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- Galapagos Island Hopping and Underwater AdventureSantiago Island, Santa Cruz
Love animals and staying active on vacation? How about both! Channel your inner Darwin and get ready for our guided Galapagos Islands Tour and Multisport Adventure in Ecuador! Meet bold women who love to adventure travel and ugly-cry about nature just as much as you. Tour the islands, enjoy a variety of outdoor sports, and say buenos días to all the animals in the Galapagos.
TORTOISES AND OTHER WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS
The meet-and-greet crew on our Galapagos Islands tour are a wild bunch—literally! Experience incredible animal encounters throughout your trip. This is the binge-worthy Planet Earth on Netflix, but in REAL LIFE. Narrate your own nature film starring tortoises, sea lions, iguanas, penguins, boobies, reef sharks.
GALAPAGOS ISLANDS TOUR AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Over the course of our 9-day tour, you’ll visit three different islands. Each features a plethora of adventures to keep your intrepid soul curious. This trip is “check off the vacation bucket list” time. Why settle for a ho-hum tour where you have to pick and choose activities? This is Explorer Chick! We’ll do it all, baby! Snorkel, kayak, and hike amidst the wandering beasts and spewing volcanoes.
ALL OUTDOOR SPORTS EQUIPMENT PROVIDED
Yep! Explorer Chick provides everything you need to play outside on the Galapagos Islands!
- kayak and paddles
- snorkeling equipment
ALL-INCLUSIVE TOUR PERKS
Every evening, stay in 4-star boutique hotels. We’re talking roof top terraces with harbor views and beside pools with a cocktail. Plus, enjoy all-inclusive perks including:
- round trip flight from Quito to Baltra
- Galápagos National Park Pass
- Transit Card
Heck, you’ll even squeeze in some white sandy beach time! Relax with a book (and a neighboring sea lion). #MermaidParadise
Adventure Highlights
- Hike to the still active Volcano crater, Sierra Negra
- Snorkel the clear waters at Concha Perla looking for penguins, seals, and colorful fish
- Kayak the volcanic islets of Tintoreras while scanning for white-tip sharks and sting rays
- Explore one of South America’s best white sand beaches, Tortuga Bay Beach
- Visit the crystal clear pools of water surrounded by volcanic cliffs at Las Grietas
- Relax in the cute beach town of Puerta Villamil
- Hike to the highest point of Santa Cruz for a panoramic view of the islands
- Experience three total islands, including creepy-cool Floreana with black sand beaches
- Visit tortoise farms and breeding centers to learn more about conservation efforts
- Take a Chiva (local transport) to the highlands of Floreana, through banana, cocoa, and coffee plantations
- Participate in a cooking class in Quito with a local chef.
- Don’t sweat the often extra cost of the Internal round trip flight from Quito to Baltra (~$600), National Park Pass, ($100), and Transit Card ($20). These are included in your price.
- Kick back in 4 Star boutique hotels throughout your adventure that offer fabulous views that pair well with a cocktail
- Relax with a comprehensive itinerary that makes the logistics, transportation, navigation, meal planning, lodging, and everything in-between easy.
- Geek out with encouraging and supportive Explorer Chicks on a private, women-only, small group adventure tour.
See the website for full details and to book.
https://explorerchick.com/adventures/galapagosSay 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 - Croatia Hiking National Parks and Multisport Adventure TourCroatia, Croatia
Get ready to have your mind blown multiple times over turquoise waters, frothing waterfalls, badass mountain summits, and medieval towns. Croatia will turn anyone into an annoying romantic. Book your week-long women’s multi-sport adventure tour featuring hiking, e-biking, mountain-summiting, sea kayaking, snorkeling, and plenty of Adriatic Sea swimming. You’ll explore ancient cities tripping through architectural history from ancient Roman, Venetian Gothic, Romanesque, and Medieval. Cycle through stupid-pretty Istrian Peninsula hilltop towns. Bust your booties through Plitvice Lakes and Paklenica National Parks. Climb a freaking Via Ferrata to summit Bojin Kuk. And float through the 80+ islands that make up Kornati National Park. BRB we need to pick our jaw up from off the ground.
EXPLORE ZAGREB, CROATIA’S CAPITAL CITY
You and your Explorer Chick entourage will geek over all the architecture porn – from medieval stone gates to Gothic cathedrals. We’ll visit all the “musts” and gather for a welcome dinner in the Old Town. Did you just change your Insta handle to Croatia_Cutie? We are obsessed with you!
E-BIKES, WINE, AND TRUFFLES IN THE ISTRIAN COUNTRYSIDE
What could be better than seeing tiny cutie towns? TASTING the wares of those tiny cutie towns! We’ll cruise the Parenzana trail on our E-Bikes, stopping in Grožnjan, Oprtalj, and Motovun for coffee, olive oil tastings, and a spectacular lunch. By evening, we’ll cycle to the top of Motovun for a stunning gargoyle view of the Adriatic cities. You won’t leave Istria without loading your bike down with bottles of wine and a tummy full of truffles.
HIKE PLITVICE LAKES AND PAKLENICA NATIONAL PARKS
You’re gonna see the kind of natural beauty that shows up in the screensavers of Apple products. The Instagram world is stark raving mad over Plitvice Lakes because of its unique system of lakes and waterfalls. A rock climbing and hiking paradise awaits you in Paklenica National Park with views of the Adriatic Sea from your very own mountain summit.
KORNATI NATIONAL PARK SPEED-BOAT AND SPLIT SEA-KAYAKS
The best views of this gorgeous region are often gleaned from the sea. Across two days, we’ll explore the island systems via speedboat and sea-kayak, leaving plenty of time for swimming, snorkeling, and floating otter-style on your back. You are basically a mermaid now and have to deal with mermaid things like schools of fish, coral spottings and island lunches. You poor thing.
Adventure Highlights:
- E-Bike through Croatia’s “Tuscany” tasting Wine, Olive Oil, and Truffles along the way
- Discover charming hilltop medieval towns on the Istria Peninsula
- Truffle Hunt with a local in the forests of Motovun
- Hike the lower and upper falls of the famous Plitvice Lakes National Park
- Soak in sunsets over the Adriatic from beautiful viewpoints
- Climb a Via Ferrata to the summit of Bojin Kuk in Paklenica National Park
- Enjoy the background music of Zadar’s Sea Organ at sunset
- Explore Kornati National Park by speedboat with swimming, snorkeling, and a seafood lunch
- Sea Kayak to a secluded beach off Split with more swimming, snorkeling, and cliff jumping
- Get lost in the narrow streets of Split while enjoying a cone of gelato or a glass of wine
- Kick back in 3-4 Star boutique hotels throughout your adventure with fabulous views that pair well with a cocktail
- Relax with a comprehensive itinerary that makes everything in-between easy.
- Geek out with encouraging and supportive Explorer Chicks on a private, women-only, small group adventure tour.
See the website for full details and to book.
https://explorerchick.com/adventures/womens-croatia-hiking-national-parks-and-multisport-adventure-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 - 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 - Alaska Hiking, Kayaking, and Glacier TourAlaska, Alaska, AK
Ready to take on Alaska, she-wolf?! Explorer Chick is howling over this stunner of a week-long women’s Alaska Hiking, kayaking, and Glacier Tour to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Prince William Sound and the Talkeetna Mountains. Bring your Mukluks, a flask and plenty of Lord Huron. Alaska is gonna swallow your heart whole.
Hike through legit caribou tundra in the Talkeetna Mountains. Fly over volcanic mountains before wandering America’s largest National Park, Wrangell-St. Elias, for three days. Stay in a friggen ghost town near the base of yet another glacier and shame every lame tampon sport commercial as you ice climb a glacier.
Water proof your phone for all the iceberg selfies while sea kayaking Prince William Sound. Just when you think it can’t get more beautiful, Columbia Glacier will “calve” millions of pounds of ice into the bay like the badass Mama Nature is.
There will be moonshine, ferry rides, wildlife, abandoned mines, ice fields, lodge-cooked meals, nights out on the “town,” coastal national forest, pure Alaska hiking, and more snowy peaks than you can count from the SEVEN mountain ranges you’ll see.
Caw into the cold air and Alaska will echo back. You’re about to fall hard for this wild world that gives America its midnight sun.
See the website for full itinerary, details and to book.
https://explorerchick.com/adventures/womens-alaska-hiking-kayaking-and-glacier-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