From Cleopatra to Zenobia: The Fearless Women of Antiquity Who Embarked on Solo Travels

Solo travel, particularly for women, has been a relatively recent phenomenon. While there have been women throughout history who have traveled alone, their journeys were often limited and hindered by societal restrictions and prejudices. However, here are some notable women in history who have made remarkable solo journeys around the world:

Jeanne Baret (1740-1807): Jeanne Baret was a French woman who disguised herself as a man and joined the first French circumnavigation expedition. She traveled around the world from 1766 to 1769, becoming the first woman to circumnavigate the globe. Despite her remarkable accomplishment, Jeanne Baret's journey was shrouded in secrecy because women were not allowed to join naval expeditions at the time. She was only discovered to be a woman when the ship stopped at the island of Mauritius. 

Annie Smith Peck (1850-1935): Annie Smith Peck was an American mountaineer and adventurer who traveled extensively throughout her life. In 1895, at the age of 45, she traveled to South America, where she climbed numerous mountains, including Huascarán in Peru, becoming the first woman to do so. She continued to travel and climb mountains well into her 70s. In addition to her mountaineering exploits, Annie Smith Peck was also a passionate suffragist and advocate for women's rights. She even climbed the Matterhorn in 1895 with a "Votes for Women" banner.

Nellie Bly (1864-1922): Nellie Bly was an American journalist who traveled around the world in 72 days in 1889, inspired by Jules Verne's novel "Around the World in Eighty Days". She traveled alone, using various modes of transportation, including steamships, trains, and rickshaws.

Gertrude Bell (1868-1926): Gertrude Bell was a British writer, archaeologist, and diplomat who traveled extensively throughout the Middle East. She was a key figure in the formation of modern Iraq and played a crucial role in drawing the borders of the country after World War I.

Alexandra David-Neel (1868-1969): Alexandra David-Neel was a French explorer and writer who traveled extensively throughout Asia, including Tibet and China. In 1924, at the age of 55, she became the first European woman to enter the forbidden city of Lhasa in Tibet.

Bessie Coleman (1892-1926): Bessie Coleman was an American aviator who traveled to France in 1920 to learn to fly, as she was not allowed to do so in the United States due to racial and gender discrimination. She became the first African American woman to earn an international pilot's license and went on to perform aerial stunts throughout the United States.