I am based in New Zealand - probably the best place to be in the world right now (but I would say that!). All international travel has been suspended in the meantime, and a visit to NZ also entails 2 weeks in managed isolation (if you can get a booking). Before Covid many New Zealanders were wondering if we were overdoing tourism - many places were overrun with international tourists, with locals simply staying away. Small settlements like … [Read more...]
Doing good while travelling? What’s wrong with voluntourism?
I walk along the brown Thu Bon river,in the golden beauty of the UNESCO World Heritage town of Hoi An. I skirt the groups of Japanese tourists in traditional dress, Vietnamese women slender in white Ao Dai, and older women enticing me on to their brilliantly painted boats. I am neither tempted nor diverted: my goal is in sight. An ethical, local based craft collective, a charity that helps disadvantaged Vietnamese people and their families to … [Read more...]
Story of Laxmi Sunar – Woman Trek leader in Nepal
Laxmi Sunar, a 35 years old from Jumla, which is one of the remote districts of Nepal belongs to a low caste family. She never attended school. At the age of 15, her neighbors arranged marriage for her in Mugu, the west Nepal. Laxmi had two daughters age seven and five. Her husband left her and married off to another woman. But Laxmi did not get along with her mother-in-law. During her husband’s veterinary course he married another women. He … [Read more...]
Five Climate Friendlier ways to Travel
I am a Climate Change Activist and promoter of women and travel. I have had to do some thinking of whether these two things are a contradiction. In this article I begin a reflection on how (and if) I can hold these two passions together as I explore climate friendlier ways to travel. Would love your feedback The bottom line for me is that travel can no longer be about ticking off countries to visit. Travel now must be adaptive to the … [Read more...]
Working with Women on Responsible Travel
WomenTravel is focused not simply on travel, but on how we can travel sustainably, and giving back to local communities as much as possible. I enjoyed reading this article in the latest Adventures in Good Company newsletter about how things have changed in the past 20 years. Adventures in Good Company is one of the women focused companies you can find listed, along with their tours on www.womentravel.info When we started guiding women's … [Read more...]
Apoyo Lodge Nicaragua – take time out
Maribel Miriam re-opened the doors of the new Apoyo Lodge five months ago, and are well on their way to building a reputation for being a great location for some time out. Letters from the Lagoon It has been an incredible journey so far, the most rewarding part has been getting to know you. We are touched by your experiences during your time with us. We wanted to share this with others and carry on that transformative feeling of being at … [Read more...]
Women and Travel and Giving
My desire to explore has always been a part of me, as long as I can remember. As I get older, I am travelling more, as I figure, if I don’t do it now, when am I going to do it? Time is certainly not standing still. At present I run an Overland Cultural Camping Expedition with my partner each year in Mongolia and I am just home from running my first solo tour (with guests) in Morocco. So I would like to talk a bit about giving... What to … [Read more...]
Solo Travel for Women – need a helping hand?
Girl about the Globe is a website designed to make solo travel for women accessible, fun and safe. It celebrates the increase in women travelling alone and those seeking more meaningful experiences to gain a better understanding of the world. Founded by Lisa Imogen Eldridge, a travel journalist and self-confessed travel addict. Her background in the travel industry fuelled her passion to see the world and since the age of 21 she has … [Read more...]
Women To Women Empowerment Project Mongolia
Rensina van den Heuvel has traveled in Mongolia many times, and leads tours there (find out about upcoming trips here). This project is part of her desire to give back to the women she has met along the way. Read more about this below or more about her travels at Womens Travel Adventures Bags are for sale to raise funds for next years project: for small coin purses are from $6.50A phone bags are $6A medium bags (double passport size) are … [Read more...]
The Journey of the International Women’s Day Flag 2014
On 3 March 2014 28 Ladies Trekking Club led a group of women from 8 nationalities on a trek on Kilimanjaro aiming to reach the Roof of Africa in the morning of March 8 – the International Women’s Day. Our flag with 10,113 women’s names written on it started its way up in a school for Maasai girls. As all the names of the girls were on the flag, we started there to show the flag and tell the girls about our project. Another time we introduced the … [Read more...]
