Female-founded operator Traverse Journeys has rolled out its 2027 line-up, and the common thread is adventure travel with more depth: small groups, local partners and, increasingly, women at the centre of the experience.
The company, started by Ashley Blake, runs small-group trips, retreats and custom itineraries in more than 40 countries. Its model leans on locally owned businesses, independent guides and women-led enterprises, and it gives 1% of trip sales to a community or nonprofit partner in each destination. Blake's pitch is simple: travellers — women in particular — want experiences that challenge them and build real connections, not a checklist of sights.
Three 2027 departures stand out. The Monarch Butterfly Retreat in Michoacán, Mexico (February 20–24, 2027, repeated February 19–23, 2028) times a visit to the oyamel forests with the monarchs' extraordinary winter migration. Guided sanctuary visits run alongside local conservationists, plus daily yoga, locally sourced meals and time in Macheros, a village whose economy depends on the health of the butterfly reserves.
Egypt Reimagined (March 14–22, 2027) skips the standard monument dash. Expect cycling through the Dahshour countryside to lesser-visited pyramids, tea in a Nubian village, meetings with women entrepreneurs and artisans, Cairo's creative scene, a visit to the Grand Egyptian Museum and three nights sailing the Nile aboard a women-owned dahabiya — a traditional sailing boat.
For trekkers, the Patagonia W-Trek Women's Retreat in Chile (April 18–24, 2027) covers roughly 45 miles of the W Trek in Torres del Paine National Park. It's led by Kim Jeffs, a licensed therapist and somatic coach, alongside certified local guides, with reflection and leadership practices built into the route. The trip adds a stay at a working estancia and a boutique fjord lodge. There's also a Taste & Trails of Jordan trip running in May and October 2027 after a strong 2026 debut.
Notably, nearly all of Traverse's trips can be converted into private departures for groups of two or more, and custom requests are rising — recent examples include Morocco, Jordan, Montenegro, Alaska and private leadership retreats. Blake points to a private Morocco trip built around textiles and interior design as an example of how a niche theme naturally becomes a women-focused journey.
Why it matters: this fits a broader shift in adventure travel, where solo and women-focused trips are among the fastest-growing segments. If you want small groups (these run small by design), a female-led or women-centred angle, and operators who channel money to local communities rather than offshore, Traverse's 2027 schedule is worth a look — and 2028 dates for the Mexico retreat are already open.
