A Return to Yourself
A coaching adventure in the wild
The desert in October is golden.
Mornings are crisp, afternoons are a warm hug,
and yellow cottonwood trees glow against red rock cliffs.
Above, a vast blue sky stretches. Endless.
Welcoming you into the threshold that is the desert.
Into Courage Quest.
October 14 to 17, 2026
Moab, Utah
Takes 8–10 minutes. 6 spots available.
For early applicants ready to commit. Fully refundable if not accepted.
Registration closes July 31st.
With only six places available, we recommend applying or reserving your spot early.
What is Courage Quest?
Courage Quest is a four-day coaching immersion in nature for women who are ready to expand and become the person they are meant to be. It’s a quest to connect with and deepen the parts of yourself that you have had to exile to survive.
Through guided coaching conversations, reflective practices, and moving through the landscape, you create space to remember the fullness of who you really are.
Courage Quest is about becoming whole.
It’s about Freedom.
Freedom from autopilot.
Freedom from always initiating.
Freedom from tending to everyone else’s needs first.
Freedom to be fierce. To be sensual. To be ambitious.
Freedom from swallowing the words you really mean.
Freedom from over-functioning.
Freedom from perfection.
Freedom from apologizing for wanting more, wanting different.
Freedom to be away from your screen.
At its core, Courage Quest is about transforming the rage, exhaustion, and frustration we carry into something life-giving: joy, love, celebration, and the freedom to live fully again.
Why
Moab
Desert?
There is a reason why so many powerful stories begin in the desert.
The desert is a threshold for transformation. Across cultures, it has been the place where wanderers shed who they thought they were to remember who they truly are.
But first, it purges you.
It takes away the noise, the distractions, and all the roles you play until all that’s left is you… and the horizon.
And maybe anger. Or grief. Or sorrow. Or relief. Or joy.
Which is perfect because the desert can hold it ALL.
The desert doesn’t judge you. It’s a witness to your wholeness.
And here we create the conditions for something powerful to emerge: the possibility of transforming what has been heavy into something lighter, freer, and alive.
This is for the woman who…
Feels bone tired in a way that sleep just doesn’t fix
Is tired of performing, tired of being palatable, tired of being “understanding”
Is fed up with all of the injustice
Has anger she doesn’t know what to do with
Is tired of one-way friendships; always initiating
Is ready to stop living on autopilot.
The resentment, the exhaustion? That’s not a flaw that needs to be fixed.
It’s a signal. It’s your edge.
If this catches your breath, you have two ways to begin:
We’ll work with that energy, transforming it into clarity, courage, joy, and celebration.
You are not alone.
What Becomes Possible
After Courage Quest, imagine feeling:
More honest with yourself and the people around you
Less willing to shrink to keep the peace
More connected to joy, laughter, and celebration
Clearer about what you want next
Free from the constant pressure to perform
Reconnected to parts of yourself that had been quiet for too long
Imagine returning home with a different relationship to your own life.
This is about remembering you.
If you’re sensing that something here resonates, but you’re not quite sure yet, a conversation can help you feel into what’s right for you.
The Experience
Courage Quest is an experience like no other. It combines coaching, reflective practices, and immersive adventures in the landscape to support both inner and outer exploration.
You will be at once spoiled and stretched.
We’ll hike through red rock canyons dusted with autumn gold, sit beneath cliffs glowing copper at dusk, breathe in cool desert mornings, stargaze, and watch sunrises and sunsets change the landscape.
All while journeying through your personal transformation together, through powerful coaching and deep reflection.
The Moab Desert will crack you open to help you rediscover parts of yourself you haven’t seen in years.
And you’ll finally become the person you were always meant to be.
Be prepared to be surprised: by the landscape, by the experience, and by what begins to shift within you.
You’ll Stay:
Each woman will stay in her own private king suite at Under Canvas Moab; a luxury desert camp designed for comfort, rest, and quiet integration after each day’s experience.
A place that brings you closer to the land without sacrificing comfort: plush beds, soft linens, natural textures, wood-burning stoves to keep you cosy, and a private deck to watch the landscape shift with the light. Meals are both deeply nourishing and genuinely delicious, with moments of connection, warmth, and pleasure woven into the rhythm of each day.
Imagine waking to birdsong and canyon sunrises, and falling asleep in a quiet, grounded stillness beneath one of the brightest night skies in the world.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival & Opening
Arrive in the desert and settle into your space.
As the sun begins to soften, we step into a twilight hike and gather to begin the journey together.
Day 2: Descent & Expansion
We begin with a sunrise Hummer Safari Tour adventure to move us through the canyon landscapes before canyoneering, navigating sandstone corridors shaped by time.
That evening, we gather beneath the stars for reflection and stargazing.
Day 3: Movement & Flow
A day of exploration and contrast: hiking through the desert, followed by a water-based adventure through canyon-carved landscapes.
There is space for both exhilaration and stillness.
Day 4: Integration & Return
A final morning in the desert.
We hike, then gather to integrate what has shifted and prepare to carry it forward.
Month-long coaching.
Pre-Quest group call to set intentions.
Reflection prompts to help you arrive grounded.
Time to connect with the other women joining the cohort.
Before We Meet in Moab
Guided hikes through Moab’s red rock canyons.
Off-roading through the backcountry.
Canyoneering through Moab’s sculpted sandstone corridors.
Stargazing beneath Moab’s Gold-Tier International Dark Sky.
Boating along the Colorado River.
Integration circles under the night sky.
Solo time in the landscape.
Shared stories and meals.
During the Quest
An integration call to anchor and integrate what you’ve learned.
A continuing connection with the Courage Quest community.
After the Quest
Investment
This is more than a trip.
It's a return to yourself.
The total investment for Courage Quest is $6,750. A $1,000 deposit is required to reserve your place.
Your investment in yourself includes:
3-night single-occupancy King bed stay at the luxurious Under Canvas Moab
Nutritious and delicious full breakfasts, lunches, dinners, unlimited snacks and water throughout the quest
Private licensed Courage Quest guides with medical and outdoor nature-based survival certifications
Private driver and van for transport throughout the Quest
Guided canyoneering adventure
Guided boating adventure
Hummer Safari Tour adventure tour
Facilitated stargazing experience
Certified transformational coaching and facilitation
Journal and Courage Quest Swag Bag
Exclusive trail access in the Moab Desert
Customized safety protocols
Park permits, passes, and access
Flights to Moab are not included. Information on the best airport to fly into will be provided upon application to the program.
Meet Your Guides
Meet the women who will guide you through both the landscape and the inner journey of Courage Quest.
Priya Nalkur, Ed.D.
Psychologist, Coach and Founder of RTI
A trained psychologist and former Harvard faculty member, Priya has spent her career guiding people through the courageous inner work that transforms how they live and show up in the world. A lifelong lover of wild places, she summited Mount Kilimanjaro during her doctoral research in Tanzania and later completed the W Trek in Patagonia with a group of fellow “wild women.” Her belief that nature can catalyze profound personal insight is what inspired Courage Quest.
Stacy Kellogg
Coach and Facilitator
Stacy is a leadership coach with the RoundTable Institute who helps people deepen their impact by cultivating curiosity, compassion, and creativity. Known for her intuition and warmth, she creates spaces where people feel safe enough to explore what matters most. Her love of wild places has taken her on an 800-mile backpacking journey along the Pacific Crest Trail, an experience that deepened her connection to nature and reflection.
Trisha Schales
Professional Guide
Trisha is a professional outdoor guide who helps people build confidence, feel safe, and discover the joy of adventure in wild places. After thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2017, she devoted her life to guiding others through meaningful outdoor experiences. With over 6,000 miles of backcountry experience and recognition as REI’s 2024 Guide of the Year, she brings deep expertise and care to every journey.
A Decade in The Making
For the last 10 years, the RoundTable Institute has helped leaders go below the surface so they can lead with clarity, humanity, and purpose.
This year marks a new chapter, a homecoming: Bringing the inner work into wild terrain (literally and metaphorically).
And to honor that, and you, the Courage Quest experience is being offered at cost.
We can’t yet say what Courage Quest will become in future years. But we know this first cohort will be powerful.
Join us.
Frequently Asked Questions
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This is for women facing a transition or who feel something inside of them that wants to be lived. Participants may arrive feeling tired, stuck in their daily routine, or fed up with the state of the world. Courage Quest creates a space where those feelings don’t have to be hidden or made palatable. The desert can hold all of it, and all of you.
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Courage Quest is designed for women and non-binary people who feel called to reconnect with their courage in a small, intimate group setting.
Our definition of “women” welcomes all people who identify as women, as well as non-binary people who feel comfortable in a space that centres women’s experiences.
Because this experience takes place outdoors and includes time on remote hiking trails, it is best suited for participants who are comfortable with moderate physical activity, including hiking at elevation on uneven terrain.
This experience also tends to resonate most with those who are open to reflection, honest conversation, and being gently stretched beyond their comfort zone. If you’re looking for a purely relaxing getaway or something more structured and predictable, this may not be the right fit.
If you’re unsure whether this is a fit for your body or experience level, we welcome a conversation. We’re happy to talk it through with you.
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Courage Quest is a space rooted in respect, curiosity, and care, where participants contribute to a safe, supportive, and courageous community.
At RoundTable Institute, we specialize in working with women, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, people living with disabilities, and others from historically excluded communities, and we celebrate diversity, equity, and inclusion in all forms.
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Courage Quest is a coaching experience held in the wild landscape of Moab. It’s not a spa weekend or girls’ getaway.
Our time together intentionally creates space for deep reflection, honest conversation, and meaningful transformation, away from distraction and the pressure to perform.
We’ll also have an intensive month of coaching before and during the trip, with optional post-retreat calls for integration.
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We’ll give you a detailed packing list after registration. In general, you’ll want comfortable hiking clothes, sturdy hiking shoes, layers for cool mornings and evenings, and anything that helps you feel grounded and present in nature.
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Yes, and most women will. Courage Quest is designed to bring together women who may arrive as strangers but leave deeply connected through a shared, collective experience.
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Courage Quest is intentionally small to create depth and trust within the group. With a max of 9, the cohort will remain intimate so every participant can be fully present in the experience.
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Courage Quest includes both physical movement and meaningful reflection. There will be moments of challenge, but also moments of rest, laughter, and quiet. The intention is expansion, not exhaustion.
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Great question! We’ve planned a variety of hikes that fit a range of hiking experience levels. And we’re happy to help you think about hikes near you to build up your experience in the months leading up to Courage Quest.
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Sometimes the moments when we feel we don’t have time are the moments when we most need to step away and meet ourselves again.
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That feeling is often part of stepping into something meaningful. A mix of excitement and nervousness makes perfect sense when you’re making the brave and powerful decision to expand beyond your comfort zone.
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Not to worry, totally normal. Courage Quest will begin in September (virtually) so you’ll get a chance to connect with the other participants before we meet in Moab in October.
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What a wise question to be thinking about. Courage Quest is designed as a supportive environment where women can be honest about what they are feeling. The facilitators are experienced in holding space for reflection, conversation, and emotional processing. You’ll never be pushed beyond what feels safe for you - emotionally or physically.
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Sharing is always an invitation, never an obligation. Some women find deep value in speaking openly, while others prefer quiet reflection. Courage Quest honors both. You’re always in control of what you choose to share. The facilitators will create an intentional space with shared group agreements that also invite you to make your own participation choices.
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Integration is an important part of the process. After the Moab experience, you'll have the option to join integration calls designed to help you reflect on what emerged and carry those insights into your daily life.
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Because Courage Quest requires reservations for accommodations, guides, and experiences, please cancel at least 60 days before the program start date to receive a full refund of your deposit.
Cancellations made within 60 days of the program may not be refundable unless the space can be filled from the waitlist.
Questions?
If you’re wondering whether Courage Quest is right for you, a conversation can often bring clarity.
Or reach us at:
Your Courage Quest Begins Here!
Takes 8–10 minutes. 6 spots available.
For early applicants ready to commit. Fully refundable if not accepted.