Easy Doesn't Change You

Rising above your nerve for the benefit of your own self-belief is a special superpower that we help you discover.

You may live for Kohl’s cash and drive a fuel-efficient car, but deep down inside you are something feral. She comes out to rumble when anyone hates on your bestie or when you can’t find your Aldi quarter.

Right Time.

Many women find their way into our loving arms during a moment of courage, usually because of a big life event. Breathing through the pain and daring to do something brave is proof that you’re ready to summon your inner she-beast.

Our mantra here at Explorer Chick is: Easy doesn’t change you. We’ll gladly remind you, “You didn’t sign up to live life from an armchair,” when you’re cursing us under breath putting one foot in front of the other.

Hey, you signed up for this!

But we’ll also be the first beaming with pride when you do the hard things. When you feel the rush of empowerment from doing something a woman like you has no business doing. And when you return home a stronger and better version of yourself. With a network of strong women surrounding you.

Yeah, we’ll be your number one cheerleaders. We live for that shizz.

Right Place.

We leave sleepy bus tours in the dust to scramble up rock bridges, backpack hut to hut, hike ancient trails, and rappel down lush waterfalls. This means our adventures are more challenging, more rewarding, and more “likable” on social media. You are practically guaranteed to return home with scrapes, bruises, and sore muscles aka Bonus Souvenirs.

You don’t need to be Lara Croft, you just need the fire to kick life in the shins.

Right People.

Face your fears with the most crackling women on the planet. Whatever you want to overcome (heights, loneliness, surfing, eating a bug), your fellow Explorer Chicks are in your corner screaming your name.

Right Experience.

There’s no one way to be a badass. Every woman is a galaxy of gorgeous complexity. (Duh.) And we are SO game to pull out all the stops to draw you out of that comfort zone.

Every trip page rates and details the physical demands required. If in doubt, check with your doctor, do some stair climber conditioning to Rihanna, and hike up those compression socks! No age limits to see here. There is only knowing your body and choosing the appropriate experience.

Click below to learn more about our obsessively robust range of adventures and activity levels.

Learn More About Our Activity Levels

Terri D.

I recently embarked on an unforgettable adventure with a group of incredible women in Moab, Utah, 5-8 Oct. Our all-women's hiking trip was not only empowering but also incredibly rewarding. The challenging hikes pushed our limits, but the feeling of accomplishment at the end was worth every step. The stunning landscapes of Moab served as a breathtaking backdrop to our journey. The guides were knowledgeable, supportive, and fostered a sense of camaraderie among us. If you're seeking an adventure that combines the thrill of hiking with the empowerment of an all-women's group, this is the perfect choice. Highly recommend!"

Megan S.

Just got finished with my second Explorer Chick trip, the West Virginia Wild (WVWild), and it was simply the best. The ladies were wonderful and empowering. The rafting was awesome - all around great trip and hope to be back!

Lisa B.

So I just finished my Red River Gorge backpacking trip and it was terrific! I learned so much from my awesome guide Janie. She was so very knowledgeable and experienced and taught us everything we needed to know about backpacking, leave no trace and empowering women. The trail was tough at times but very rewarding in the end. The challenge is what makes you stronger emotionally and physically. Being a 54 year old woman it proves your never too old to try something new.Thank you Janie and Explorer Chicks for a great weekend :)Lisa B

Sara B.

Went on the Virginia Wilderness trip and it was one of the best trips I have ever been on! My guide Jayme was absolutely wonderful and I hope I can go on another trip with her again! Dina and the Mount Shephard Wildnerness School was so informative and empowering. I would go again!

Tracey B.

I can’t say enough positive things about this Women led business that focuses on empowering all Woman to challenge themselves (Easy Doesn’t Change You). I recently completed my 5th trip with Explorer Chicks last week -I did the four day Smokey Mountain hike.Before my first trip in 2018 I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to keep up. Clearly one has to have a base level of fitness to sign up for backpacking/10+miles per day of hiking but the trips are structured in such a way to accommodate women of varying fitness levels. After 5 trips I can assure you that Explorer Chicks attract a very diverse group. For my Smokies trip Ages ranged from 30s to 60s. My co-hikers came from all over the country with different ethnicities and backgrounds.The guides are what really make this company unique (shout out to Lauren and Kimberly). Explorer Chicks hires partners who excel at building a cohesive group. In this trip only two of the hikers knew each other before the trip. The remaining 8 were solo travelers. By the end of the trip we were all exchanging contact info and posting our experiences to the various social media platforms.Quick review for the Smoky Mountain hiking/glamping tripDay 1 challenging 12 mile up/back hike to the top of MT Cammerer. 3k mile elevation gain… I think everyone’s feet were a little tired. The trail was rocky but as one who hates going downhill with a passion doable with no major slipsDay 2: we changed up a bit due to group dynamics (and weather) and did what I would call a nature walk up to a pretty waterfall followed by a tour of a historic town/picnic lunch. We had a few hours back at the luxury camping site to swim/nap then we headed into Gatlinburg for a moonshine/wine tasting tourDay3: we did a beautiful 7 mile hike to Charlie’s Bunion. The views at the top were fabulous. We got hammered by a storm on the way down. But even the rain didn’t dampen the experienceI totally support this company and will travel with them again. They have trips all over the US and to some really cool non US destinations.

Michele C.

I attended the 3 day Smokey Mtn summit hikes in July 2017. What an awesome and empowering trip! The support I received as a new hiker was wonderful and I learned so much as well as having a great time. I went by myself and found all the other women and our "hosts/guides" incredibly fun and welcoming!It was truly a memorable weekend! ♡ I am planning another trip (or two) in 2018 to celebrate my 60th birthday in the most amazing way! Cannot say enough great things about Nicki Bruckmann and Explorer Chicks! ♡♡♡

Melinda O.

I've done a few of their trips and workshops this summer, and leave every one excited and rejuvenated, with new girlfriends to hang out with. It's always a quality group of women that instantly click and bond, and just being out in the great outdoors in a safe learning environment is very empowering. She packs the package full, so every one I've done has been well worth the cost.