Intrepid Travel has launched women-only expeditions to Pakistan and Israel and The Palestinian Territories to mark International Women’s Day on March 8.
They have been added to the existing range of women-only tours in Iran, Jordan, Nepal, Kenya, Morocco, Turkey and India.
Jenny Gray, Intrepid Travel senior product manager, said the range is the operator’s fastest growing portfolio.
“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,” she said.
“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.”
The 15-day Pakistan itinerary sees clients join a local female leader for a journey to the Hunza and Yasim valleys.
They will meet women working with cooking schools and carpet weaving projects, and travel along the Karakoram Highway to Khunjerab National Park where they may spot yaks, Himalayan ibex and snow leopard. It costs from £2,345, excluding flights.
The eight-day Israel and The Palestinian Territories tour uses guides from Israeli, Palestinian and Bedouin backgrounds.
It visits an artists’ village in Arad, the West Bank city of Ramallah and Jerusalem. It costs from £1,755, excluding flights.
Intrepid recently passed its target of doubling the number of female tour leaders, who have increased from 154 in 2017 to 342 in January 2020.
The operator has new commitments to increase employment opportunities for women, including doubling the number of female porters who assist travellers on mountain hikes in Tanzania, Peru and Nepal.