+ Who are Small Group Journeys for?

Small Group Journeys are for anyone looking for:

• A Community of like-minded travelers
• Connections with local people, cultures, and traditions
• Conversations that inform, educate, and inspire action
• Clarity to some of life’s most daunting questions
• More purpose, passion, and meaning in life

These Small Group Journeys and the process of exploration will take you deep into your own mind and heart and will provide you with opportunities to explore where and who you truly are. You will re-discover yourself, your desires, your passions, and your purpose that may have been buried deep beneath the mud of expectations and responsibilities that have accumulated in your life over the years.

+ Why go on a Small Group Journey?

Two main reasons:

First, there is something unique, magical, and powerful about going on an adventure and having shared experiences with other people. Opportunities to learn from one another abound and hearing people share new perspectives, bonding over similar questions you are looking for answers to, supporting one another through challenges, and sharing the excitement of new opportunities are just some of the reasons to go on a small-group adventure. To that end, the beating heart of these program are the group conversations you have with your fellow travelers.

The second reason is the amazing people who are there to lead your Adventure. Small Group Journeys program leaders have all been carefully selected to lead your adventure based on their expertise and experience working as a coach and facilitator. Many of our program leaders have:

• Worked in education for years as teachers, administrators, or counselors

• Spent serious time as executive coaches, organizational consultants, and leadership development gurus

• Earned advanced degrees such as Masters or Doctoral degrees

• Written books on personal development, organizational leadership, and/or travel

• Been featured on news or television programs.

Above all else, they are people who are passionate about helping you use this travel experience to re-connect to yourself, re-discover who you are and what you are capable of, and begin to once again live on purpose and with passion!

+ What does a Small Group Journey look like in action?

Envision this scenario:

You are deep in the rainforest in South America, staying in an eco-friendly and locally owned lodge. You wake up early in the morning to the aroma of fresh brewed coffee and the chirping of the forest birds. You decide to start the day off by participating in a guided meditation and yoga session. Afterwards, you satisfy your hunger with a well-deserved breakfast of fresh fruits, pastries, and juices. Next, we spend an hour in conversation with the group checking in, sharing new thoughts or insights, and reviewing what we experienced yesterday before heading out for today's challenging class III-IV white-water rafting experience!

You feel refreshed, energized, and invigorated as you and your new friends hit the water. Our expert guides safely help the group navigate through the rapids; our facilitators challenge you to think about what strengths you are using to successfully run the river. You bond with the other members of the group as you work together to overcome both physical and mental obstacles. During lunch, the group takes time to share their experience so far on the rafting trip, and reflect upon the metaphor of the river being like our passions—always flowing and extremely powerful! Afterwards, you have a few moments to chat with your Program Leader about your experience, what you learned, and how you can apply those lessons to an opportunity you are facing in your life. You immediately begin thinking about what you are going to do when you get home to capitalize on this amazing opportunity you have been presented with, and write down your ideas in your journal. A contented and satisfied smile is plastered across your face the rest of the day.

We return to the lodge later that afternoon, clean up, and have a drink and some delicious local food. We gather the group to continue our conversation about our experiences that day and talk about what we learned, what surprised us, what challenged us, and more. You explore what came up for you that day and how it this aligns with opportunities, challenges, or questions you are dealing with in your life at home and how you can begin applying what you learned today to your life once you return. After our meal, you spend an hour sitting with some members of the group, sharing your stories from the day and discussing loved ones back home. Eventually, you retire for the night, and you drift off to sleep feeling simultaneously exhausted and inspired about your life.

+ How physically demanding are these programs?

Each Small Group Journey is designed to be enjoyed by people at varying degrees of experience and physical fitness. Of course, it is important that you have a degree of physical conditioning to be able to participate in many of the adventures, so there is that baseline. But—unless otherwise stated—you do NOT need to have any specific technical expertise to go on an Journey with us.

+ What type of accommodations will we be staying in?

Accommodation types vary from program to program. They range from more basic such as camping or sleeping in a dormitory style hotel or lodge with shared facilities and/or minimal amenities to staying in a single or shared room with a private en suite bathroom with normal hotel amenities. In most cases, you’ll find a little bit of both on these programs. Occasionally, you may find yourself in a deluxe room with all of the amenities you can think of (and probably some you can't!). Prepare for a mix of accommodation types.

+ What else do I need to do to prepare?

When you receive your gear and packing list, you will also receive a list of recommended reading materials for you to immerse yourself in prior to the program. These materials have been hand-picked by our program leaders as important to the success of the program, so we strongly encourage you to follow their instructions and hit the books! And, depending on your program type, we always suggest hitting the gym and/or the outdoors to make sure you are in the shape that you need to be to successfully participate in your program. You can always contact us if you have specific questions about getting ready for your Adventure.

+ What if I have a medical condition that may prevent me from participating in some activities?

Being physically and mentally fit to go on a Journey with us is critical — not only for your own health and well-being, but for the good of everyone on the program. If you have questions or concerns about your ability to participate in some portion of the program due to medical issues, we encourage you to contact us AND your physician before deciding to apply. All applicants will need to fill out a medical form as part of the application process. Should we feel that there is significant risk to you, other participants, and/or our facilitators, Explorer X reserves the right to deny any application. Please see our Terms & Conditions for more information.

+ Is there anything else I need to know?

If you are a resident of the great state of Florida, due to Florida state Seller of Travel laws that limit / restrict the sale of travel to FL residents, we are unable to offer our programs to you. We apologize for the inconvenience!

+ What if I have questions that are not answered here?

Simple—Contact us! We're always happy to talk to you about any additional questions, concerns, or ideas you have about your program.