15 Inspiring Female Adventurers You Should Know About

Names like Ernest Shackleton, Lawrence of Arabia, and Lewis and Clark are well-known, but have you explored the remarkable achievements of Gertrude Bell, Osa Johnson, or Valentina Tereshkova? Among these trailblazing women explorers, you’ll find heiresses, socialites, rebels, and those who defied gender norms. What unites them is their fearless spirit and unquenchable thirst for adventure.

1. Gertrude Bell

A peer and collaborator of T.E. Lawrence (famously known as the inspiration for Lawrence of Arabia), Gertrude Bell was an accomplished writer and archaeologist who journeyed extensively across the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. Her writings provided the British public with a vivid understanding of the empire’s distant regions and remain essential reading to this day.

An Oxford-educated scholar fluent in Persian and Arabic, she crossed paths with Lawrence while serving in the Arab Bureau in Cairo during World War I. She is most celebrated for her role in the 1921 Cairo Conference, which laid the groundwork for the establishment of Iraq as a nation. Bell also championed the idea that historical artifacts should remain in their countries of origin, a philosophy that led to the creation of the National Museum of Iraq.

2. Nellie Bly

Renowned American journalist Nellie Bly (born Elizabeth Jane Cochrane) gained fame for her groundbreaking undercover investigation that exposed the mistreatment at the Women’s Lunatic Asylum on Blackwell’s Island in New York City. However, on November 14, 1889, she embarked on a daring new mission for Joseph Pulitzer’s publication, The New York World.

Motivated by Jules Verne’s classic Around the World in 80 Days, Bly aimed to surpass the fictional travel record. Utilizing ships, trains, rickshaws, horses, and mules, she journeyed from England to France, Singapore to Japan, and California back to the East Coast. She accomplished this feat in just 72 days—or more precisely, 72 days, six hours, 11 minutes, and 14 seconds. Her daring adventure captivated readers through a series of gripping news articles and her memoir, Around the World in Seventy-Two Days.

3. Isabella Bird

Defying societal norms and battling chronic health issues, Isabella Bird became a prolific writer and intrepid traveler who journeyed across the globe, often solo. Known as “The English Bird,” she penned her first book following her visit to the United States in 1854. Her adventures took her to Australia, Hawaii—where she climbed an active volcano—and the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. She later explored Japan, China, Indonesia, Morocco, and the Middle East. Her travels inspired works such as The Lady’s Life in the Rocky Mountains, Unbeaten Tracks in Japan, and The Yangtze Valley and Beyond. In recognition of her remarkable achievements, Bird became the first woman admitted to the Royal Geographical Society of London in 1892.

4. Fanny Bullock Workman

Accompanied by her husband, William Hunter Workman, M.D., this American climber shattered multiple women’s altitude records while establishing herself as a respected geographer, cartographer, and travel author. The Workmans’ affluent background allowed them to undertake ambitious and demanding expeditions, including cycling tours across Spain and India and scaling the Himalayas.

A master of self-promotion, Workman was known for provoking her competitors. However, her meticulous documentation and precise measurements of her achievements validated her claims. A captivating speaker, she became the first American woman to present at the Sorbonne in Paris and the second female adventurer to speak at—and eventually become a member of—the Royal Geographical Society of London.

5. Jeanne Baré

In the 18th century, Jeanne Baré, a French sailor and botanist, became the first woman to sail around the globe. To achieve this, she disguised herself as a man to remain close to her beloved, Philibert de Commerson. Their bond began over a mutual interest in botany, with Baré initially serving as a tutor to Commerson’s children, then as his assistant, and eventually as his partner.

When Commerson received a government commission to explore the world and conduct botanical research, the couple devised a plan to conceal Baré’s identity by presenting her as a man named “Jean.” The disguise held for over a year, but her true gender was revealed by South Pacific islanders, though details of the discovery remain unclear. Upon her return to France, the Navy honored Baré as “an extraordinary woman” for her contributions in collecting new plant species, awarding her an annual pension of 200 livres.

6. Aimée Crocker

Born in 1864, Aimée Crocker, an American railroad heiress, gained fame for her extravagant parties, numerous romantic relationships, and close friendship with Oscar Wilde. A constant figure in society gossip, she eventually sought respite from the public eye by embarking on an extended journey through the Far East.

During her travels, she visited Hawaii, where she encountered King Kalākaua. As recounted in her memoir And I’d Do It Again, the king was so captivated by her that he bestowed upon her an island and the title Princess Palaikalani, meaning “Bliss of Heaven.” Crocker’s book is filled with astonishing anecdotes, including encounters with headhunters in Borneo, a potential assassin in Shanghai, and a seductive boa constrictor in India. After a decade abroad, Crocker returned with extraordinary stories, tattoos, a deep connection to Buddhism, and a renewed fascination from American high society.

7. Ida Pfeiffer

Despite being excluded from the Royal Geographical Society of London due to her gender, this Austrian adventurer began her travels once her children were independent, often venturing solo. Aware of the dangers, she prepared her will before embarking on her first expedition to the Holy Land. Her journey took her to Istanbul, Jerusalem, and Giza, where she explored the pyramids on camelback. On her way back, she made a stop in Italy.

Her experiences from these travels led to the publication of her first book in 1846. The book’s success financed her subsequent journey to Iceland and Scandinavia, which became the focus of her next publication. She continued to explore Brazil, China, India, Iraq, Borneo, and Indonesia. Her works were translated into seven languages and earned her membership in the geographical societies of Berlin and Paris.

8. Sacagawea

While Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, and Thomas Jefferson are often credited for the success of the Lewis and Clark expedition, a teenage member of the Lemhi Shoshone played a pivotal role in the Corps of Discovery. Sacagawea and her husband, Toussaint Charbonneau, encountered Lewis and Clark while the explorers were residing with the Mandan and Hidatsa tribes in what is now North Dakota.

After Lewis employed Charbonneau as an interpreter, Sacagawea and their infant son, Jean Baptiste, became part of the expedition. She also acted as an interpreter when the group arrived in southern Montana, her homeland. Her contributions were instrumental in exploring and mapping the newly acquired western territories, solidifying the United States’ claim to these lands.

9. Osa Johnson

Originally named Osa Helen Leighty, this American adventurer found her perfect partner in travel photographer Martin Johnson. They married on May 15, 1910, and by 1917, they were exploring the world together, creating films to chronicle their adventures. Their documentaries featured bold titles like Among the Cannibals of the South Pacific, Jungle Adventures, Headhunters of the South Seas, and Wonders of the Congo, which, by today’s standards, would be seen as culturally insensitive.

The couple worked seamlessly as a team. Martin handled photography and filming, while Osa provided food through hunting and, when necessary, protected her husband with her rifle. One notable instance was when a wild rhino charged at them, and Osa shot it down while Martin filmed the entire event. They promoted their films through lecture tours, and in 1940, Osa published her bestselling memoir, I Married Adventure. Their work is showcased at Disney’s Animal Lodge and the Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum in their home state of Kansas.

10. Isabelle Eberhardt

Isabelle Eberhardt, born in 1877 in Geneva, was the daughter of a Prussian nobleman and a former priest turned anarchist. Destined to challenge societal norms, she adopted men's clothing early in life and embraced Islam by the age of 20. During her solo travels across North Africa in the 1890s, she assumed the identity of a Muslim man named Si Mahmoud Saadi.

Eberhardt's life ended tragically at 27 due to a desert flash flood in 1904. Despite her short lifespan, she engaged in uprisings against French colonial rule, contributed travel narratives to French publications, endured a life-threatening attack that almost cost her an arm, and lived freely, indulging in smoking, drinking, and relationships as she pleased.

11. Krystyna Chojnowska-Liskiewicz

A Polish maritime captain and shipbuilding engineer, she was crowned the 'first lady of the oceans' as the pioneering woman to circumnavigate the globe solo. On February 28, 1976, Chojnowska-Liskiewicz set sail from the Canary Islands aboard the Mazurek, a vessel constructed in Poland under her husband's supervision. Her journey led her through the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, and into the vast Pacific, before navigating the Indian Ocean and rounding the African continent.

After 401 days and 31,166 nautical miles, she arrived back at the Canary Islands on April 21, 1978. Her voyage was a testament to self-reliance, as she single-handedly managed meals, boat maintenance, and braved dangers like storms, turbulent waters, and pirate threats. Reflecting on her solitary journey, she remarked, 'Adults must understand that solitude is a part of life. Yet, I never felt lonely during my trip—I was alone, but not lonely. There's a distinction.'

12. Amelia Earhart

Amelia Earhart, an iconic American aviator, made history as the first woman to pilot a solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean. Her passion for flying ignited during her youth after witnessing a thrilling aerial stunt show. Defying societal norms that deemed aviation unsuitable for women, she embraced her adventurous spirit. On January 3, 1921, she took her inaugural flying lesson and, within half a year, owned her very own aircraft.

In 1922, she soared to new heights, setting a women's altitude record at 14,000 feet. Her career was marked by numerous achievements, including speed records and pioneering solo flights. Earhart championed women in aviation through articles in Cosmopolitan and co-founded The Ninety-Nines, an international group for female pilots. Her final endeavor, a global circumnavigation attempt, ended mysteriously when her plane vanished. Some theories propose she survived a crash landing on a remote island, where she may have spent her remaining years.

13. Annie Londonderry

Originally named Annie Cohen in Latvia, she adopted the surname Kopchovsky after marrying in the U.S. However, her aspirations as an athlete, businesswoman, and adventurer led her to reinvent herself as Annie Londonderry, the first woman to cycle around the world. A daring bet required her to complete the journey in less than 15 months while earning $5000 en route. What appeared to be a frivolous challenge became a bold statement against societal norms for women and a demonstration of female independence and resourcefulness.

On June 25, 1894, Londonderry left her husband and children behind, starting her journey from the Massachusetts State House in Boston with a crowd of 500 spectators. Throughout her travels, she sold promotional photographs, made paid public appearances, and rented advertising space on her clothing and bicycle, including an ad for Londonderry Lithia Spring Water. Upon completing her ride, The New York World hailed her expedition as 'the most remarkable journey ever undertaken by a woman.'

14. Lady Hester Stanhope

Known for her charm and wit, Lady Stanhope was a celebrated figure in England's elite social circles. However, after a series of tumultuous relationships, she departed England at 33, never to return, and embarked on a new path as a biblical archaeologist. Her travels took her through Greece, Turkey, France, and Germany.

While heading to Egypt, Stanhope abandoned traditional European women's clothing in favor of men's attire, a style she maintained for the rest of her life. She explored Israel, Lebanon, and Syria, captivating the Bedouin tribes so profoundly that they hailed her as the 'queen of the desert,' a title once held by Zenobia. Her crowning achievement came in 1815 when she persuaded Ottoman officials to let her excavate the ancient ruins of Ashkelon. Although she sought gold, her discovery was a 7-foot headless marble statue, which she famously ordered destroyed.

15. Valentina Tereshkova

Shifting from Earthly exploration, we turn to Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman to venture into space. As a Russian cosmonaut, she commanded the Vostok 6 mission, which launched on June 16, 1963. Her journey to space was marked by hardship, as her family faced personal and financial struggles after her father's death in World War II. Tereshkova's formal education was limited, spanning only from ages 8 to 16.

Despite working in factories, she pursued her education through correspondence courses. Although lacking piloting experience, Tereshkova's 126 parachute jumps qualified her for the Soviet space program, as this skill was crucial for re-entry. After rigorous training, she was selected to pilot Vostok 6, completing 70 hours in space and 48 orbits around Earth. Her achievements earned her the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, along with the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star Medal.

This list was originally published in 2014 and has been revised for 2023.