What we’re about
Looking for a community of adventure loving, boundary pushing, encouraging women to explore the world with?
You found it!
Explorer Chick is a 2022 Travel and Leisure World’s Best Tour Operator changing the lives of thousands with our supportive community formed organically by the women who have traveled all over the world with us on our small-group adventure travel tours.
What we got here is a happy by-product of Real Women embarking on Real Adventures. Women bonded together by challenging themselves in the outdoors. Women who naturally encouraged one another and connected right away. Women who live to LIVE.
🦸♀️ The friendships are REAL.
🦸♀️ The vulnerability on the trails is REAL.
🦸♀️ The empowerment is REAL.
🦸♀️ The personal growth is REAL.
🦸♀️ The cuss words, inside jokes, and SHE-naningans are REAL.
And we’ve been doing it since 2014! That year, Explorer Chick founder, Nicki Bruckmann was a wife, cat mom and home owner who worked full-time in corporate finance. Instead of feeling fulfilled by ticking all the boxes, she found herself feeling stifled. She made the choice to break away from it all and step out of that life. To figure things out, she needed a vacation reset. But not just any vacation. She wanted something that would feed her adventurous soul and push boundaries. But the thing about divorce? You lose that built-in travel buddy. Believing that other women must also be in the same situation; craving adventure and travel and not wanting to do it all alone, she launched Explorer Chick! Check out the whole story here. Launching in 2015, Explorer Chick ran one trip with three bold ladies looking for adventure. From there, this amazing community of women continues to grow, and in 2022 more than 1100 women traveled with us on 133 trips over 5 continents!
Whether you arrive as a solo traveler or with several of your closest gal pals, you’ll be greeted by a group of like-minded women travelers of all ages who love to go hiking, camping, rafting, backpacking, canyoning, surfing, kayaking, climbing and more. Basically, we’re all in on anything that gets us outdoors and active!
We travel the US National Parks and bucket list destinations like Iceland, Jordan, Galapagos, Croatia, Uganda and so many more.
The best part? You are taken care of by Explorer Chick’s professional, certified guides. They handle all the details: from food to accommodations to gear and extra words of encouragement when you need them the most. Leaving you to simply “mindlessly wander”.
“Okay, so how do I join Explorer Chick?”
It’s easy!
We’re not a club. There are no dues. You can simply engage with us on any of our social media (linked below), send us an email, introduce yourself in our Facebook group, learn what we’re really about on our Google reviews, or go big and book your next adventure on our website.
Say Hello 👋
💻 Website: https://explorerchick.com/
📧 Email: hello@explorerchick.com
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/explorerchickadventureco/
❤️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ExplorerChickAdventureCo/
👯♀️ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/weareexplorerchick
🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@explorerchick
What are women saying? Jump down the rabbit hole with our Google Reviews.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Inca Trail Trek To Machu Picchu AdventureMachu Picchu, Cusco
Hike the iconic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru with a small group of bold women! Your trip is fully-supported with deluxe camping, porters, and chefs. Prior to your hike, spend 3 days acclimatizing and exploring Cusco and the Sacred Valley. Then, hike for 4 days and 3 nights on the classic route to reach Machu Picchu via the Sun Gate with a bonus extra day at Machu Picchu.
CUSCO AND THE SACRED VALLEY
During the first part of your adventure, you’ll explore the ancient ruins, landmarks, and museums of Cusco and the Sacred Valley with Explorer Chick on private tours. Sites to see include Cusco Cathedral, the Inca Museum, and Sacsayhuaman. Our private guide will walk us through each site while revealing the stories of the Incan Culture. Along the way, we’ll have a few surprises and special moments that will leave you moved by the spirituality and kindness of the Quechua culture. You’ll visit the famous Maras Salt Pans and Moray Inca site learning about the experimental agricultural techniques. Be sure to bring some extra cash so you can stock up on the pink salt buying directly from the harvesters.
QUECHUA VILLAGE
Then it’s on to a living Quechua village high in the mountains. The children will melt your heart as they race our bus up to their homes. As you step off our private bus, you’ll be adorned in traditional clothing quickly feeling the warmth of the alpaca wool. It is an honor as the families welcome you to their homes, serve up a traditional lunch cooked in the ground, and demonstrate their weaving techniques. The women of the village will have their hand-made goods available for purchase including intricate tapestries, hats, scarves, and more. Yes, this means you are supporting local, women-owned businesses with a direct injection into the local economy. (Yeah, we feel pretty good about that! 💛).
INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU HIKE
Then on Day 4 we will arrive to KM 82 to kick off our four-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Hike. Our very first night on the Inca Trail is spent at a private campground surrounded by Incan structures that will not be occupied by any other Inca Trail Trekkers.
Over the course of 4 days and 3 nights you will hike up and over three mountain passes with the highest being the ominous Dead Woman’s Pass standing at 13,828 ft. Throughout the 4-day trek, our private guide will also be walking us through and educating us on several of the ancient ruins that remain and can only be accessed by foot.MACHU PICCHU AND THE SUN GATE
On Day 7 your step will quicken as you sense the Sun Gate approaches. Yes, walking through the Sun Gate is an honor that few get to enjoy. You just walked to Machu Picchu! And, close to sunset! Yes, the coveted Golden Hour! And now you get to revel in your accomplishments making your way down to the Citadel proper.
Then upon exiting, we’ll be staying the night in Machu Picchu Town (Aguas Calientes), where you can shower and sleep in a real bed at our hotel. (And if you’re feeling really frisky, grab a beer to celebrate!)
The next morning, your private tour continues as our local guide takes us through Machu Picchu pointing out areas of significance. Oh, and you bet we will be stopping at the BEST spots to snag those Glamour Shots! 📸 Afterward, we’ll make our way back to Cusco!RAINBOW MOUNTAIN (OPTIONAL EXTENSION)
Check another Peruvian natural wonder off your bucket list! Embark on this challenging trek to see the vibrant colors of Rainbow Mountain with our optional excursion.
**See the website for full details and to book.**
https://explorerchick.com/trip/inca-trail-trek-to-machu-pichu-adventure/Say Hello 👋
💻 Website: https://explorerchick.com/
📧 Email: hello@explorerchick.com
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/explorerchickadventureco/
❤️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ExplorerChickAdventureCo/
👯♀️ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/weareexplorerchick
🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@explorerchick - Utah Ultimate National Parks Hiking Road TripUtah, Utah, UT
Get that epic sing-along mix tape ready! It’s here: Your 8-day ultimate Utah National Parks Road Trip! Ramble across southwest Utah on our women’s group hiking tour to some of Utah’s most popular national parks and beyond.
This isn’t that painful family road trip when Dad only allowed one pee break per state line. No way, Explorer Chick. Climb on into our Explorer Chick SHE-nanigan Shuttle with a gaggle of your newest girlfriends. Singalongs and snacks are strongly encouraged before lacing up dirty boots to hike the dusty trails of four of Utah’s national parks.
GUIDED HIKING IN UTAH’S NATIONAL PARKS
Rise to the challenge of a new trail, before a new horizon, with new friends who encourage your magic. Wander in disbelief as you hike above and below the giants in Zion Canyon. Siren your soul among the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon. Marvel the muscle of water cutting through the Arches. Hike up your big girl Lycra as you clamber through corkscrew slot canyons and descend layers of red, pink, brown, and white sandstone.
Along the way, you’ll be led by some of the best female guides in the business. They’ll be with you every step, ensuring your trip is seamless and unforgettable. Explorer Chick prides itself in curating trips for women who live an active, healthy lifestyle. We tackle the big climbs, the long trails, the bucket lists, and the uncomfortable — and your guides and Explorer Chick sisters will be there supporting you the whole way.
ACCOMMODATIONS AND MEALS INCLUDED
No tent camping this trip. Kick off your dusty hiking boots, howl at bad jokes, and settle into our shared digs (dreamy glamping and yurts, anyone?). We’ll feed your gremlin belly with a mix of fresh-made meals and dining out – including an insane lunchtime stop along the White Rim of the Colorado River in Canyonlands.
Start your fem-gines for this epic Utah National Parks Road Trip. It’s gonna be an unforgettable ride.See the website for full itinerary, details and to book.
https://explorerchick.com/adventures/utah-national-parks-road-trip-hiking/
Say Hello 👋
💻 Website: https://explorerchick.com/
📧 Email: hello@explorerchick.com
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/explorerchickadventureco/
❤️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ExplorerChickAdventureCo/
👯♀️ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/weareexplorerchick
🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@explorerchick - Acadia Hiking And Coastal Maine AdventureMaine, Maine, ME
### Exploration, Exhilaration, And Eleanor!
Get ready for non-stop whiffs of sweet pine as you hike the startingly beautiful coastlines of Maine and Acadia National Park. This 7-day women’s trip takes you far away from a world where everyone needs you… and it includes a sneaky visit into Canada.
It all starts in Portland, Maine where we rendezvous, exchange bff necklaces, and hop in the SHE-nanigan Shuttle to our first hike… which is THE best hike. We’ll scale the famous iron rungs of The Beehive, peer into the crystal-clear waters of Bowl Pond, and gape at stunning shoreline cliffs as we explore Gorham Mountain and Sand Beach.Next we’ll scramble the summits of The Bubbles, eat our body weight in seafood in Bar Harbor, and spend an entire day exploring Acadia via sea kayak. Bald eagles, porpoises, otters, and seals send their love and may even pose for a photo thanks to the glorious nature freaks leading our aqua-safari. We’ll tiptoe into the quietside of Acadia, where crowds never reach. And you’ll get your unmissable photo of Somesville Bridge, dammit!
At the end of each day, you’ll rest your gorgeous head at our epic Glampsite. Enjoy real beds, ensuite bathrooms, hot showers, good coffee, and the best laughs of your life. Leave the cooking and the backcountry picnics to us.
When we leave our Glampsite after four nights, we’ll enjoy one more hike along the Bold Coast Trail, brimming with badass drop-offs and gorgeous views of the Bay of Maine. We’ll break for beers and battered cod in the darling seaside town of Lubec, Maine. And then we’ll whip out our passports to casually cross into Canada like it’s another Tuesday.
This is a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience. For two nights, we’ll stay in a historic cottage and working museum inside Roosevelt Campobello International Park, the grounds where Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt’s magnificent summer home is preserved! Fangirl over Eleanor, one of the OG feminists and human rights activists, as we explore the places she called home and even enjoy afternoon tea in her honor. So much First Lady energy!
We’ll sneak in a sunrise lighthouse hike and explore more of the epic shoreline of New Brunswick before our last East Coast supper. Can we change our names and stay here foreverrrr?
See the website for full itinerary, details and to book.
https://explorerchick.com/trip/womens-acadia-hiking-and-coastal-maine-tour/Say Hello 👋
💻 Website: https://explorerchick.com/
📧 Email: hello@explorerchick.com
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/explorerchickadventureco/
❤️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ExplorerChickAdventureCo/
👯♀️ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/weareexplorerchick
🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@explorerchick - Las Vegas Climbing and Paddling Weekend AdventureLas Vegas, Las Vegas, NV
This isn’t your typical girls-only Vegas weekend trip. This is a Las Vegas Vacation Weekend Adventure, Explorer Chick style! (That means packing your sequins and sports bras!) After a few nights on the strip, enjoy rock climbing, kayaking and overnight camping in Black Canyon. Experience both the glamour and true grit of Las Vegas, Nevada in its surrounding desert landscape with other adventurous women.
From a 4-star hotel to a billion-star sky, experience the full scope of glam and grit in WILD Las Vegas.VIVA FREEMONT STREET LAS VEGAS
Your vacation begins at a high-end Downtown Las Vegas Hotel and Casino where you’ll enjoy all the food, drink, chip-tossing, and people-watching Fremont Street has to offer.
RED ROCK CANYON ROCK CLIMBING
We’ll build in time to escape the crowds to spend a full day rock climbing and exploring the vertical sandstone walls of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.
KAYAKING BELOW HOOVER DAM
So long, Las Vegas! Kayak adventure, here we come! On day three, we’ll dry bag our belongings (peace out, heels ✌) as we prepare for a camping overnight along the Lower Colorado River. Your 12-mile paddling journey launches at the base of Hoover Dam through the Black Canyon on the Lower Colorado River. That’s right: We’ll gain special access to launch kayaks below the towering Hoover Damn. Talk about feeling small!
COLORADO RIVER CAMPING
The water will be moving and flat; a peaceful pace for anyone who might have overindulged the night prior and perfect for a relaxing trip. Along the way, we’ll make frequent stops to areas accessible only by boat—natural hot springs, slot canyons, a natural sauna, Emerald Cave with gorgeous green water, historical sites, even ruins! We’ll spend our final night resting up camped out on the shore, snort-laughing under the stars.
This adventure is for women who love to experience multiple adventures, don’t mind trading their bed for a warm sleeping bag, and who can trade room service for rock climbing without a second thought. This Vegas Vacation is the best of both worlds: city life and outdoor adventure!
See the website for full itinerary, details and to book.
https://explorerchick.com/adventures/vegas-vacation/Say Hello 👋
💻 Website: https://explorerchick.com/
📧 Email: hello@explorerchick.com
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/explorerchickadventureco/
❤️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ExplorerChickAdventureCo/
👯♀️ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/weareexplorerchick
🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@explorerchick