Solo Travel

Flying Solo: 12 Women Who Made Travel History

Whether it was traveling unaccompanied, flying a plane, or soaring into space, ambitious women throughout history have been met with the word “no” time and time again. So it’s remarkable that these 12 women—a small sampling, to be sure—became pioneers in travel, for years one of the most forbidden arenas of them all. In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re taking a look at bold women—born of differing circumstances, and in different times—whose desires to cover new terrain, to break records, and, in many cases, touch the sky, drove their adventures forward, against all odds. Some said they couldn’t do it—nevertheless, they persisted. Editor’s note, February 23, 2021: A previous version incorrectly named the first documented woman to visit all the sovereign nations. This milestone was attributed to Dorothy Pine in 2005, after she visited 192 recognized countries.
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Illustration by Austen Claire Clements