Intrepid Travel has announced they are resuming their Women’s Expeditions- a special category of female-led group tours that have been re-imagined and re-designed to take female travelers into the diverse lives and experiences of women in select destinations around the world. After a brief hiatus as a result of the pandemic, Intrepid’s women-only group tours are not only back, but they are better than ever. Intrepid Travel’s mission has always been to create meaningful connections and contribute to local economies, but their Women’s Expeditions have been thoughtfully re-designed to empower and support communities of women that have been affected by the pandemic.

Booking is now open for Intrepid’s Women’s Expeditions, and departures are scheduled beginning Fall 2022 in Jordan, Morocco, Iran, India, and Peru. Read more about each destination below or visit Intrepid Travel’s website to find availability and choose trip dates that work for you and your schedule!

IRAN

Intrepid’s Women’s Expedition in Iran is in my opinion the most intriguing of the destinations, because the 12-day trip takes its female travelers into a world that is seldom-seen or experienced from the outside. Highlights include being invited into a local beauty salon, having a picnic in a women-only park, and learning to cook traditional cuisines from recipes that have been passed down through generations. Full details on the (long) list of this trip’s included activities can be found on Intrepid’s website here, as well as information and recommendations for applying for a visa for Iran, dressing appropriately to respect local customs, and more details on what to expect when it comes to accommodations.

Departures for Intrepid’s Women’s Expedition in Iran begin in October 2022 and continue into the Spring and Fall of 2023. Pricing for the 12-day female-only tour of Iran currently starts at $2120. Visiting Iran has always been high on my list, and doing so on an experience as insightful and impactful as Intrepid’s Women’s Expedition would be truly memorable.

PERU

Intrepid’s Women’s Expedition in Peru is a unique and special experience because the female-only tour group is led by a female guide and accompanied by female porters- a first in an industry that’s almost entirely male-dominated. Four days of the eight-day itinerary are spent hiking the Inca Trail toward the site of Machu Picchu, and other highlights on the trip include visiting and supporting female-owned businesses and restaurants in Lima and in the Sacred Valley. Departures for Intrepid’s Women’s Expedition in Peru are scheduled every few weeks beginning in October 2022, and again in the Spring of 2023. Prices for the 8-day tours currently start at $1390.

I traveled with Intrepid on their Inca Trail Express tour back in 2016 and was lucky to have been led by one of Peru’s few female guides, Alejandrina. The experience was totally smooth and incredibly rewarding, and reaffirmed my belief in the importance of traveling with an established and ethical tour operator- topics I touch on in another article I wrote titled “The Solo Traveler’s Guide to Joining a Group Tour”.

INDIA

Intrepid’s Women’s Expedition in India is a 12-day women-only group tour led by a local female guide. The itinerary includes visits to well-known Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Jaipur, and Agra as well as lesser-known Nimaj, Chandelao Garh, and the Thar Desert. Highlights such as taking a ride on the Delhi metro’s women-only carriage and supporting female-owned businesses and organizations allow travelers to immerse themselves in a local woman’s perspective of Indian culture.

There are currently still some available spaces on departures in October and November 2022, and in the Spring and Fall of 2023. Pricing for Intrepid’s Women’s Expedition in India currently starts at $1060 with a single-supplement option if you want your own room for an additional $250.

Though I have been to various regions of India in my past travels for work, I have yet to visit the major sites of the Taj Mahal and Jaipur. This particular Women’s Expedition is another that I personally am very interested in, as it would be a great way to see those bucket-list destinations while also connecting with local women and other female travelers.

MOROCCO

Intrepid’s Women’s Expedition in Morocco is an active adventure that starts and ends in Marrakech and spends four of its eight-day itinerary hiking between remote villages in the M’Goun valley. On this tour, you’ll connect with local Berber women and learn about traditional rug-weaving and cooking, and will get to experience the festivities that take place during cultural ceremonies. This itinerary also makes a stop at the iconic and picturesque village of Ait Benhaddou. Departures are scheduled every week beginning in September 2022, and prices currently start at $1135.

The first time I traveled with Intrepid was on their Best of Morocco tour back in 2016, and I wrote about my experience here and detailed why it was much more worthwhile to travel with Intrepid in Morocco than it was to travel alone.

JORDAN

Intrepid’s Women’s Expedition in Jordan is a thoughtful exploration of its most famous sites while offering insight into the lives of its local women. On this trip you will visit highlights such as the ruins at Jerash, Wadi Rum, Petra, and the Dead Sea, but the more unique experiences like visiting a women’s only beach and spending an evening learning traditional henna application from local Bedouin women are sure to be memorable. You can read more about all the activities and experiences that make this 8-day itinerary special on Intrepid’s website, which outlines all the details on what you can expect. Departures are scheduled every week beginning in October 2022, and prices currently start at $1835.

I recently traveled with Intrepid on their Jordan Discovery itinerary, and while it wasn’t a Women’s Expedition, I was fortunate that my trip was led by a female guide (one of very few in Jordan) and an overwhelming majority of the other travelers in my group were female. I had a wonderful experience in Jordan with Intrepid, which you can read about in detail here.

WOMEN’S EXPEDITION DESTINATIONS

Are you a female traveler considering joining one of Intrepid’s women-only group tours and have a question? Or have you traveled with Intrepid before and want to leave a comment about your experience? Let us know below!

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