You’ve learned all about the history of travel through the decades, but what about the herstory of travel? These inspirational women traversed the globe during difficult times, achieving titles and recognition that travelled far beyond the places they’ve been to. Ladies, this International Women’s Day, if you need solo travel inspiration for 2025, here are some of the most influential women travellers you might not have heard of.
Follow the steps of the most courageous women this International Women’s Day 2025, who gave true meaning to travel, paving the way for millions of people to follow. Let’s peek at the lives and achievements of these powerful women in travel who were not deterred by long distances, harsh climates, towering peaks, and gender stereotypes!
Amelia Earhart: The Queen of the Skies
Image credit: ameliaearhart.com
A record-breaking female aviator, Amelia Earhart, was the first woman to gain recognition for flying across the Atlantic Ocean in a single trip in 1932! You can read about her struggles in her book The Fun of It. In 1935, she was also the first person to fly on a single trip from Hawaii to the United States. She was the second person to achieve this feat and one of history’s boldest female travellers, who lost her life because of a fuel shortage while trying to circumnavigate the Earth and fly about 7,000 miles in 1937.
Because of her brave heart, a new organization called Ninety-Nines was formed in 1929 for women in aviation. She was also one of the media-famous record-breaking female explorers with her exceptional flying skills, the most popular being the award for reaching a 14,000-foot altitude. It is due to the queen of the skies that finances increased for flights that broke all speed and distance records, enabling quicker travel today! Be like Amelia Earhart and explore the globe with affordable air ticket booking this International Women’s Day!
If you want to know more about such powerful women in Aviation, don’t miss out on Bessie Coleman, one of the first African American women to spread her wings.
Junko Tabei: First Woman Conqueror of Mount Everest
Image credit: Outsideonline.com
The name that inspires awe when you hear it is Junko Tabei, the first woman to climb Mount Everest in 1975 and conquer the highest peaks on seven continents! She achieved her goal of climbing 70 peaks in her lifetime. In a period when women were forced to stay indoors and bear kids, Junko Tabei worked as a Piano Teacher and an Editor to fund her climbing dream.
Junko Tabei is one of the female explorers who changed the world and made it to the top with one bag of oxygen shared among two people. She dedicated most of her life to the preservation of Mount Everest. You can also enjoy similar climbing escapes with exciting Ladies special tour packages in 2025, a year when solo travel is trending!
Check out the Netflix Show Mountain Queen, based on the adventures of Lhakpa Sherpa, who scaled Mount Everest ten times in her lifetime.
Nellie Bly: Touring the World in 80 Days
Image credit: explorethearchive.com
The woman who brought fiction to life, Nellie Bly, set out to check if the book’s goal of Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne could be accomplished. She managed to travel to Singapore, Egypt, Sri Lanka, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Italy, England, and France within 72 hours. She was one of the most influential women travellers, and because of her curious nature, such travel can now be accomplished in under three days! All you need are India tour packages to get you going, like Nellie Bly, one of the world’s most influential women travellers.
Need tips for travelling solo as a woman? You can listen to the Woman Who Travel Podcast and read: Safe Places for Solo Women Travellers to find the best travel locations.
Dervla Murphy: The Irish Cycling Diva
Image credit: The Guardian
Well known for her book Full Tilt, covering her travels on bicycle from Ireland to India for about 3,000 miles, Dervla Murphy is one of the best women to imitate on International Women’s Day. She went through a bunch of dangerous encounters along the way, including battling a Wolf and Iraqi bandits along the way. Dervla wrote 20+ books on her adventures and continued her travels even after marriage. She and her daughter continued to explore, going to the remote location of Baltistan in the Himalayas and riding a pony to the edge of the Indus Valley civilization. Dervla Murphy passed away when she was 90; however, her stories continue to inspire female travellers in India and other famous travellers today.
Planning a trip abroad? Get Ireland Visa online.
Freya Stark: The Solo Travelling Powerhouse
Image credit: The Educated Traveller
One of Freya Stark’s most popular quotes of waking up alone in a small town surrounded by new adventures took the world in a storm, making her one of the most influential women travellers today. She wrote over 20 books covering the culture and lifestyle of those living in the Middle East. Freya solo travelled across destinations in Arabia, Afghanistan, Turkey, Iraq, Egypt, Palestine, Kuwait, China, and Italy, interacting directly with locals in their mother tongues. She wrote about the oppression of the French on the Syrians and much more that remains relevant even today.
Freya Stark dared to go solo, making her one of the most famous female world travelers. Would you? Read: Go Solo: 5 Safest Asian Countries and Tips for Female Solo Travellers.
Laura Dekker: The Youngest Solo Sailor
Image credit: explorersweb.com
Inspired by Jeanne Baret, Laura Dekker became one the youngest women to circumnavigate the globe at 16 years! She won battles against the Dutch courts and set out on a 17-month sailing spree, ending at the Caribbean Island. Laura began sailing at 13 years old, and her first trip was a solo one. To help young kids learn more about sailing safely, Laura Dekker now runs the Dekker World Sailing Foundation camp for teenagers to sail across the Atlantic via Europe.
Laura has won multiple awards and captured the hearts of all young sailors looking to dominate the seas, making her one of the most influential women travellers. You can now explore the world more safely, but first, you must apply for online visa services India to get started.
Aloha Wanderwell: The World’s Biggest Explorer
Image credit: alohawanderwell.com
Aloha Wanderwall, one of the women trailblazers who shaped the way we travel, was the first woman to circumnavigate the Earth, a feat that took over 5 years to achieve. She began when she was 16 by hopping in a car from France. Aloha ended her adventure by exploring 75 countries and returning to Nice, France. She is a renowned documentary maker who was also the first person to capture the Brazilian Bororos people on video. Aloha Wanderwell is nicknamed the female Indiana Jones and receives the title of being the first woman to drive around the world!
She was a multitalented woman, and undoubtedly one of the top woman travel influences today, taking on the role of cinematographer, laundress, seamstress, interpreter, mechanic, negotiator and more on her exciting adventure. She also disguised herself as a man and prayed in Mecca, received the honorary title of Colonel in Siberia’s Red Army, and hunted majestic elephants in Indochina. Her story is nothing less than that of an adventure princess, posing as an inspiration for solo female travellers all over the world!
Also read: A Staycation for Queens: The Best Hotels & Resorts for Women’s Day 2025
Ami Vitale: Today’s Wander Woman
Image credit: PetaPixel
Ami Vitale, a name that holds prestige today, is a renowned photographer for National Geographic who has travelled to 100+ destinations. She captures the tragic realities of people living in war-torn countries on her travels. Her bravery surpasses all definitions, living in war zones, and has captured millions of pictures, winning her the World Press Photos awards six times! She’s also the founder of Vital Impacts, supporting humanitarian causes all over the globe.
Through Ami Vitale’s pictures, she is not only one of the top female travel influencers today but also showcases a much-needed reality across the globe for everyone to see. This makes her one of the world’s most influential women travellers.
Are you inspired to explore this year by the lives of the most influential women travellers? If yes, all you have to do is book hotels online at best rates and explore like the famous female travel leaders! Are you solo travelling for the first time and unsure of staying away from home? You can stay at some of the best women-only hotels around the globe!
FAQs- Most Influential Women Travellers
Who is the greatest female adventurer?
Some of the greatest female adventurers include Amelia Earhart, Ami Vitale, Laura Dekker, Aloha Wanderwell, and Nellie Bly.
Who is today’s most inspiring woman?
Malala Yousafzai is one of the most inspiring women today, known for her rebellion against injustice and love for education.
How does traveling shape who you are?
Travelling allows you to rely on yourself better and expand your horizons by exploring other cultures, lands, and local people. Hence, building knowledge and character.
Who was the woman who traveled around the world?
Jeanne Baret was the first woman to circumnavigate the world disguised as a man. Following her were other renowned travellers, including Aloha Wanderwell and Laura Dekker.
Who was the first female Traveller?
The first female traveller was Jeanne Baret.
Who was the first woman to journey?
Jeanne Baret was the first woman, disguised as a man for safety, to circumnavigate the Earth.
Who was the first woman to go around the earth?
Jeanne Baret was the first woman to go around the Earth, and Valentina Vladmirovna Tereshkova was the first to orbit the Earth in a spacecraft.
Who was the woman who walked around the world?
Angela Maxwell was the first woman to walk around the world; it took her 6 years to walk across four continents.
Has any woman flown around the world?
Many women have flown around the world. The first was Geraldine Jerry Mock, who completed this achievement in 1964.
If you like this, you’ll also love:
- Top 5 Travel Essentials for Women
- International Women’s Day: 13 Firsts by Indian Women
- Best Countries to Visit in March: March Out to Your Dream Destinations
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