Eight New “Soulful” Travel Books by Women to Add to Your Reading List

by | Jul 12, 2024

A group of women reading a book

Last updated on November 2nd, 2024

Featured image: These travel books by women are sure to inspire your next adventure | Photo by isitophotostock on Envato

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.

Please note: When you purchase a book using the links below we receive a small commission from the bookseller, at no cost to you. This helps us maintain our website and book club. Thank you!

Want to read books on the go? Try a Kindle Reader. Learn more here.

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.

Jen Ruiz with her book 12 Trips in 12 Months

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.

Beth Santos holding her new book Wander Woman

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.

Nikki Vargas getting onto an airplane holding a copy of her book, Call You When I Land

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.

Lisa Niver with her book Brave-ish
book club insert

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.

Maria Baltazzi- Take a Shot at Happiness Book Cover

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.

Kat Medina holds a copy of her book, Joys of Jet Lag Photo

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.

Beyond Guilt Trips Book Cover

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.

Celeste Mergens holding a copy of her book, The Power of Days

More Travel Books by Soul of Travel Podcast Guests

Alice Morrison

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

Listen to the episode here.

Find a women-friendly trip on the Women's Travel Directory

More Books to Inspire You

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.

0 Comments

We always strive to use real photos from our own adventures, provided by the guest writer or from our personal travels. However, in some cases, due to photo quality, we must use stock photography. If you have any questions about the photography please let us know.

Disclaimer: We are so happy that you are checking out this page right now! We only recommend things that are suggested by our community, or through our own experience, that we believe will be helpful and practical for you. Some of our pages contain links, which means we’re part of an affiliate program for the product being mentioned. Should you decide to purchase a product using a link from on our site, JourneyWoman may earn a small commission from the retailer, which helps us maintain our beautiful website. JourneyWoman is an Amazon Associate and earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you!

We want to hear what you think about this article, and we welcome any updates or changes to improve it. You can comment below, or send an email to us at [email protected].

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *