Every year, thousands of women dream about a trip they've never taken. They picture themselves standing beneath towering mountains and wandering through old villages where rivers rush right through town. They imagine a place they've never been but have always wanted to see. And every year, most of them talk themselves out of it. It's not because they don't want to go. It's because going alone feels like too big a leap.
Emily took that leap. As AGC’s Anne Flueckiger Scholarship winner, she finally got the nudge to spend her summer somewhere completely different, far from the classroom but still close to learning. Slovenia became her first-ever international adventure. Here's what she experienced, and why she thinks you should take the leap to travel in a group too.
The Scholarship Behind the Trip
Last year, we introduced the Anne Flueckiger Scholarship in honor of a beloved AGC guide who lived with extraordinary curiosity, courage, and compassion. Anne believed in the power of women stepping into adventure together, and the scholarship carries that belief forward. It offers full or partial support for women educators, nonprofit professionals, and community leaders to join an AGC trip that fits their passions and values, made possible by the generosity of Anne's family, friends, and community.
This year, we were honored to name our very first recipient: Emily.
Meet Emily
Emily is a kindergarten teacher in the Chicagoland suburbs. For the past 11 years, she has worked with multilingual learners who are new to the United States, helping her students feel safe, confident, and proud as they find their way in a new country. She believes education can transform how a person sees their own worth and possibility, and her students have taught her just as much about resilience and hope.
Outside the classroom, Emily runs a Little Free Library in her neighborhood and is renovating her first home herself, learning plumbing, drywall, and electrical work from YouTube after long days at school. In every sense, she is a lifelong learner.
When we asked what drew her to the scholarship, she told us:
"Stepping outside of my comfort zone, traveling to a new place, and challenging myself physically and emotionally would be a powerful reminder that I am a confident, capable, and independent woman."
Anne's story resonated with her too, especially the way Anne moved alone from the Midwest to Russia and Siberia, and later led women into wild places with warmth and attentiveness. This summer, Emily followed a similar instinct and joined our Alpine Adventures in Slovenia trip.
What It's Actually Like to Travel Alone With Us
Emily chose Slovenia for its landscape: "mountains, lakes, rivers, and valleys, and even really great cities to explore." She was also upfront that the days before the trip came with real nerves about heading to a new country completely on her own. We hear this time and time again from women before they travel with us, no matter which trip they choose. And we get it. Getting on a plane to meet a group of women you've never met isn't easy. That's why we make sure you feel supported and ready to explore long before your trip takes flight.
Supported Before She Ever Left Home
The nerves usually aren't about the destination. They're about the unknowns. Women tell us they wonder if they'll keep up, if they've packed the right gear, or if they'll know anyone when they arrive. We hear these worries all the time, so we build our pre-trip support around answering them early.
Before you ever leave home, our team is here to help you prepare. We share the packing lists and travel information you need, answer your questions, and help connect you with the women you'll be traveling with. Your guides are part of that groundwork too. They schedule a pre-departure call with each traveler to make sure every question is answered and any nerves are eased. When the logistics are handled and you know what to expect, you can spend your energy looking forward to the trip instead of worrying about it.
That's exactly what Emily experienced. Her AGC program manager was with her every step of the way before she ever landed in Slovenia. Here's how Emily described it:
"She sent me a packing list so I knew exactly what to take, she answered any questions, she even connected me with my guide before the trip," Emily said.
By the time she boarded her flight, she wasn't stepping into the unknown alone. When she landed, she was "instantly greeted by my two guides and all of the wonderful women" she'd be traveling with, and that put her at ease right away. From there, she barely had to think about logistics.
"I was driven to all the hikes, all the restaurants, and I had great company," Emily added.
Never Truly Alone
When you travel with AGC, you're never truly traveling alone. Yes, you may be saying yes to your first-ever solo adventure. But once you're gathered with your group, you'll be in good company the whole time.
That's one of the best parts of traveling with us. Maybe you've wanted to take a trip for years but couldn't find anyone who wanted to go where you did. With AGC, there's a whole group of women who are just as excited as you are to explore a new place. You never have to brush aside your travel dreams. An enthusiastic group of women and expert guides are ready to take you exactly where you want to go. We handle the details ahead of time because we want you to have the best possible time with your group.
What surprised Emily most was how quickly "alone" stopped applying to her experience.
"Every hike, every dinner, I was able to sit by someone new and learn more about them," Emily said.
Emily loves making friends, and by her own account she "never felt alone" the entire week. What started as a solo trip turned into a week spent surrounded by new friends. She said she plans to stay in touch with them long after Slovenia.
The Moments That Push You a Little Are the Best Part
Some of the best moments on an AGC trip are the ones that ask a little something of you. Maybe it's trying an activity you've never done, or tasting something you'd never order at home. Or maybe it's saying yes to something you'd normally talk yourself out of. On our trips, you take on those challenges at your own pace, with a group of women right there cheering you on.
Emily's favorite memories from Slovenia were the ones that stretched her. She went whitewater rafting for the first time and admitted she was "a little scared beforehand." The women around her nudged her to try it anyway, and she ended up having "the best time," she said.
We build our trips around more than sightseeing. On Emily's first day, the group visited a shepherd's village, where a local woman made lunch for everyone. The meal was made from all things local to Slovenia.
"I would never have tried what was on my Slovenia lunch plate at home," Emily said, "and now I want to find out where to get everything."
Then there was her birthday, which she spent on the trip. Her guides surprised her with a cake with candles, and the whole group sang. She called it "a great moment to start my year off." Small gestures like that are part of what makes an AGC trip feel less like a tour and more like time with friends.
If You're on the Fence of Traveling with a Group Tour
If you're on the fence about traveling alone, we understand. Taking that first step is often the hardest part. So when we asked Emily what she'd say to a woman who isn't sure she's capable of traveling alone internationally, she didn't hesitate.
"If you're nervous, just really consider doing it, because this has been an amazing experience for me. This has been one of my favorite weeks of my life," Emily confidently said.
She pointed straight to the support behind that experience. That's what we work toward on every trip. Our team and your guides handle the planning, the transportation, and the details, so you can focus on the adventure in front of you. "I really didn't feel like I had to handle any of the logistics," Emily said. "It made traveling on my own pretty easy, and I made some really great friends."
You don't have to have everything figured out before you say yes. That's what we're here for.
It’s Your Turn to Take the Leap into Solo Travel
Maybe you’ve had a destination in the back of your mind for years. Maybe it’s Slovenia, where Emily recently traveled, or somewhere else entirely. If the only thing holding you back is what once gave Emily pause—going alone—let her experience inspire you to say yes. Had she let that fear stop her, she would have missed one of the best weeks of her life.
When you arrive, you’ll meet a group of women who are just as excited to be there as you are. By the end of the week, the women who began as strangers may feel like longtime friends. The trip you nearly talked yourself out of could become one of your favorite adventures, too.
You don’t have to navigate the logistics or the experience alone. You simply have to take the first step.
Ready to plan your own adventure? Explore our upcoming trips or reach out to our team. We'll help you find the one that feels like it was made for you.
