan, for example, travellers will meet journalist Suzanne Afanah for a curated dinner in her home, with lively and authentic conversations being the goal.

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All you need to do is check out Black Girls Travel Too (BGTT) on Instagram to see what it’s all about. BGTT founder, Dianelle Rivers- Mitchell (Danny), created the group to “imprint new jet-setting generational cycles among the black community and particularly with black woman.” Trips — including Barbados, London, Cuba and Thailand — are membership-based with intimate group sizes.

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Want to travel solo, but not sure where to start? Wanderful, the global community for women who travel (with nearly 40,000 members worldwide), has expanded to launch its own home-sharing platform. Every hostess and guest is vetted through a video verification process, ultimately providing more safety and a sense of sisterhood. While the network is still growing, it’s a great way to connect with women in other countries.

It’s difficult to find tour companies that cater exclusively to lesbian travel. Luckily, Olivia has it covered with over a dozen departures annually. Trips vary from cruises, to resorts, to adventure travel, but they’re perfect to single travellers. Specifically, if you’re looking to meet your lady love, many of the tours even have a solos coordinator, which is handy for making introductions.

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Saddle-up: Montana’s Bar W Ranch’s Cowgirl Up weeks will see women line-dancing, skeet-shooting, fly-fishing, barrel-racing, and trail-riding. Best part of the all-inclusive week? Soothing your saddle sores with the inclusive spa package, a honey and hot cream hot rock massage. Giddy-up!

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