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Explorer Chick Celebrates Women's-Only Adventure Travel

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By: Sara Sheehy + Save to a List

Diving in head-first to adventure, and conquering some fears along the way, is best done with a group of supportive people cheering you on. That spirit of community is what drives Explorer Chick, a women's only travel company that offers trips for adventurous souls all around the globe.

Intrigued? Us, too. So we caught up with Nicki Bruckmann, founder and owner of Explorer Chick, to learn more about her company, the trips, and this community of travel-loving women.

How did Explorer Chick start?

Nicki started the adventure travel company in 2014 after a series of life events gave her the chance to start anew.

"At the time I was working in corporate America at Morgan Stanley, had a nice house, had a husband," explains Nicki. "I had a plan, and I had followed it, but I was terrified that I had done a lot of exciting things by age 32, and I didn't want to just ride out the next 30 years until retirement."

Life intervened, placing Nicki on a different path than she'd anticipated. Nicki and her husband separated and divorced, and with her future in flux, she decided to make another change. "I left my job," says Nicki. "I had this traumatic experience, but it was a gift. I had another chance to live life on my terms. I started to feel stoked about the chance to do something inspiring. So I started Explorer Chick."

Nicki booked her first group of travelers on a trip to the Dominican Republic in 2015, and the rest is history.

Who is an Explorer Chick?

"Explorer Chicks share a passion and curiosity for travel and fitness," explains Nicki. "They like to push themselves, but are laid back and want to meet other people."

Nicki also shares that a lot of Explorer Chicks are solo travelers. Some have a thirst for adventure but don't have a friend or family member who wants to join them, or they prefer to travel in the company of a group of supportive women.

"We have had such incredible, down-to-earth, loving-kind women on our trips," says Nicki. 

What's it like on an Explorer Chick trip?

Explorer Chick trips range from a single day (like Hocking Hills Rock Climbing 101) to nine days (like the Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu). The team at Explorer Chick creates trips that focus on the most meaningful way to experience a location.

"We aren't stuck in one kind of experience," says Nicki. "When it comes to lodging, food, and activities, we figure out what's the best way to experience the place, and we do that."

Another thing that is special about Explorer Chick, explains Nicki, is the group experience. "We treat the group as a community," she says. "We learn from one another and have deep conversations. The energy is infectious. The community cheers on each individual person when they are conquering their fears, and celebrates their successes."

Ready to Go?

Explorer Chick offers over 50 tours a year and runs trips both in the United States and around the globe. 

Want to go hiking? Find your favorite adventure among Explorer Chick's hiking adventures. Want to get into backpacking? Check out the Red River Gorge Backpacking Workshop in Kentucky. Feeling tropical? Spend seven days on the water on the Baja Out to Sea Adventure. Craving the desert? Explore the ancient secrets of Petra on the Ultimate Jordan Adventure

No matter which trip you choose, you'll be surrounded by a community of women ready to have the adventure of a lifetime.

Explore all Explorer Chick adventure tours.

All photos courtesy of Explorer Chick

We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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