How to be a Good Wild Woman Roomie Whether You’re Sharing a Tent or 5-star Suite

By Jules Torti | September 12, 2023

“Be neat!” It was my grandmother’s only rule, really. She stressed the importance of it with raised eyebrows–which in her later years were drawn on somewhat comically with a maroon eyebrow pencil. If you’ve shared a room with a sibling, college roommate or spouse, it’s all the same. Be neat, first and foremost!  If you’ve…

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Iceland Horseback Riding Tour – A Photo Essay

By Jenny Rae Bateman Photography | August 31, 2023

Wild Woman community member and professional photographer, Jenny Rae Bateman recently returned from our Iceland Horseback Riding Tour, the following is a photo essay of her adventure. Enjoy! “10 other ladies and myself had riding Icelandic horses on our bucket list. And what a crew we had while making this wish come true. We were…

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Our Most Popular Wild at Heart Trips

By Jules Torti | August 8, 2023

We get it. You’re still hip but you have a bad hip. You’re wild at heart but not wild about sleeping in a tent. You want your heart to pound wildly, but not because of exertion and elevation. While your mind wants to climb mountains, your knees have the final say and they’re saying, hell…

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Your Ultimate Guide to the Arctic

By Jules Torti | August 8, 2023

Wild Women Expeditions’ four Arctic small ship expeditions are multi-layered with extreme wildlife and avian encounters, an unforgettable immersion in Dorset, Thule and Inuit culture; Viking and early explorer history. Aboard the Ocean Endeavour, these sub-zero safaris are biodiverse (pilot whales, belugas, narwhals, murres, dovekies) and sneakingly educational. The itineraries include national park hikes, studio…

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Introducing Darija–WWE’s Croatia Guide with Incredible Cred!

By Jules Torti | July 28, 2023

I met Darija on my inaugural Wild Women trip–I’d been working with the company for just over a month and had suggested that Croatia had always been on my radar. I didn’t expect to be taking advantage of vacation time so soon but joining WWE’s Croatia Active Adventure was an opportunity I had to pounce…

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Your Ultimate Guide to Japan

By Jules Torti | July 24, 2023

It’s beguiling. Enchanting. Mystical. It’s a tightly wrapped sushi roll of juxtapositions. From the enigmatic Hello Kitty craze to elegant thousand-year-old bonsai, Japan is a perplexing combination of neon-lit modernity and deep wilderness. Ancient pilgrimage routes like the 790km (491 mile) Kumano Kodo network thread through bamboo stands, terraced rice fields, and the mountainous Kii…

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On the Wild Side: Introducing Wendy Lauritzen

By Jules Torti | July 14, 2023

Wendy Lauritzen’s story is one of insatiable curiosity, steadfast commitment and an early dedication to conservation. Her childhood dream of being a vet led her to becoming a bold Boy Scout, a park ranger and impressively, National Park Service superintendent. After a nearly four decade-long career in conservation wearing all sorts of hats (not just…

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Your Ultimate Guide to Morocco

By Jules Torti | July 11, 2023

We heard you when you asked for MORE Morocco! In 2024, WWE is introducing two Morocco-based experiences that will fill your heart and memory card in an instant. Our shiny new 9-day Morocco Explorer and 15-day Ultimate Morocco is an awesome revamp of our classic Mosaic of Wild Morocco itinerary. The Morocco Explorer and Ultimate…

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Switzerland: A Guide to Everything You Didn’t Know From Tina Turner to Toblerone!

By Jules Torti | June 16, 2023

Switzerland makes for an easy and endless word association game–it’s synonymous with fondue pots and Lindt chocolate. Let’s not forget the worlds’ love-love affair with Roger Federer! From Einstein to Edelweiss to Tina Turner and St. Bernard alpine rescue dogs, this country has some impressive and surprising claims to fame. I’m already hiking boot-deep into…

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Getting Fit: For a horseback riding trip

By Caroline (Cline) Owen | June 8, 2023

“You just sit there and the horse does all the work!” Right? If you’ve ever heard this statement, you’re not alone. It’s a common misperception of non-riders, that horseback riding is effortless because you’re just sitting on top while the horse does all the work! It’s true that the best riders make riding appear effortless;…

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Move for Freedom – Fundraising Event – July 8th, 2023

By Wild Women Expeditions | June 1, 2023

CALLING ALL WILD WOMEN AND JOURNEYWOMEN IN THE TORONTO AND GREATER TORONTO AREA!   Join us on July 8 to learn about human trafficking and raise funds for Canadian Charity Ally Global Foundation On July 8, Wild Women Expeditions and JourneyWoman are joining forces to host a Toronto-based Move for Freedom hiking event to raise…

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An Unexpected Plunge: How Monique Ended up in Antarctica

By Jules Torti with Monique Serna | May 17, 2023

Monique’s friends were doubtful from the get-go. “You’re not a cold weather person–you wear a sweater in the summer!” “How are you going to get there? You’re not an explorer or a scientist.” “You’re going by yourself? You don’t know anyone that’s on this trip?” Monique confidently shrugged it all off. “I can talk to…

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A healing, launching, bonding journey with my daughter

By Shira Cohen | May 5, 2023

Go Big or Go Home Wild Women community member Shira Cohen shares with us her beautiful experience with her daughter, Cari, on our Northern Thailand Active Adventure (formerly known as our Elephants, Treks & Temples Tour). A truly heartfelt thank you Shira for sharing such an intimate story with our community!   When I was…

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From Whitefish, Montana to Antarctica: A Mother and Daughter’s Journey

By Jules Torti with Candi Stearns and Brooke Stearns Lawson | May 5, 2023

In January, Candi Stearns and her daughter, Brooke Stearns Lawson, found themselves in Antarctica’s frozen embrace on WWE’s Journey to the Circle.Their family and friends couldn’t comprehend why they would choose to travel somewhere colder than Whitefish, Montana. In the winter! Candi had walked the Camino de Santiago with WWE a few years ago and…

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A Guide to WWE’s Top 5 Bird-Centric Trips

By Jules Torti | May 4, 2023

On  May 4th, the informal observation of Star Wars Day kinda steals the limelight (lightsaber?) from our feathered friends. Of course, we wish the fourth to be with you but, it’s also National Bird Day. A Pennsylvania school superintendent established the inaugural Bird Day back in 1894 (ahem, long before Star Wars!). Charles Almanzo Babcok’s…

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Meet Julia Wong, WWE’s Director of Marketing

By Jules Torti | May 2, 2023

Julia Wong is an indispensable member of the Wild Women Expeditions family. In the event of a tech meltdown, Julia swoops in with her coding cape and seamlessly rectifies all. She’s the Queen of SEOs (search engine optimization–more cryptic code speak), branding (she doesn’t even need an iron), clever marketing campaigns, eblasts–and is a blast…

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GET FIT AND WALK THE WALK: Endurance, the Elements and Virtual Trainers

By Jules Torti | May 2, 2023

If you’ve signed up for a hiking-centric trip, you probably already know that it’s not going to be a cakewalk. Unless you are on the Charms of Croatia adventure–there’s definitely cake involved there. After exploring the remains of the Samobar castle, the afternoon is sweetened by espressos and slices of the famed Samoborska kremšnita, a…

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The Healing Power of Friendships and Penguins

By Caroline (Cline) Owen & Vickie Barker | April 27, 2023

Vickie Barker recently joined the Journey to the Antarctic Circle trip just two weeks after her beloved husband passed away. Allowing herself to be vulnerable, she shared her grief with the group, who all in turn, provided her with unexpected support and new friendships. In conversation with Caroline (Cline) Owen, Wild Women Expeditions’ Community Engagement…

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2024 Worldwide Adventure Calendar

By Wild Women Expeditions | April 25, 2023

Wild Women Expedition’s 2024 Worldwide Adventure Calendar (Be sure to check back as more dates are being added on a continuous basis!)   January 14 – 21 – Baja Kayaking Adventure January 14 – 26 – Ultimate Egypt January 22  – February 01 – Northern Thailand Active Adventure January 28 – February 04 – Baja…

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Introducing Alex, WWE’s Awesome Arches & Canyonlands Adventure Guide!

By Jules Torti | April 21, 2023

You probably already recognize the name “Alex Mac” from her frequent posts and hot tips that she shares on our Facebook community page about Moab, Arches and Canyonlands. Alex Wehrle is our peppy in-house go-to on the dramatic national park ecosystems of Utah–and she has an equally deep appreciation and love for the Greater Yellowstone…

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GET FIT AND BE FLEXIBLE: Tips on Self Care, Stretching and Therabands

By Jules Torti | April 19, 2023

We are all golden retrievers at heart. We will perform but we will be more enthusiastic if there’s a reward, right? An integral part of committing to a fitness plan is being flexible (and hopefully becoming physically more flexible as time progresses). There will be roadblocks, inconvenience and disrupted routines. Instead of feeling defeated, keep…

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A Chill Chat with Our Polar Expert, Franny Bergschneider

By Jules Torti | April 11, 2023

I sat down (virtually) to chat with WWE’s in-house polar expert, Franny. How does one earn polar expert status? The Wild Women team decided that 80+ Antarctica trips was sufficient experience in all things related to Shackleton and penguin antics.   Like me, you’re probably wondering what a 21-day navigation looks like. What does it…

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GET FIT AND COMMIT: How to Design a Pre-trip Fitness Program

By Jules Torti | April 5, 2023

Our Adventure Expert team frequently fields the question, “How can I prepare for my upcoming trip?”  On each WWE trip page you’ll find a tab that reads: “Is this trip right for me?” All of our adventures are ultimately determined by the collective experience and pace of an individual group whether it’s hiking in the…

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On the Wild Side: Introducing Jan Balala

By Jan Balala | March 26, 2023

Jan Balala is rather legendary. Like Susan Lucci’s 19 Emmy nominations and Liz Taylor’s eight walks down the aisle, Jan has been on 14 Wild Women Expedition trips. Fourteen! You’ve probably seen her playful grin on our community page. Maybe you recognize her name because it’s synonymous with incredible wildlife and dramatic landscape photos. Behind…

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Bonding over Bridles and Barbie Dream Horses in the Azores

By Stacey Nedrow-Wigmore | March 22, 2023

Like most everyone, my social life really took a hit over the last two-and-a-half years of navigating COVID. The world had begun to lockdown even before I returned home from my Baja Kayak and Whale Adventure with Wild Women Expeditions in March 2020. I immediately began working from home and I haven’t been back to…

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Introducing Fearless Fio, Our Wild Women Guide in Patagonia

By Jules Torti | March 17, 2023

Our Wild Women guides are everything. They are our built-in cheerleaders, they set the pace, they encourage us to be better (even when we’re wetter than we like to be). They live adventure 24/7 as a career and let Wild Women hang on to their bright spirit, experience and passion. They apply Band-aids, offer insider…

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Destination Europe: Your Ultimate Wild Women Expeditions Guide

By Jules Torti | March 17, 2023

If you missed backpacking around Europe in your gap year, you can still do it. Bonus: the grown-up version means fewer tins of tuna, zero hostel bunk beds but all the bohemia and thrill of exploring a new destination with even newer friends! Wild Women offers adventures in Europe that let you strut your stuff,…

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Introducing Two Women Who Have Dug Deep in the Field of Arctic Archaeology

By Wild Women Expeditions | March 7, 2023

Wild Women Expeditions first launched Arctic expeditions in 2022. While we are magnetically drawn there to experience the remote landscapes and distinct wildlife, this destination is made more memorable by the incredible women that we have the opportunity to meet along the way. In our latest blog post, we highlight two women who are highly…

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Celebrating the Power and Passion of Women on Wild Women Expedition Trips

By Wild Women Expeditions | March 7, 2023

It’s no big secret. We are a women-centric company. We cater to, depend on, champion, encourage and support women not just in our own Wild Women community, but abroad. Our destinations and experiences are designed to share the story and successes of women and their entrepreneurial spirit. At WWE, we are committed to seeking out…

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Rewriting the Story for Women in Nepal, Thailand and Cambodia

By Wild Women Expeditions | March 6, 2023

At Wild Women Expeditions, we are lucky to have a platform to amplify issues that face women and girls in the countries that we are so privileged to visit on our Wild Women adventures. As a socially-responsible tourism company, we also appreciate that we have a lovely community of Wild Women who want to learn…

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Climbing for a Cure – Introducing Wild Women community member Jen Willis

By Wild Women Expeditions | March 2, 2023

You may recognize Jen from her recent post on Wild Women Expeditions community Facebook page. While the message below is written in chalk, Jen’s goal is already written in stone. She’s taking on the Earth’s highest mountain above sea level. Its Tibetan name, Chomolungma, means “Goddess Mother of the World” or “Goddess of the Valley.”…

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A Shedding Toward Self – An Essay on the Inca Trail

By Stacy Rogers | February 23, 2023

“Stacy, look at me. You can do this. You can do this!” She insisted. “Calm down and breathe.”  I grabbed onto the breast of her fleece jacket, overwhelmed by fear, and an altitude-induced vertigo buckled my knees. “I can’t do it! This was a mistake!” I cried, lifting my face toward the pristine, cerulean sky….

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Your Ultimate Guide to the Camino: Which Way is Best for You?

By Jules Torti | February 7, 2023

When it comes to the fabled Camino de Santiago, I can genuinely talk the talk and walk the walk. My wife and I followed the iconic Camino Frances from Saint Jean Pied de Port, France to Finisterre, Spain in 2018. Takeaway: 920 km is a lot of legwork! And, when presented, eat as many slices…

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Prepping for Patagonia!

By Jules Torti | January 25, 2023

“Wind and rain cocktails” that leave you soaked in minutes. “Knock down gusts.” “Pounding westerlies.” This is the meteorological trifecta warning in Lonely Planet’s Chile & Easter Island  guide that has led me to remain skeptical about Patagonia. To be transparent (if I’m not already), my default February setting is generally reserved for destinations like…

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10 Cool Experiences That You Can Expect on WWE’s High Arctic Explorer

By Jules Torti | January 25, 2023

Our High Arctic Explorer small ship expedition lets you experience countless things that you simply can’t do anywhere else, or all at once! This 12-day itinerary is a perfectly curated combination of extreme landscapes, unmatched wildlife encounters, hands-on workshops, Inuit culture, educational opportunities and Wild Women camaraderie. Don’t let this ship sail without you! For example,…

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Your Guide to Antarctica: Which Trip is Best for Me?

By Jules Torti | January 16, 2023

Wild Women Expeditions offers three unforgettable ways to experience Antarctica. If you’re wondering which itinerary is best suited for you, we take a deep dive below and tell you what’s different about each adventure. Yes, some faces and places appear in all three navigations. Each voyage begins and ends in the most southerly city in…

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What Kayak Expedition is Best for Me? WWE’s Guide to Smooth Paddling

By Jules Torti | January 5, 2023

Deciding upon the best kayaking trip for you can be determined by a few, honest questions. Do you want to paddle or dabble? What kind of experience do you have? Are you willing to take a training course in advance or would you prefer to learn skills within the trip itself? Do you want a…

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Celebrating the Moments of 2022 – Photo Contest!

By Wild Women Expeditions | January 3, 2023

2022 was an incredible travel year, and we want to celebrate those precious, magical moments within our Wild Women community by launching another photo contest! We’re offering a $1000 (USD)* travel voucher that can be applied to any 2023 and 2024 Wild Women Expeditions trip! Remember, this is not a professional photography competition. It’s not…

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Postcards and Reflections from the Wild Women Expeditions Team 2022

By Jules Torti | December 20, 2022

This year the Wild Women team were on the move! From the skyscraper-high forests of Haida Gwaii to the vastness of Greenland to the biodiverse Galapagos! We were on the Inca Trek, trekking in Tanzania, tracking leopards, learning the secret ingredients in Northern Thai cuisine and cantering on horses through India’s expanse.  We were moved…

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Got Baggage? Need Baggage? WWE’s Ultimate Guide to Packs and Packing

By Jules Torti | December 15, 2022

Baggage. We all have it. But is it the right fit for your next trip? Cue up the scene from Wild when Reese Witherspoon topples over in an attempt to shoulder the weight of her backpack for the first time. Maybe you’re travelling to a destination that is more “slackpacking” than “backpacking.” There will be…

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On the Wild Side: Introducing Maria Naum

By Jules Torti | December 6, 2022

Maria Naum was born in a tiny village in the shadows of Romania’s Carpathian mountain range. The spine of the Carpathians runs west to east from Czechia (the Czech Republic) to Romania through seven countries including Hungary, Poland, Serbia and Slovakia. Amazingly, almost 66% of Romania’s territory is dominated by these mountains–and it’s not surprising…

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Antarctica: The Ultimate Adventure

By Franny Bergschneider | November 29, 2022

Why is Antarctica the ultimate adventure? Franny Bergschneider, Wild Women Expeditions’ Program and Operations Manager and resident polar expert explains it all! A Land Dedicated To Science And Peace When you go to Antarctica, it is a complete sensory experience. Antarctica is a continent dedicated to peace, science and conservation, it is protected by the…

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Your Ultimate Packing Guide: Hacks + Hot Tips for Your Next Trip!

By Jules Torti | November 21, 2022

Committing to a Wild Women trip is the easy part–now, how do you pack for it? While we are encouraged to think outside the box in many situations, this is a time when you truly need to think inside the box…or, suitcase. I remember taking my dad’s hockey bag to summer camp back in the…

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On the Wild Side: Introducing Patti Stobbe

By Patti Stobbe | November 14, 2022

Let’s sit and have a colourful gab with Patti Stobbe of Calgary, Alberta! Patti has earned her WILD stripes with an official Arctic polar plunge badge! A seasoned Wild Woman, she has been on four trips and embeds her memories in lasting friendships and precious gems from each destination like Greenland’s pink sapphire. She joins…

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Taking a Bite out of Bali, Indonesia

By Jules Torti | November 3, 2022

The signs were everywhere. Goreng this, goreng that. Food stalls with simple drawings of catfish and noodles lined the narrow streets ripe with the unforgettable punk of durian fruit. I finally asked our guide, “what does goreng mean?” To fry. Fried. I was surprised at how deep-fried our Indonesian menu was. Nasi goreng (fried rice)….

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The Power of Chocolate: Some Tasting Notes from Peru

By Jules Torti | October 31, 2022

This afternoon, while pushing aside the furry head that comes with jet lag (insert 22.5 hours of flying from Bali to Singapore to Amsterdam to Toronto here!), I started scrolling through Wild Women’s Facebook community page to see what everyone was chatting about. I shivered looking at the snapping prayer flags of the Nepal trek,…

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On The Wild Side: Introducing Sara Mang

By Sara Mang | October 11, 2022

This is a shiny new feature where we spotlight an awesome member of our Wild Women Expeditions community. Grab a warm cup of joe and lean in on a fun chat with Sara. She’s a writer, a storyteller and a skinny-dipper to boot! Introducing Sara!   Well, to start, I grew up in Happy Valley,…

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Trailblazing! Your Guide to Wild Women’s Most Popular Hiking Trips

By Jules Torti | October 5, 2022

Are you eager to experience another country on foot? Want to know which hiking trip is right for you? We’ve done the legwork for you–whether you are seeking low-impact but super scenic walks interspersed with other activities or ready for a hardcore commitment. You can’t go from couch to Camino, that’s for sure, but with…

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Forging A New Way In Ethical Elephant Tourism

By Jennifer Haddow | October 4, 2022

I LOVE elephants. Over the past decade I’ve spent hundreds of hours with elephants in northern Thailand. When I first designed our Wild Women adventure tour in Thailand in 2014, I knew that I wanted to bring awareness of the plight of captive elephants and help protect these amazing and endangered species. Back then, the…

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Celebrating World Tourism Day

By Wild Women Expeditions | September 27, 2022

World Tourism Day’s theme for 2022 shines the spotlight on the rethinking what tourism means –  how we can return the focus back onto the future and the tourism we want to build? It is the responsibility for those of us who work in the travel industry to facilitate meaningful moments and connections for travellers…

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2023 Worldwide Adventure Calendar

By Wild Women Expeditions | September 22, 2022

September 01 – 08 – Highlands Hiking Adventure September 02 – 10 – Camino Portuguese September 02 – 10 – The Camino Way September 03 – 11 – Charms of Croatia September 03 – 09 – Italian Riviera and Cinque Terre Kayak September 05 – 12 – Azores Horses Whales and Volcanos Tour September 05…

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Introducing Jules Torti, WWE’s Content Creator

By Jules Torti | September 13, 2022

Jules Torti is WWE’s dazzling content creator. She creates and spices up WWE’s itineraries, writes enticing e-blasts and blog posts. And yes, she is writing in the third person and interviewing herself! Jules is also the author of Free to a Good Home: With Room for Improvement, Trail Mix: 920km on the Camino de Santiago…

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A Taste of Wild Women Expeditions Sweet Desert Menu

By Jules Torti | September 7, 2022

If we played a quick word association game, we’d say “desert” and you would blurt out: Sand! Scorpions! Camels! Sahara! Lawrence of Arabia. Sade! Cue up “I miss you like the desert miss the rain.” You probably wouldn’t say “ANTARCTICA!” but, it’s true. Antarctica is considered a desert–the largest one in the world actually. With…

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Your Guide to the Galápagos Islands

By Jules Torti | September 1, 2022

(Photo Credit: Lindsay Blatt) Are you trying to decide the best way to experience the Galápagos Islands? You may be wondering what trip is best designed for you. Wild Women Expeditions offers three unique ways to immerse yourself in the rich biodiversity and true marvel of the isles.  We’ve highlighted the differences below but on…

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On the Wild Side: Introducing Francesca Vivona

By Francesca Vivona | September 1, 2022

This is a shiny new feature where we spotlight an awesome member of our Wild Women Expeditions community. Grab a local hazy IPA or Darjeeling tea and lean in on a fun chat with Francesca. She’s a self-dubbed city gal, intrepid foodie, classic camper and dog-lovin’ paddler who never wondered how or if bears sh*t…

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Postcard from the Arctic: With Love From Nancy Hensel

By Nancy Hensel | August 23, 2022

Thank you to Nancy for sharing her experience on the Heart of the Arctic adventure with the Wild Women community. Nancy’s story is a colourful one and her connection to the Arctic is a decades-long unfolding of a dream that began in a small shop in San Francisco. Her life has been guided by curiosity…

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Top 10 Tips for the Antarctic

By Franny Bergschneider | August 18, 2022

We asked our Wild Women’s resident polar-expert, Program manager, and life-long adventurer, Franny Bergschneider to give us her top 10 tips for preparing and packing for an expedition to Antarctica.  Read on for her tips!   The White Continent, Antarctica, is dedicated to peace, science and conservation. I have always been drawn to remote wilderness…

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An Antarctic Summer – When to Go and What You’ll See

By Jules Torti | August 18, 2022

Can you feel the momentum? The warm flush in your cheeks? The sharp prickle of goosebumps racing across your skin? That hurried pounding inside your ribcage? That’s what happens when you say YES to Antarctica. Extend your summer by jumping right into Antarctica’s dog days of summer (November to March). Did you know that Antarctica…

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Go Back to School Around the World!

By Jules Torti | August 16, 2022

September is synonymous with renewal. Pencil crayons get re-sharpened, sleepy kids shuffle back to school and carefree days shift into routines with ugh, homework. Learning opportunities pursued as an adult are often voluntary and way more enjoyable (minus the soggy tuna sandwich and having to fret over a pop quiz). Intentional learning is easier as…

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10 Ways to Celebrate the International Day of Indigenous People

By Jules Torti | August 8, 2022

The United Nations has acknowledged the powerful role of indigenous women as keepers of irreplaceable wisdom by designating August 9th as the International Day of Indigenous People.  Ancestral stories and history run as deep as tree roots, lakes and volcanoes. Indigenous knowledge flavours generational recipes. It fills drum beats and songs with tangible emotion. It…

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Ready to Recharge? We’ll Show You Where and How to Unwind!

By Jules Torti | August 3, 2022

In 2020, Melissa Lem, a B.C.-based physician and environmental champion,  founded PaRx. In collaboration with the BC Parks Foundation, PaRx permits (and encourages) doctors to prescribe time in nature. Yes, it’s as simple as that. A big dose of nature–doctor’s orders! As part of the program, prescriptions include a Parks Canada Discovery Pass allowing patients…

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On the Wild Side: Introducing Alex Macdonald

By Alex Macdonald | July 27, 2022

This is a shiny new feature where we spotlight an awesome member of our Wild Women Expeditions community. Grab a coffee or a kombucha and lean in on a chat with Alex Macdonald of Barrie, Ontario. She has earned a few Wild Women badges now from her participation in northern Ontario paddling camps, Belizean jungle…

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The Sacred Ride: A Cultural and Historical Immersion in Peru

By Cline Owen | July 20, 2022

The Sacred Ride is a Wild Women trip that goes deep into the culture of the Quechua people and the Inca history is evident in the remarkable architecture–like the Flintstone-like slabs of perfectly aligned mammoth dry fit stones. We started in the city of Cusco, the former capital of the Incan Empire. There, we explored…

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Postcard from Portugal: Shawn Hamilton Takes us for a Ride in the Azores

By Shawn Hamilton | July 18, 2022

The Wild Women Expeditions Azores Horses, Whales and Volcanos Tour was my first venture outside of Canada since the inception of Covid. I was more than eager to explore another country from the saddle with like-minded women. The first thing to catch my eye after landing in Horta on the 173 square km ( 67…

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ReBOOT: Finding the Best Hiking Footwear Designed Just For You

By Jules Torti | July 13, 2022

As a kid, my beloved pair of cowboy boots and Kangaroo shoes (yep, the ones with the zippered pockets on the side) reigned supreme. They were both stylish and versatile–I was ready for everything: tree-climbing, pollywog-catching, Nerf football-hoofing, the fall fair or a pig roast. Now, in a single day, I’m in and out of…

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Unpacking Travel Hacks: How to Make Your Next Trip Smoother!

By Jules Torti | July 7, 2022

Travel. It comes with its kinks and wrinkles but every experience makes us smarter, more efficient and confident for the next round. The headlines won’t let us forget that it’s more hectic than ever at the airports. Luggage is sitting in baggage claims unclaimed, for days. Travelers are being asked to pack their patience, and…

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Canada’s Big 5: Here’s what you MUST experience in this country!

By Jules Torti | June 29, 2022

Did you know that Wild Women Expeditions was hatched from a yoke? Yes, a yoke, not a yolk. In particular, a canoe yoke in the rocky and remote clutches of northern Ontario, Canada more than 30 years ago. We are the land of tundra, Rockies, old-growth forest, limestone, wheat, deep lakes, vineyards, peach orchards, cranberry…

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Are you ready? How to Create the Best Blueprint for Your Upcoming Trip

By Jules Torti | June 28, 2022

You’ve said “YES!” and committed to a trip, now what? Really, the fun part is about to unfold like an intricate origami flamingo! I have my own personal checklist of ‘trip development.’ Of course, you should modify this according to your own personal whims to create the best blueprint for your destination. For me, the…

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Why you should go on a once-in-a-lifetime trip twice…

By Jules Torti | May 30, 2022

It’s rather daunting to revisit a place that has become an undisturbed memory bank of halcyon days in your head. Can those unblemished days be repeatable? Will that memory bank be crushed by sour weather, diarrhea or turbulent seas?  When I first went to the Galapagos Islands in 2005, I had nearly unattainable expectations and…

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Meet Sonya Stephens: WWE’s Expedition Support Specialist

By Jules Torti | May 26, 2022

Sonya Stephens is our shiny new Expedition Support Specialist and a rock-solid addition to our ever-growing team.  She brings years of experience in solo travel and a framed blood, sweat and tears Master of Tourism Management diploma to the table. In fact, if you want to go toe-to-toe on history trivia, Sonya can do that…

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Celebrating our Wildest Women–Mothers!

By Jules Torti | May 3, 2022

“Now don’t get any ideas. I know Jane Goodall had to take her mother to Africa!” When I shared the news that I was going to volunteer in Uganda with the Jane Goodall Institute, my mom made it as clear as gin that she was not interested in tagging along in safari gear with a…

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Are You Single? Let Wild Women Woo You!

By Jules Torti | April 28, 2022

We don’t want to single you out, but…if you answer yes to one of these questions, you’re probably a Wild Woman in the making. Take our one-minute pop quiz for instant results! Have you always dreamed of seeing orangutans in Borneo but none of your friends have the time, money or vacation time to join…

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Wild Women Expeditions Top 5 Earth-Friendly Destinations

By Jules Torti | April 21, 2022

If you’re wondering where you can travel with total peace of mind because you’re supporting peace on earth and environmentally responsible initiatives, we have a few ideas up our recycled, organic, bamboo shirt sleeve. Near, far, wherever you are…(wait, who let Celine Dion in here?). Point is, at Wild Women Expeditions headquarters, Mother Nature is…

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It’s Jane Goodall’s 88th Birthday and We’re Over the Moon!

By Jules Torti | March 24, 2022

In July 1960, Jane Goodall first stepped into the marvel of what is now Gombe Stream National Park in western Tanzania. During her groundbreaking study on chimpanzees, observed David Greybeard and Goliath using tools to enjoy a more efficient termite picnic years before Neil Armstrong stepped out of the Apollo 11 and on to the…

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Happy International Women’s Day

By Jennifer Haddow | March 8, 2022

Don’t doubt that sharing your story matters. Over the past 30 years of running Wild Women Expeditions, we’ve shared countless stories of women who are changing the world, starting with empowering themselves. We have been so inspired by the awesome women who join our trips around the world and the welcoming women who host us…

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We’ve Come a Long Way, Baby! Happy International Women’s Day!

By Jules Torti | March 7, 2022

We’ve come a long way, baby. And nobody puts Baby in the corner! It’s easy to rhyme off dozens of women who are true momentum makers, fearless earth-shakers, animal advocates, selfless journalists, resilient activists, determined pilots, top chefs, community backbones, tireless volunteers, STEM leaders, AI innovators, microlenders, teachers and mentors. In step, they/we are mothers,…

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Introducing Caroline Owen, Wild Women Expeditions In-House Horse Expert!

By Jules Torti | March 1, 2022

The name “Cline” is nearly synonymous with Wild Women Expeditions. Caroline Owen, more affectionately and famously known as Cline, has guided countless trips for more than two decades with WWE. She is our in-house horse expert and a true polymath. She jumps seamlessly from the saddle to a downward dog as a yoga therapist and…

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Synchronized Swimming With Sea Lions in Baja

By Cline Owen | February 22, 2022

On Wild Women’s Baja Kayak and Whale Adventure, swimming with sea lions didn’t jump out at me when I’d first read the itinerary. I had “swum” with dolphins in the wild before, but that entailed the boat catching up with the dolphins and jumping into the water as the dolphins swam away at speeds much…

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Finding Your Place and Pace on the Camino de Santiago in Muxia, Spain

By Jules Torti | February 7, 2022

Camino pilgrimage routes run like spaghetti strands from all over Europe and finally braid together in one big knot in Santiago. Many pilgrims believe Santiago to be the ‘end’ of their Camino. For those who continue on, there’s a giddy relief and elation in having survived the endless nights of snoring and sour socks. All…

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Introducing Dympna Hayes. What Floats Her Boat?

By Jules Torti | January 12, 2022

Dympna Hayes has paddled in Norway, Newfoundland and Great Slave Lake. I was totally floored when she told me that the safest place in the world to kayak is in Antarctica. “It’s the easiest conditions! There are no waves and because of the calmness, the group doesn’t get separated. It’s super safe because everyone is…

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The Gift of Adventure is Closer Than You Think

By Jules Torti | December 23, 2021

If you’re the kind of person who is determined to see the shiny silver lining, here it is. While the pandemic continues to hurl all sorts of unexpected things in our direction (in all directions!)–there are no restrictions on travelling down memory lane! The holidays come with their usual twists and complications beyond the worries…

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Banff’s Backcountry Bliss

By Cline Owen | December 13, 2021

When I said yes to the Banff Backcountry Riding Adventure I was dreaming about the towering jagged snow-capped mountains of the majestic Canadian Rockies, and travelling through this expansive land by trusty steed, completely cut off from all communication with the outside world. I’ve been travelling in the wilderness since childhood, and for over 20…

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On the Camino de Santiago, Expect the Unexpected

By Carolyn Ray, Editor-in-Chief of JourneyWoman | December 6, 2021

This post is an exclusive and AWESOME feature from Carolyn Ray, the Editor-in-Chief of JourneyWoman. If you’re not familiar with JourneyWoman, it’s a reliable and lively resource for women–for travel tips and advice on solo travel, JourneyWoman is wonderful company to keep. Carolyn also shared her experience of becoming a genuine cowgirl in the Canadian…

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What the Hekla? Everything you need to know about riding Icelandic horses.

By Cline Owen | November 19, 2021

Wild Women’s Hekla Volcano Riding Adventure is thoughtfully designed to delight experienced riders who are seeking a very different experience from an everyday trail ride. We’re riding in the wild and remote east of Iceland, near the volcano Hekla! This is not your average walk in the park. In fact, we don’t do much walking…

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The Fairy Tale Horses of Faial Island, Azores

By Cline Owen | November 18, 2021

The Azores are a group of nine Islands in the mid-Atlantic, that are entirely formed by volcanic activity. The archipelago is part of Portugal, though the islands are almost as close to North America as they are to Europe, with 1,400 km between Lisbon and the Azores, and 1,900 km to Newfoundland, Canada. Portugal is…

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Becoming a Cowgirl in the Real Canadian Rockies

By Carolyn Ray, Editor-in-Chief of JourneyWoman | November 17, 2021

This post is an exclusive and AWESOME feature from Carolyn Ray, the Editor-in-Chief of JourneyWoman. If you’re not familiar with JourneyWoman, it’s a reliable and lively resource for women–for travel tips and advice on solo travel, JourneyWoman is wonderful company to keep. Watch for a future post from Carolyn about her experience on the legendary…

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These Boots Are Made for Walking

By Jules Torti | November 12, 2021

It’s easy to tell someone to go take a hike, but we thought we’d lean on a few experts for tips on how to do it properly! Hiking in remote wilderness presents its own distinct considerations versus walking hostel to hostel on the populated Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route. In the end, the distance or…

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Edible Morocco: Did Somebody Say Berber Pizza?

By Jules Torti | November 9, 2021

When I received my hotly-anticipated copy of Gastro Obscura: A Food Adventurer’s Guide, I beelined through the pages to the North Africa section. Authors Cecily Wong and Dylan Thuras are immediately frank about their seven continent, 120 country, 500 dish-long taste-test: “We love tasty food, but we aim to be explorers rather than gourmands. Seekers…

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Let’s Get Some Latitude!

By Jules Torti | November 2, 2021

It’s a common thread (once you remove the knots). We’re all anxious to get out there and complain about airplane food again, aren’t we? Actually, on a recent British Airways flight from Dubrovnik, the baked lemon thyme chicken and chickpea salad with marinated tomatoes and basil was rather impressive. And a salted caramel brownie pudding…

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Introducing Kate Hives: Our Adventure Specialist in a Spray Skirt!

By Jules Torti | October 26, 2021

When I look at Kate Hives profile on LinkedIn it’s obvious: this woman loves to be outside. She’s like the cat that will curl around your ankles with affection but then shoot out any open door when you’re not looking.  Kate has been a sea kayak guide, coach, examiner and outdoor educator for over 20…

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8 Things You Didn’t Know About Croatia

By Jules Torti | October 18, 2021

It was serendipitous that I picked up a copy of Lonely Planet Croatia in the thick of the pandemic. Travel wasn’t even a consideration at that point but as per routine, I combed the shelves at our nearest Value Village for something that might trigger. I didn’t know then that I’d be in Croatia just…

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Grin and Polar Bear It: Five Things You Didn’t Know About Them!

By Jules Torti | September 21, 2021

  Often called the “Lords of the Arctic,” Nanuk (Inuit), Nanook and ᓇᓄᖅ (in Inuktitut), polar bears are also known as sea bears, God’s Dog (by the Sámi and Lapp), Gyp (“Grandfather” in Siberian) and Isbjorn–”The Ice Bear,” in Norway and Sweden. Male polar bears can tip the scales at 1,320 pounds and stand 10 feet…

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The Polar BARE Facts with Wild Women Team Member Franny Bergschneider

By Jules Torti | September 17, 2021

Introducing Wild Women Expeditions’ Resident Polar Expert and Program Manager, Franny Bergschneider! Franny emerged from the urban wilderness of Toronto and first cultivated her love for travel, expedition, remote places and environmentalism on the deep lakes and rivers of Ontario, Canada. Her passions run just as wild and untamed as the rivers for youth and…

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A Story About the South Pole and a Southpaw (with a few penguins)

By Jules Torti | September 11, 2021

You might be wondering what tennis and the 66th parallel could possibly have in common. It’s doubtful that you will ever find tennis on a Wild Women itinerary but there’s a connection here between the South Pole and Canadian’s surprise southpaw, Leylah Fernandez. The spunky 19-year-old has become a U.S. Open darling, landing a coveted…

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Which Horseback Riding Adventure Do I Choose?

By Cline Owen | May 11, 2021

    I have a magnet on my fridge that says, “Where to next?” I’m not sure where it came from, but it seems to be a theme in my life. There’s always a “where to next.” Except for that time in 2020 when I’d returned from a road trip with my partner in January,…

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Experience The Golden Circle Riding Adventure…

By Cline Owen | May 11, 2021

    On every trip there is a kind of pinnacle moment, an experience that you know instantly you’ll remember for a lifetime. On the Golden Circle Riding Adventure in Iceland, there are many potential peak moments; every instant is spectacular and special in its own way. If I asked every one of the hundreds…

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The Magic of The Arctic and Antarctica

By Natalie Gillis | April 8, 2021

      Natalie Gillis is a sea kayaker who has been professionally guiding for the past 12 years; while she spends most of her days paddling cold waters in the High Arctic, Greenland and Antarctica, some of her favourite kayaking destinations are found on the coasts of her home country of Canada. She has…

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Animals of the Antarctic- 10 Things you Never Knew

By Becky Parmiter | March 19, 2021

  There’s nothing that spells adventure quite like a trip to the farthest reaches of our beautiful planet. In an ice-covered continent that boasts the world’s coldest temperature ever recorded (a balmy -89.2 degrees celsius), you will visit the home of some of the earth’s most elusive, beautiful, and resilient animals – the animals of…

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Beyond Pyramids: The Wild Women of Egypt

By Jennifer Haddow | January 17, 2021

“My heart is so full, my heart is so full…” Helen whispered as we walked in the Goddess temple. It was only the second day of our 2 week Wild Women tour of Egypt and I knew that it was going to get even better. It was my fourth visit to Egypt, and my heart overflows…

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Face to Face With A Wild Polar Bear

By Jennifer Haddow | November 4, 2020

My face was a few feet away from the face of this beautiful wild polar bear. She was curious about the tundra buggy, like an alien ship landed in her backyard, that I sat in the back of, outside on the observation deck. I was in her territory, on the shore of Hudson Bay in…

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RUINS IN THE SUNSHINE

By Melanie Chambers | August 26, 2020

She pulled out a giant chocolate bar. “Does anyone want some?” That’s rhetorical, right? We’re on a bus filled with women, albeit strangers. It’s day one of a week together to hike the Inca Trail in Peru, but this ice-breaking comment is sure to turn a batch of strangers into fast friends. For some of…

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The Gate

By Jet Dowson | July 24, 2020

“The Nahanni River at The Gate flows through a mountain ridge that looks as if it has been cleaved in two by a giant axe. Our campsite is just upriver from it. These two massive rocks include outcroppings called The Pulpit and The Preacher and I find myself listening for silent sermons about the ancient…

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The Paradise Of Haida Gwaii

By Melonie Shipman | July 8, 2020

“We see a steady stream of wildlife companions throughout the trip in Haida Gwaii. Here a seal, there a seal, every day a seal. A small squid propelling lets go a stream of ink as it realizes there is a strange object in its way; a wild woman in a kayak!     It started…

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Let’s Be Mermaids

By Johanna Gohmann | July 1, 2020

I was lying on the ground somewhere in Canada, my tail glinting in the sunlight. I thrust my fin up toward the blue sky, glancing at the women beside me. Their own tails—in shimmery shades of pink and green and purple—were also tilted up in a piscine salute to the sun. The day was baking…

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Healing On The Inca Trail

By Donna Reina | June 25, 2020

Here’s my story about finding healing along the Inca Trail. In late 2014 I was diagnosed with a more uncommon type of breast cancer and immediately went through surgery, months of tests, radiation treatment, and hormone treatment. As I was coming out of the fog, I came across Wild Women Expeditions through a mutual business…

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In The Wilds Of Baja, Mexico

By Gloria J. Chang | June 11, 2020

I had never been so happy to see a cactus — even just through the window of an airport shuttle, as it sped towards a promised adventure full of whales and kayaking in what was known as the “Galapagos of Mexico.” A cactus meant warmth, sun, and did I mention the sun? The description of…

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A Conversation With Annahid Dashtgard

By Candice Bartlett | June 4, 2020

What is required to create change in ourselves and in society? This conversation between Jennifer Haddow and Annahid Dashtgard was transcribed from a video earlier this week and is available in full in our Facebook Group. These words come at an important time right now and act as a meditation on the universal questions of…

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So, You Wanna Go Canoeing?

By Jenny Martindale | May 26, 2020

Fact: Wild Women Expeditions was conceived and born in a canoe. That’s right, 30 years ago, founder Beth Mairs was inspired to start this company on a canoe trip with other female friends in Northern Ontario. Over the years, the roots of Wild Women have been firmly planted on the quintessential Canadian canoe trip, and…

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Ain’t No Mountain High Enough

By Jennifer Haddow | May 21, 2020

My adventure in Nepal totally changed my life. When I trekked to Everest Base Camp in Nepal, over a decade ago, I was lost. Sick and afraid and depleted. And in the weeks of trekking in those heavenly Himalayas, something shifted and cracked open. I fed my soul. When I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis…

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Fierce Vulnerability: A Conversation With Eve Ensler

By Candice Bartlett | May 5, 2020

Famed for her fearless work as an activist, author, and Tony Award-winning playwright, Eve Ensler epitomizes what it means to be a Fierce Female. Director Jennifer Haddow connected with Eve in Bali to interview her for Wild Women Magazine. Read Jennifer’s inspiring conversation with Eve about how being vulnerable and showing up has the power…

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The Wild Spirit Of Espiritu Santo

By Stacey Nedrow-Wigmore | April 30, 2020

I leaned over the side of the small boat, slapping the surface of the water with my hand. A large eye blinked back at me as the massive animal it belonged to approached the panga, sliding under my hand like a dog looking for a pat. I tentatively rubbed the cheek of the gray whale…

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JANE GOODALL: HOPE FOR HUMANITY

By Candice Bartlett | April 15, 2020

  She embodies the spirit of a wild woman and inspires as she leads. Jane Goodall is the kindness and devotion that is needed in the world if we hope to avoid the extinction of many endangered species and the destruction of our wilderness habitats. Hope has the power to transform our world for the…

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Trip of a Lifetime

By Amy Hogan | March 14, 2017

In August 2016, I went on Wild Women Expedition’s Iceland Golden Circle Horseback Riding Adventure. It was an experience unlike anything I had ever had in my life. It pushed my limits physically, emotionally and mentally. The message playing in my head over and over throughout the entire trip was “Oh my goodness I can’t…

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