Our NEW Women’s Eye Podcast Travel Series kicks off with guest host and travel writer Laurie McAndish King in conversation with Beth (“Be Bold!”) Whitman—adventure traveler, tour leader, and longtime wanderer. (Note: Our zoom has a a small transmission issue about 18 minutes in. Beth shares some great tips and it clears up soon after.)
Travel instills courage and helps us become more creative and resilient. It connects us, fosters the exchange of ideas, and gives us a better understanding of the world. And it empowers us to become our best selves.
Available also on Apple Music, Spotify and YouTube
We met Beth here on the podcast more than a decade ago, when she was a guest on TWE with our host Stacey Gualandi. They talked about Beth’s popular travel blog and book, Wanderlust and Lipstick: The Essential Guide for Women Traveling Solo. At that time, Beth was already an experienced trip leader and had been almost everywhere, except the Amazon Rainforest, where she was dreaming of going.
Join us as I check back in with Beth, who now runs the successful travel company WanderTours specializing in small-group trips for women. She has taken many travelers to the Amazon Rainforest, as well as to Vietnam, Cambodia, Papua New Guinea, Bhutan, India, the Galapagos, and other far-flung locations.
Beth had just returned from an adventure in Lapland, so we got to hear about that (dog sledding! Northern Lights!) as well as an upcoming visit to Cuba, a country that really benefits from tourism income. The Cuba trip includes visits to women artists, artisans, and restaurateurs, with a focus on cultural experiences and interacting with local people.
We discussed the ways travel can inspire creativity and make us bolder, more confident, and more engaged with the world. Beth gravitates toward volunteer work in the places she visits, and has helped with orphanages, shelters, drinking water supplies, and donations.
Photo: Beth riding a camel in the Sahara, Morocco
“I look for ways to support the local women, either through donations or purchases, or just going to visit with these women, and learning their stories, and that becomes really enriching for us as well.”
—Beth Whitman, Adventure Traveler
Whitman has plenty of travel tips, including:
- Easy first steps to get back out there if you haven’t traveled in awhile.
- The faraway country that—surprisingly—makes her feel most comfortable and at home.
- How to find fun, off-the-beaten-path places and experiences.
- And of course a few packing tips.
Enjoy this podcast! Are you ready for a bold adventure?
Connect with adventurer Beth Whitman:
Website: wandertours.com
Instagram: bethwhitwa
Instagram: beth_wandertours
Facebook: bethwhitwa
Photos Courtesy of Beth Whitman
Leave a Reply