Dear women of the world, if you’re itching to head out by yourself but you still have doubts in doing so, here’s the sign you've been waiting for: go ahead and make it happen!

Travelling alone, no doubt, is an empowering experience; it can make anyone feel in control, be independent, and make decisions on their own. While it could all seem scary at first, just think about how fulfilling it would be when you’ve finally climbed that mountain, crossed that sea, or traversed that old city miles away from home — without relying on anyone but yourself.

Solo travels can also pave the way for you to meet new people, and most of all, to celebrate who you really are. Nothing ever beats the feeling of being comfortable in your own skin. Feel free to show the world what you’ve got because after all, we’re equal!

In celebration of International Women’s Day this year, we’ve listed some of the most inspiring female travellers from around the world who remind us that women can make great things happen, regardless of where you come from and which path you choose to take.

 Laura Dekker

Dutch sailor Laura Dekker, at the age of 16, has fulfilled her life’s biggest dream — to be the youngest person to sail solo around the world. According to her previous interviews, she already felt like she was ready for this once-in-a-lifetime adventure when she was 13. When she declared her intentions of circumnavigating the world alone in 2009, Laura encountered several court cases trying to stop her from doing this because of her young age.

Armed with courage and a strong wanderlust, nothing stopped the young girl despite discouragements. She faced the world, sailed a thousand miles, and came home a year later with the biggest achievement a 16-year-old can ever make.

What we can learn from her: As cliché as it may sound, you should follow your heart and trust yourself. Sometimes, all it takes is some courage, confidence, and of course, the right kind of preparation for you to succeed!

 

 Junko Tabei

Mount Everest, the world’s tallest mountain, remains to be a distant dream for most climbing enthusiasts. Sure, its trail is highly difficult and the training needed before heading out there could be rigorous — but the thing is, it is not impossible.

Look at the story of Japanese mountain climber Junko Tabei, the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest in 1975. Out of hundreds of women who applied to be a part of a team that would follow the same trail as Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, Junko was one of the fifteen participants chosen after a thorough selection process. Finally, when they settled in a campsite 6,300 metres above sea level, the brave woman along with a few more people got buried in snow because of an avalanche. No one ever thought that they would survive. Twelve days later, there she was at the summit of the mountain that many people could only dream of seeing with their own eyes.

What we can learn from her: Junko, now 75 years old, is still serving as an inspiration, not just to her fellow mountain climbers, but to every woman out there — that there is nothing impossible, especially if you put your passion into what you do.

 

 Rosie Swale-Pope

Running around the world for a cause, that is what Rosie Swale-Pope is known for. The Swiss-Irish woman lost her husband to cancer, but instead of wallowing in sadness, she launched a journey to raise more awareness about the dreaded disease. She put on her jogging shoes and ran 20,000 miles, raising funds for charities serving cancer patients.

Rosie even got a fractured hip, encountered a pack of wolves in Russia, and nearly froze to death in Alaska, but nothing stopped her from completing the expedition.

What we can learn from her: There would be times when life would confront us with problems, but instead of seeing it as a hindrance to make a difference in this world, we should see it as a motivation to still push through.

Do you know of an inspiring female traveller? Share her story with BeMyGuest on FacebookTwitter, or Instagram!

If you’re plotting your own way to conquer the world, BeMyGuest can help you out. Check out a wide variety of tours and activities available on our website!