Intrepid Travel has launched two new women?s only expeditions to Pakistan and Israel and The Palestinian Territories to coincide with International Women?s Day.
The two new expeditions add to the existing portfolio of Iran, Jordan, Nepal, Kenya, Morocco, Turkey and India with the number of customers experiencing the women?s only range increasing by 116% in 2019.
Jenny Gray, senior product manager at the travel company, said: ?This is Intrepid?s fastest growing range to date, and we have seen women connect with women in powerful and moving ways.
?Now in its third year, local female leaders offer insight and a unique understanding of women in these regions with respect to their cultural and religious values. We have found experiences that share stories of female empowerment and directly benefit local women by seeking out female owned accommodation, restaurants, suppliers, and businesses in Pakistan, Israel and The Palestinian territories.?
This emphasis is in line with Intrepid Travel?s new gender equality goals. Last year the travel company met its target of doubling female tour leaders, to increase opportunities for women in tourism where they were previously limited. There were 154 female leaders in 2017, by January 2020 that number was 342.
In 2020, the company will enhance those goals with new commitments to increase employment opportunities for women in the travel industry. This includes doubling the number of female porters globally who assist travellers on mountain hikes in Tanzania, Peru and Nepal, to name a few.
James Thornton, CEO of the company, said: ?It?s crucial for us to enable women in all levels of the business ? from our leaders on the ground all the way to gender parity on our board.?
Pakistan: Women?s Expedition is a 15-day trip to Pakistan?s remote northern mountains, joining a local female leader for a journey to the Hunza and Yasim valleys. Guests will get to see the communities and landscapes associated with the hallowed Karakoram and Hindu Kush mountains and meet the local women working on empowerment projects such as cooking schools, carpet weaving and cafes throughout the region. They will immerse in remote mountain villages while staying overnight and sharing food and stories with a local family and drive the world-famous Karakoram Highway to Khunjerab National Park in search of yaks, Himalayan ibex and the elusive snow leopard. They will also trek to alpine lakes, ancient glaciers and the remnants of ruined empires, then witness the march of modern Pakistan in the country?s capital of Islamabad.
Israel and The Palestinian Territories: Women's Expedition is an eight-day trip to Israel and Palestinian territories with local female leaders and guides from Israeli, Palestinian and Bedouin backgrounds. This trip will immerse guests in the different cultures of the region as they meet Palestinian peace activists, break bread with Bedouin women and learn about Israeli women working to secure the right to pray at the Western Wall.
Travelling in an all-female group means having access to spaces that are off-limits to mixed-gender groups and connect with local women in an entirely new way. Guests will get to visit an artist?s village in Arad where the local community has developed a social tourism project that highlights what life is like on the edge of the Judaean Desert; explore the West Bank city of Ramallah with a local peace activist, then enjoy a homecooked meal and discussion with activists from the Women Wage Peace organisation. Historical sites of Jerusalem will be witnessed on a dual-narrative tour, with both an Israeli guide and a Palestinian guide.
For more information, go to www.intrepidtravel.com/
