After two years in COVID hibernation, we’re back with all-new Intrepid Women’s Expeditions! Refreshed, re-imagined and officially re-launched. From India’s Thar Desert to Berber homestays in Morocco, these expeditions support and empower women deeply affected by the pandemic.
Want to camp in Wadi Rum with Bedouin tribeswomen? Visit a beauty salon in Tehran? Kick back on a women-only Dead Sea beach? Or maybe hike the Inca Trail with a group of female porters?
These are experiences you can only get on Intrepid Women’s Expeditions – unique adventures, designed for female travellers and guided by amazing women all over the world. We’re happy to say they’re back in 2022. Bigger and better than ever. We’ve got new itineraries, new adventures, and our old tours have been completely re-imagined.
Relaunching our Women’s Expeditions has been a massive step. These trips support some truly inspirational women, many of whom have suffered because of the COVID-19 pandemic. They’re eager to welcome travellers back, and we’re excited for you to meet them.
So what’s on the itinerary for 2022? Let’s dive right in.
Stay with Thar Desert women on the India Women’s Expedition
COVID-19 hit India’s women particularly hard. Data shows there are 22 per cent fewer women employed in India in 2021, compared to 2019. It’s more important than ever to support female guides, female entrepreneurs and female business owners in the country, which is what this Women’s Expedition is all about.
Travellers will ride in Delhi Metro’s female-only carriage, meet the local women of the Thar Desert, explore the bazaars of Old Delhi and catch a pink rickshaw in Jaipur (thanks to female-run not-for-profit, The Pink Rickshaw Company). This 12-day itinerary hits all the big sites (Agra, Delhi, Jaipur), plus a few quieter spots along the way (Nimaj, Chandelao Garh and Jaisalmer).
Go beyond the headlines on the Iran Women’s Expedition
In Iran, women-only expeditions can access experiences you simply wouldn’t get on a mixed-gender tour. On this 12-day itinerary, you’ll meet Iranian women from all walks of life – young and old, religious and secular, conservative and liberal. You’ll explore the hidden world of an Iranian beauty salon, wander through restricted parks (some of the few public spaces where women can remove their hijabs), travel in women-only public transport carriages and meet female entrepreneurs driving change in their country. We’ve even included a homestay with the nomadic Qashqai people in Tang-e-Chogan, near Bishapur. This trip shows the power of tourism as a force for good, and an economic driver in Iran’s post-COVID recovery.
Meet female shepherds on the Jordan Women’s Expedition
Gender equality in Jordan still has a long way to go. In 2020, the World Economic Forum ranked Jordan 138 out of 153 countries on their Global Gender Gap Index. Tourism here tends to focus on the big sites – Wadi Rum, Petra, the Jerash Ruins etc – but not the women behind the icons. We wanted to change that with our Jordan Women’s Expedition. On this trip, you’ll take a deep dive into Jordan’s rarely seen female culture. Spent a night in Wadi Rum and learn traditional henna with Bedouin women; kick back on a female-only Jordanian beach; join a local shepherd for a mezze breakfast; and sip tea with a renowned Jordanian matchmaker (no pressure). This tour is an 8-day itinerary that loops through Amman via Wadi Rum, Petra and the Dead Sea.
Explore the M’goun Valley on the Morocco Women’s Expedition
Morocco tours tend to follow a pretty well-worn and conservative itinerary. But this one is different. Not only will we be hiking west of Marrakech, through the remote and stunningly beautiful M’goun Valley, we’ll be led by some of Morocco’s first ever female tour guides. This is a proper ground-breaking trip, in every sense of the word. Break bread with Amazigh (Berber) families, see how an artist co-op is empowering female rug-weavers in Amejgag, and sing the night away with Moroccan women in the tiny village of Issoumar. We’ve crammed a lot of culture into these 8 days. There’s even a stop at the famous Ait Benhaddou on your way back to Marrakech.
Hike with female porters on the Peru Women’s Expedition
Welcome to the Inca Trail…with a difference. Our Peru Women’s Expedition is brand new and very exciting. In a first for the local industry, it’ll be led by female guides and include female porters, which is a big deal in the traditionally masculine world of Peruvian trekking. You’ll get a uniquely female perspective on Machu Picchu, the Inca legend, and the local lives of Peruvian women: from a woman running a food stall in downtown Lima to the Umasbamba weavers of the Sacred Valley. We’ve also included a very special dinner at Mama Seledonia in Cusco – it’s a restaurant that supports single Peruvian mothers, offering them jobs and culinary training. We promise, you’ve never seen this side of Peru before.
If you want to learn more about Intrepid Women’s Expeditions, we’ve got a full FAQ over here.
