Have Friends, Will Travel

I’m sea kayaking in the Sea of Cortez, just off the east coast of Baja—my third group tour in as many months. Question: What does this adventure have in common with my last trip to Peru and the one before that to Croatia? Answer: Women traveling together, without their significant others.

While it’s true that vacationing with the object of our affection remains the most popular way for women to travel, the “leave the guys at home” philosophy appears to be gaining ground. Take Ruth and Jaime, paddling in the kayak just off my left shoulder. They met on a women’s cycling trip several years ago and maintained a friendship despite the distance—Ruth lives in British Columbia, and Jaime in Ohio. An avid traveler, Ruth began passing along her itineraries to Jaime, who began joining in. “It’s a great way to get to hang out,” says Jaime. “We’d never see each other otherwise.”

In Peru, Valerie and Sheila were on their first trip together, having met through a mutual friend in their hometown. “We both realized we loved to travel and somehow decided to go to Peru together,” Valerie says. “I was nervous committing to travel for two weeks and share a room with someone I didn’t know very well, but it worked out great, and we’re planning to take another trip together.”

Sheila likens traveling with a girlfriend to gaining an instant sister and lifelong friend. Added perks include an honest opinion when shopping, someone who will always photograph you at your best angle, and the freedom that comes from not having to “take care of” a high-maintenance boyfriend/husband.

I’ve always traveled either with a guy, or by myself as part of a larger group. So I’ve been thinking . . . why not go someplace with my mom, or my best childhood girlfriend, or some of my Boulder besties? I even started a list of fabulous trips—some are women-only, others are group trips that seem to lend themselves well to traveling without the Y chromosome.

Know of any others? Do tell! I’d love to get your opinion and add it to my Girlfriend Getaways Master File:

Adventures Within Reach: Not only is this company in Boulder, my hometown, but owner Robin Paschall makes a serious effort to offer worldwide adventure travel trips at a fair, affordable price. I love her “end of season” sales and special discounts. adventureswithinreach.com

Experience Plus: Maria Price and her sister recently took this international bike tour company over from their parents who founded it in 1972. Their array of destinations is dizzying—from Argentina to Vietnam. They also have a strong reputation for guide quality and attention-to-detail. I think they’ll host my next vacation… if I can decide which tour to do. experienceplus.com

Fazendin Portfolio: Sarah Fazendin is my go-to girl for Africa. Fun, friendly, upbeat, and experienced, she’s one of America’s top experts on travel to Africa and speaks regularly on the subject for institutions like National Geographic and Fodor’s. Whatever you want to do in Africa, she’ll instantly have a suggestion, and will most likely have already been there herself. fazendinportfolio.com

Natural Habitat Adventures: Nailing the balance between off-the-beaten-path adventure and comfort, they offer the kind of trips that will stretch you on multiple levels—trekking through the Peruvian Amazon, expeditions in Antarctica, polar bear tracking in Manitoba. You’ll appreciate the balance between the raw adventure, and the luxe accommodations and meals–you’ll also appreciate the price. nathab.com

Run Wild Retreats: Trail Runner magazine editor and athlete Elinor Fish offers running retreats in Colorado and Canada, as well as a 10-week-clinic in Carbondale, Colorado. I know Elinor personally, just haven’t been on one of her trips yet… but I got bombarded with email from women raving about her retreats, so I’m happy to add her to my list. runwildretreats.com

Sea Kayak Adventures: Nancy Mertz’s company blends kayaking with activities like yoga, culinary endeavors, and whale watching in Alaska, Baja, The Galapagos, and British Columbia for startlingly low prices. National Geographic rated them one of the “Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth” last year, and I can personally attest that they employ some of the best guides in the business. seakayakadventures.com

The Trip Chicks: I met The Trip Chicks co-founder Ann Lombardi on the inaugural bike tour of Egypt this spring. She brought her favorite traveling companion – 72-year-old triathlete Alpha Bennett along. These were two cool, classy, laid-back ladies with a real flair for the unexpected. thetripchicks.com

Women’s Quest: If you spend even one minute talking to founder Colleen Cannon about her active travel trips and her company, you’ll be ready to sign up for every offering on her calendar. This woman knows travel, knows outdoor adventure, and puts her entire heart and soul into the planning of her trips. All of her adventures combine a physical activity like cycling or hiking, with self-awareness exercises like yoga, journaling, or meditation. womensquest.com

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Jayme Otto is a travel blogger and contributing editor for Women’s Adventure and a freelancer at large. Look for her regular blogs on www.womensadventuremagazine.com.