It's 7:45pm on November 9th and I am about to board a flight from Ahmedabad, India to Mumbai. Everyone around me is mingling with their loved ones donning bright smiles and sharing laughs. Children are chasing each other, giggling, and spirits generally are high.
It's almost my turn to board so I reach for my passport and boarding pass, as I have done one thousand times before, and notice myself placing my left palm over the front cover of my passport bearing the Great Seal of the United States with "United States of America" embossed in gold lettering, shielding it so no one can see. My eyes start to well up and I try to hold back tears, but a few find a way to trickle down my cheek. This feeling is so foreign and uncomfortable and I become paralyzed with emotion, but I continue my walk down the gangway, ashamed and confused.
7 Reasons Why Travelers Are Happier People
PHOTO CREDS: NICOLA BAILEY
Happiness is a fleeting feeling in society. With 7 out of 10 people reporting physical or emotional symptoms of stress, it seems as if happiness isn’t within reach. We all want to be happy. And it seems travelers are some of the happiest people on the planet. But, why?
Read more3 Things We Learned at Oktoberfest
AND IT'S NOT WHAT YOU'D EXPECT!
This year's Oktoberfest + Bavaria adventure was beyond words. The group, the weather, the adventures...There's enough goodness to talk about for days! Instead of reminiscing in full detail, we thought you'd like to hear three of the best things we learned from this year's Oktoberfest!
Read more3 Years Ago We Had a Dream...
IT ALL STARTED THREE YEARS AGO THIS WEEK......with two girls and a crazy dream. 3 years and 13 adventures later, WHOA has become an unstoppable community of over 200 kick ass women from around the world who are changing what it means to travel!
Read moreSalkantay, Her Way!
Welcome Elizabeth (aka "Mama Sherpa") to our WHOA family! We are so thrilled to have her as the lead mountain guide for our Peru and Machu Picchu Adventures. She's been hiking through the Andes her whole life, and her wild, wondrous spirit and extensive knowledge of the region will bring so much to each of our adventures. Get to know Mama Sherpa...
Read moreWomen Of The Mountain
William, our lead Kilimanjaro guide, smiling with our awesome female porter!
At WHOA, we want to spread this message and encourage the success of all the women who aspire to be guides on Kilimanjaro because we believe the best way for sustainable change is to have a positive impact on local women and their communities. This is why our Kilimanjaro climb is so important to us, because we see first hand the empowerment of women, both from WHOA group and the local community, grow both physically and mentally, on and off the mountain.
Read more5 Questions That Will Determine Your Ideal Adventure
Mountain girl or city chick? Beach or snow? So many options, but which season will I even go!? Choosing an adventure that is right for you can be a bit difficult at times when all you want to do is travel. There’s a whole world out there - places to explore, foods to try, mountains to climb. So how do I pick my next trip? Let us be your guide! Here are some critical questions to consider when deciding what makes the top of your travel list.
Read moreCan You Name Kilimanjaro’s 5 Climate Zones?
Get out your winter wardrobes, and summer too! It is said that to climb up Kilimanjaro is to walk through all four seasons in just five days. With five distinct climate zones ranging from the lush green rainforest to the dry and rocky desert, with a final ascent to the snowy, ice capped summit, Kilimanjaro is truly a natural phenomenon. The variety of vibrant flora and fauna and diverse landscapes can be attributed to the mountain’s tremendous height and its unique location, bordering both the equator and the Indian Ocean. The variations in climate zones and temperature from the top to the bottom of the mountain create the ideal conditions for an expedition like nowhere else in the world. Here are the five different climate zones you will experience as you hike Africa's tallest peak!
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