Booking.com celebrates International Women’s Day with trips inspired by these iconic female travelers
International Women’s Day (March 8, 2018) celebrates women’s achievements and gender equality all over the world, covering everything from political, social, professional and travel accomplishments.
Booking.com, the global leader in connecting travelers with the widest choice of incredible places to stay, is celebrating International Women’s Day by looking at iconic female explorers throughout the years and how their incredible trips can inspire a vacation. After all, 2018 is the year to dream big, with 45% of travelers having a bucket list in mind and 82% planning to tick one or more destinations off their list*. Be inspired by these amazing women travelers and seize the moment in 2018!
Annie Londonderry
Annie was the first woman to cycle the globe on a bicycle between 1894 and 1895. Starting in the US, she then made her way across Europe and onto Asia before sailing from Yokohama, Japan to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and then onto Los Angeles, through Arizona, New Mexico and onto El Paso. Quite the adventure!
For a fan of cycling who fancies an adventure on a smaller scale, one of the top destinations around the world endorsed for cycling by Booking.com travelers is Yangshuo, China. The countryside here is a cycling paradise full of village trails and paths through amazing scenery. There is no shortage of scenic routes from Yangshuo through winding roads, tea plantations, caves, rivers and villages. Stay at the Li River Resort for a relaxing riverside retreat, offering Chinese style accommodation. Guests can enjoy the outdoor swimming pool, walk in the garden or take organized cycling and hiking trips.
Valentina Tereshkova
In 1963, at just 26-years-old, Valentina was selected to be the first Soviet woman sent into orbit. She was chosen because she was a regional skydiving champion and had a working class background. She spent almost three days on the spacecraft, which orbited the Earth 48 times. Even today, she remains the only woman to ever have been on a solo space mission.
Although space travel is not an option, there are plenty of destinations for spectacular stargazing. Lake Tekapo, New Zealand, is one of the top endorsed destinations for stargazing by Booking.com travelers and it’s easy to see why. Lake Tekapo boasts beautiful clear skies, especially within the stunning Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve where travelers can combine stargazing tours with visits to hot pools. Stay at Lakeview Takepo, located in the Dark Sky Reserve, for beautiful views of Lake Tekapo and the Southern Alps, where guests can enjoy luxury apartments that all come with a sky window in each bedroom for stargazing.
Junko Tabei
Junko was a Japanese mountaineer and the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest in 1975, as well as the first women to ascend “The Seven Summits”, the highest summit of every continent. She also played a huge role in challenging cultural stereotypes in her homeland about women’s roles in society.
If Everest itself is too much to handle, at least get up close to this incredible landmark with a trip to Nepal. The Everest Base Camp trek is a 15-day adventure, giving traveler’s great views of this incredible mountain. Start or end the adventure in The Dwarikas Hotel in Kathmandu, a luxury stay inspired by Kathmandu Valley’s rich cultural heritage. Guests can enjoy the outdoor pool, restaurant options, beautiful architecture and spa before or after setting off on their trek to see Everest. For something a little different, visit Alishan in Taiwan, Szklarska in Poland and Terchova inSlovakia, which Booking.com travelers highly endorsed for mountain walks.
Laura Dekker
In 2010 Laura Dekker was the youngest person to ever sail solo around the world, at just 15-years-old. She was brought up sailing, spent the first five years of her life at sea and owned several boats – all named Guppy. Her journey took one year and five months, starting in Gibraltar and going onto Canary Islands, Panama and the Galapagos, Tahiti, Fiji, Australia and South Africa before finishing in the Netherlands.
For fans of sailing, one of the top destinations around the world endorsed for sailing by Booking.com travelers is Cowes, Isle of Wight -- home to one of the longest running and largest regattas in the world, Cowes Week, which takes place in August every year. Whether Olympic level, professional or weekend sailors, travelers can take part. Stay in North House, a boutique hotel offering guests an outdoor swimming pool, restaurant and beautifully decorated rooms. A peaceful stay not far from the action of Cowes Week.