Have you ever wondered why women are underrepresented in the outdoor and adventure travel sectors Women are still scarce, according to many studies. Improvements have been made in recent years due to various female-run businesses attempting to alter this through female-led expeditions. Here are five companies run by women offering a dose of adrenaline and adventure. They are founded and run by women and also employ women in various roles. Many also run women-only tours.
Earth's Edge
Irish high-altitude trekking company Earth's Edge runs expeditions across the world. In 2022, they organised the first-ever all-female expedition to Mt Kilimanjaro. The epic trip to the 'roof of Africa' was attended by an all-women group of guests and led exclusively by female porters and guides on the ground in Tanzania. The aim was to shine a light on the gender inequalities in the outdoor industry and provide jobs and training to women in the region. Earth's Edge also expedites with female porters and guides in Peru, Kenya, and India. Find out more about them in an interview here.
More info here.
Wild Women Expeditions
"Whether you can whip a canoe onto your shoulders to portage without a pause or have never brandished a paddle (in a boat). Whether you could expertly pack a rucksack with your eyes closed or have never thrown one on your back. Whether your greatest skill is tracking a storm or talking up a storm, summiting mountains or summoning courage, keeping your kayak in line or colouring outside the lines&hellipyou deserve to explore the world and see yourself in a new light&mdashand our expeditions will do exactly that." That's the promise of this women-run adventure travel company. They employ women in every role, from tour leaders to local, on-the-ground guides who offer expert facilitation and guidance. Their focus is diversity - and their community comprises women of all ages, sexual orientations, and identities.
Try their Azores Horseback Riding Tour to see how the landscape of Faial Island changes from volcanic craters to mirror-like rock pools, beech forests, and wild blue hydrangea blooming along the roadside. You can learn everything about the behaviour and antics of the local whale species in the company of devoted marine biologists, and you could even get the chance to see wild dolphins.
More info here.
Bohemian Adventures
A free-spirited offspring of three passionate women, the company's fundamental ideology is partly drawn from Abraham Lincoln, "of the mountains, by the mountains, and for the mountains" - that's how they identify themselves. They claim that the mountains are their home, and as they do what they do best here--climbing and trekking--they hope to give back to their home by providing a sustainable economic scenario for its population.
They try to give guests a glimpse into the lives of the mountain folk, their culture, and traditions with homestays along trek routes. Their guides belong to the area and can provide comprehensive insight into the regional traditions and folklore.
More info here
Sapa Sisters
Women run this company from the Hmong ethnic minority in Sapa, Vietnam's stunning northern hilly highlands. They are one of the few Hmong enterprises in the area, fully owned and run by women. They grew up in the mountains and are intimately familiar with the routes.
More info here.
Ladakhi Women's Travel Company
The Ladakhi Women's Travel Company hires local women as guides and caters to women travellers (although men accompanying them are welcome). In terms of local participation and well-researched itineraries, they serve as a model for others. They are primarily concerned with female-led hikes and the promotion of homestays, which they define as villager-run Ladakhi homes that provide authentic meals and an opportunity to experience local culture. They also promote eco-tourism and encourage tourists and villagers to safeguard the environment by refusing to support activities that harm the local flora and fauna.
More info here.
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