Inspiring Women Every Female Traveler Should Meet on Global Adventures
As I rolled a small dough ball between my palms, a wave of nostalgia hit me: I was back at my childhood kitchen table, flour-dusted and joyfully making dumplings with my Taiwanese-American family. My dad kneaded the dough, my sister and I formed the balls and flattened them (the beginner tasks), and my mom expertly pinched them into restaurant-worthy creations.
But at the Sisterhood of Survivors kitchen table in Kathmandu, that joy was bittersweet. My hosts were survivors of human trafficking.
I was traveling through Nepal with G Adventures, whose nonprofit Planeterra Foundation partners with the survivor-empowerment organization SASANE to provide meaningful tourism jobs. This included a traditional momo-making lesson with 12 fellow travelers.
We began by hearing their powerful stories. Locking eyes with one host, I marveled at her resilience in escaping unimaginable circumstances—and now welcoming global visitors with a warm smile.
During the cooking, one woman folded and pinched momos with effortless speed while captivating us all. Once silenced by trauma, her voice now commanded attention from travelers worldwide.
On this International Women’s Day, I reflect on her and countless resilient women I've met traveling—whose stories enrich our journeys. Here are five female-empowering travel experiences to inspire your adventures.
Take the Wheel in Kenya
On Intrepid Travel's Kenya: Women’s Adventure, eyes lock on driver Becky Kieha, spotting zebras, rhinos, and giraffes. To locals, she's the star: East Africa's first female overland truck driver.
A truck driver's daughter, she's held this role for six years in a nation where women face employment barriers (gender pay gap projected to close in 135 years). Known as “Mama Overland,” she inspires girls calling her “Aunt Becky.” The 9-night trip showcases women's progress, like Umoja Village for sexual assault survivors and women-run flower farms.
Weave Through Barriers in Peru
In Peru's Andean communities, Awamaki empowers women weavers. Starting with 10 artisans in 2009, it now supports eight cooperatives selling traditional textiles globally.
Experiences include the 6-hour Rural Tourism tour diving into textile creation and the immersive Artisan Overnight in a Quechua village.
Unlock Morocco’s Beauty Secret
On G Adventures’ Kasbahs & Desert trip through the Atlas Mountains, visit women-led argan oil cooperatives. In areas with limited schooling, these provide income via nutrient-rich oil for beauty and cuisine. Participate in seed extraction.
These cooperatives have preserved argan trees (previously lost at 600 hectares yearly), combating desertification—and sustaining iconic goat condos.
Stroll Paris’s Her-Story
Beyond Joan of Arc and Marie Antoinette, Women of Paris walking tours (led by women) spotlight femmes françaises.
Literary fans: Sugar & Spice tour in Saint-Germain-des-Prés covers Colette and George Sand, with chocolate stops. Theater lovers: Drama Queens on Edith Piaf and Sarah Bernhardt. Or the Essential Walk through Left Bank female lore, patisserie included.
Toast New York’s Women-Owned Wine Trail
Japan native Fumie Thorpe moved to Oswego, NY, for meteorology studies unavailable to women at home. Fate shifted when her dad bought a vineyard; she runs Thorpe Vineyard, now 30 years strong and 100% women-owned.
On Lake Ontario's Wine Trail, enjoy tastings, stargazing, bird-watching, and her original watercolors.
