Let these books about solo travel inspire you to pick up your passport and go
Solo travel can be one of the most transformative things you’ll ever do. But if you’re planning your first solo trip and nerves are getting the better of you, reading about other women who’ve done it — particularly those who’ve done it brilliantly, messily or against all odds — is one of the best ways to get yourself out the door.
I’ve organised these hand-picked books into three categories: trailblazing pioneers, modern memoirs and practical guidebooks for when you want less inspiration and more logistics.
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Books by Pioneers of Female Solo Travel
Female solo travel is far from a modern phenomenon. These four women travelled alone at a time when it was socially unacceptable, and to places that would give many travellers pause today.
Full Tilt: Ireland to India with a Bicycle – Dervla Murphy
Dervla Murphy (1931 – 2022) is one of the greats of solo female travel writing and a personal inspiration.
The Irish touring cyclist wrote 26 books over more than 50 years. Full Tilt recounts her first long-distance bicycle tour from Ireland to India across the Himalayas.
Murphy was still travelling and writing in her 70s, an inspiration to mature solo travellers among us.
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The Valleys of the Assassins: and Other Persian Travels – Freya Stark
Freya Stark (1893 – 1993) set the mould for intrepid solo travellers. Focusing on the Middle East and Afghanistan, she ventured to destinations that many would be reluctant to explore today, let alone in the 1930s.
The Valleys of the Assassins, her first publication, is an absorbing account of her treks into the wilderness of Luristan, the mountainous terrain nestled between Iraq and present-day Iran.
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My Journey to Lhasa – Alexandra David-Néel
In 1924, the Belgian-French explorer Alexandra David-Néel (1868 – 1969) became the first Western woman to enter the forbidden city of Lhasa, using a disguise of yak hair extensions. My Journey to Lhasa, the fifth in her series of Asian travels, powerfully chronicles her travels in Tibet, which culminated with an audience with the Dalai Lama.
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Unbeaten Tracks in Japan – Isabella Lucy Bird
Victorian adventurer Isabella Lucy Bird (1831 – 1904) was the first woman elected fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. Written as letters to her sister, Unbeaten Tracks in Japan describes her journey from Tokyo to Hokkaido in 1878 – at the age of 47 – during the early years of the Meiji Restoration, when Japan was largely closed to Westerners.
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Contemporary Solo Travel Memoirs
These modern solo travel memoirs cover everything from hiking wilderness trails to finding yourself in Bali. Some you’ll recognise from their film adaptations, but the books are always better.
Eat, Pray, Love – Elizabeth Gilbert
Possibly the most famous solo female travel memoir ever written.
Eat, Pray, Love chronicles a woman’s search for pleasure, devotion and balance after a bitter divorce, from the trattorias of Italy to an ashram in India to the rice paddies of Bali. Made into a film starring Julia Roberts in 2010, it’s a classic for a reason.
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Radio Shangri-La – Lisa Napoli
This is far less well-known than Eat Pray Love, but is well worth your time.
Dissatisfied with her life as a radio journalist in Los Angeles, Lisa Napoli exchanged fast-paced city living for the tiny, happy kingdom of Bhutan. This memoir describes how she built a new life there, helping establish Bhutan’s first youth-oriented radio station and finding purpose in unexpected places. One of my favourite under-the-radar solo travel reads.
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Wild – Cheryl Strayed
In the wake of her mother’s death and the collapse of her marriage, Cheryl Strayed set out to hike the Pacific Crest Trail — 1,100 miles of wilderness from Mexico to Canada. Wild captures the joy and grit of that journey with warmth, honesty and real humour.
It was adapted for the screen with Reese Witherspoon in the lead role. A brilliant companion if you’re facing something that feels insurmountable.
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Under the Tuscan Sun – Frances Mayes
Tuscany is one of my favourite regions of Italy, and this is one of my favourite books about solo travel (it’s also one of the best films set in Italy).
Frances Mayes escapes to Tuscany after discovering her husband has been unfaithful, falls in love with Cortona and buys a crumbling villa on a whim. The restoration of the house and her life unfold together. It’s warm, sensory and completely transporting, especially if you have a soft spot for Tuscan hill towns.
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What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding: A Memoir – Kristin Newman
At a time when everyone around her was settling down and having children, Kristin Newman chose to travel – often alone – for several weeks a year. Her background as a sitcom writer shines through in a memoir that’s equal parts laugh-out-loud comedy and genuine wanderlust fuel.
A rallying cry for anyone who needs permission to go it alone.
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How NOT to Travel the World – Lauren Juliff
Solo travel isn’t always an easy ride, and anyone who tells you otherwise is lying. Lauren Juliff’s 2015 memoir is a refreshingly human account of how one anxious, inexperienced woman’s desire to see the world overrode her fears.
No sugarcoating. No superhero narrative. Just an honest and often very funny account of how things go wrong, and why you go anyway. If you need a confidence boost before your first solo trip, this is the book for you.
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Solo Female Travel Anthologies
Want solo travel inspiration but from multiple voices rather than one narrator? These anthologies are perfect for dipping in and out of.
A Girl’s Guide to Travelling Alone: Inspiring True Tales from Solo Women Travellers – Gemma Thompson
Witty, sometimes challenging travel stories from women of all ages, nationalities and backgrounds. What they share is a compelling tale worth reading. Perfect as a travel companion in itself.
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Go Your Own Way: Women Travel the World Solo – Faith Conlon
Twenty-three women. Essays spanning jungles, cities and the dance floors of Buenos Aires. A beautifully crafted collection for those who want the solo travel experience to feel as wide and varied as the world itself.
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Practical Solo Travel Guidebooks
Less interested in memoirs and more in the logistics? These three are worth having on your shelf before you go.
The Solo Travel Handbook – Lonely Planet
This is a solid, no-nonsense guide covering everything from setting a budget and choosing accommodation to meeting fellow travellers on the road and staying safe. Good for first-timers who want the reassurance of a comprehensive resource.
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Wanderlust – How to Travel Solo – Lynn Hughes
Written by the team at Wanderlust magazine, this is a practical and reassuring guide for anyone preparing to strike out on their own. Similar in scope to the Lonely Planet handbook, but with the editorial warmth you’d expect from the magazine.
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The Solo Female Travel Book – Jen Ruiz
Part memoir, part practical guide, Jen Ruiz’s book is aimed specifically at women travelling alone. It covers everything from planning your first solo trip and choosing the right destination to packing light, taking decent photographs by yourself and making friends when you’re on the road.
A useful hybrid for those who want both the inspiration and the how-to.
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I’VE WRITTEN THIS ITALY SOLO TRAVEL GUIDE!
A 100+ page ebook to inspire and equip solo travellers with the confidence and knowledge to explore Italy independently
- Plan Your Trip – with curated itineraries, budgeting and how to get around
- Explore Awesome Destinations – guides to the must-see cities of Rome, Florence, Venice and Naples
- Stay Safe as a Solo Traveller – practical safety advice, empowering you to confidently navigate Italy and avoid common pitfalls
- Enjoy Eating Out in Italy – essential tried-and-tested solo dining tips
I hope one or more of these books about solo travel is the push you need to finally go. And if you want more inspiration before you take the plunge, have a browse through my favourite solo travel quotes.
About Bridget
Bridget Coleman has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.
Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.
To get in touch, email her at hello@theflashpacker.net or follow her on social media.