When crafting the itineraries for my Dare to Detour retreats, I start by defining what we will NOT do. The point of these trips is that I want it to be a true Detour - not an itinerary you would do with family or your friends. So rather than following the traditional tourist trail or "top 5 must-sees" outlined by popular travel guides, I intentionally opt for truly unique experiences.

I started climbing and placed some gear, but none of my gear was that great and I started to panic. 
I just froze and couldn’t move. Tears were filling my eyes, but I forced myself to continue climbing. 
I thought it would just go away and I would gain some bravery again.

Recently, I've found myself reflecting on the essence of travel, the pure joy it brings, and it's got me thinking a lot about treating ourselves to our own adventure.

The thing is, as much as you plan and prepare, you can't know exactly how things are going to roll on the road. Even good road trips have bad days, and unplanned Detours are always a possibility.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the adventures I’m still hoping to schedule before Montana’s winter weather hits. And also, I’ve been very reflective about the amazing experiences I’ve had so far this year, some in far-flung places, and what would be additive. It got me thinking…

Sometimes, life throws us unexpected curveballs. Last week, I embarked on a Detour into the breathtaking Beartooth Mountains of southwest Montana. Accompanied by a group of amazing women - my Daring Darlings - this journey turned out to be a deeply personal experience.

My recap of a Montana dude ranch experience.

This was my 6th(!) year bringing a group of Darlings to Detour at the Nine Quarter Circle Ranch in Big Sky... and I decided to put a twist on this one.

This isn't a yoga retreat.

But here’s why we Detour. Detours are laboratories for our hearts and souls. They allow us to step out of our day-to-day, release old stories that no longer serve us, and rediscover who we truly are.

First I will say, Morocco is NOT for the faint of heart.

Even though we broke up our daily activities with rest in the shade and unique experiences in amazing places, the heat and seemingly constant exploration on foot were real - I think we averaged close to 16,000 steps/day?! This being said Morocco was both transformational and incredibly humbling.

Let's face it. Everything gets a little harder to recover from as you get older.

Including jetlag.

At the end of the day, there’s no true cure for jet lag other than time and rest, but here are some of my rituals and tips for long-haul flights that help ease the change into new time zones:

As a 57-year-old woman, I’ve seen a lot of life and a lot of change. But mostly, I’ve come to appreciate the importance of Detours in life. Through them, I’ve encountered many opportunities to grow and evolve. I know that taking risks is often essential to finding true fulfillment, and travel is a great way to do that. So now, I seek them out actively.

Every Detour is a journey of self-discovery and growth.

I find that the best way to maximize the impact of the work I do with the group is to take a solo trip to reflect and integrate my learnings.

A solo female travel experience is incredible for the soul — at any age.

I am deeply passionate about this and believe it to my core. Providing safe and meaningful opportunities for women to experience travel is the intention behind Dare to Detour and it's at the root of our mission.

Do you ever find yourself thinking…?

I want to design the next chapter of my life on my terms. But I'm worried that it's too late to start.

But it will change your life.

Detouring has become my religion.

Why?

Because Detours shift perspective.

You might be wondering why I chose Morocco as a place to travel as a woman.

And why do I think Morocco is such an important place for us to Detour?

SLOW DOWN. EASE BACK IN. INTEGRATE.

These are not the words we typically hear when we come home from a trip…

What is ‘authentic’ travel?

And how do we get more of it?

There’s nothing better than a Detour where you really get a feel for how the locals do it. Whether it’s wandering the cobblestone streets of a small European town or driving down the dusty road toward a mountain ranch, the experiences we all crave are authentic ones.

For Karen, fly-fishing is a place to do the often-difficult work of freeing her mind and sinking into her true self. As someone who admittedly struggles with yoga and meditation, the river is a place where she can access calmness and inner quiet.