Explorer Chicks of Des Moines

Enjoy a women-only adventure by camping under the desert stars on our Ultimate Jordan and Petra Tour! Over the course of 8 days and 7 nights, you’ll hike portions of the Jordan Trail, ride camels in Wadi Rum, float in the Dead Sea, and glamp under desert stars. Yep! Your Jordan Adventure will channel every ounce of your inner Indiana Jane! Cue the theme song and sing it enthusiastically as you read on about your Jordan adventure.

KING’S HIGHWAY CANYON EXPLORING AND SWIMMING

Your adventure kicks off along the King’s Highway, which you’ll travel before exploring one of the most beautiful canyons on earth. Swim through milky blue waters beneath towering basalt canyon walls. Then cozy up with your new Explorer Chick besties at an eco-lodge within the boundaries of Dana Nature Reserve.

JORDAN TRAIL HIKING AND GLAMPING

The following morning, you’ll wake to trek 5 miles along one of the most scenic sections of the Jordan Trail to arrive at Little Petra. En route, you’ll be able to see into Israel and learn about the biblical significance of the trail by our local guide. That night, you’ll relax under the stars at an authentic Bedouin camp in a comfortable glamping site with a bed and mattress.

PETRA TOUR

The next day, you’ll journey to Petra on foot over the course of 9 miles. The hike might seem long, but you’ll be rewarded by entering Petra through a back entrance before exploring the narrow slot canyons and caves deep within the vast UNESCO World Heritage site. On your second day in Petra, our local guide will take us on a super-secret hike with stunning views known only by the locals (Shhhhh! Don’t tell the tourists!).

WADI RUM DESERT TOUR AND BEDOUIN CAMP

After our time in Petra, we’ll venture to Wadi Rum, the Arabic word for “dry river bed” aka where Matt Damon grew his doo-doo potatoes in The Martian. The Wadi Rum desert is unlike anything else on Earth! Protected by the National Park, this area is devoid of man-made architecture and influence. Instead, the nomadic Bedouin people thrive on what the Earth provides and call Wadi Rum their home. Lucky for us, the Bedouins will welcome us into their communities and share some of their favorite hiking trails. Spend two nights under more breathtaking stars in another authentic Bedouin camp. Your home will be a raised canvas tent complete with a bed and local decor.

JEEP SAFARI TOUR TO MOUNTAIN ROCK SCRAMBLE AND DESERT CAMEL RIDE

While in Wadi Rum, board a Jeep to safari to Burdah Mountain and take on a challenging 3-4 hour scramble to reach the famous Burdah Rock Bridge. If you’re feeling intrepid, inch out to the middle of an arch that stands 900 feet high. Catch your last sunset in Wadi Rum on the back of a camel as you enjoy a bucket-list desert experience.

DEAD SEA SWIM AND JORDANIAN COOKING CLASS

On your final full day, we’ll journey to the lowest place on the earth—The Dead Sea. Sit back, float, slather on some “magical” mineral mud, and wonder to yourself how you got to be so brave. In the evening, we’ll gather for one last meal. But here’s the kicker: You are going to help prepare it under the leadership of a Jordanian culinary school that is women-owned and operated!

Unreal hoodoos? Check. Slot canyons? Majestic overlooks? Check. All this and more (like heated tents with electricity) await you during our Women’s Hiking and Glamping in Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon weekend adventure!

BRYCE CANYON HIKING AND BEGINNER-FRIENDLY CANYONEERING
Escape to prehistoric Utah where you’ll hike stupid-pretty trails in Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park. Wade through the Virgin River below 1,500′ canyon walls in the Narrows. Spend an entire day exploring Bryce Canyon National Park. Ghost the tourists as you wander deep into orange hoodoos. Explore areas of Zion so remote, they can only be reached by rappelling, scrambling, and down-climbing on a beginner-friendly canyoneering route.

ZION NATIONAL PARK’S SCOUT LOOKOUT
Beastmaster up the West Rim Trail to Scout Lookout and enjoy some of the best views in Zion National Park. You’ll hike through Refrigerator Canyon, and shimmy up all 21 of Walters Wiggles to Scout Lookout with panoramic views of Zion Canyon and Virgin River. Afterward, dry your pits as you descend the trail to an easier hike around the scenic streams of Upper and Lower Emerald Pools.

GLAMPING
Every night you’ll rest your head in Insta-worthy glamping tents bordering Zion National Park. Kick it by the campfire under a diamond sky with goddesses who aren’t afraid to get dirty.

EVEREST BASE CAMP, BUT MAKE IT BOUGIE
This 13-day women’s Everest Base Camp trek delivers all the grit of hiking to the world’s most iconic base camp—without roughing it. Stay in hand-picked teahouses with en-suite toilets and cozy electric blankets, then cap it with a cinematic helicopter ride back down the Khumbu Valley.

Along the way, you’ll hike the legendary trail through Sagarmatha National Park, explore Kathmandu’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and celebrate with a 5-star heritage hotel finale—all with a girl gang of badass women cheering you on. Explorer Chick sets you up for a successful, comfortable, and brag-worthy adventure.

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Kick off your adventure with a scenic helicopter ride from Kathmandu to Lukla
• Trek the legendary Everest Base Camp trail through Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Cross iconic suspension bridges draped in prayer flags, including the Hillary Bridge
• Immerse yourself in Sherpa culture in vibrant Namche Bazaar and visit the sacred Tengboche Monastery
• Stand proud at Everest Base Camp (17,598 ft) and watch sunrise from Kala Patthar (18,192 ft) with golden views of Everest
• Stay in hand-selected teahouses with Explorer Chick exclusive electric blankets and end in a 5-star heritage hotel in Kathmandu
• Skip the 3 day, 2 night hike back down with a cinematic heli return over the Khumbu Valley
• Explore UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Kathmandu Valley before heading home

THE VIBE
This one’s for the culture seekers, mountain dreamers, and legend chasers.

You’ll trek through the Himalayas where Everest’s storied history looms large, prayer flags whip in the wind, and monasteries echo with chants. You’re grinding up switchbacks with Ama Dablam staring you down, a crew of women beside you reminding you that yes, you can do hard things. Just when you think it’s over, Kathmandu’s ancient temples and lively streets deliver the final dose of culture before you head home with lungs that burn, a spirit that soars, and bragging rights built-in. In a word: OMFG.

## Moab Booty Buster

Bust your booty on the best trails in Canyonlands and Arches National Parks. We squeeze a week of activity into a long weekend on this 4 day women’s hiking trip to Moab, Utah.

Your weekend has been carefully curated and “in the field” tested by your Explorer Chick team! We’ve spent YEARS playing in this outdoor mecca in the desert. You’ll squeeze in some serious ground over the course of a long weekend working on those hiker booty gains.

Explore six arches in one hiking trail to discover the namesake of Arches National Park. Witness the power of wind as you trek among iconic red rock formations where over 2,000 arches have been documented. Descend down layers of red, pink, brown, and white sandstone to enjoy a well-earned lunch on the White Rim of the Colorado River.

Wander through red rock slot canyons, among sandstone hoodoos, and across wind-eroded plains in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. Feel like you’re on a desert planet as you admire the vast and desolately beautiful landscapes.

Catch an unforgettable sunrise at Deadhorse Point State Park as you sip your coffee and munch on your breakfast. Next, gear up and hit the trail in Canyonlands to conquer the steepest trail in the park. (You’ve got this!)

You better believe we wouldn’t let you miss this! Your reward after a brief hike? One of the most famous geological structures in the world. Gaze in awe at some of Mama Nature’s best work before taking your turn to pose in the photo op sweet spot.

Every day, expect to be challenged by a new trail, and a new horizon, and new friends. Your thighs will sing every day as you walk a new hiking trail, admire a new desert horizon, and conquer a new national park!

Your heart will swoon every night as you kick off your dusty hiking boots, share bad jokes, and enjoy fresh-made meals in the Explorer Chick lodging. We’ll enjoy the occasional meal out and even squeeze in some time for you to meander and shop in the funky town of Moab. Your weekend of epic Moab hikes begins with an easy rendezvous at a Salt Lake City airport hotel—we take care of all the transportation from there!

(Phew, did we mention this is all going down in four days?!)