All women trek to Everest Base camp

This May a group of women from different walks of life will push personal and professional boundaries to scale new heights. Soul Purpose, a women-run adventure travel company, is putting together a team of women from the corporate world for a 16-day trek to the Mount Everest base camp in May, 2015.

The trekking expedition will allow these women to discover new horizons and allow them to accept new challenges and goals.The trek seeks to motivate corporate women to break another glass ceiling: by proving that high-adrenalin adventure is not a male domain and that women are physically and mentally up to the challenge.  Such adventures are also a great confidence building tool and can help women discover their potential as team leaders“The idea is to bring out the leadership skills in these women, by helping them dream big and achieve that dream,” says Vidya Deshpande, Co-Founder, Soul Purpose Travel.The team is looking for women who are driven by a dream and passion to achieve. “You don’t have to be mountaineer to climb the Everest, this is the kind of trek that anyone who is energetic, fit and active can do,” says Deshpande.

Soul Purpose is two-year-old enterprise set up to provide off beat, personal experiences for women interested in travel to interesting destinations that always involves experiencing a unique slice of local lifestyles and culture.The programmes are devised to make women — home makers, businesswomen and working professionals — more aware of inner strengths through rich travel experiences, discussions with fellow travelers and corporate exercises.The expedition to the Everest base camp is the latest venture the company is offering.

The company has roped in Punit Mehta, Instructor at the National Outdoor Leadership School, to mentor the trekkers. Mehta, who is also an avid trekker, will be the trip leader and guide and advise the women trekkers to bring out their leadership skills and to learn to push themselves to achieve new goals.   “Adventure seekers around the world consider being on this trail as once in a lifetime experience – a pilgrimage of sorts. That said, this is one the highest trails in terms of elevation in itself is a big challenge apart from testing the individual limits – of endurance and mind,” he says.

Shoba Mohan, Founder Partner, Rare, a company that promote and endorses small and unique concept hotels and lodges in Indian, Nepal and Bhutan, is one of the first women to sign up for the trek. “The Himalayas fill me with awe. It’s been a childhood dream to trek in the Himalayas and what better way than the Everest base Camp,’ she says. “I do believe that this is better as a group activity rather than a lone adventurer and who better to do it with than Soul Purpose and its group of women adventurers,” she adds.

The total cost of the trip is Rs 1.5 lakh per person. Companies can sponsor their women employees by sponsoring the whole trip or part sponsorship too.