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- West Virginia Wild WeekendWest Virginia, West Virginia, WV
Explorer Chick Wild is an inspiring weekend in West Virginia dedicated to that inner “wild” residing in all women! While New River Gorge camping and whitewater rafting, you’ll gather with dozens of rad chicks for a women’s weekend of outdoor activities, a female outdoor adventurer keynote speaker, endless adventures, and plenty of she-nanigans!
THURSDAY: WELCOME DINNER
We kick off the weekend on Thursday with check-ins, taking time to set up your camp, and commencing Wild with a Welcome Dinner and theme night! What will this year’s theme be!? Stay tuned on our website and Facebook pages to find out!
FRIDAY: GUIDED OUTDOOR ACTIVITY OPTIONS
Friday is your Free Day! You’ll have the option to add Half Day and Full Day guided adventures. Choose from rock climbing, kayaking, SUP, boating, ziplining, an aerial course, ATVing, bridgewalking, or a mud run. Got your own gear and expertise? Then meet up with other Explorer Chicks to embark on your own adventures in the New River Gorge National Park!
FRIDAY EVENING: KEYNOTE SPEAKER
On Friday evening we will have an inspiring Outdoor Woman sharing her story with the Explorer Chicks while we chow down on dinner. Past speakers have included: Sophia Danenberg, Heather "Anish" Anderson, Khadija Diggs, and Jessi Morton-Langehaug.
SATURDAY: WHITEWATER RAFTING
On Saturday morning Explorer Chicks take to the New River for an adrenaline-pumping, full-day whitewater rafting adventure! The New River won’t know what hit it when boats loaded full of Explorer Chicks go head-to-head with up to Stage 5 Rapids! Bring it on! We’ll share our final meal together on Saturday night to watch our rafting movie (starring you!) and relive our rafting adventure!
SUNDAY: DEPARTURE
Sunday is the saddest day of the weekend: departure day. We’ll pack up camp, share hugs, and say our “See you laters!”.
NEW RIVER GORGE CAMPING
It all goes down at the exclusive Explorer Chick Mountaintop Camp on the ACE Adventure Resort property. You’ll bring your camping gear to share a space with perfect strangers (but not for long!).
It’s just a short drive from Explorer Chick Camp to limitless adventure in the New River Gorge including lakes, rivers, rock faces, hiking, and mountain bike trails. ACE Adventure Resort is home to miles of hiking and mountain biking trails for you to explore.
Each night you’ll retell stories around a raging bonfire with your newest friends! (S’mores included!)
Tent and slumber rentals and other lodging options are available. Please see details below.
WONDERLAND WATER PARK
All weekend, you’ll have access to the Wonderland Water Park, ACE’s inflatable water park located on the property. (In one word: Blob! It’s what childhood summer camp dreams are made of!)
To join the party, you’ll need to register for your spot! At check out, you’ll have the option to add guided adventures all day on Friday and again on Sunday morning to pack more adventure into your weekend. Please keep in mind space is limited on the optional excursions.
See the website for full itinerary, details and to book.
https://explorerchick.com/adventures/west-virginia-wild/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 - Machu Picchu Hiking, Biking, And Rafting AdventureMachu Picchu, Cusco
Machu Freaking Picchu
Activate messy bun mode because you’re gonna be movin’ through Peru with whitewater rafting, cycling, and hiking followed by 2 back to back days visiting Machu freaking Picchu magic. CHILLS!
Acclimatizing isn’t code for watching Frasier reruns in the hotel. During our first couple days, we’ll explore ancient ruins, landmarks, and museums of Cusco and the Sacred Valley on private tours. We’ll feast our eyes on Cusco Cathedral, the Inca Museum, Pisac, Awanacancha, and Sacsayhuaman. And we’ll be treated to all the hot goss on Incan Culture thanks to our private guide. Along the way, we’ll have a few sneaky surprises and special moments that will leave you moved by the spirituality and kindness of the Quechua culture.
Your multisport journey begins on Day 3 of your trip. You’ll bike that booty to Maras and Moray. Oh, AND whitewater raft down one of the most scenic portions of the Urubamba River. Um, AND hike up to a lesser-known archeological site. After, you’ll wander down to Ollantaytambo where you’ll fill your belly with a traditional Quechan lunch. Same old weekday, right?
And then MACHU PICCHU – Not once, But TWICE! It’s just too spectacular for one short bus tour. You and your fellow Explorer Chicks are going to Machu Picchu twice AND in style via the Vistadome Train. During your first visit, you’ll get to know the history of the citadel with a 2-hour guided tour that’s light on hiking. The next day, you’ll hike Huayna Picchu, the mountain that sits right behind the citadel. You’ll have extra time to explore the ancient site and soak up all the juicy history thanks to our local guides. Yes, there will be Machu Picchu Glamour Shots.
Optional Rainbow Mountain Extension: Hike deep into the spectacular painted hills, known as Vinicunca. The Red Valley will blow you away with striking collisions of green and red. Press on through the altitude and muster every ounce of grit you’ve got to reach Rainbow Mountain (think: Little Foot when he reaches the Sun Valley). You’ll be rewarded with an insane summit surrounded by glaciated peaks, wild desert landscapes, herds of alpaca, and WILD WOMEN!
See the website for full itinerary, details and to book.
https://explorerchick.com/trip/machu-picchu-hiking-biking-and-rafting-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 - 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/adventures/inca-trail-machu-picchu/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 - Yosemite Half Dome BackpackingYosemite National Park, California, CA
Hit your bucket list with all the feels on this women’s guided hiking and backpacking weekend! During your Yosemite Half Dome Hike adventure, tour Yosemite National Park as you climb the famous cables of Half Dome with ladies who do their own stunts. Live out every last one of those John Muir nature quotes in the backcountry of Yosemite National Park. Mountains calling? Check. Between two pines? Check. Walk with nature? Double-check.
GUIDED BACKPACKING IN YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK BACKCOUNTRY
Romp through the backcountry on a demanding, yet epic backpacking trip. Meet your new woman crushes in the Yosemite Valley as the landscape gives way to mountains, waterfalls, and a piney perfume that’ll make Yankee Candle totally jelly. Mother Nature swiped ALL THE WAY right. Leave the phone on airplane mode to immerse yourself in stunning national park backcountry over the course of four epic days. Climb steep, challenging trails to look down upon the Valley with a panoramic view that includes Mt. Starr King, Half Dome, Nevada Falls, Illilouette Falls, and plenty of ant-sized tourists with tiny selfie sticks.HALF DOME: HIKING TO THE TOP
Fuel up for the real MVP—the famous cables of Half Dome! Blast that hiker booty (and bring plenty of water) while ascending 500 feet up a .5 mile of steps carved into the rock. Then, the real fun begins. It’s a 400-foot gain up the top of Half Dome with some points at 70%+ grades. Pace your footwork on wooden slabs spaced out on the climb as you get the upper body workout of a lifetime. Worth it? HELL YES!BACKPACKING EQUIPMENT PROVIDED
Don’t have backpacking equipment, but can Beastmaster the stairs? Perfect. Explorer Chick has you covered with:- a backpack
- sleeping bag
- sleeping pad
- shared tent
All you need to do is show up for this Yosemite Half Dome Hike to backpack like a boss and get that National Parks bucket list checked.
See the website for full itinerary, details and to book.
https://explorerchick.com/adventures/yosemite-half-dome-hike-backpackingSay 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