Brown Gal Trekker & Equity Global Treks

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Brown Gal Trekker & Equity Global Treks BGT promotes equity and inclusion, solo trekking/traveling, off the beaten paths globally and the decolonization of the tourism industry.

Filipina American, Former Human Rights Lawyer, Global Nomad | Award-Winning Founder of Brown Gal Trekker, Equity Global Treks & The Porter Voice Collective | Championing Workforce & Gender Equity in Travel - JOIN OUR TRIPS Brown Gal Trekker is travel site with a focus on creating innovative treks and adventure tours for solo travelers, promoting community led tourism in mountain regions, leadership of women and members of indigenous communities in a male-dominated western-centric trekking tourism industry. BGT, in partnership with non profit organization, The Porter Voice Collective, aims to create workforce equity tourism to elevate the workers and indigenous rights of porters in Peru, Nepal and Tanzania. BGT as a person is a former human rights lawyer from Washington DC who fell in love with the mountains, prompting her decision to leave her 15 year long legal career to live as a full-time global mountain nomad in 2017 while designing treks in partnership with local communities worldwide.

10/19/2026

What if your next travel experience could open a world of possibilities for children in the Himalayas?

Introducing the Mustang English & Himalayan Culture Program — a 30-day immersive experience in the heart of Mustang, Nepal, where meaningful cultural exchange meets the power of education.

During my time living in Mustang, I witnessed firsthand the resilience of local communities and the incredible potential of their children. I also saw an opportunity to make a difference.

For many students, learning English in the classroom doesn't always mean having the opportunity to practice speaking and listening through real-life conversations. Access to this kind of practical English learning experience is limited. And that's where you can help.

For the first time, this local public school is opening its doors to international visitors to engage directly with students through English learning and cultural exchange.

Over 30 days, participants will have the opportunity to:

- Help students practice conversational English through speaking and listening.
- Support students in building confidence and communication skills.
- Immerse themselves in Mustang's extraordinary Himalayan landscapes, traditions, and everyday community life.
- Build meaningful connections with local families, educators, and students.

This isn't simply about visiting a beautiful destination. It's about showing up, sharing knowledge, learning from one another, and creating an experience that benefits both visitors and the community.

For students, every conversation is an opportunity to practice English, build confidence, and connect with the wider world. For participants, it's a chance to experience Mustang beyond tourism — through the people, culture, and relationships that make this place extraordinary.

Come for the mountains. Stay for the connections. Leave having made a difference.

We're inviting a small group of international participants to join us for this special 30-day experience in 2027. Spaces are limited to ensure a meaningful experience for both participants and the local community.

Interested in joining us?

Visit our program page: https://www.browngaltrekker.com/nepal/mustang

10/18/2026

What if your next travel experience could open a world of possibilities for children in the Himalayas?

Introducing the Mustang English & Himalayan Culture Camp — a 30-day immersive experience in the heart of Mustang, Nepal, where meaningful cultural exchange meets the power of education.

During my time living in Mustang, I witnessed firsthand the resilience of local communities and the incredible potential of their children. I also saw an opportunity to make a difference.

For many students, learning English in the classroom doesn't always mean having the opportunity to practice speaking and listening through real-life conversations. Access to this kind of practical English learning experience is limited. And that's where you can help.

For the first time, this local public school is opening its doors to international visitors to engage directly with students through English learning and cultural exchange.

Over 30 days, participants will have the opportunity to:

- Help students practice conversational English through speaking and listening.
- Support students in building confidence and communication skills.
- Immerse themselves in Mustang's extraordinary Himalayan landscapes, traditions, and everyday community life.
- Build meaningful connections with local families, educators, and students.

This isn't simply about visiting a beautiful destination. It's about showing up, sharing knowledge, learning from one another, and creating an experience that benefits both visitors and the community.

For students, every conversation is an opportunity to practice English, build confidence, and connect with the wider world. For participants, it's a chance to experience Mustang beyond tourism — through the people, culture, and relationships that make this place extraordinary.

Come for the mountains. Stay for the connections. Leave having made a difference.

We're inviting a small group of international participants to join us for this special 30-day experience in 2027. Spaces are limited to ensure a meaningful experience for both participants and the local community.

Interested in joining us?

Visit our program page: https://www.browngaltrekker.com/nepal/mustangenglishprogram

Click the “JOIN THE PROGRAM” button to complete the application form and take the first step toward joining us in Mustang.

🇳🇵 Dashain in Nepal — a journey of human connection, identity, and coming home to parts of myself. ❤️I’ve been in Nepal ...
10/17/2026

🇳🇵 Dashain in Nepal — a journey of human connection, identity, and coming home to parts of myself. ❤️

I’ve been in Nepal for 2.5 months now, and this trip has brought me closer to this country in a way that previous visits never quite did.

Perhaps it took spending a month in Mustang, during an incredibly difficult time for local communities affected by natural disasters, to understand that connection. With roads blocked, power and communication disrupted, and everyday life turned upside down, I experienced a side of Nepal that no travel itinerary could ever capture. I wasn't simply passing through a beautiful mountain destination. I was getting to know people, sharing in their everyday realities, and witnessing the strength of communities navigating uncertainty.

Through our Himalayan Women Trail Leaders Initiative (HWTL), I also returned to Nepal to help run our women's trekking guide training for the second time. Getting to know the Nepali women who are building their skills, confidence, and leadership has made this journey deeply personal.

And somewhere along the way, I began reflecting on what it means to experience all of this as a Filipina.

I was born in the Philippines and moved to the United States when I was 13. Like many of us shaped by colonial histories and the pressure to assimilate, my relationship with my own identity has been a journey of questioning, unlearning, and reconnecting. I've spent years navigating what it means to belong, to be seen, and to understand the parts of myself shaped by the worlds I've lived in.

Being in Nepal has brought some of those reflections back to the surface.

There is something profoundly moving about connecting with people across cultures and recognizing that, despite our different histories, languages, and circumstances, there are experiences that bring us together. The importance of family and community. The dignity of work. The desire to be seen and valued. The resilience required to keep moving forward when life becomes difficult.

Experiencing Dashain here makes these connections feel especially meaningful. To witness a celebration centered on family, togetherness, and renewal while feeling welcomed into people's lives is a reminder that cultural connection isn't something we can simply consume as travelers. It grows through relationships, time, humility, and a willingness to listen.

My experience has also deepened my awareness of how colonialism and patriarchy shape whose knowledge is valued, whose labor is recognized, and who gets to lead. These are questions that follow me into my work in mountain tourism — from advocating for the dignity of porters to creating opportunities for Nepali women to lead treks on their own terms.

For me, this work is not just about tourism. It is also about challenging the hierarchies that have historically determined whose voices matter and making room for women and communities to define their own futures.

Perhaps this is why Nepal feels different to me now. I am not just discovering another country. I am also continuing to understand myself — my Filipina identity, the histories I carry, and the kind of solidarity I want to practice across borders.

After years of traveling the world as a mountain nomad, I feel increasingly certain that the most meaningful journeys are not measured by the places we visit or the mountains we climb. They are measured by the relationships we build, the perspectives we are willing to reconsider, and the ways our encounters with others change how we see ourselves and the world.

This Dashain, I feel incredibly grateful. Grateful to the people of Mustang who welcomed me during a difficult time. Grateful to the Nepali women who continue to inspire me through their leadership. And grateful for the opportunity to experience a connection that goes beyond being a tourist — one that has challenged me, grounded me, and brought me closer to both Nepal and parts of myself.

Maybe belonging isn't always about finding a place that is exactly like home. Sometimes, it's about finding people whose lives and experiences help you understand your own a little more deeply.

Nepal, thank you for the human connections, the lessons in humility, and the reminders of what we share across borders. My heart is full. ❤️🙏🏽

Wishing everyone celebrating a Dashain filled with love, renewal, and meaningful connections. 🇳🇵

10/15/2026

Tourism Isn’t Just About Consuming — It’s About Contributing.

Apply Now: Khusvegi English & Nomadic Culture Camp 2027

At Khusvegi English & Nomadic Culture Camp in Altai Village, Western Mongolia, we are rewriting the rules of tourism.

This is not a passive trip or photo opportunity.

This is slow tourism with purpose — a 30-day cultural immersion where you don’t just observe nomadic life. You actively take part in it.

Here, travelers are not consumers. They are guests, collaborators, and long-term allies to the community.

✅ You’ll teach English to local Kazakh and Mongolian youth.
✅ In return, families will welcome you into their daily life — from herding and horsemanship to music, craft, and ancient cultural traditions.
✅ Your presence becomes an investment in the future of the community, not a transaction.

When you live for a month beside nomadic families, tourism transforms — from extraction to exchange, from spectacle to solidarity.

2027 marks a new era for our camp as we launch in Altai Village, where Kazakh and Mongolian cultures coexist side-by-side. Two nomadic lineages. One unforgettable experience of learning, sharing, and belonging.

Applications are now open. We keep our group intentionally *small* to protect authenticity.

🌿 Limited spots available.
If you believe travel should uplift — not consume — this is your invitation.

👉 Apply now and be part of a new global model of responsible tourism. Go here: https://www.browngaltrekker.com/mongolia/Khusvegi Camp or see link in bio.

Live it. Learn it. Leave a legacy.

A NEW CHAPTER IN COMMUNITY-LED TOURISM BEGINS!INTRODUCING THE MUSTANG ENGLISH & HIMALAYAN CULTURE PROGRAM — NEPAL 🇳🇵We a...
10/13/2026

A NEW CHAPTER IN COMMUNITY-LED TOURISM BEGINS!

INTRODUCING THE MUSTANG ENGLISH & HIMALAYAN CULTURE PROGRAM — NEPAL 🇳🇵

We are thrilled to announce that applications are officially OPEN for our newest 30-day immersive program in the breathtaking Himalayan region of Mustang, Nepal!

This is more than a travel experience. It is an invitation to spend a month immersed in a different way of life, build meaningful relationships across cultures, and contribute to a community-led initiative investing in the future of local youth through education.

30 DAYS. DEEPER CONNECTIONS. LASTING IMPACT.

Over the course of this immersive journey, participants will:

- Support education: Work alongside local teachers to support English learning for students in Mustang.
- Experience life in the Himalayas: Stay with local families and discover the rhythms of daily life in a unique mountain community.
- Immerse yourself in local culture: Learn about Mustang’s traditions, heritage, and extraordinary landscapes through meaningful cultural exchange.
- Travel with purpose: Become part of a long-term initiative that places community, education, and cultural preservation at its heart.

Inspired by the same principles behind our Khusvegi English & Nomadic Culture Camp in Mongolia, this program reflects our commitment to community-led tourism, slow travel, and creating meaningful opportunities for local communities through education.

We believe that the most transformative travel experiences happen when we move beyond being visitors and take the time to truly connect, learn, and contribute.

NOW RECRUITING: 2027 PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS

We are also welcoming creative fellows — photographers, videographers, and content creators interested in helping us document the program and share the stories of Mustang. Selected creative fellows can participate at a reduced program rate in exchange for their creative contributions. Email us at [email protected]

Ready to be part of something bigger than travel?

Applications are now open, and spaces are available until filled.

Visit our program page and click on JOIN THE PROGRAM: https://www.browngaltrekker.com/nepal/mustangenglishprogram

Come for the mountains. Stay for the connections. Leave knowing you were part of something meaningful.

🌍 Heading to World Travel Market (WTM) London I’m excited to be at WTM London this year, connecting with people who are ...
10/13/2026

🌍 Heading to World Travel Market (WTM) London

I’m excited to be at WTM London this year, connecting with people who are rethinking what responsible, equitable, and community-led tourism can look like.

As the founder of Brown Gal Trekker, Equity Global Treks, and The Porter Voice Collective, much of my work centers on creating more equitable opportunities for women, local communities, guides, and porters in mountain tourism.

I’ll be at WTM looking to connect with tourism leaders, destination organizations, funders, media, and potential partners who share a commitment to making travel more inclusive and community-centered.

If you’ll be at WTM London too, let’s connect! I’d love to hear what you’re working on and explore ways we might collaborate.

📍 London | WTM 2026 November 5-6
🤝 Open to conversations, partnerships & new ideas

A MONTH IN MUSTANG: THE PEOPLE, THE MOMENTS, AND THE BEAUTY OF SLOW LIVING. 🏔️❤️I didn’t expect that one of the things I...
10/11/2026

A MONTH IN MUSTANG: THE PEOPLE, THE MOMENTS, AND THE BEAUTY OF SLOW LIVING. 🏔️❤️

I didn’t expect that one of the things I would cherish most about my time in Mustang would be the simplest things: sitting around the table sharing meals, chatting in the mornings, talking late into the night, listening to stories about life in the mountains, and sharing stories of my own.

For a month, while working on the Mustang English and Himalayan Culture Camp in Jomsom, Nepal, I had the privilege of living with a local homestay family. Somewhere between the everyday conversations, shared routines, cultural learnings, and quiet moments, this place started to feel like more than just somewhere I was staying. It started to feel like home.

This wasn’t about ticking off sights. It was about sharing daily life, learning about the things people do, understanding their traditions, and experiencing a way of life that moves at a different pace. It was about being present, being curious, and connecting with people in a way that feels increasingly rare in our fast-moving lives.

And perhaps what makes this experience even more meaningful is that it happened during an incredibly difficult time for the community. Landslides and almost two weeks of disrupted power and roads affected communications, Wi-Fi, and phone signals, while making food and other supplies increasingly difficult to access.

My own departure was affected too. What would usually be a six-hour journey by jeep turned into a fourteen-hour ordeal as blocked and disrupted roads made the journey far more difficult than expected.

Yet my host family’s warmth and generosity never wavered. Their hospitality was a reminder that welcoming someone into your home goes far beyond what you can offer materially. It’s about sharing what you have, making space for another person, and making them feel that they belong.

I know I will miss the slow days and even slower nights. The conversations that wandered from one topic to another. The stories about their lives and the space to share mine. The little everyday moments that didn’t seem extraordinary at the time, but somehow become the ones you know you’ll remember.

I came to Mustang to work on a project centred on English learning and Himalayan cultural exchange, but I’m leaving with something much more personal: a deeper appreciation for this community, the resilience of the people who call it home, and the beautiful connections that can form when you allow yourself to slow down and truly be part of a place.

Sometimes, the most meaningful part of travelling isn’t what you see, but who you meet, what you learn, and the little pieces of each other’s lives you get to share along the way.

To my Mustang family, thank you for welcoming me so warmly and letting me be part of your everyday life for a month. I’ll carry these memories, our conversations, and the feeling of being at home with you for a long time. ❤️

10/10/2026

I said goodbye to Mustang and the community but my heart never left them. The Mustang English and Himalayan Culture Program is coming! Only 5 guests can join. Stay tuned.

We’re proud to share that The Porter Voice Collective (PVC) has been named a finalist in recognition of our work behind ...
10/07/2026

We’re proud to share that The Porter Voice Collective (PVC) has been named a finalist in recognition of our work behind the Himalayan Women Trail Leaders (HWTL) Initiative.🏔️💜

HWTL was created to elevate the leadership, visibility, knowledge, and economic opportunities of Nepali women working in the trekking industry.

Too often, women in the mountains remain invisible in the stories told about Himalayan tourism—despite the knowledge, labor, leadership, and resilience they bring to the industry every day.

Through HWTL, PVC is working alongside Nepali women trail leaders to build a stronger pathway from participation to leadership. Our programming includes leadership and professional development training, peer mentorship, technical and trail knowledge, storytelling and visibility, and opportunities to strengthen women’s voices within the trekking industry.

Today, HWTL has grown into a community of 35 women trail leaders, supported by a growing Nepali leadership and peer-mentor team.

Our work also extends beyond training. Through The Porter Voices Podcast, we are creating space for Nepali female trekking guides to tell their own stories and challenge the narratives that have historically defined mountain tourism from the outside.

We are also proud to provide HWTL members with the first HWTL Trail Knowledge & Guide Handbook—a resource created to recognize and share the expertise of women who know these mountains firsthand.

For PVC, this recognition is not simply about an award. It is recognition of a movement built on women’s leadership, community, dignity, and equity in mountain tourism.

We are deeply grateful to every HWTL member, mentor, facilitator, volunteer, partner, and supporter who continues to make this work possible.

The mountains have always had women leading the way.
We’re making sure their voices are heard.

Congratulations to all the finalists and thanks to Travel Unity for the recognition.

Once upon a time, this nonprofit organization, Porter Voice Collective , that I founded in 2019 put my life in danger. ...
10/05/2026

Once upon a time, this nonprofit organization, Porter Voice Collective , that I founded in 2019 put my life in danger. There were so many times I thought of giving it up. But my passion and commitment to workers rights in mountains tourism prevailed and outlasted many challenges including death threats. Activism in the tourism industry comes with a price - moving from one continent to another for my own safety was one of them.

Years later, we have six board members and over 25 volunteers have built PVC to what it is today - and now comes this recognition for the work we do behind our award winning Himalayan Women Trail Leaders which has trained 35 female guides in just 6 months from its launch this year. Thanks to Travel Unity for selecting us as a finalist and for reaffirming that I made the right choice to keep fighting against all odds.

Congratulations to all the finalists.

Learn more about The Porter Voice Collective via www.theportervoicecollective.org

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