LETTER FROM SUSAN A warm welcome to all AdventureWomen worldwide!During the three and a half decades I’ve spent traveling the world, one driving passion has been a constant: I believe travel is one of the greatest tools we have for promoting world peace and understanding among cultures. After spending three years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in West Africa, I chose to follow my “travel path” by pioneering adventure travel options for women. Planning trips that enable groups of women to travel together safely and in comfort is my way of making a contribution. Group travel for women not only connects us with others, but also helps us better understand ourselves and the collective consciousness of the world. Why “women only”? Because women in any culture relish the freedom to experience new things away from limiting, societal expectations. We have a unique sense of discovery, an unabashed curiosity, the easy ability to laugh at ourselves and the capacity to create a non-competitive environment of support and encouragement for each other. Under these circumstances, women feel free to challenge themselves with a trek up a mountain, learning to snorkel or scuba dive, or immersion into an unfamiliar culture. On an all-women's trip, women tell us that they can be totally and unequivocally themselves. Promoting a healthy lifestyle is also something we believe strongly in at AdventureWomen: staying active as we age; creating challenges and goals for ourselves; being open to learning, both spiritually and culturally, during our travels; all the while confirming or rediscovering our fun-loving and confident selves. In 1995 we were the first adventure travel company to go “non-smoking,” and during the past few years we have added a humanitarian focus to many of our trips. In my experience, it’s “healthy” to give back to the people of another culture who welcome us into their homes and hearts. I've witnessed much change and upheaval in many parts of the world and our world has certainly transformed dramatically in just a few short years. Now, more than ever, we all need enriching experiences to restore and energize our spirits. Group travel for women offers you a myriad of opportunities to do just that. I look forward to seeing you this year, as we continue to expand our horizons and deepen our understanding of this fascinating, ever-changing world. Warm Wishes,  Susan Eckert ( Susan's bio) advwomen@aol.com
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