A travel blog for adventurous women with Kilimanjaro-sized dreams brought to you by the co-founders of WHOA travel. This is a place to find inspiration, pro-tips, and useful advice from real women who believe in the power of hiking outside your comfort zone.
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Mongolia is one of those destinations where the lessons you take away will come from what you put in. If you learn how to keep the sand from knocking you down from your bike, you might find a totally new kind of freedom, racing through vast stretches of nothingness. If you push yourself up the seemingly impossible off-trail vertical incline, you might find yourself reenergized in a patch of snow that you couldn't even see from the bottom. If you help the neighbors herd their livestock, you might find yourself recharging with vodka and laughter at their house afterwards.
Gear up for a successful Kilimanjaro summit night with our comprehensive visual guide on what to wear and pack. Stay warm, safe, and comfortable with these expert tips!
Now, more than ever, it’s important to prioritize sustainability at the grassroots level. Here at WHOA, we remain committed to designing experiences that incorporate sustainability both in the details, and in our overall approach. (Sleeping under the stars beats 5 star hotels on so many levels!) Our sustainability impact report is a part of our commitment to be transparent, continually improve and reevaluate our initiatives, and to keep us on course in our goal of helping protect Mother Earth.
The truth of being adventurous is that you will encounter wetness at some point—whether it's rain, condensation, or a fellow adventurer’s leaky water bladder. That’s why stuff sacks and dry bags are your best friend! They come in all shapes and sizes and are a great SUSTAINABLE way to waterproof your gear (no single use plastic here)! A bag full of wet clothes can be a real trip-ruiner when you’re 4,000 m up a mountain. Keep dry, keep comfy!
In 2019 we started our sister non-profit, The Carabiner Collective, to support more people with access to the outdoors and remove barriers to entry in adventure travel. One of the ways we do this is through Trailblazer Awards, which celebrate people who are breaking stereotypes and leading by example in their communities, creating a ripple effect of change.
Whether the word “ultralight” isn't even on your radar, or you’ve completely Marie Kondo’ed your 60L, there’s always room to make your backpacking adventures even better. We asked our GALs, who have thousands upon thousands of adventure miles under their boots, to share their favorite pro tips that help make backpacking more fun and more manageable! Here’s what they said (#4 was unanimously at the top of everyone’s list)!
The best part about climbing Kilimanjaro with Nicole is that her love for this mountain is contagious - it’s her favorite place in the world and you can feel that on the trail. The second best part is her catch phrases, which are famous in world of WHOA and best delivered with her wit and in her special Nicole way! So here they are, the top 5 Nicoleisms for success on Kilimanjaro, direct from the source:
Mother Earth. Connection. Community. Each of these comes in different shapes, sizes, and forms, and to feel them all together is one of the most powerful and inspiring things a person can experience. We had millions of these moments this year, so you can imagine how hard it was to narrow it down to just 24!
We've created a guide to match your explorer type with your Galapagos animal alter ego. From slow-moving tortoises to social sea lions, there's something for every type of explorer on this adventure!
When you should start training depends on 3 main factors: 1) The trip’s itinerary 2) Your current activity level 3) The amount of time you have in your schedule to train. For most multi-day hikes with a lot of elevation change and challenging terrain - Kilimanjaro, Peru, Patagonia, Cotopaxi - reasonably active women would be wise to allow at least 3 months to get ready.
Give others (and yourself) grace to learn and be imperfect. Always try to look for glimmers, and remember, even though we’re all in this together, we’re all climbing our own mountains. Let’s create a space where everyone can not only grow, but thrive, and gain a better understanding of this big beautiful world!
It’s estimated that around 500 people have successfully climbed seven of the eight peaks on either of the two lists, the youngest being 15, and the oldest 75! Here are all the contenders on the “Seven” Summits list, from lowest to highest. Some of these mountains take months and rigorous training to summit while others can be done in a week or even a few hours!
While classified as a mountain, Kilimanjaro is actually made up of three volcanic cones that were formed by the Great Rift Valley. They are Shira (3,962m), Mawenzi (5,159m), and Kibo (5,895m).
Meet our fearless Peruvian female mountain guide, Elizabeth, who we lovingly dubbed Mama Sherpa. She’s an entrepreneur, an endless source of Peruvian history and cultural knowledge, and exactly the type of amazing human you want to experience the majesty of the Andes Mountains with.
She’s a recent college grad with trekking in her blood. Get to know this inspiring woman who will be joining our 2019 Kilimanjaro August summit here.