I've been traveling non-stop since 2006, inspiring others to get out and see the unique corners of the world. Check out my newsletters below that are full of travel tips, unique tours, gear recommendations and travel discounts. I focus on outdoor adventure travel for women and will help you get out to see the world in an active way with the best gear. I also run active adventure tours in places like Ireland, Alaska, and El Salvador. Wether you are a newbie to outdoor adventure travel or a seasoned expert - my newsletters are a great way to join my community of other women who are looking to live their best lives.
The best female adventure guides & join me on some women only trips surfing and hiking!
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Hello Reader, Happy International Women's Day! I wanted to take a moment and celebrate today by recognizing some of the best kick-ass female adventure guides I've met through my years of travel. I have so much respect for these women and hope one day I can be as active and adventurous as them. Rachel's Irish Adventures - Rachel is the ultimate outdoor guide, and I'm so excited for her to lead my Ireland tours each year. She’s an incredible athlete, adventure racer, and such a wonderful advocate of her home region in County Mayo Ireland. Her energy is absolutely infectious. She bounds up and down mountains with ease, and don't even get me started on her biking skills! Haley from Alaska Alpine Adventures - I went on an epic wilderness trip in Lake Clark National Park led by Haley. It was as if she had been raised by a pack of wolves in the wilderness she was so comfortable in the backcountry. No pack was too big, no situation too dangerous, and no wind too strong for her to kayak through. Yes, that’s right, I had a girl crush. Actually, many of the AAA guides are surprisingly women – something I don’t see too often in hard-core wilderness companies. Nora certified Philippines hiking guide - It's rare to find female adventure guides, but even more rare to find them in less developed parts of the world. That's why I was surprised and delighted to have Nora as my guide for trekking the rice terraces in the Philippines! She was about half my size, and I wondered if she could do mountain rescue if I needed it. Then I saw her biceps, and was impressed and jealous at the same time! I learned later that these biceps were formed by pounding rice for years and years as a child and adult. She even had a female porter she worked with who carried my gear! Courtney from Moon Dog Kennel Alaska - I went on a 2 day dogsled expedition in Denali National Park with Courtney and was absolutely amazed by her grit as well as her deep love of her dogs. Moon Dog Kennel runs tours all year long where you can learn about sled dogs Jazz from Surf Sisters - For the past 3 years Jasmin (aka Jazz) has been leading my surf and yoga retreats! I'm in absolute awe of her surf skills and her ability to coach and teach us beginners! She is always upbeat, encouraging, and humble - a perfect person to learn from. Jazz loves big waves and little dogs! You can find her on the Surf retreats I offer or in Tofino, Canada, at Surf Sister! A Pioneer in Women's Adventure GuidesI think it's important to recognize just how far women's adventure guides have come in the last few decades. Woodswomen was an outdoor adventure and education organization from 1977 to 1999. It started as a nonprofit organization by women for women. Woodswomen is often called the ‘grandmother’ of outdoor women’s adventure travel groups,. Many women did not have strong outdoor skills because they had not been given the opportunity to learn them. Woodswomen was poised to change that. In 1980, Woodswomen started a women-in-leadership course that trained several women who became guides in the outdoor travel industry - something still very out of the ordinary then. Eventually, Woodswomen evolved into Adventures in Good Company (AGC) - a Colorado-based women's tour company. AGC offers fun, supportive and challenging trips where women of all shapes, sizes, and expertise join in comradery, and relish in the culture and food of any destination. They offer a ton of great hiking trips that I have my eye on! In fact - see below for a way you can join me on one of their hiking trips this summer! Happy Travels! Ottsworld ToursHere's what I'm working on for upcoming Ottsworld Tours and opportunities to travel with me. Plus - note that the first two are women only trips! Women's Surf & Yoga Retreat in PANAMA
Women's Rocky Mountain National Park Hiking Tour This summer I'm vacationing in my own backyard - Rocky Mountain National Park! Join me hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park with Adventures in Good Company (AGC)! AGC runs this trip, and I'm simply a guest...BUT...if you want to do these epic Colorado hikes with me, they have 4 spots left on this trip, and you can join me. This is moderate to advanced hiking in areas of the park I've never been to. Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado is arguably one of the most spectacular parks in the National Park system. Known for lush meadows, high mountain lakes, craggy peaks, diverse ecosystems, and abundant wildlife, it offers an outstanding variety of hiking trails. Starting with moderate hikes as we adjust to the altitude, midweek we move over to the interior for more strenuous higher altitude hikes upto 10,000 ft. This is a great goal trip to work towards all spring - I love trips like this that force you to focus on fitness, adventure, and a goal! If you like that too - then I hope you'll join me and a small group of additional hike-loving women in Colorado!
Festivals of Happiness in Bhutan I'm so excited to be leading this culturally focused tour in Bhutan this September! It's a country that has been on my wish list to visit for years, and now is a great time to go! Bhutan is such a unique destination that hasn't seen the effects of overtourism like other Asian countries. The government keeps it this way by instating the nightly Sustainable Tourism Royalty of $200/nt. However, they have reduced that to $100/nt until 2027. This trip coincides with the vibrant Buddhist Tsechu temple festivals. Our adventure starts with breathtaking Himalayan views on your descent into Paro and continues with enlightening discussions about Gross National Happiness and a meditation session led by a Buddhist Lama. Experience the festive energy of one of the largest Tsechus, then journey to Bumthang to experience village life, and Bhutan’s famous national sport of archery. We'll even hike to the famous “Tiger’s Nest” Monastery. The tour includes all of your meals, accommodations, and transportation in Bhutan. there are other special additions: like a guided meditation in Thimphu, visiting a private temple in Punakha, private tea breaks, curated picnic lunches in scenic spots AND the opportunity for our travelers to bring home a lasting sense of finding their own happiness in their everyday life after exploring these 9 pillars of Happiness in Bhutan.
Alaska in the Winter February 2025 - coming in April! Patagonia Ebiking March 2025 - coming in April! To be the first to know about announcements for these tours, make sure you are signed up to receive my Ottsworld Tour emails here. Travel News30 Less Traveled Places for Women in 2024 - The JourneyWoman site is an EXCELLENT resource for female travelers! Women over 40 are leading the Adventure Travel Revolution - Washington Post (this does require a subscription) Ottsworld Blog PostsI started my travels by traveling solo around the world for years, I love venturing out on my own. Here a few of my favorite women's solo travel articles and tips from my blog. Gear CornerJust a quick call out to some of my favorite women owned and run gear brands that I use! Wallaroo Hat Company - Hats for sun protection and great for travel! Read About Stephanie Carter - Founder. Get a 20% Discount when you use the promo code OTTSWORLD20. Chill Angel - Merino wool sleepware. Get 20% off by using the code OTTSWORLD. VIM & VIGR - Fashionable compression leg wear. Read about founder Michele Huie. Discount code is OTT15 is good for 15% off orders on our website If you've been finding value in these newsletters and the info I've been sharing, please forward this along to any travel-loving friends whom you think might find them useful! Use these helpful links to book your next trip:
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I've been traveling non-stop since 2006, inspiring others to get out and see the unique corners of the world. Check out my newsletters below that are full of travel tips, unique tours, gear recommendations and travel discounts. I focus on outdoor adventure travel for women and will help you get out to see the world in an active way with the best gear. I also run active adventure tours in places like Ireland, Alaska, and El Salvador. Wether you are a newbie to outdoor adventure travel or a seasoned expert - my newsletters are a great way to join my community of other women who are looking to live their best lives.
Hello Reader, Hello from Ireland! I just finished up my Ireland County Mayo tour with a fabulous group of 7 travelers! We hiked, biked, baked, drank whiskey, cuddled lambs (watch the video!), visited ruins, and took a cold dip in the Wild Atlantic Ocean! This was the first time I was in Ireland in the Spring and it is beautiful - and it helped that we had epic weather! After a very short break I'm starting my next Ottsworld Ireland tour tomorrow. A group of us will be taking on the 130 mile...
Hello Reader, Experience Torres del Paine Like Never Before! If Patagonia has been on your wish list for adventure travel, I have the perfect tour for you! In 2023, I took this trip as a trial run to work out the kinks and to promote it as a new way to see Patagonia. It ended up being one of my favorite trips I’ve ever taken. It spoke to me in so many ways – through culture, adventure, challenge, wildlife, friendships, food, and remote landscapes – all wrapped up in a great journey to get to...
Hello Reader, Greetings from Tahiti! I just stepped off a long flight and landed in Papeete excited to explore Tahiti for a week! No - I'm not honeymooning - instead I'm determined to see if Tahiti can also be for single travelers! I'm traveling around the islands with Windstar on a small ship cruise - a great way to enjoy Tahiti when you aren't a couple! Follow along on my social channels all week! March is Blood Clot Awareness Month Wondering why I'm talking about blood clots? Because they...