Ignite Your Wanderlust
Adventure books by women reveal the beauty of bold choices, especially when society says we should “settle down.” These tales remind us that exploration isn’t about age—it’s about attitude. Here are a few life-changing benefits of diving into these reads:
Expands Your Comfort Zone: Travel and adventure books are a safe way to challenge our comfort zones. Every page encourages us to think, “If she can do it, so can I.”
Inspires Courageous Living: The courage in these pages is contagious. Taking a step toward what you want, regardless of age, is what true adventure is all about.
Inspires Growth: Just as these authors grow through their adventures, we’re reminded of our ability to adapt and embrace whatever life throws our way. From learning to rely on oneself to understanding new cultures, these stories encourage us to grow in ways that defy stereotypes about “aging gracefully.”
Whether you’re dreaming of epic hikes, gritty journeys of self-discovery, or travel that dives deep into culture and the unknown, these books are packed with bold women who push limits. These adventure books for women are here to remind us that it’s never too late to make bold choices. Perfect for curling up with a glass of wine, jotting down travel notes, or just getting inspired, here’s the list.
Tough Broad by Caroline Paul
Caroline Paul has always filled her life with adventure: From mountain biking in the Bolivian Andes to pitching a tent, mid-blizzard, on Denali, she has never been a stranger to the exhilaration the outdoors can hold. Yet through it all, she has long wondered, Why aren’t women, like men, encouraged to keep adventuring into old age?
Tough Broad is her quest to understand not just how to live a dynamic life in a changing body, but why we must. She dives deep into the current research on aging, and highlights the results with the stories of women like 93-year-old hiker Dot Fisher-Smith, 80-year-old SCUBA diver Louise Wholey, 52-year-old BASE jumper Drew Brooks, 64-year-old birdwatcher Virginia Rose, and the many septuagenarian Wave Catchers who boogie board together in the San Diego surf. These women aren’t experts. But their experiences and the scientific studies that back them up offer important insight into our own physical and emotional health as we age, showing that growing older is no reason for women to sell themselves short. Tough Broad is a high-spirited call for women to embrace the outdoors, not back away from it, in our fifties, sixties, seventies, and beyond, casting our own futures in a new and dazzling light.
Cheryl Strayed’s book always makes the list for women no matter their age. While she may be only twenty-two, Cheryl Strayed’s story resonates with older women because at its core it’s about loss. In the wake of her mother’s death, her family scattered and her own marriage was soon destroyed. Four years later, with nothing more to lose, she made the most impulsive decision of her life. With no experience or training, driven only by blind will, she would hike more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington State — and she would do it alone. It’s gritty, messy, and real as Strayed finds herself through sheer will and wilderness.
Alone Time: Four Seasons, Four Cities, and the Pleasures of Solitude by Stephanie Rosenbloom
Rosenbloom’s solo travels through some of Europe’s most romantic cities—Paris, Florence, Istanbul, and New York—are not just about sightseeing but about savoring the profound moments of solo travel. Alone Time offers a refreshing perspective on solo travel, showing how solitude can be a source of richness and restoration. Four cities, four different seasons, the book explores how time alone can spark creativity, build self-reliance, and encourage self-discovery. With vivid descriptions of mouth-watering food, charming settings, and encounters with locals, it’s an invitation to savor the small joys we often overlook. This read isn’t just for planning a solo adventure; it’s a reminder of the beauty in slowing down and making our own memories, fully present and unhurried.
Tracks by Robyn Davidson
Imagine trekking 1,700 miles through the Australian desert—alone with only camels and a dog.Robyn Davidson’s opens the memoir of her perilous journey across 1,700 miles of hostile Australian desert to the sea with only four camels and a dog for company with the following words: “I experienced that sinking feeling you get when you know you have conned yourself into doing something difficult and there’s no going back.” Braving scorching heat, dodging poisonous snakes, dealing with lecherous men, and caring for her unpredictable camels, Davidson shows incredible grit and courage on her solo journey across Australia. Fueled by a deep love for the land and a respect for its indigenous people, she sheds the layers of her past self. Tracks is her powerful, no-holds-barred story of discovery and transformation in the heart of the outback. Davidson’s memoir is fearless, raw, and shows the beauty and danger of blazing one’s own trail.
Lands of Lost Borders by Kate Harris
In this deeply reflective journey, Harris bicycles the ancient Silk Road, reconnecting with nature, history, and her own curiosity about the world and human boundaries.
As a teenager, Kate Harris realized that the career she most craved–that of a generalist explorer, equal parts swashbuckler and philosopher–had gone extinct. Eventually the truth dawned on her: an explorer, in any day and age, is by definition the kind of person who refuses to live between the lines. “Every day on a bike trip is like the one before–but it is also completely different, or perhaps you are different, woken up in new ways by the mile.”
All Over the Place by Geraldine DeRuiter
Hilarious, irreverent, and heartfelt, All Over the Place chronicles the years Geraldine spent traveling the world after getting laid off from a job she loved. Those years taught her a great number of things, though the ability to read a map was not one of them. This book has lovers and haters – no matter what you think about this book it ends with the following sentence about traveling which will stay with me for a long time: “Even if you don’t end up where you planned, you still might end up somewhere great.”
A Woman Alone: Travel Tales from Around the Globe
What a fun book! A Woman Alone is a compilation of short travel narratives by women traveling alone. The authors tell a great story of experiences in India, Los Vegas, Brazil, Japan, and many places in between. Some authors emphasize solo travel as a way to experience independence and freedom. Others speak about loneliness or self-reflection or self-discovery. In the end, whether or not you decide you want to travel solo, you’ll certainly want to travel!
Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes
This book may be familiar to you, you’re probably thinking – isn’t that a movie – yes, it is, but, don’t be too hasty to discount this book choice. First, the book is always way better than the movie. Frances Mayes story is more than just a memoir of her life in the Italian countryside; it’s a layered journey of rediscovery. Through her poetic prose, Mayes invites us to savor the sensory richness of Italy—the smells, the sounds, and the quiet nostalgia that lingers in each remembered moment. Her account is about more than restoring an old farmhouse; it’s about dismantling her own life and rebuilding it with intention, finding meaning in the present. As she works the land and rebuilds her home, we see her crafting a life filled with good food, wine, and personal growth. May we all be inspired to create the lives we want, grounded in the things that bring us joy and fulfillment.
Ornithologist Caroline Van Hemert began to feel caged by the sterile lab environment, where she felt increasingly disconnected from the wild world she loved. Craving a return to nature and the thrill of discovery, she decided to step away from the lab and into the wilderness. With her husband, she embarked on an epic 4,000-mile journey through the Pacific rainforest to the Alaskan Arctic, traveling by rowboat, ski, foot, raft, and canoe. Along the way, they braved life-threatening challenges, but they also found moments of pure wonder—migrating birds against a moonlit sky, the misty breath of caribou, and a deepened bond forged through their shared adventure. The book pulls you in from its first chapter. Then it backtracks, filling in necessary information. Once the journey is started, the telling moves forward chronologically. The end has both an element of suspense and a beautifully drawn episode with caribou, affording wonderful armchair travel.
Another Step Up the Mountain by Dianette Wells
In 2015, Dianette lost her son Johnny to a wing suiting accident, driving her to withdraw into severe depression. However, with the support of those around her, Dianette’s desire to compete in endurance sports and her love of mountain climbing helped her find an inner strength to begin healing. As she had in the past, she faced adversity and found her inner power by embracing her devotion to sports and family. Full of beautiful and uplifting moments, Dianette’s story will inspire you to rediscover what joy means to you and how we must cherish our intrinsic abilities.
Gorge by Kara Richardson Whitely
Gorge is the raw story of Kara’s ascent from the depths of self-doubt to the top of the world (Mt. Kilimanjaro). Her difficult but inspiring trek speaks to every woman who has struggled with her self-image or felt that food was controlling her life. Honest and unforgettable, Kara’s journey is one of intense passion, endurance, and self-acceptance. What stands out most in this memoir is its raw honesty. Whitely shines a light on a conversation society often avoids—the complex struggle with obesity. Too often, people cast judgment without understanding the person behind the struggle, reducing them to stereotypes and stripping away their humanity. Yet, this isn’t a story rooted in bitterness. Whitely candidly reveals the moments when food became her escape, the comfort it offered, and the reasons that led her to it, capturing the complexity of addiction without assigning blame. She balances her own accountability with the impact of others’ perceptions, inviting us to recognize our own judgments and see the fullness of her journey—and maybe even our own responses to those who struggle with weight.
Go Find by Susan Purvis
Susan Purvis’s wild ride of training her stubborn black Lab, Tasha, into an avalanche rescue dog. With little knowledge of dog training, Susan faces hilarious mishaps and intense setbacks, but the duo’s resilience carries them forward. Along the way, she shares fascinating insights into scent detection and avalanche science, making even complex topics relatable. The real-life rescue missions are nothing short of harrowing—scaling icy peaks, braving avalanches, and searching for victims, often with no pay and the sole reward of closure for grieving families. Chasing her dream, Susan not only risks everything but builds a career training others in wilderness rescue across the globe. Great For: Readers captivated by intense adventures and personal transformation amidst life-or-death stakes.
Found by Bree Loewen
Loewen has become a wife, a mother, and a leader of Seattle Mountain Rescue (SMR), a volunteer-based search-and-rescue operation. She no longer struggles with the respect of co-workers (she has it in spades) nor crippling self-doubt (overcome after hundreds of rescues). But she does still ponder the question of why she continues to head into the backcountry, confronting danger, risk, and, often, death. SMR is involved in everything from high profile accidents to rescues that never even make the local news. And since the climbing and outdoor community in Seattle is so close-knit, Loewen often finds herself involved in efforts to rescue friends and acquaintances. A distinct and fearless voice quiet and thoughtful, yet laced with dark humor; utterly honest and disarming; clear and graceful. Loewen conveys the intensity of rescue and recovery situations as well as the beauty of wilderness landscapes in accessible, real, and convincing language.
Jill Heinert is one of the leading cave divers and one of the few women in the field— this book blends science, adventure, and memoir to take us on a journey through the terrifying and beautiful unknowns of our planet. As the first person to dive deep into an Antarctic iceberg and a leader in discovering the ancient underwater remains of Mayan civilizations, she has ventured farther into the Earth’s depths than any other woman. Heinerth shares gripping, split-second decisions that can mean the difference between life and death, alongside the biases that often hinder women in this male-dominated field. This book offers a fascinating insight into the world of cave diving, filled with intense stories of risk and loss, and it also highlights her struggles with sexism as she navigated her career. I now have a much deeper appreciation for what cave diving truly entails!
Unbound by Steph Jagger
Jagger leaves behind a conventional life to pursue a ski journey around the world, redefining her own identity and learning what it means to live fully and freely. What hiking was for Cheryl Strayed, skiing became for Steph: a crucible in which to crack open her life and get to the very center of herself. But she would have to break herself down—first physically, then emotionally—before she could start to rebuild. And it was through this journey that she came to understand how to be a woman, how to love, and how to live authentically. Electrifying, heartfelt, and full of humor, Unbound is Steph’s story—an odyssey of courage and self-discovery. A great read if you’re ready to let go of old expectations and embark on a journey of self-discovery.
Braving the Wilderness by Brené Brown
While this book may not be about wilderness or travel, Brene Brown is always a great choice and perfect for those of us that are ready to embrace their authentic selves and brave the world with heart. If you’re ready to bust stereotypes, challenge expectations of what it means to be middle aged or just needing to find the courage to authentically show up in the world this is your book. “True belonging doesn’t require us to change who we are. It requires us to be who we are.” Social scientist Brene Brown, PhD, LMSW, has sparked a global conversation about the experiences that bring meaning to our lives–experiences of courage, vulnerability, love, belonging, shame, and empathy. In Braving the Wilderness, Brown redefines what it means to truly belong in an age of increased polarization. With her trademark mix of research, storytelling, and honesty, Brown will again change the cultural conversation while mapping a clear path to true belonging.
Bonus – A Few Books I’ve added to my reading list that might interest you.
Embracing Adventure at Any Age
You don’t need to hike across continents or live out of a suitcase (though, hey, why not?) to bring adventure into your life. Whether through travel, new skills, or meeting new people, adventure is about staying curious, feeling alive, and embracing our own daring spirit. These books for women who love to explore are here to inspire that spirit in you.
So pick one up, dive in, and get ready to say yes to more of life’s possibilities. Who knows? That next chapter might just be your own.
From the grit of the wilderness to the transformative power of small moments, these books are proof that adventure isn’t just a place on a map—it’s an outlook. Silver Sage Collective is here to cheer you on as you embrace your inner explorer.