Media / Press

Media Contact:

Janet Scalzo, Owner
Email: trips@canyoncalling.com
Phone: 928-284-8654

The idea of taking women on adventure trips was conceived on a jeep tour in Sedona, Arizona in 1996. Occasionally, the group was all women. The women, strangers to each other just two hours previously, bonded easily and often had lunch together afterwards. It was noticed that quiet women, who would unlikely have said much in a co-ed group, had plenty to share. Co-ed groups politely listened to information about Native Americans but the all-women groups showed a keen interest, asked questions, and really understood the native connection to the land. Something extraordinary happened when women traveled together. Thus, Canyon Calling was founded! After years in Sedona with Canyon Calling, the founder decided it was time to make a life change. After a long search, a very capable and established adventurer, Janet Scalzo, met the stringent requirements to acquire the company.

Janet Scalzo leads select adventures and loves meeting and traveling with Canyon Calling’s Guests. Janet brings the experience of over thirty years in the travel industry, along with years of international travel and marketing operations with her. Most importantly, she brings her innate sense of curiosity, true love of sustainable adventure tourism, passion for hospitality, and need to connect with the local culture. Janet attended the College of St. Catherine in Minnesota, where she lived for most of her life, and was employed at Carlson Companies for over twenty years in a number of progressively responsible positions including Head of Operations in Amsterdam, Netherlands for a travel loyalty program. Janet has found her true calling! Isn’t it grand when a career and a passion come together?

The adventure destinations are a mixture of Guide’s and Guest’s ideas, research on what’s trending, and our own personal favorites. These popular destinations are reviewed and refreshed ongoing, with new and exciting destinations and itineraries added all the time.

Canyon Calling has introduced ‘soft’ adventure trips, active vacations with an emphasis on food and wine, maybe a mineral spa or two. We’re offering trips of shorter duration, and new in 2024: Wellness Retreats! And above all, Canyon Calling continues to ensure a superb experience and adventure vacation for our Guests.

Immersive travel is a major component of all Canyon Calling trips. Guests can expect international itineraries to include such aspects as home-stays, preparation of meals with our local hosts, delivering school supplies to local school children, and exchanging native dance and song.

Canyon Calling offers unique itineraries that are especially scenic and offer an array of fun ways to explore the outdoors. Incorporating various activities on each trip, guests may experience a mixture of kayaking, hiking, zip lining, canoeing, trekking a glacier, white water rafting on a scenic river, soaking in mineral pools, cycling and more. Each trip is a true multi-activity vacation!

Rest assured there are no hidden fees on Canyon Calling trips. Everything is spelled out in the What’s Included and What’s Not Included section of each trip page. Canyon Calling trips include most or all meals, accommodations, land and sea transportation, all activities, all activity guide gratuities, local guides and gratuities, and all entrance fees and passes to attractions, and state and national parks. Basically, get yourself to the meet up point and get yourself home after the trip. In between, we got you!

All Canyon Calling adventures are designed for moderately-fit women. In general, if you are reasonably active in your life then you’ll do just fine on the trips. Our guides choose a hiking pace that is comfortable for all and take the time to soak in the views, smell the flowers and photograph the wildlife. Canyon Calling chooses kayaking trips where the wind is usually at our backs on the way home; selects rafting trips where the rapids are rated 3’s on average, and on horseback rides guests always go slowly downhill. And, no activity is mandatory – after all, it’s your vacation!

Guides take photos throughout the tour and provide a secure link to access photos, so after each trip you can download the digital prints you want from your trip. On vacation, you’re usually busy photographing the scenery. Canyon Calling guides make sure that you have photos of you and your road sisters in all the best places and ideal opportunities.

Canyon Calling Adventures provides women with a safe and comfortable atmosphere in which to challenge themselves, explore new parts of the world and build lifelong friendships. Guests can expect to depart Canyon Calling tour locations with a newfound respect for a previously unfamiliar culture and a sense of accomplishment of overcoming any physical challenges. Canyon Calling guests gain confidence in the inherently nurturing environment of other women. Wonderful friendships form and the memories endure for years! Oh, and we’re foodies so bring your appetite!

Canyon Calling boasts an impressive return rate of guests who have experienced one of their adventure trips. The passion for adventure travel is ignited, or rediscovered, while experiencing their first trip with Canyon Calling, or their tenth! We design a personal experience and connection with the destination and the local people, and so importantly, with the guests and their guides.

In the field, Canyon Calling practices and promotes Leave No Trace principles. Sustainable Travel International methodologies, along with other sustainable travel practices are in place. We are members of the ATTA (Adventure Travel Trade Association) to connect with our peers, attend local, regional and international events to keep us on the cutting edge of sustainable travel practices.