Curated for the adventurous female traveler, Kiersten’s TBA Escapes travel tours and educational retreats immerse travelers in the beauty and rich culture of some of the globe’s less-travelled destinations while creating a supportive and empowering travel community for women.
“I first traveled alone on accident—I was on my first trip abroad, a one-month Spanish immersion course in Spain, and decided to travel around Europe for a few weeks after. When my travel buddy had to fly home last minute, I had to decide whether to fly back too or finish the trip by myself—I decided to push on, and it was the best decision I ever made.
Fast forward, ten years later, I run one of the biggest female travel brands in the world, The Blonde Abroad. On my blog and Instagram, I aim to inspire women to travel the world with confidence. In 2017, I launched TBA Escapes—an all-female travel company. The goal? To curate experiences from my personal travels in destinations that are less “easy” for women to travel alone. All TBA Escapes tours are bespoke, educational and empowering, and aim to bring women to colorful destinations far from their comfort zones.
Here are my favorite TBA Escapes destinations around the world:
SOUTH AFRICA
Two years ago, I relocated to Cape Town, South Africa—I fell in love with the natural beauty, the active lifestyle, the local culture, and the expansive Winelands. While everyone was intrigued by my big move, many of my readers were asking “is it safe?”. I wanted to show the world that in fact, it was. So, I decided to create a tour that showcased everything I love about the region. Our “From the Beach to the Bush” tour includes the biggest highlights and local gems of Cape Town, safari at a luxury game reserve, and a stay at a historic wine farm in the Cape Winelands. We work with local female hosts so our attendees get a deep understanding of South Africa— all while experiencing great food, wine, safari, and everything else that makes it such a unique and well-balanced destination for travelers.
MOROCCO
Morocco was one of my favorite travel experiences to date because it really put me outside of my comfort zone—which doesn’t happen often after years of travel. It’s not that I didn’t feel safe, but it was overwhelming to my senses. Our “Ultimate Morocco Adventure” was created around the highlights of my personal travels—amazing experiences through Marrakech, Chefchaouen, Casablanca, and Fes, and includes everything from cooking classes to local market visits. Guests can also extend their stay for a 4-night epic Sahara Desert glamping adventure!
THE GALAPAGOS
The Galapagos is by far one of the most unique and untouched destinations I’ve ever traveled. As an ocean enthusiast and avid scuba diver, I knew I wanted to bring female travelers to the islands. Our “Luxury Eco Yacht Expedition” is hosted on a carbon-neutral expedition yacht with female conservationists. There are countless incredible adventures—think daily sailing, kayaking, hiking and swimming with everything from penguins to sea lions.
JORDAN
Jordan was my first trip as a “blogger” back in 2012, and my first trip to the Middle East. We’ve designed this tour as a photography mentorship experience, where I’ll be leading workshops along the way. Jordan is one of the most spectacularly photogenic places I’ve ever been, so it’s really special when your guests leave with incredible photos and memories. We have a seriously epic adventure planned, from cooking classes in Amman to scuba diving the Red Sea to exploring Petra, one of the Seven Wonders of the World!”
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Keep up with my travels by following @theblondeabroad and @tbaescapes on Instagram.
This editorial first appeared in FOUR’s 03.19 Edition.
All images © Kiersten Rich.