Hi! Beth Whitman here.
With nearly 30 years of travel under my belt, I’ve made a bit of a name for myself as a women’s travel expert.
Much of my early travels were on my own. But I realized that not all women had the confidence or know-how to travel independently, so I wrote Wanderlust and Lipstick: The Essential Guide for Women Traveling Solo to encourage more women to travel, well, solo.
Funny thing is, they still wanted guidance and I often got asked if I led tours. Resistant at first because I wanted these women to have the experience of traveling on their own, I soon realized that not everyone has the time, energy or wherewithal to arrange their own travel. So I launched WanderTours and began leading trips to off-the-beaten-path destinations as well as culinary tours to popular cities in North America.
As part of our international tours, we visit and donate to charity organizations at each of our destinations. These usually (but not always) support disadvantaged women and children. The interest in this part of the tour grew to the point that I was inspired to start the WanderWorld Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that allows people to donate to the organizations we support while also being tax deductible.
I regularly speak at events throughout North America and the world. My goal is to inspire would-be travelers into action through what I believe to be engaging talks not only about travel but about living a life that helps you become a better version of yourself.
Today I consider myself a contemporary Wanderer. I’ve been fortunate to have combined my love for travel with volunteer work, philanthropy, adventure trips, fitness, travel writing and business.
How I got here
I’ve traveled a lot and have had what many would consider some pretty adventurous trips.
I’ve completed the 25-day, 220-mile Snowman Trek in Bhutan (one of the most difficult treks in the world), finished marathons in Hawaii and Tokyo, ridden a motorcycle solo from Seattle to Panama and driven the AlCan Highway to Alaska, twice.
I now lead tours and get to travel regularly to India, Papua New Guinea, Bhutan, Vietnam & Cambodia,
Burma, Thailand & Laos, Bali & Java and Tanzania. And then I get to eat my way through New Orleans, Santa Fe, Seattle (my hometown)!
I’ve also written a guide For Women Traveling to India.
A month after turning 50, I ran my first marathon in Honolulu and a couple of months later, ran the Tokyo Marathon.
Still on my wish list? Travels deep into the Brazilian Amazon rainforest, hiking Machu Pichu, an Ironman relay with my significant other, Jon, a 50-mile ultra marathon and marathons in Rio, Paris and London.