The air is getting chilly and the rainy season has begun. My typical urge to fly south for the winter has kicked in. Unfortunately, travel is not an option for me at the moment, so I will hibernate instead. To me, that means curling up with a hot beverage and a travel memoir so I can live vicariously through someone else’s adventures.
I’m partial to travel memoirs written by women rather than men because I can usually relate to both their outward and inner journeys more. I have found a few good options beyond the ubiquitous Eat, Pray, Love. Here are some suggestions:
Tales of a Female Nomad: Living at Large in the World
by Rita Golden Gelman
During an impending divorce, Rita Golden Gelman made her first solo journey to Mexico. This trip transforms her and she makes the decision to give up everything to become a global nomad. It’s encouraging to see the author evolve from a timid traveler to a confident adventurer ready to take on the world.
Adventure Divas: Searching the Globe for Women Who Are Changing the World
by Holly Morris
In this memoir, Holly Morris shares the details of the creation of the “Adventure Divas” PBS television series. It highlights powerful and unconventional women in several countries who are doing amazing things for their communities. It will inspire you to travel and make positive changes in the world.
Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure
by Sarah MacDonald
After Sarah MacDonald first traveled to India in her early 20s, she vowed to never return again. Several years later, her boyfriend takes a job in India and she decides to join him. This is a hilarious and insightful account of the two years she spent in India dabbling in various aspects of the culture and learning to accept the country as it is.
Stalking the Wild Dik-Dik: One Woman’s Solo Misadventures Across Africa
by Marie Javins
In this travel memoir, Marie Javins goes boldly where few travelers have gone before. While it was not the most poetic read, the author still managed to draw me in with tales of her exciting off the beat path adventures in Southern and Eastern Africa.
Kite Strings of the Southern Cross: A Woman’s Travel Odessy
by Laurie Gough
Maybe it’s wrong to recommend this book as I haven’t finished reading it yet. But so far I’ve found it to be a wonderfully descriptive and passionate account of traveling in the South Pacific and South East Asia, and I’m excited to continue reading it.
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They say it’s an El Nino year, so it looks like it’s going to be a long, wet winter. I may be doing quite a bit of armchair travel in the next few months. Suggestions for other travel memoirs are welcome!
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Hi – I love travel writing too! I’ve read 2 of those and will definitely check out the others – thanks for the recommendations! I have two you might like:
On the Couch by Fleur Britten – it is about a woman from the UK who takes of and couchsurfs through China, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Also one of my all time favorites is The Dancing Girls of Lahore by Louise Brown – it is a fascinating profile of culture in Pakistan.
Hi….I too love traveling women books…How about “Whose panties are these”? and also another favorite “Sand in my bra-and other misadventures.I’m with you on the travel this year, I did a big trip last year and am grounded for a bit. The adventures of other women will have to carry me through. Thnx for your blog, much appreciated, I will list yours under my Blog tribe as I don’t have any other travelers blogs.
Take Care…Deb
thanks for these book recommendations. I’ve been looking for something new to read lately, and my latest story about travel back in “time” isn’t quite satisfying my craving! I’m going to order one or two from Amazon right now…
Thanks for the suggestions! I’m glad to have some new options to look into once I finish Kite Strings!
Hey Ekua. I would love to republish this on Matador Goods. Unforunately we only pay for unpublished pieces, not reprints.
Would you be interested? Let me know at lola [AT] matadornetwork [DOT] com
Thanks!
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