Let’s start this with a fun fact about traveler, and that is two-thirds of travelers are women. That’s right! For decades, women has been sidelined in the traveling world. Traveling isn’t necessarily intended for recreation, but it can also help people to heal and find their identity. In a lot of ways, traveling has become one of our eye opener to how we see the world as well as ourselves.
Among all the greatest traveling books, most of them seem to be dominated by men. Below are the best travel books written by women, besides the obviously famous Eat, Pray, Love. So, here’s 8 of the best travel books written by women, for the amazing ladies who are passionate about traveling!
1000 Places to See Before You Die by Patricia Schultz
For those who are passionate about travel, 1000 Places to See Before You Die is a perfect read! The book redefines travel guide through obsessive research that introduces a new way of thinking about traveling experiences. As Patricia Schultz said, “Anyone who tells you that it’s a small world just hasn’t traveled.”
A House in the Sky by Amanda Lindhout
The book is a memoir of Amanda Lindhout’s courage, resilience, and grace as she traveled the world. She went on an adventure, backpacking across Latin America, Laos, Bangladesh, and India. Then as a reporter she went to Sudan, Syria, and Pakistan where she was held hostage for 460 days. A House in the Sky is a vivid and suspenseful story of Amanda Lindhout’s search for compassion in the face of unimaginable adversity.
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest by Cheryl Strayed
After a series of painful events in her life, Cheryl Strayed made the most impulsive decision of her life: Hiking more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington State. Alone, she forged against all odds on a journey that ultimately healed her.
Tracks: A Woman's Solo Trek Across 1700 Miles of Australian Outback by Robyn Davidson
Robyn Davidson sets off from Alice Springs for the west coast of Australia in 1977. Along on her journey, she was accompanied by a dog and four camels where she endured sweltering heat, fending off poisonous snakes and lecherous men, as well as nursing her camels. The story of her odyssey of discovery and transformation is so powerful and unforgettable.
Four Corners: A Journey into the Heart of Papua New Guinea by Kira Salak
The book tells the story of Kira Salak’s solo jungle trek across Papua New Guinea where she travels a largely untouched world by dugout canoe and on foot. She stayed in villages where cannibalism was still practiced, meeting mysterious witch doctors, and more. As said on The New York Times Book Review, “Kira Salak is tough, a real-life Lara Croft.”
The Valleys of the Assassins: and Other Persian Travels by Freya Stark
Hailed as a classic, the book chronicles Freya Stark’s travel into Luristan with only a single guide and on a shoestring budget. With a narrative point of view, the story told of nomadic people who inhabit region’s valleys as well as the stories of ancient kingdoms of the Middle East.
The Good Girl's Guide to Getting Lost by Rachel Friedman
Rachel Friedman has always been the consummate good girl who does well and plays it safe in her life. One day, she buys a ticket to Ireland as an effort to escape impending life decisions and forms a bond with a free-spirited Australian adventurer. Along with her journey, Rachel discovers her love for travel and finally learns to live for the moment.
Dream of a Thousand Lives: A Sojourn in Thailand by Karen Connelly
The book tells a lyrical portrait of Karen Connelly’s life adventure when she left home to live in Denchai, a small farming community in northern Thailand, for a year. The swampy jungles, the lure of hedonistic Bangkok, ambient Buddhism. All of those are crafted and combined in a sense of adventure and affinity for Thai culture.
