Dear Reader,

August is a very special month for me, as it marks my fourth year at JourneyWoman. Who could have imagined what would happen to us all over the past four years? What a journey we've all been on together!

For almost 30 years, JourneyWoman has been a place of inspiration for solo women, and that will never change. This year, we expanded our editorial team to be more representative of your needs. Last week, I was brought to tears on our webinar with 10 of the writers on our editorial team. Some, like Leyla Alyanak, Diana Eden, Karen Gershowitz and Sandra Phinney, have been solo travellers for decades. The others, like Tanzila Khan, Rupi Mangat and Dawn Booker, are helping the travel industry adapt and evolve. With their help, I hope to talk about ALL the issues we truly care about as mature, empowered women — nothing is off the table! Please watch the video and let me know your thoughts.

I believe women must help lead the way forward with a more conscious and intentional way to travel, so this month we look at sustainability in travel. July 2023 was the world's hottest month on record, which created headlines like "the world is boiling". Forest fires, extreme weather, flooding, smoke and smog – this is a year when we have seen the effects of climate change first-hand, out our own windows. Climate change isn’t in the future, it’s now. What does all of this mean for us as travellers? And how can we contribute to the solution? As the primary influencers and consumers of travel, women can be part of the solution towards a sustainable future.

It is always an honour to represent you and JourneyWoman and I was thrilled to be quoted in a recent New York Times article about solo travel. Here's what I said: “Stepping out of your comfort zone and embracing the unusual can lead to some of the most memorable experiences during your solo travels. Solo travel is an opportunity to foster and cultivate your own sense of empowerment." Whether you are a new or aspiring solo traveller, I hope JourneyWoman is helping you build your confidence and inspire a sense of adventure!

Speaking of adventure, after a few months at home, I'm off to Ecuador next week for a month on my own sustainable travel journey. With the help of Rebecca Braak from Rebecca Adventure Travel in our Women's Travel Directory, I'll explore Quito, the Amazon Rainforest by riverboat, and visit Indigenous communities in the Andes. Then I'm going on a small 16-person ship in the Galapagos Islands as a guest of Intrepid Travel. Intrepid’s commitment to sustainable travel and supporting local communities and women has always impressed me so I am excited to go on my first trip with them and see the work of the Intrepid Foundation firsthand with the Galapagos Conservancy, which supports both women entrepreneurs and wildlife. As you know, I love the ocean and its creatures so this is one experience I can't wait to share with you.

With gratitude,

Carolyn Ray, Editor/CEO JourneyWoman
editor@journeywoman.com

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Did you know you can download and print all of our articles? Just click the printer icon under the photograph on our website.

Women Leading Sustainable Travel

by Carolyn Ray

We only need to look out our own windows to see the effects of climate change. In this new series on sustainability, we feature trailblazer Shannon Guihan, Chief Sustainability Officer and Head of TreadRight, the non-profit arm of the world's largest privately-owned travel company, The Travel Corporation.

Tallinn, Estonia on Two Wheels

by Tanzila Khan

Accessible or not? Tanzila Khan lets the city guide her as she explores this medieval city in Estonia on a weekend getaway.

Swan Hellenic: A New Era of Luxury Cultural Expeditions for Solo Women

by Carolyn Ray

Small ship expedition company Swan Hellenic offers journeys on all seven continents, ranging from 8-day explorations to epic 21-night semi-circumnavigation voyages (and no single supplement exclusively for JourneyWoman readers on selected 2023 departures).

The July Project: Learning About Slow (and Sustainable) Travel at Home

by Sandra Phinney

For the past eight years, Sandra Phinney has been trying to put into practice what she’s learned about slow and sustainable travel at home. Join us in your own 'July Project'.

Hidden Gems in France for Solo Women

by Diana Eden

If you're looking for a peaceful vacation away from the maddening crowds of tourists in big cities in the summer heat, consider a shoulder-season visit to to Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (the Most Beautiful Villages of France).

Kenya's Raptor Woman: Meet Darcy Ogada

by Rupi Mangat

Continuing our series on women conservationists in Africa, we profile Darcy Ogada, who is saving endangered species, including the Amur falcon, the mighty African crowned eagles, vultures and owls.

Upcoming Events

August 15: JourneyWoman Award nominations are due! Send yours in! ​

August 16, 8 pm ET: JourneyWoman Book Club: "Still Life", set in Florence, Italy (Register here)

August 22, 6 pm ET: Post-Pandemic Travel Series: Getting Started in Solo Travel (Read more here)

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