As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we believe it’s important to shine a spotlight on our incredible female guides who are shaping the future of adventure travel across the globe. From the peaks of the Himalaya to the depths of the Bornean rainforest, our female leaders are challenging norms and creating new paths for others in the travel industry, and beyond, to follow. Valerie Parkinson, our expert guide in the Himalaya, empowers local women through entrepreneurship and education, while Happyness Kipingu, one of our Mountain Lionesses, has helped to pave the way for other female guides on Kilimanjaro. In Asia, Nostalia Jaidul advocates for women in tourism and sustainability, and Stiina Kristal is championing mountaineering leadership in Europe. These inspiring women are not only leading the way on our trips, but their reach also extends much wider to drive empowerment and positive change in their communities.
Valerie Parkinson – Empowering Women Across The Himalaya For 40 Years
When asked about what International Women’s Day meant to her, our veteran Himalayan guide Valerie, explained, “Many things are written and said today on International Women’s Day about how disadvantaged women have been over the years. But I think we need to champion companies, like Exodus, who’ve believed in us and given us equal opportunities from the start. The original owners and employees of Exodus in the 1980s, when I joined, always believed in women’s empowerment. Our people skills were recognised by the owners and base managers and there were many female overland drivers and trekking leaders.” She continued, “I have always felt that being a female guide has been an advantage, NOT a disadvantage (as is often portrayed). We all love our jobs and had great opportunities, and I am sure we empowered many other women, both at home and in the countries we worked in, to follow their dreams.”
Valerie Parkinson has spent decades working in the Himalaya, forging deep connections with remote mountain communities. Through her work, she has witnessed both the resilience of women in these remote regions and the significant challenges they face. Access to education and financial independence remain out of reach for many, restricted by cultural and societal norms that dictate their roles from a young age. Yet through grassroots initiatives and local partnerships which Valerie has spearheaded, she’s helped to create opportunities that not only empower local women, but give them the tools to thrive in environments where cultural norms often restrict their freedom. Programs supporting female trekking guides, homestay owners, and small business entrepreneurs are reshaping the narrative, allowing women to gain financial independence and a sense of agency over their lives.
The Women’s Eco Café in Ladakh is one of the initiatives where Valerie is deeply involved. This café is solely run by local women from the village of Hankar. Valerie describes, “Working together, they can make decisions and run the café to earn money for their women’s group. Making their own decisions and money allows the women to have confidence in themselves and their abilities. Many women in remote communities have not had much education and feel disempowered and disadvantaged just because they do not have a school leaving certificate. Showing women that you do not need to have academic qualifications to earn money is a revelation to many of them.” She continues, “Things such as equality in earnings that globally women strive for is still way behind in remote Himalayan communities, but this is a start, giving them the confidence to work and earn their own money for the first time in their lives.” Despite the challenges of balancing homestay duties and farming in the busy summer months, the café provides them with a source of income, autonomy, and collective decision-making power.
Similarly, Valerie works closely with the implementation of the Freedom Kitbag project. This initiative involves young women and girls receiving Freedom Sanitary Kitbags with menstrual products alongside attending health education programmes, in an effort to combat the damaging practices of ‘Chaupaddi’, a deeply rooted cultural tradition in Nepal where women are ostracised during menstruation. Valerie’s passion for empowering women and girls is clear: “If a girl can go to school and into work, the economy of the village will go up. The women will have fewer health problems and fewer problems in childbirth. The more this mentality filters down to the next generation, the better it will be for the whole society.” She sees the Freedom Kitbag project as a vital step in breaking cycles of disadvantage and ensuring that girls have the opportunity to pursue their education and contribute to society. Valerie notes, “The fact that a girl can now go to school or work just because she has a Freedom kitbag is an amazing step forward.”
Lastly, Valerie highlights her ongoing work with the Angel’s Children’s Home. Exodus customer, Brian Mildenhall, read our Himalayan Community Newsletter and introduced Valerie to Dr Rosa and Dr Ian Matheson who were instrumental in raising money for the Angel’s Children’s Home. Since then, the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation has helped to buy schoolbooks, clothing and bedding every year for the children. Recently, the Foundation also supported three young women from the home, Sarita, Nima, and Dawa in their dreams of becoming registered nurses, covering the cost of the final stage of sitting the nurses registration exam, so that they could all qualify. “[These] children have no parents, no family, property or land to inherit – so they must earn money to rent a room/apartment for themselves. Life is much harder on them, so it’s inspiring to see Sarita, Nima, and Dawa working in hospitals, despite the ongoing challenges they face,” Valerie shares.
For travellers eager to support these efforts, she urges, “Every penny donated goes directly to these small-scale Himalayan Community projects.”
If you want to help, find out more about the Himalayan Community Project and how to donate here.
Happyness Kipingu: Changing The Face Of Guiding On Kilimanjaro
For years, Kilimanjaro’s trekking industry was almost entirely dominated by men. Women had little opportunity to work as porters or guides, despite their capability and ambition. In an effort to change this, the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation partnered with the Robertson Outdoor Bursary to launch the Mountain Lioness Scholarship—a program designed to train and support women into becoming certified guides. Named after Lucia Kivoi, nicknamed the “Lioness”because of her pioneering spirit as a Senior Guide who helped to spearhead the acceptance of female porters on Kilimanjaro, the scholarship provides essential training in first aid, mountain ecology, and wilderness rescue. More than just a certification, it offers women the chance to gain financial independence and reshape perceptions of gender roles in adventure tourism.
Happyness Kipingu, a graduate of the Mountain Lioness Scholarship, defied societal expectations and has paved the way for other women to follow in her footsteps. She explained, “When I was younger, I always loved seeing travellers on the mountain, and I knew I wanted to be a guide from very early on. But on Kilimanjaro, you can’t become a guide without first working as a porter, so, I started as a porter, knowing that one day, I would hopefully reach my goal of becoming a qualified guide.”
Her journey was anything but easy. Carrying heavy loads up Africa’s highest peak, she endured the physical hardships of porterage while also facing scepticism from her male colleagues. “Many male guides believed that women couldn’t do this job. They thought it was too hard. We faced harsh words at times, but our office gave us the chance to prove ourselves – and we showed them we could do it.” She continued, “Now, the men don’t focus on our gender—they care more about how well we do the job, how we communicate with clients, and how we work as a team – which is a great change to see.”
Thanks to the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation and the Robertson Outdoor Bursary, Happyness was able to complete her training and earn her guiding license. “The scholarship changed my life. As a porter, I always struggled to provide for my family. Now, I can support them without worry.” Happyness’ story, alongside others who have completed the Mountain Lioness Scholarship since 2020, are inspiring a new generation of female guides on Kilimanjaro. “I tell young girls—never give up. Don’t let anyone look down on your dreams. If I can do this, so can you.” Happyness said, “I hope that one day, women will be able to work as guides without any obstacles standing in their way. I would love there to be so many of us on Kilimanjaro that no one will ever question our strength again.”
Nostalia Jaidul – Championing Women And Responsible Travel In Borneo
For Nostalia Jaidul, being a female guide in Sabah, Borneo, is more than just showcasing the region’s breathtaking landscapes—it’s about breaking barriers, preserving local traditions, and standing up for the next generation of women in travel.
“Women work hard every day to achieve their dreams, often facing struggles that go unseen,” Nostalia shares. “Especially in male-dominated fields, the challenges are not just physical, but mental. You have to push forward, even when the environment around you isn’t always supportive.”
Despite working in an industry where camaraderie is strong, Nostalia has had to navigate the realities of outdated perceptions about women in tourism. “At first, I struggled with how some men viewed women in this field,” she admits. “Many assumed we were easy targets, and the humour we received was often inappropriate. Over time, I learned how to stand my ground—and now, when I see a young woman facing the same situation, I step in. Little by little, the culture is changing. More men are learning to respect us and even correct their peers.”
Beyond advocacy, Nostalia is passionate about sharing the heart of Sabah with travellers, especially through food. “Food is the gateway to understanding culture,” she says. “I love telling folklore stories and explaining the meaning behind traditional dishes. Even on a 10-day tour, there’s never enough time to share it all!”
Her commitment extends to grassroots projects, where Nostalia ensures that funds from the Exodus tipping kitties all go towards supporting small-scale community initiatives. “Some incredible local projects don’t have social media or big financial backing, but I believe in helping those who are quietly making a difference. I am looking forward to supporting the Mensuli Tree Planting in Lahad Datu next.” For Nostalia, responsible tourism starts with leading by example. “One person can make a difference,” she says. “If you say no to plastic straws today, your friends and family might follow tomorrow. Change takes time, but every small action adds up. It’s all about respect – respecting the people, and respecting mother nature.”
Stiina Kristal –Inspiring Women In The Outdoors
Reflecting on International Women’s Day, Stiina Kristal, who has built a career in mountaineering and adventure travel, recalls her childhood memories of hand-making gifts for her mother and reminding her father to buy flowers. This tradition helped her recognise the value of always celebrating women, especially on this day.
Regarding her role as a female guide, Stiina explains, “I’ve been lucky to have never faced challenges from men during my career. The guides and instructors I’ve worked with have always been supportive. I did once have a client say she felt lucky to have a female guide, which caught me off guard and made me realise that it’s still somewhat rare.” Stiina stresses that more could be done to highlight the presence and contribution of female guides across the media. “It’s important to have more female representation in videos and social media because that’s how you inspire the next generation.”
For Stiina, the passion for mountaineering and hiking started early. After completing the Camino de Santiago by bike, it was a driving force behind her decision to leave her engineering job and pursue a career in the outdoors. “I love hiking because it’s a way to always be in motion. It’s also a great workout. Being outside in all types of weather has helped me push my boundaries and become more confident.”
As a guide, she also advocates for sustainable initiatives, particularly the ‘Leave No Trace’ policy (a set of guidelines aimed at minimising human impact on the natural environment when outdoors), emphasising its importance in her work. “I first heard of Leave No Trace when I headed out to hike the Pacific Crest Trail in the US; throughout the 4,600km trail, I was astonished by the fact that there was barely any trash. Having travelled extensively all over the world I’m sad to say it’s not like that everywhere. The Leave No Trace framework is very clear-cut and easy to teach clients and travellers. It’s all about education and awareness, and I feel that as a guide, it’s my privilege and duty to spread the message.”
Since becoming a licensed guide and mastering six languages, Stiina is continuing to look ahead, focused on furthering her skills with plans to learn splitboarding in the Alps and become a Level 2 cross-country skiing instructor, but her first love will always be hiking, “The cheapest, healthiest and slowest way to travel is of course on foot. I believe there is no better way to explore than to hike.
If these stories from our inspiring female leaders have encouraged you to learn more about the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation and its ongoing projects click here.
