By Sherry Ott
I knew this trek would be different the moment I saw our group standing in a loose circle in Kathmandu, nervously smiling at one another. Eight women. Different ages, different countries, different life stories. Some were married and traveling solo for the first time. Some were single. Some were mothers. Some were devoted cat moms. But every single one of us had something in common: we wanted to hike in Nepal.
For many of them, this trip represented more than a vacation. It represented a chance to step outside their routines, to trust themselves, and to say yes to an adventure on their own.
When World Expeditions invited me to host their 50th Anniversary Women’s Trek in Nepal, I jumped at the chance. Not just because Nepal has long held a special place in my heart and I wanted to go back, but because I knew World Expeditions wasn’t simply creating another trekking itinerary. They were creating something meaningful, unique, and celebratory for women.
As the trek unfolded, I realized World Expeditions had created a women’s trek that reflected a deeper, decades-long commitment to empowering women—not just as travelers, but as leaders, guides, and community partners. That commitment became visible everywhere I looked.
Female Leadership: A Vision Decades in the Making
In an adventure travel company, leadership shapes everything. It shapes company culture, hiring practices, the traveler experience, and even how communities are treated. And World Expeditions has something rare at its helm: a female CEO who has grown with the company from the ground up.
Sue Badyari joined World Expeditions in 1986 as a receptionist. Over four decades, she rose through the ranks to become CEO in 1999—a role she continues to hold today. Her leadership and contributions to the industry were recognized with the 2024 with a Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2025 Executive leader of the Year award, and Woman of the Year at Australias’s Women in Travel Awards by Travel Weekly.
I think Sue’s journey mirrors the very spirit of adventure travel itself—starting somewhere small and unknown and slowly, steadily climbing higher! Under her leadership, World Expeditions has remained deeply committed to sustainable tourism, community partnerships, and expanding opportunities for women. Today, women make up 55% of World Expeditions’ travellers -a number that continues to grow as more women seek transformative outdoor experiences.
But what struck me most wasn’t just Sue’s title. It was the ripple effect of her leadership throughout the entire organization.
Female Leadership on the Ground in Nepal
I was surprised to find that leadership wasn’t just at the executive level—it was deeply embedded within World Expeditions’ Nepal operations too!
Uma Khakurel, the Managing Director in Nepal, has been with World Expeditions for 32 years. In a country—and an industry—where leadership roles are traditionally dominated by men, Uma’s position is rare. Her steady presence ensures that operations run smoothly in a caring, thoughtful way, while also creating space for more women to enter the field.
Uma’s longevity reflects both competence and the company’s commitment to investing in female leadership locally. Her perspective has helped World Expeditions build something sustainable and inclusive, season after season.
And then there were the guides.
Meet Mama G: Carrying Trekking in Her Blood
Our lead guide, Dawa Yangin Sherpa, affectionately known as “Mama G”, carried both strength and warmth. Trekking wasn’t just her job; it was part of her heritage. Her grandfather had been the first trekking guide in the Khumbu region, and she grew up watching trekkers pass through her village while her father worked as a porter.
As I was growing up pretending to be Charlie’s Angels, Mama G and her friends would pretend to be tour guides, speaking fake English and leading imaginary trekkers along village trails. “We didn’t know English,” she told me with a laugh. “So we just spoke gibberish.”
But her path to becoming a guide required persistence—especially as a girl in a remote mountain village.
She walked three hours to school each day, often in the dark. In winter, she stayed with her aunt so she could continue her education. Out of five girls from her village who started school, she was the only one who continued beyond primary school.
There was a cultural belief that educated women would not find husbands. Women were expected to work in the fields and care for the household. But Mama G kept going. She earned a scholarship, completed secondary school, and eventually earned a bachelor’s degree in population education. Later, she even spent six months in the UK to improve her English.
“We were just happy to go to school,” she told me. “Education was everything.”
That education, and her determination, opened doors.
Breaking Barriers on the Trail
When Mama G began guiding for World Expeditions, she was the only female guide among 35 men.
“There were challenges,” she told me. “Females are expected to stay home and take care of the family.”
Even her husband and in-laws initially discouraged her from working. And her friends didn’t understand how she could leave home for weeks at a time.
Mama G told me that when she first became a guide, it was Uma who gave her the authority to lead. “At first, it felt strange telling the men what to do,” she admitted. “But Uma supported me.” Today, the crew calls Mama G Didi, or big sister, a term of respect that reflects how fully she has grown into her leadership role.
Today, she leads treks regularly and has helped provide opportunities for her two daughters, ages 18 and 14, both of whom are educated and speak English fluently. Her goal, she told me, was to give them a better life. And she most definitely has!
There was something deeply meaningful about being guided through the Himalayas by a woman who had fought so hard to stand there herself.
Empowering Women Beyond the Trail
World Expeditions’ commitment to women extends far beyond their guides. It reaches into the very communities where they operate.
At our first eco-camp stay, we were welcomed by Ngima Doma Sherpa, whom everyone lovingly called “Gaga,” meaning “grandmother” in Sherpa. She owns the land where the camp sits, and World Expeditions partnered with her to create a permanent campsite that provides her with a steady income and employment. She no longer has to make grueling trips to the Lukla market to sell her produce.
After losing her husband and son, Gaga now helps maintain the camp and prepare food for trekkers. Her partnership with World Expeditions provides both financial stability and independence.
I’ve always believed tourism should benefit local communities—not displace them. That’s exactly what World Expeditions is doing here, making travel more local and sustainable.
Why Women Want to Travel Together—Especially in Challenging Destinations
As our women’s group settled into the rhythm of trekking, I noticed something I’ve seen repeatedly on women-centric trips: the speed at which strangers become friends. Women are so inclusive, and I love that!
When I asked some of the women why they chose this trip, their answers were honest and deeply personal.
Jodi told me, “It’s liberating to travel on your own and only worry about yourself. You don’t have to take care of anyone else—you can just be present.”
Carol shared something that stuck with me. “Here, I don’t have to be someone’s wife or mother. No one knows me. I can just be me.”
Sue, who was visiting Asia for the first time, admitted she wasn’t sure she had the confidence to come to Nepal alone. And Amanda told me Nepal had been on her list forever. “There’s nothing like the Himalayas,” she said, gazing up at the peaks that surrounded our campsite.
Women create an environment where we feel comfortable asking questions, challenging ourselves, and supporting one another. Instead of competition, there is encouragement. Instead of comparison, there is connection. That’s just how women operate.
The Transformative Power of Women Traveling Together
By the end of the trek, the group dynamic had transformed completely.
We had watched each other push through altitude and fatigue. We had laughed together over games at camp. We had marveled at the strength of the porters, watching them carry loads up steep trails with a quiet efficiency that made our own efforts feel small by comparison.
More importantly, we had watched each other grow.
Women gain confidence when they step into unfamiliar environments and realize they are capable. They discover independence. They begin to trust themselves in new ways.
And often, they carry that confidence home with them.
Why World Expeditions Is Leading the Future of Women’s Adventure Travel
What makes World Expeditions unique is that their commitment to empowering women exists at every level of the organization.
From Sue Badyari’s leadership as CEO, to Uma Khakurel’s operational leadership in Nepal, to female guides like Mama G, to women like Gaga who partner with them in local communities—women aren’t just participants in the story. They are creating the story.
This isn’t symbolic empowerment. It’s a long-term investment creating pathways where none existed before.
And I could see the results—in the women leading the treks, in the women supporting their families, and in the women hiking and standing at mountain viewpoints, realizing they are capable of more than they ever imagined.
When Women Lead, Everyone Moves Forward
When World Expeditions invited me to host this trek, I said yes because I believed in what they were building. But walking alongside Mama G, hearing her story, and watching our group of women grow stronger each day helped me understand it on a deeper level.
This wasn’t just about trekking in Nepal. It was about creating space for women to step outside the roles and routines that often define their lives and discover who they are beyond them. It was about local women like Mama G, who refused to accept limitations placed on her, and travelers who arrived unsure of themselves and left with a new sense of confidence.
Thanks to women like Mama G—and the opportunities created by companies like World Expeditions—I know more women will continue to step into the unknown, discover strength they didn’t know they had, and realize they belonged there all along.
Sherry Ott Bio
Sherry isn’t just another travel blogger—she’s a trailblazer in new media, sharing her journey of global adventures and unconventional living on Ottsworld.com since 2006. With a passion for empowering women to break free from societal “shoulds” and step boldly out of their comfort zones, Sherry redefines what it means to explore the world.
From epic escapades in far-flung destinations to inspiring others to conquer their fears, Sherry’s mission is clear: to help you see the world—and yourself—in a whole new light. Let her stories spark your next adventure and transform the way you travel.