I've been traveling non-stop since 2006, inspiring others to get out and see the unique corners of the world. Check out my newsletters below that are full of travel tips, unique tours, gear recommendations and travel discounts. I focus on outdoor adventure travel for women and will help you get out to see the world in an active way with the best gear. I also run active adventure tours in places like Ireland, Alaska, and El Salvador. Wether you are a newbie to outdoor adventure travel or a seasoned expert - my newsletters are a great way to join my community of other women who are looking to live their best lives.
Nepal, Uzbekistan, gear sales, and the newsletter I've been avoiding for a month
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Hello Reader , I have been trying to write this newsletter for a month. Every time I sat down to do it, something else won: house guests, a laundry room remodel, two kittens who consider my keyboard a bed, and a pile of Ottsworld Tours work. And, quite frankly, being home in Denver and hanging out with my friends was more fun than writing about it. I tell people I have the best travel newsletter because I hardly ever send it. The downside is that when I finally do, a month's worth of stuff comes out at once. Don't feel like you have to read all of it. Skim, find what speaks to you, and skip the rest. I won't know! Hiking in ColoradoI rounded up my sister, brother-in-law, and my niece's husband to do a hike in Colorado that I've been wanting to do for years - West Maroon Pass. Ever since I heard of the hike, I've wanted to tackle it, but it's a bit of a logistical nightmare to organize. The hike goes from outside of Crested Butte to Aspen - an area where there are no roads, and it's so remote and high that it is really only accessible in July and August. The 10.5 mile hike was absolutely stunning and rekindled my love of Colorado (not like it needed much rekindling). God, I love this state and these mountains. It climbed to 12,500 ft. and had a long punishing/rocky descent - but it was all worth it - the landscapes were so perfect that they didn't even feel real. See the video! Help for NepalI've had a lot of people reach out to me about the flash flood in Nepal — the one on August 26, when a glacier collapsed near Langtang and sent a wall of water and debris down the Trishuli valley through Rasuwa, wiping out villages, bridges, and the road to the Chinese border. Thanks so much for checking in. The good news is that everyone I know there is ok. If you are wondering how you can help - the company I work with there to run my tours, World Expeditions, ran a fundraiser that closed at over 60,000 AUD! Here are some other options that I have a relationship with and recommend: I've also had a few people contact me about my 2027 tour in Nepal wondering if it is still going to run. Absolutely yes! According to World Expeditions, which has a team on the ground there, "right now the message from Nepal is simple: continuing to travel is one of the most powerful ways to help the country get back on its feet." Where Next?I've spent the last two months at home with kittens and a laundry room remodel project. It's time to get on the move again, and I'm so excited for my Fall travels! I'm doing something that I haven't done in a very long time...I'm going to a new-to-me country -> Uzbekistan! I loved Central Asia when I drove through it during the Mongol Rally, so I'm excited to finally get back to that part of the world and see new things. I'll be traveling with World Expeditions on their Uzbekistan by Bike Tour. This is going to be a fascinating way to see the country! But first - I'm making a stop in Istanbul Turkey on my way to Tashkent. I wanted to take advantage of the direct Denver to Istanbul flight and stopover options that Turkish Air offers. I'll be there 3 days researching experiences for future Ottsworld Tours. I'll be eating all of my favorite foods, petting lots of cats, and looking for my signature unique Ottsworld tour experiences. After Uzbekistan, I'll be running my Maine Capitol to Capitol tour and my Patagonia e-bike tour. My tours are full, and my fall is packed full of travel in all corners of the world...just how I like it! Happy Travels! Travel NewsDescents Are the Secret Leg-Killer. Here's How to Train for Them It's that time of year...check out the predictions for Fall Foliage in the US! Ottsworld ToursHidden Himalaya: Nepal Trekking & Culture Tour We are headed to my favorite region — the Annapurna — for a loop hike to Kopra Ridge that most trekkers never find! With the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges stacked up in front of us the whole way, we'll climb to 12,000 feet, with an option to push to 15,100 for those who want it. We'll walk through rhododendron forests in full bloom, through Gurung and Magar villages where mountain life hasn't been rearranged for tourists, and we'll eat, laugh, stay, and become friends with the people who actually live there! My departing impressions of Nepal have never really had anything to do with the mountains. They have to do with the people. This trip is built around that.
We start in Kathmandu with a few hands-on, unfiltered experiences, and then head up into the Himalaya together — a small group, a rare female guide, and an experienced local crew looking after us the whole way. We're staying in a mix of Eco-Comfort Camps and lodges with views that will have you falling in love with Nepal. I'm not going to pretend it's easy. It's going to be hard in places, and that's the point. Adventure begins where comfort ends, and I've never regretted showing up for a trip that scared me a little. You don't come back from something like this unchanged. If you've been on the fence, this is me telling you to get off it! Other Tours I'm working on for 2027:
If you are interested in any of these - reply to this email and I'll put you on the list to contact when they are live! Other Tours my Fellow Travel Friends are OfferingAntarctica! My friend Beth from WanderTours has a couple of last-minute openings on her Antarctica cruise this November! She is going to travel on the ship I traveled on 2 years ago that I loved - the Plancius. It's smaller than most of the Antarctica expedition ships, and I absolutely loved the crew. Contact her now to find out more and tell her I sent you! A niche tour built for diabetic travelers: my friend Kristina Vetter is launching a new Costa Rica tour in December designed specifically for women with diabetes. Traveling with diabetes comes with real challenges, so Kristina's tours take the worry out of food choices and pace, letting you explore with fellow travelers who just get it. On The BlogDoing a bike trip anytime soon? Then don't miss my new Bike Gear Article based on all of the items I use for my own bike travel! Plus, I just updated my Mongol Rally Series - see why I didn't make it to Uzbekistan on that trip and why it was one of the most adventurous and memorable things I've ever done! Gear CornerI get a lot of people asking me how I pack my hats for travel. First - start with Wallaroo hats - they have so many packable styles and identify how to pack them on their product pages. Plus use my discount code - OTTSWORLD20 - and get 20% off! Check out the REI Labor Day Sales on Adventure Gear for hiking, biking, and travel! Here are a few of my favorite brands & products at REI on sale: Ottsworld Travel DiscountsIf you want to experience Ireland but couldn't make one of my tours this year - check out Ireland Walk Hike Bike - they do custom tours, group tours, and self-guided itineraries through the west coast of Ireland! Use code OttsWorld2023 for 5% off their offerings - not good with other offers. Get $100 off at Adventure Life on your next custom trip anywhere in the world. Just tell them Ottsworld sent you! Get 5% off your Patagonia travels with my friends at Chile Nativo! They will be running my Patagonia ebiking trip and I love them! Use code Ottsworld for 5% off ANY of their regular, non-custom programs (including W hiking and puma tracking). If you plan a trip to Japan, check out OKU Japan for its incredible multiday hikes and cultural activities in lesser-known areas. Get a 5% Discount for people using code OTTSWORLD5. If you've been finding value in these newsletters and the info I've been sharing, please forward this along to any travel-loving friends whom you think might find them useful! Use these helpful links to book and plan your next trip:
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Are you a 40+ woman looking to travel more?
I've been traveling non-stop since 2006, inspiring others to get out and see the unique corners of the world. Check out my newsletters below that are full of travel tips, unique tours, gear recommendations and travel discounts. I focus on outdoor adventure travel for women and will help you get out to see the world in an active way with the best gear. I also run active adventure tours in places like Ireland, Alaska, and El Salvador. Wether you are a newbie to outdoor adventure travel or a seasoned expert - my newsletters are a great way to join my community of other women who are looking to live their best lives.
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