Meet the women behind the adventure: what our Tour Leaders really do

Our Tour Leaders are a big part of the Adventurous Women experience. They're part of the group, sharing the laughs, the meals, the walks and the unexpected moments along the way. But they're also the person keeping an eye on what needs to happen next, making sure the details are taken care of and stepping in when something needs attention, so you can get on with enjoying the adventure.

They each have their own style, personality and background. Some are natural storytellers. Some are logistics gurus. Some are walking encyclopedias. But there's one thing they all have in common: they love to travel and they fully embrace the Adventurous Women Way.

They're also a familiar face from Adventurous Women - someone who knows our itineraries, our way of doing things and what we're all about. They're not only there to get you from A to B or tick off the itinerary. They're there to make sure the experience feels like an AW adventure from the moment you arrive.

Here's a closer look at what our Tour Leaders do.

Keeping everything running smoothly

A good Tour Leader makes the logistics look easy, which is often the point.

While you're enjoying breakfast, she might be calling ahead to the next hotel to confirm the rooms are ready. She's checking in with drivers, double-checking restaurant bookings, reviewing tomorrow's plans and making sure everyone knows where they need to be and when.

And then there's the gentle art of keeping a group moving. She may occasionally give a friendly reminder that we really do need to leave now. And yes, that may be directed at the person who has been taking 'just one more photo' for the past ten minutes.

It's all part of making sure the day runs smoothly, without making the logistics the focus of your holiday.

Problems? What problems?

No matter how much pre-trip organising is done, travel rarely goes exactly as planned. A delayed transfer, a change in the weather, a wallet left behind - these things happen.

You don't need to solve them.

If something goes wrong, bring it to your Tour Leader and let her handle it. She's there to work out what needs to happen next, talk to the right people and, when necessary, put Plan B, or sometimes Plan C, into action.

That's all part of adventure travel. We can't control everything that happens, but our Tour Leaders are ready to adapt when it does.

Keeping you focused on the fun

There's a wonderful freedom in knowing someone else has the details under control.

You don't need to worry about what's happening three days from now. You don't need to remember what time the bus leaves tomorrow morning or whether the dinner reservation has been made. Your Tour Leader has it all in hand and will run you through each day's plan.

Instead, you can focus on the things you actually came for: exploring somewhere new, having a great walk, trying something you've never done before, sharing a laugh with the group and simply enjoying the experience.

She's also keeping an eye on the group as a whole, helping everyone feel included, encouraging connections and making sure nobody gets accidentally left behind, whether that's on the trail or at the dinner table.

Sharing the wonder

And then there's the part of the Tour Leader job that isn't really a job at all.

Our Tour Leaders love travel. They love discovering new places, trying new things and sharing those experiences with others.

They bring their own knowledge, curiosity and enthusiasm to every trip. Sometimes that means sharing a fascinating piece of local history. Sometimes it's pointing out something you might otherwise have walked straight past. Sometimes it's simply saying, "Come and have a look at this!"

They help turn a destination from somewhere you're visiting into somewhere you're experiencing.

In their own words: what our Tour Leaders love about the job

We asked some of our Tour Leaders what they love most about leading Adventurous Women trips.

"I love meeting a really diverse group of women, and hearing their stories - their careers, all about their families, and sometimes, just being a pair of good listening ears when they share what they might be struggling with." - Lyn M

"The best thing about leading trips is the amazing women that I meet. I've met some incredible inspirational ladies that have shared their life experience. I also love to see the women bond and form lovely friendships." - Anna C

"I love that every trip is unique, even if you're revisiting the same location at another time of year the journey will be different with varying plants in bloom and ever the chance of spotting wildlife. You're always joined by a great group of ladies who all add something of value to the trip, one might know the name of a plant or which bird chirped the tweet we just heard, or share tips on hiking equipment or useful apps, whatever it is, we always end up learning from each other while having a great time on the trail. It's always a different group of people, it's nice to see ladies reconnect with others they've already met as well as making new hiking friends. I love that our hiking adventures are relaxed and welcoming, I've heard the same comment from several ladies that it's so nice to go out exploring with other women at a good pace that feels neither rushed nor slow but just right. It's wonderful for me as a leader to be able to share some of the trails I love with others, seeing them get just as much enjoyment out of the journey as I do." - Effi

"I love meeting all the women who sign up to these amazing adventures. This means I get to catch up with many old friends and make new connections. I thoroughly enjoy the role of ensuring all my group members connect, challenge themselves, support and engage with each other and learn to respect each other's individuality, which as you know can often be trying. However, I love a challenge and creating harmony and acceptance in any group is rewarding. I gain a huge personal satisfaction from creating a cohesive sisterhood between all the women in my groups. It makes me smile watching them all interact over the days and then share contacts, phone numbers and make long lasting new friendships as they depart." - Jazzy

Every AW trip is accompanied by one of our Tour Leaders. Meet the team, then see where they could take you next.