Inspirational Older Solo Female Travellers
In the past, the notion of a woman taking a solo holiday or an extended trip overseas was something of a taboo.
Or so you might think.
However, a rifle through the history books reveals numerous lady adventurers, who despite the challenges faced by women of times past, rushed headlong into all manner of exotic and sometimes dangerous expeditions.
Aimee Crocker
Take Aimee Crocker (1864-1941), for example, who was famed for her wild parties and myriad lovers, but also for her sabbaticals in the Far East. She dodged Borneo head-hunters, Hong Kong poisoners and Shanghai servants bent on murdering her.
Freya Stark
Freya Stark (1893-1993) was another notable female adventurer, best known for her travels in the Middle East. Her first book, published in 1934, was called The Valley of the Assassins, and sets the edgy tone for her interactions with troglodytes and nomads in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Turkey and Iran.
Other key female travellers of times gone by include Gertrude Bell (1868-1926) who helped form the modern state of Iraq; Harriet Chalmers Adams (1857-1937) who was the only woman allowed in the trenches of the First World War; and Delia Akeley (1875-1970) who explored Africa with her taxidermist husband, and continued to do so after their divorce.
Modern-Day Older Female Travellers
Today, being a solo female traveller is not such a big deal – and what's more, you don't need to be from the aristocracy or have a sizeable trust fund to be one.
In the older age bracket, Evelyn Hannon is of worthy note. Aged 75, Hannon continues to travel all over the globe, and has been blogging about solo female travel since near the dawn of the internet, in 1997. You can read her travel tips and travelogues on Journeywoman.com.
Other mature women on the road include Leyla Giray Alyanak (62), who is an international journalist and the writer behind travel website Women on the Road.
Another inspirational woman with insatiable wanderlust is Barbra Weibel (63), who was born in Chicago but has no fixed abode – since she travels the globe continually. You can read of her exploits at Hole in the Donut Cultural Travel.
Get Inspired
The above websites are great travel resources for women of all ages, but especially those who are a little older but need a little nudge in order to book their tickets.
There has never been a better time to enjoy an overseas solo adventure, whether for a week – or for a year.
And don't forget, starttravel.co.uk offers comprehensive travel insurance for women (and men, of course) aged 65 or more.
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