On my first day hiking through Moab’s striking red rocks landscape, my excitement took over like an adrenaline rush. By the second day, trekking through the towering ‘needles’ of eroded rocks in Utah’s Canyonlands National Park, my shoulders started to hurt under my daypack. My fellow female hiker and traveler immediately stopped to adjust my hip and shoulder straps to better distribute the weight, giving me instant relief.
It was an intimate, caring gesture – like one between friends or even sisters. It was hard to believe I had only known her for a day – asking for her help and her closeness adjusting my pack already felt natural.
Earlier this month, I embarked on my inaugural camping and hiking expedition, spending four days exploring the desert landscape of Moab, Utah, on the Women’s Best of Moab Basecamp Tour with Wildland Trekking, an Intrepid Travel Company. It was a series of firsts for me: camping in a tent, exploring Utah’s grandeur and doing it all with three women (one being the guide) whom I never met before.
They say traveling pushes you outside your comfort zone – add going with a group of total strangers, and the ante goes up, at least for an introvert like myself. But there’s something different about being with like-minded women that makes it feel comfortable, easy and supportive, even if we haven’t crossed paths before.
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More women are seeking out transformative travel experiences with others.
“Women-only travel can create a uniquely safe and affirming space for those who join,” said Viviana McGovern, a California-based therapist and CEO of Full Vida Therapy who specializes in women’s mental health. “Without the usual pressure of gendered expectations or performance, many women feel freer to speak up, try new things and reconnect with their sense of agency. Confidence often builds naturally when women are surrounded by others who encourage growth, risk-taking, and self-trust. It can be quite a transformative experience.”
These days, more women are pursuing these types of impactful travel experiences, with bookings for Intrepid’s Women’s Expeditions on the rise over the last two years.
According to travel agency network Virtuoso, 40% of women travelers “seek a sense of belonging” on their trips, and 71% aren’t afraid to go about it on their own, without waiting for anyone else.
What is it like to go on an all-women’s trip?
For a camping neophyte like me, Wildland Trekking’s all-women’s expedition was a seamless introduction into outdoor travel. Under the care of my guide Michelle Beebe, who has been working in Moab for around three years, all I had to do was show up, unplug and enjoy.
The tours are all-inclusive, with tents, sleeping bags and all other gear along with meals. Every night, Beebe went over the next day’s itinerary, which included the highlights of Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park plus a long hike through Fisher Towers, the stunning backdrop for movies and television shows like Westworld.
“My goal when people leave one of these trips is to feel like they just made some memories of a lifetime, that they’re taking away with them some peace, something they gained, connecting with others, connecting with the environment,” said Beebe. “And then also maybe some time that they also had with themselves.”
I would hardly call myself a hiker or camper, so I’ll admit to having a slew of nerves at the start of the trip, ranging from being unable to keep up on the trails or feeling out of place – even on edge – without my creature comforts (i.e. a bed, running water) for a few days.
The reality was far from it. There was an immediate and unspoken understanding among us where we didn’t have to be “on,” which is part of what makes these all-women trips so special, according to McGovern. “In these settings, connection tends to happen more organically and authentically,” she said.
Despite coming from different paths of life, we instantly stepped into rhythm with each other – both literally and figuratively. We cheered each other on during hikes and never pressured each other to do a rock scramble or teeter to the edge if we didn’t want to.
“Women can often feel more emotionally available and open with one another, leading to conversations and bonds that run deeper than surface-level socializing,” McGovern continued. “That sense of ‘being seen’ by others who understand your journey can create long-lasting feelings of belonging and mutual support.”
I quickly let my guard down around the other women without fear of judgement – which may not have happened if it was with a different crowd. Over dinner, we spoke about relationships, breakups, families and what feeling feminine means to us. After a long day on the trails, we sat in the van comfortably in silence.
‘That’s womanhood’
All-women trips foster a safe space and quick, authentic connections.
For Katherine Patrick, the woman who adjusted my backpack, this marked her first all-women’s trip. Usually, the 49-year-old from Chicago hikes on her own, but she wanted to explore Moab for a few days and was intrigued by the idea of going with just women and a guide. Safety also played a role in her decision to go on a group trip.
“I thought it would be really interesting to have this kind of experience with other women, and we all opted in, we all sought this out,” Patrick said on the last day of our trip. “A lot of my closest friends throughout my life have been through a love of the outdoors and physical activity, and I was hoping to meet some badass women and spend some time together.”
I echo Patrick’s sentiment. This was my second all-women trip, the first being a surf retreat in Costa Rica two years ago, so I know how powerful it can be to spend time with a group of women who share a common interest. It forges a fast bond and sense of community, allowing your walls to come down. That surf retreat still stands as one of my all-time favorite trips with positive memories, and I know this one will have a space in the books too.
According to McGovern, these trips also serve as an emotional reset. “It gives women permission to step away from the roles they usually are in and reflect on who they are outside of their responsibilities,” she said. “This can be incredibly healing, especially for those recovering from trauma or navigating major life transitions in general.” For another woman on the trip, it was her way of celebrating the start of a new job.
The end of the four-day expedition was bittersweet. I was ready to return home, but I would miss the crew of adventurous women who were by my side for my first time trekking through Moab’s deserts.
“There’s not a lot of pressure and this comfortableness that was mellow,” said Beebe. “By the end of it, we’re this close-knit family almost, you know, and that’s womanhood.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What it’s really like to go on an all-women’s hiking trip in Moab
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