Last updated on November 2nd, 2024
Women authors inspire others to embark on their own travel journeys
by Christine Winebrenner Irick, originally published on SoulofTravel.com
The Soul of Travel Podcast guests have published an incredible lineup of books that will inspire you to travel, heal, and live life to the fullest. These women continually show up in big ways to shift the narrative around who is travelling. The result: Getting more memoirs and travel stories written by women on bookshelves around the world and inspiring future generations of travellers.
These books cover themes such as solo travel adventures, personal growth, finding joy in everyday experiences, mindful travel, impactful global movements, and self-discovery across different cultures and continents. Grab one or two (or all of them) and toss them in your bag to take on your travels, camping, or sitting poolside this summer.
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Travel books by women to inspire new journeys
1. Jen Ruiz: 12 Trips in 12 Months: Make Your Own Solo Magic
Jen Ruiz, also known as Jen on a Jet Plane, is a lawyer turned travel blogger who decided to send out her twenties with an epic challenge. She shares her journey in 12 Trips in 12 Months: Make Your Own Solo Travel Magic.
Available now! Find it on Amazon here.
Read more about Jen’s work and listen to her episode here.
2. Beth Santos: Wander Woman
Beth Santos is the founder of Wanderful, an international community and social network with the active participation of over 40,000 women and gender-diverse people of all ages and backgrounds.
Wander Woman: How to Claim Your Space, Find Your Voice and Travel the World, Solo is a little bit of a travel guide and a whole lot of soulful advice to inspire your solo travel adventures. Buy Wander Woman here.
Read more about Beth’s work and listen to her Soul of Travel episodes here and here.
3. Nikki Vargas: Call You When I Land
Call You When I Land, by Fodor’s editor Nikki Vargas, includes all the makings of a great story: heartbreak, adventure, uncertainty, romance, and even murder. Her journey is relatable, vulnerable, and inspiring.
Find Call You When I Land on Amazon here.
Read more about Nikki’s work and listen to her recent episode here.
Want more? You can hear about her book Wandress on the Soul of Travel Podcast or buy it here.
4. Lisa Niver: Brave-ish: One Breakup, Six Continents, and Feeling Fearless After Fifty
Lisa Niver was nearly fifty when she found herself moving back in with her parents and starting over. She began taking one tiny “brave-ish” step at a time which led to the challenge of trying fifty new things before turning fifty. In her memoir, Brave-ish: One Breakup, Six Continents, and Feeling Fearless After Fifty she shares these adventures and her growth along the way. Buy Brave-ish here.
Listen to Lisa’s episode on the Soul of Travel Podcast here.
5. Maria Baltazzi: Take a Shot at Happiness
Maria Baltazzi’s book draws lessons from her life as a television producer, her travels, world events, and media that we all know and love. Each chapter teaches on what Maria calls “The Happiness Essentials,” all to help readers discover a life they love. Maria shares that her book is for anyone early in their wellbeing journey, and everyone looking for a new perspective to living a happier, more purposeful life.
Find Take a Shot at Happiness on Amazon here.
Listen to Maria’s episode on the Soul of Travel Podcast here.
6. Kat Medina: The Joys of Jetlag
When Kat Medina discovered that she could unlock a life of joy through adopting a traveller’s mindset, she created a guidebook to help travellers do the same. She encourages readers to find the awe and amazement in everyday life from the grocery store to journeys halfway around the world.
Find The Joys of Jet Lag here on Amazon.
Listen to Kat’s episode on the Soul of Travel Podcast here.
7. Dr. Anu Taranath: Beyond Guilt Trips
One of the most profound and perspective-shifting texts available regarding mindful travel, Dr. Anu Taranath speaks from her own experiences and expands the journey to unpack thought-provoking questions about who we are when we travel, how we interact with the people and the world around us, and how we navigate our differences with compassion, connection, and grace.
Buy Beyond Guilt Trips here.
Listen to Anu’s episode on the Soul of Travel Podcast here.
8. Celeste Mergens: The of Power of Days
In The Power of Days, author Celeste Mergens shares the stories of the struggles and triumphs that led her to create Days for Girls. This global movement supports women and girls with menstrual health education and sustainable menstrual solutions You’ll be moved by the power of impact created by individuals and communities aligned by a shared purpose.
Find The Power of Days on Amazon here.
Listen to Celeste’s episode on the Soul of Travel Podcast here.
More Travel Books by Soul of Travel Podcast Guests
Listen to her episode here.
Christine Reed
Listen to her episode here.
Tess Millhollon
Listen to the episode here.
Shivya Nath
Listen to her episode here.
Sahara Rose De Vore
Listen to the episode here.
Listen to her episode here.
Jennifer Mac Niven
Listen to the episode here.
Dr. Emily Thomas
Listen to the episode here.
Alice Ford
Listen to her episode here.
Kristina Liu
- The Inside Out Journey: An Elusive Search for Self Across Three Continents
Listen to the episode here.
More Books to Inspire You
2025 JourneyWoman Book Club Selections: Books to Spice Up Your Travel Plans
From Bordeaux to Venice, the 2025 JourneyWoman Book Club celebrates the joy and wisdom learned through travel, history and culture.
Set in Crete, Kate Forsyth’s “The Crimson Thread” Explores the Ancient Legend of the Minotaur
Kate Forsyth’s novel, “The Crimson Thread”, reimagines the legend of the Minotaur in the Labyrinth myth set in Crete during WW2.
JourneyWoman Announces New Women’s Travel Book: “Never Too Late: How Women Travellers 50+ Are Making the Rules”
JourneyWoman’s Carolyn Ray and award-winning photographer Lola Akinmade are collaborating on a new travel book to inspire older women.
Christine Winebrenner Irick
Christine Winebrenner Irick was recently named one of “2023’s Most Influential Women in Travel” by TravelPulse. She received a Bessie Award from Wanderful in 2022 for her work on Soul of Travel, being recognized as a brand that has gone above and beyond to support, empower, and represent women in the past year. She has spoken with over 100 women in many countries who are working to create a positive impact around the world on the Soul of Travel Podcast, which was brought into the JourneyWoman family in June 2023. She is also the Founder of Lotus Sojourns, where she creates and guides transformational journeys for women that support gender equity.
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