Written by women on the road

For four days, three nights from October 6-9, 15 female founders and business professionals from around the world connected, worked and shared stories in Busan, South Korea for NomadHer’s She Can Found Anywhere workation. 

Women flew from Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, India, the Philippines, Taiwan, the U.S., the U.K., Spain and Switzerland to Busan to connect with other women to network and explore Busan together. 

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The program was supported by Busan Metropolitan City, Seo-gu, Busan Center for Creative Economy & Innovation and BOUNCE 2026, Busan’s leading startup and innovation festival. It is also part of the Female Entrepreneurship Busan Initiative and built around the BOUNCE conference.  

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Busan is South Korea’s second largest city and it wants people to live, work and spend time in the city. Through this partnership with NomadHer, the city’s ultimate goals are to create more economic opportunities, encourage entrepreneurship, which also includes attracting more digital nomads. 

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Run by the city and the Busan Center for Creative Economy and Innovation, Busan’s workation program has drawn more than 17,000 users since 2023. The city won first place at the Korea Tourism Organization’s 2026 Workation Model Competition in March. 

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Last year, the city invited about 150 overseas digital nomads to its Global Workation event, with two-week stays between August 18 and October 23. 

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Busan has piloted a digital nomad visa (F-1-D) since 2024 and became a permanent, formal visa category since June 30, 2026. The visa allows for a three-year maximum stay, a year longer than the original South Korea two-year digital nomad visa. 

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At NomadHer’s Busan workation event, global women leaders experienced the city’s business ecosystem, female leadership and cultural experiences at the Busan Workation Hub & Seo-gu Workation Hub. 

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“I wanted to understand how to grow a community, turn personal experiences into a sustainable business and connect people across borders,” said Ayaka Murai. Ayaka is from Tokyo and co-founder of IdeaBoxes. She built her own startup between Tokyo and Yerevan, Armenia and is setting off on her next adventure. It’s safe to say Ayaka is a people person, since she went to more than 100 in-person networking events last year. 

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While working remotely from Busan hubs, they also had a chance to taste Busan’s local food, culture and traditions.  

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“Women founders often try to project an image of being alpha, hustling, and powerful, especially in male-dominated industries, “ Maggie Phan said. Maggie is from Hong Kong and she’s like the perfect dipping sauce for your last bite of dumplings, the touch that makes everything better. She is based in Singapore as the founder of Offgridcreators, which is a community that empowers creators to bring their creative ideas to life and build sustainable careers. She worked in aviation finance and investment, but shifted to being a mom-entrepreneur after giving birth to her beautiful daughter. Maggie came to the gathering for fresh inspiration and to recharge. 

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“In Busan, we had a space to share our challenges and how we’re getting through them. Founders and creators need more of this. Give yourself a break,” Maggie said.  

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Here are some of the other lovely female founders who came from different corners of the world for this program ✨

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Therese Oertenblad also known as Sera, has lived in London for over a decade and is the founder of Small Business Collaborative Ltd. Using her firsthand experience of building a company with limited resources, she now invests in small businesses and helps owners step into the next chapter of their journey. Sera is preparing to bring a group of entrepreneurs to Seoul for a business trip. 

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Wen Tu, from Taiwan is like bubble tea, full of energy and joy. After living in several corners of the world like France and Canada, she moved to Hong Kong, where she founded EUROCOVER 歐尋訂製旅遊, her own tourism venture. After going through ups and downs at previous companies, she’s ready to discover a new path. 

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Melanie Baumgarten is from Seattle and the Director & Civic Leadership Fellow of the Rotary Club of Mercer Island. Like Doraemon, she always pulls something out of her pocket. For the Busan workation, she made handwritten cards for every participant and NomadHer member. Her time in the corporate world and building community at a university has pushed her to look for other ways to bring together youth, communities and companies. 

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Karina Halfen is the co-founder of Halfen House, a business platform that built the “Halfen House Test Lab” for international brands to test European offline markets, starting with Barcelona that she’s built with her sister. She has dreams of building bridges between entrepreneurs in Korea and Europe. 

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Whitney Johnson worked at big tech startups. Now, she’s the founder of Ackee, a voice-first travel companion created for moments when you need key information fast. The travel app is meant to help solo women travelers find safer routes. Whitney joined the Busan workation to find a clear vision for the future. 

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Fey P. fresh off of a trip from Thailand, she came to Busan with the idea to build a space for women to dive deeper into AI and technology and how to connect with each other through it. Fey is from Israel and she is the founder of AI Goddess Community, an AI-experience community for women to explore AI technology hands-on and share ideas in a relaxed and welcoming setting.

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Juhee is from Busan and is an inspirational visionary. After living in Singapore and experiencing burnout, she chose a different path for her own mental health and for the sake of others. She’s building her own venture to inspire people and she loves sharing the stories of her hometown. 

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Gaëlle A.  is from France and is walking toward her dream through content and creativity. She’s a digital strategist & communication consultant and content creator based in Seoul, a true nomad who still carries a star in her heart. 

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Faye is a London lawyer by day and a rookie content creator and blogger by night. She can be shy at first but she’ll open her heart up little by little. She’s like a warm scone with ham and butter, served with a cup of English milk tea. 

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Yuka Tohdoh from Japan is like amazake: gentle, nourishing and full of tradition. After working full-time remotely, she realized she wanted to pursue a path in entrepreneurship to bring amazake, Japan’s traditional fermented wellness drink, to the world. 

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Anne Majette Lumayno is from the Philippines and is a storyteller with a deep love for Korea. She’s the global press representative at The Korea Times and is a voice for the Filipino community, advocating for justice and better working conditions. Anne believes her work makes a real difference in many people’s lives. 

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Alice Jang is from Korea and she’s a mom-preneur leading managing partner at American company Mad Devs, a company building tools for AI-powered software development. She is passionate about helping people better understand technology and feel at home with it. 

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Nemesis Ujjain, is from India and she is the vice president and head of The Circle: Founders Club. 

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Santhoshi Shankar, from Canada could not attend, but she was greatly missed. She is the founder of Katae, an audio-first children’s storytelling platform that helps families preserve the magic of storytelling across languages. 

Highlights 

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Participants traveled to BEXCO in Haeundae for BOUNCE, where they spent the afternoon participating in the Global Women Entrepreneur Talk Show with women leaders from startups, venture capital, and accelerators. 

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“I’ll be learning from other founders and leaders through a Female Leadership Workshop, networking, dinners and conversation across the global startup ecosystem,” said Whitney Johnson, founder of Ackee before coming to Busan.  

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“Doing my own thing has taught me to bet on myself, even when things seem really scary and challenging [but I decided] to just pursue my dreams” Whitney said when asked what advice she would give to people who are thinking to pursue a different career path. 

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Whitney was one of the selected participants that spoke on the BOUNCE x NomadHer stage. Selected speakers were able to talk about their chosen topic: from female leadership, innovation startup journeys, global experiences to their own personal stories to improve their public speaking readiness. 

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Other selected speakers include 

• Karina Halfen, co-founder of Halfen House 
• Fey P. founder of AI Goddess Community 
• Maggie Phan, founder of Offgridcreators 
• Melanie Baumgarten, director & civic leadership fellow of the Rotary Club of Mercer Island 
• Gaëlle A., digital strategist & communication consultant and content creator 

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At this year’s workation, participants gained the opportunity to network and connect with other female leaders and founders from different countries, careers and life experiences. They had a chance to pitch their ideas on a major stage, with professional photos of their sessions to remember their moment. 

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Thank you to all of the amazing participants that worked hard and played hard at this year’s NomadHer Busan workation event and we hope to see you at the next one. 

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NomadHer is happy to share a new series featuring NomadHers and their own travel stories through personal blog posts. All posts have been edited for grammar and clarity while making sure to retain the true voices and stories of our writers. We’d like to extend a special thank you to all of our writers and to our community!

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Surrounded by volcanoes and shimmering blue waters, Lake Atitlán is one of Guatemala's most striking destinations. But beyond the picture-perfect views, the communities around the lake offer travelers an opportunity to connect with Guatemala in a much more meaningful way. Through weaving initiatives, you can learn about the centuries-old traditions behind colorful textiles, practice Spanish with local women, and gain insight into everyday life beyond the tourist trail. Equally as importantly, choosing women-led cooperatives gives your tourism money a chance to support local women, families, and communities directly. Traveling thoughtfully is not only about seeing a new place, but about considering who benefits from our presence there.

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There are roughly 11 villages surrounding Lake Atitlán, each with its own unique history and culture. When I first arrived in San Pedro de La Laguna, I had quite the culture shock. Deciding to check out the local market, I headed up in a tuktuk – a small carriage attached to a bike – to the center of the town where fresh fruits and vegetables were being sold by vendors up and down the street. I chose my food carefully, ensuring there were no spoiled or rotten parts which I had been prone to grabbing in the past.

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While paying, I overheard another vendor and woman speaking. They were adorned in a traditional outfit I had seen in Antigua, Guatemala, just a few days before, although the patterns were slightly different. One thing to note however, was that they weren't speaking Spanish.

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Part of me thought maybe it was a dialect – sometimes languages sound different depending on the region – but that was not the case. After sorting through my tomatoes and paying, I walked up to the woman and asked if they were speaking Spanish. They indeed were not. They were actually speaking a language called Tz'utujil pronounced SUE-Too-Heel.

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Mayan languages have been spoken for thousands of years and it still exists today. It's easy to walk through San Pedro de La Laguna and see advertisements for Mayan ceremonies, spiritual readings, and buy or learn how to weave traditional clothing.

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My main purpose for going to Lake Atitlan was attending a Spanish language school. My teachers all wore the traditional clothing of San Pedro when working and were completely open to sharing their culture. I was beyond curious to learn about their way of life and the passion they had to continue preserving their culture and heritage.

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My teacher Lesbia had a huge love for weaving. She would show me the designs she was working on and tell me about how she buys designs from other local tejedoras around the Lake. She would also weave live on TikTok. For her, it's a way to connect with her culture and provide a livelihood for her two daughters. After listening to Lesbia's passion, I decided to take a lancha, or public boat transportation to San Juan de la Laguna. While there are roads where you can use a car to get around the villages, lanchas are far more practical and cost only about $3. In either case, San Juan was another town known for its beautiful postcard-worthy sites. It's also known for having a lot of weaving cooperatives for women.

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Guatemala remains deeply rooted in traditional gender roles, making economic independence especially meaningful for many women. While some women have access to education and professional opportunities, others face greater barriers. Women-led cooperatives can provide another path toward earning an income, developing a skill, preserving cultural traditions, and supporting their families.

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Walking through San Juan La Laguna, I had the chance to visit one of the local women's weaving cooperatives. Since I was visiting during the height of the low season, there was not a lot of activity happening. However, I was still able to walk through the cooperative and watch a few women at work. Outside, cotton plants flourished alongside many of the natural plants used to create the dyes that bring the textiles to life. The women showed me the looms they worked on and invited me into their small shop, where their handwoven scarves, shirts, and skirts were available to purchase with prices ranging from $50 for simple designs to $150+ for more intricate looms.

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My language school also organized a weaving demonstration, giving us a closer look at the incredible intricacy and detail that goes into every piece. Watching the process firsthand made me realize how much we sacrifice when we choose fast fashion and quantity over quality. There is something irreplaceable about an object made slowly and carefully by hand, carrying not only the skill of its maker, but the stories of community and sisterhood.

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There have been many tourists interested in learning this craft, so much so to the point where there are a variety of workshops and volunteering opportunities. There's a 3-hour workshop to make a small coin pouch whereas others extend past one or more days for larger projects. It's even possible to work with a cooperative for a few weeks if someone is looking to make an even bigger impact. While I didn't make anything myself, I did try dyeing some of the yarn and was so impressed by how vibrant the colors were through natural ingredients. Who knew crushed flowers and fruits could make such a gorgeous pigment!

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Preserving the culture, uplifting other women, and being able to take a piece of their knowledge back home for you to share is what makes this an unforgettable experience.

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As NomadHers, we often travel with the mindset of connecting with other women and making memories that last a lifetime. Supporting women-led initiatives allows us to be more intentional about where our tourism dollars go, while learning from the women who call Guatemala home. I absolutely loved walking the streets of San Pedro and San Juan de La Laguna and seeing all the colors exploding from the traditional attire. From the language to the music, to my incredible Spanish teacher, to the mesmerizing Mayan traditions that still live on, Guatemala allowed me to dive into its rich history and support the people who preserve it.

## Women's Weaving Cooperatives in San Juan de la Laguna

Here's a list of women's weaving cooperatives based in San Juan de la Laguna, Guatemala to check out if you are interested!

- 🧶 Casa Flor Ixcaco
- 🧶 Lema' Weaving Association (Asociación de Mujeres Lema')
- 🧶 Trama Textiles

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Most women are aware that we pay a lot more for things. 

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There’s the “pink tax.” The extra money women pay for products and services marketed for us compared to similar items marketed to men. There’s also 2.5 times more unpaid work women do than men, which comes out to roughly 16 billion hours of unpaid labor every single day, according to UN Women. 

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To add onto that, there’s another tax that women have been paying, and while there is no widely cited figure, survey data and research show that women pay more for their safety when it comes to traveling solo than men. 

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What is the “safety tax”?

It’s known as the “safety tax” or the “avoidance tax” and while it is not as known as the “pink tax,” research shows that women choose centrally located hotels, taking taxis or rideshares over walking at night, or choosing women-only spaces over cheaper mixed accommodation. 

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What the research says

Around 71% of over 1,000 Australian women said that they have paid or expect to pay more to feel safe while traveling alone in a 2025 commissioned survey by insurer Insure&Go. There is no global statistic that shows how many women have paid or expect to pay more to feel safe. 

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Women have been shown to pay a significant “avoidance tax” in order to maintain personal safety while traveling, according to findings published in the Journal of Travel Research. This manifests in women restricting their own freedom of movement and actively avoiding going out alone at night, or opting to pay for private rideshares. 

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Another survey found that 51% of women feel safe traveling alone compared to 75% of men, from the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety. They have also shown to do more research on their destination's safety reputation, read reviews from other women and are more likely to postpone trips or bypass countries that have high reports of gender-based harassment or violence. 

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Paying for safety before you even land

Before even landing at a destination, most women are more likely to spend money on comprehensive travel insurance than men (63% vs 54%), safety gear or communication tools as found by research done at the Safer Tourism Foundation. 

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Women also already pay more by avoiding taking late-night and red-eye flights. Flights that land during the peak daytime hours are generally more expensive than late-night and red-eye flights, according to Flightright. Most people generally avoid landing late at night or in early morning hours in order to check into their accommodations, use public transit or get their car rentals. 

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But for women, the extra safety of landing during the day is crucial. Global datasets show that one in three women worldwide do not feel safe walking alone at night, and with a disparity between men’s and women’s percentage in high-income nations ranging from 20 to 30 percentage points, according to Gallup’s 2025 Global Safety Report. 

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Where the fear comes from

A big reason behind this fear is from lived experiences. Data from UN Women and the UK shows that over 70% of women have experienced sexual harassment in public spaces, which have caused nearly 9 in 10 women in some major global metropolises to feel fundamentally unsafe outdoors. More data shows that almost half of women (48%) avoid exploring their travel destination at night altogether.  

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What it costs: women-only hostels

Looking at a popular website for a hostel in Copenhagen right now, the 8-bed mixed dormitory room costs €51, meanwhile the 6-bed female dormitory costs €61. Another Copenhagen hostel showed a 4-bed mixed dorm room to be €64, and the same size female 4-bed dorm room to cost €67. Both have the same size and are non-refundable, so the only other reason for prices to be higher is due to the separation of genders. 

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In Paris, a 4-bed mixed dorm costs €58.46  meanwhile the same size 4-bed female dorm costs €62.35. 

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Looking at hostels in Tokyo, Mexico City and in Indonesia, some hostels show prices being the same despite being mixed or women-only, so it can depend on the country and accommodation policies.  

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On average though, women choosing to stay at women-only hostel dorms can expect to pay more by about 5% to 22.5% more per night in comparison to staying in mixed-dorm rooms. 

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Small costs that add up

Most women would choose the comfort of staying with other women in their dorm room and pay the extra fee without a second thought, but these little prices can add up. 

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Dropping €20 on a Bolt ride back to your place at night over walking alone or using transit that usually only costs €1-3 is a normal recurrence for women where they live, so it goes without question for most women to pay extra in a new city or country, especially if they are alone. 

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From flight prices, accommodations and transportation at a destination, many of these small charges add up and can prove to be significantly more costly if we take into account the “safety tax” many female travelers pay. 

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Women keep traveling anyway

However despite safety anxieties and the financial “safety premium,” solo female travel is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the global tourism industry. Data shows that while there are high reports of women feeling anxiety about traveling (increase from 64% to 70%), the number of solo female trips surged by more than 60% over three years and makes up for 71% of all solo trips worldwide.  

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The research shows odds stacked against women in terms of finance and safety, but women still continue to travel their own way by any means possible.

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NomadHer is pleased to announce that it was 1 of 12 international startups chosen for the innovation program of development of AlUla – a region nestled in the northwestern part of Saudi Arabia rich in extraordinary natural and cultural heritage. The county is hom e to the most renowned and recognized site, Hegra, the first Saudi Arabian site to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008. 

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The program is led by the Royal Commission for AlUla and AFALULA, in partnership with STATION F and Groupe Galeries Lafayette. Over the next three months in Paris, we’ll dedicate our efforts to identify and address concrete challenges linked to developing AlUla as a tourism destination. 

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In early December, all startups will present their solution and await results for the program to choose its winners with the potential to travel to AlUla and receive €80,000 to turn their programs into reality. 

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Our mission at NomadHer has always been the same: she can travel anywhere, and through this program we hope to open AlUla to the world’s women travelers and show that she can feel Hafawah – a Saudi cultural value that translates to warm hospitality, a gracious reception and a deep, genuine care for guests. 

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Our goal is to connect solo female travelers interested in exploring Saudi Arabia with local women in AlUla to create and host tours to branch the NomadHer community towards the Middle East. 

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We hope to share AlUla’s cultural landscape, a journey through 200,000 years of history. 

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AlUla – Forever Revitalizing  

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Lush valleys, sandstone mountains alongside ancient cultural sites dating back several millennia to the Lihyanite and Nabataean kingdoms. The region also features more than 110 well-preserved tombs and AlUla’s historic Old Town, a labyrinth of more than 900 mudbrick houses built as early as the 12th century. 

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AlUla welcomed at least 286,000 visitors in 2024, with at least 1.2 million visiting since 2018 according to the Royal Commission for AlUla. In the Royal Commission’s 2025 visitor survey, 73% of visitors were Saudi residents and 27% international, with Europeans making up a little over half of international visitors. The average age of visitors is 39.5, while couples and families make up 65% of groups. 

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AlUla aims to welcome 1 million visitors per year by 2030. 

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Key audiences outside of regional visitors include reaching visitors from France, the U.S., Germany and India. AlUla’s marketing plan identifies Holistic Wellbeing Seekers as key visitors to reach and Modern Nomads, independent and digital-first solo travelers as well. NomadHer’s solo female travel community fits the Modern Nomads segment the RCU wants to reach. 

By 2030, the program hopes to see that at least 71% of travelers set AlUla as their final destination. So, travelers that want to explore a niche region before crowds flock to it and people who are looking to relax for their own wellbeing will want to see all the AlUla can offer. 

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Saudi Arabia has 774,123 women-owned businesses which make up around 44% of all enterprises in 2025, according to the National Observatory for Women. 

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AFALULA has placed innovation at the core of its mission to co-create the tourism of tomorrow and we at NomadHer want to support the development of AlUla as a tourism destination through the same way we’ve done other places around the world. 

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On our app, NomadHers connect and engage, sharing tips, diaries and city guides. We also host women-led experiences and travel camps worldwide. 

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In Busan, we’ve created some of our most popular camps that range from learning how to surf, attending a jjimjilbang (traditional Korean spa), or even a workation, where attendees are able to network and talk to other female founders, digital nomads and entrepreneurs. With our experience, we know we can create something similar in AlUla to put it at the top of travelers must visit list. 

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Women now account for 71% of all solo trips worldwide and female solo travel has grown by more than 60% over the past three years, according to Safeture and Riskline’s 2026 analysis. The solo travel market today stands at $428 billion, and could increase up to $1.07 trillion by 2030. 

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We know that at least 70% of solo female travelers face unique risks due to their gender identity, with 68% naming personal safety as their top concern, according to the Solo Female Travelers Club 2026 survey. 

With over 600k+ registered and verified members from 190+ countries and over 1,000 travel camp participants and top users from places like South Korea, the U.S., France, India and Germany, we know that with the right opportunity and proper guidance, she can travel to AlUla.  

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Our community and capacity to create women-led tours ties directly to AlUla’s goal of growing international visitors. 

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We hope to vet local women hosts, offer small-group tours and provide pre-trip guidance on local customs and dress. 

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Now in Saudi Arabia, foreign women do not have to wear the headscarf or the abaya, a traditional loose-fitting, full-length outer robe, but modest dress is expected, but women are asked to cover their hair at mosques. Women also do not need to travel with a male companion and they are able to book hotel rooms with their own IDs 

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Tourist eVisas are available on the official portal, which can cost around SAR 480 ($128 USD) and are valid for one year. 

Expected Impact 

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We hope to increase cultural impact, ensure confidence and human connection for visitors and to increase visitor volume – with the 190+ countries inside NomadHer’s reach all pointed in one direction. 

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Among the strategic initiatives, we believe our global reach can help generate global demand for AlUla through differentiated visitor experiences. 

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NomadHer is community-driven and with the opportunity to create a women-led option alongside AlUla’s luxurious destination portrait, we want to create experiences by women, for women. By learning about the stories of local women from rawees (storytellers) and learning what life in Saudi Arabia is for them, our program at NomadHer will provide a deep understanding of culture, life and the beauty of AlUla through her eyes.  

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Through NomadHer’s experiences, efforts and continued support from our community, we will show that She Can Travel Anywhere. 

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NomadHer is happy to share a new series featuring NomadHers and their own travel stories through personal blog posts. All posts have been edited for grammar and clarity while making sure to retain the true voices and stories of our writers. We’d like to extend a special thank you to all of our writers and to our community!  

Hello from Korea!

I’m Sharon Noh. I go by Sharon, my English name. It carries my identity: Rose of Sharon, 무궁화(Mooguen-wha), the national flower of Korea.

For the past thirty years, I’ve lived as a global nomad, moving through more than twenty countries and hundreds of cities and villages. 

Why have I chosen this nomadic life?

The answer is simple. Everyone and everything around me is my environment, and among all elements of that environment, I hold Place as sacred.

We Choose Places. Places Choose Us.

Wherever I go, a place is never just a temporary space I pass through. It becomes the living ecosystem that shapes my life. I choose a place with deep intention for the life I want to create, and then I immerse myself completely into it.

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For me, Place is far more than physical geography. It is where I meet people I would never have encountered otherwise. It is where I experiment with different ways of living, learning what becomes possible when I step outside my familiar boundaries. It is where I discover a new version of myself that was always waiting to emerge. It is my Living Lab.

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This leads into usually the next question people have: Why a global nomad? 

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To me, life is a living lab and as a global nomad, I get exposed to new people and new environments. I run experiments that reveal who I am and what the world is. When I arrive somewhere new, those experiments shift into full gear expanded possibilities. It took me years to realize that places are one of the most powerful forces shaping who I become.

Recently, I spent one morning reflecting on the first half of 2026. Looking back, the most significant theme of these months boils down to one word: place.

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Roots: Seoul

To leave, you need a place to return to, an anchor. Mine is Seoul. It is where I was born, where I spent the most time, and the nest where my mother lives.

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At the same time, Seoul is my operational base for contribution. From here, I ground myself by training professional coaches, guiding CEOs, and mentoring startup leaders navigating transformation.

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Seoul gives me roots. And these roots allow me to reach out through different branches, so that I can eventually bear flowers, fruits, and seeds.

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Every time I return to Seoul, I don’t feel that my journey has ended. I feel that another chapter is just beginning.

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How I Move Through the World

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People often ask how I travel. My answer is surprisingly simple. It’s what I believe lies at the heart of meaningful travel writing.

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First, I connect.

I slow down long enough to let the place welcome me. I return to the same local café until they know my name. I ask questions, and I listen more than I speak. This isn’t tourism. It’s building a friendship with a place.

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Then, I explore.

Not only the streets and landscapes, but also the woman I become while living there. Every woman who travels solo discovers something about herself she didn’t know existed. That is a  story worth telling.

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Finally, I live.

I shop at local markets. I build small daily routines. I show up as myself, not as a visitor passing through. Only then does a destination stop feeling like somewhere I visit. It becomes somewhere I belong.

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When I return to Seoul, something invisible has shifted. I am not just someone who traveled. I am a woman who chose her own life, lived it fully and returned more fully herself than when she left.

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This is what every nomad understands in her bones: A place doesn’t change you simply because you visit it. A place transforms you because you decide to be changed.

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That decision to choose places intentionally, to immerse completely, to let yourself be shaped, is the most sovereign act a woman can make. And every time I return, I carry the proof of that sovereignty with me.

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Proof that I didn’t just travel.

Proof that I became.

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This is the space I am opening here.

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Most months, I’ll write from inside a place I’m living in. I share the ordinary texture of staying somewhere. Some months, I’ll bring you into conversations with other women nomads I meet along the way, exploring their own versions of this journey. Different voices, one common thread: what a place does to a person who allows themselves to be changed. 

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What is the place that is currently shaping you?

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NomadHer is happy to share a new series featuring NomadHers and their own travel stories through personal blog posts. All posts have been edited for grammar and clarity while making sure to retain the true voices and stories of our writers. We’d like to extend a special thank you to all of our writers and to our community!  

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Whenever I travel, I wonder, ‘What do local women think about travelers, especially women traveling alone?’ I want to know if they feel the same desire to explore the world and how possible that dream is for them. Sometimes it is not only about money problems, it could be many reasons, like family, culture, or religion. Everyone has a different life path, some need to stay at home with their family, while others are busy with studies or work. Life is a paint palette of different colors which represent our lives, since everyone is painting their own life story.

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To understand those different colors I decided to combine two of my favorite things to do while traveling to Cambodia: talking with locals and drinking good coffee. I wanted to see through the eyes of local women: I wanted to see how local women see us. I love talking to locals to learn more about their own personal views as well as learning their deep knowledge of their city and useful safety tips. 

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This will be the first of many blogs about women I meet while traveling, starting in Siem Reap, where I talked with two kind women to hear their stories. I began with simple questions like: Have you ever traveled alone to a new city or country? If so, what is one important safety tip you would share? I also wanted to know what they really think about the solo travel trend—how do you feel when you see other women traveling alone, and is that a dream you want to follow too? Additionally, I asked about their daily life: do you usually feel safe and comfortable moving around your own city or country alone? But before sharing their stories, I want to tell you how I met them.

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Both cafes I visited have a very bohemian vibe that invites you to sit and relax. So, while I was enjoying my favorite espresso-based coffee, a flat white. I normally like to see how they work. A dance where they move around preparing a cup of coffee, the smell floating in the air. This smell made me curious to find out what grain variety they used and if they roast the grains themselves. So I approached them, and I asked if they could take a moment to chat with me. Despite their nervousness with their English level and my own worries of bothering them, they were so kind that they stopped and talked to me for a few minutes. 

Vannsa (វណ្ណសា), Sister Strey Cafe

Vannsa is an 18-year-old who moved from a countryside village to Siem Reap to work in a coffee shop while studying English to become a teacher.

When we talked about traveling alone, she said she hasn’t been to another city or country yet. She is still young so I think the idea of traveling alone makes her a bit nervous, especially when arriving in a new city and finding her way to the hotel at night. Which is a completely normal feeling, we all feel that when we arrive somewhere new. On the other hand, she said she feels completely safe walking the streets of Siem Reap, which actually made me feel more confident during my stay.

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Feeling unsure when arriving in a new city is part of the travel process. As a solo female traveler, I can heavily relate to Vannsa’s initial nervousness about navigating an unfamiliar place, especially at night.

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It’s happened to me several times that I arrive at night or too early in the morning in a new city. In BoliviaI traveled by bus from Cochabamba to Uyuni and I arrived at about 4 a.m., without a hotel booked. It was the first time I had ever done something like that, but I found out due to exchange rates, it was better to pay with cash rather than card.  

After doing some preliminary research, I discovered that it  was not very safe to walk alone while it was still dark,so I decided to wait. Luckily for me, there was a tent just outside of the bus station, selling buñuelos and coffee. There were a few locals there, struggling with the cold weather just like me and waiting for the first morning bus. I started talking to them, asking if it was safe for me to walk alone to find a hostel. They were so nice and told me to wait till sunrise, in the meantime, we chatted and had a good time. This time I didn’t take a taxi, because I didn’t even have a hostel. But I followed my instincts, and everything was fine.

Over time, we learn to trust our instincts and develop strategies for choosing safer options. Fear or instinct serves as protection, keeping us alert and helping both newcomers and seasoned travelers to find our way and reach our destinations safely.

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When I asked Vannsa where she’d go if she could travel alone, she said 'Switzerland' with the biggest smile. I was honestly surprised! I expected her to pick a neighboring country  like Thailand or Vietnam, but she’s thinking big. I can tell just by looking in her eyes —she has a truly brave spirit!

If she ever makes it to Switzerland, I know she’ll be just fine. Even though it’s been about ten years since I visited, I remember it being very safe. The only real downside is how expensive it can be! Plus, if you don't go in the summer, the weather can be a bit surprising—it gets cold and dark early—but I guess that’s just part of the magic of that place.

Vannsa was a bit shy, so I took a photo of the peaceful view while drinking my coffee instead.

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Nicky (Nich-នីច), Brother Bong Cafe

Like Vannsa, she works in one of my favorite cafes now in Siem Reap. While I was drinking a delicious coffee and enjoying a lemon cake, I looked for my next victim hehe.

Nicky is also a lovely woman who has already lived experience as a solo traveler. She enjoyed the beautiful and chaotic city of Bangkok.

Like many women, she also felt a bit intimidated walking on the streets alone. She felt the staring of men and even from other women. This was something that I probably hadn’t noticed: women staring at me as a foreigner. It has happened to me only in South Korea, because the elders most of the time stare, but not in countries like Thailand. Maybe because of my Latin vibe and golden, dark, and Aztec skin colors, I look a bit more like a local. :P

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She also enjoyed traveling with her friends, but she definitely felt like it was a very different experience when she did it alone. She felt a lot more freedom to plan the trip the way she wanted, being independent and finding her way around. Moreover, she also enjoyed listening more deeply to her own thoughts, learning who she is while facing unfamiliar situations in different environments. After that, she mentioned she wants to do it again and again. Alone or with friends, they are just different kinds of trips; both ways are so much fun.​

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Facing new challenges releases so much adrenaline that it makes you want more and more. Am I crazy to think that way, or do you also feel it?

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Once we started talking about safety, I asked her if she could give me any tips to move around this country or any other country that she has learned. One of those tips was  when you're arriving at an unknown destination, or it is too late at night, and you need to book a taxi. It is always better to book a taxi using an app.

Grab, for example, offers great safety features. Once when I booked transportation with this app to go to the airport, the driver took a different route than planned. The app immediately sent me a pop-up with 2 buttons, “I am ok” and “Call the police”. I waited a couple of minutes and asked the driver why he took another route. It was a bit stressful, since I think the driver didn’t speak any English, so we used messages through the app, even though we were in the same car. He said he wanted to take a different route because of heavy traffic, so a few minutes later he went back to the planned route, and I clicked the “I am ok” button and nothing happened. This kind of feeling of being protected is what Nicky was talking about. I think this was a great tip!

Nicky’s beautiful smile

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Final thoughts

Sometimes, the biggest challenge we must overcome before traveling is our own fear. However, after doing some research about Siem Reap and Cambodia in general, I realized there are still bigger barriers than financial situations. Social and cultural barriers —such as family expectations and traditional gender roles—can also significantly limit women's opportunities for independent travel. I am glad these obstacles did not directly affect the two women I interviewed.

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Whatever our circumstances, we should cherish the freedom we have to travel and keep inspiring other women to chase their own adventures. There’s so much we can learn from one another. In the end, what connects us is far greater than what divides us.

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Wicker lamps dancing in the wind above the Siem Reap river.

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NomadHer is happy to share a new series featuring NomadHers and their own travel stories through personal blog posts. All posts have been edited for grammar and clarity while making sure to retain the true voices and stories of our writers. We'd like to extend a special thank you to all of our writers and to our community!

by Anne Beckers

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At 5 a.m., the wind on Mount Tsubakuro was strong enough to make standing still uncomfortable. It was around freezing, everyone outside the mountain hut was wrapped in layers and somewhere in the distance, just visible above the horizon, was Mount Fuji.

The sky had turned almost lava red. I had climbed roughly 1,300 metres the previous day to get here, carrying everything I needed on my back. I still had another 200 metres to go before reaching the actual summit, at 2,763 metres.

And I had done it alone.

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Choosing a mountain you can comfortably hike alone

I had hiked long distances before, but usually with others. Earlier in my Japan trip, I had joined travellers from my hostel to climb Mount Nantai. Managing that challenging hike made me realise I could probably take on a similar one alone, as long as I chose the route carefully and prepared properly.

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Solo hiking isn't simply regular hiking minus another person. If you're the only one making decisions, you need to know what you're getting yourself into.

Mount Tsubakuro, often called the Queen of the Japanese Alps, seemed like a good place to start. The route from Nakabusa Onsen is popular and well established, and there is a mountain hut near the summit where hikers can spend the night and get dinner and breakfast.

Before leaving, I checked the mountain forecast, researched the route and made sure I had the right clothing and equipment. I knew the elevation gain would be around 1,300 metres to the hut, but I also knew from previous hikes that this was within my ability.

It wasn't about convincing myself that nothing could happen. Mountains are unpredictable, however prepared you are. It was about reducing the risks I could control and knowing I could change my plans if necessary. If the weather turned, I could turn around. If something didn't feel right, reaching the summit wasn't more important than listening to that feeling.

That, to me, is an important distinction when talking about hiking alone. Telling someone to "just be brave" isn't particularly useful. Knowing your own limits, preparing properly and trusting yourself to make decisions is.

Luckily, on the morning I left, the conditions could hardly have been better.

1,300 metres up through the forest

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The first three-quarters of the route climbed steadily through forest. The autumn colours had already arrived, and every now and then the trees opened enough to reveal the surrounding peaks.

Despite the sunshine, the canopy kept most of the trail shaded. The temperature was almost perfect for walking. I quickly fell into a rhythm. The climb was hard, but manageable. I took short breaks, ate something, drank water and continued.

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I also started recognising people. A group would overtake me while I stopped. Twenty minutes later, I would find them resting and pass them again. Eventually, the repeated encounters started earning little smiles and nods.

It was one of the first things I noticed about hiking alone: I could determine my own pace completely.

When you're hiking with someone, even a very good hiking partner, there is always a small amount of negotiation. Are we stopping? Are you tired? Am I walking too slowly? Do you want to keep going?

Alone, none of those questions existed. I stopped when I wanted to stop and kept walking when I felt good. If I wanted to stare through a gap in the trees for five minutes, nobody was waiting.

After several hours, the forest suddenly ended. In front of me were layers of mountains covered in orange and brown, interrupted by Mount Tsubakuro's distinctive white granite. The change was so abrupt that it felt as though I had walked into an entirely different landscape.

This was the moment I had come for.

Alone doesn't mean isolated

What surprised me most about the hike wasn't the solitude, but how social it became.

In Japanese cities, most of my interactions with locals had been brief and functional: ordering food, buying a train ticket, checking into accommodation. On the mountain, the dynamic was different.

The same hikers kept appearing along the route. Even without sharing a language, there was an easy recognition between us. We were all tired, all climbing the same steep trail and all stopping to admire the same views.

When I finally arrived near the top, a group of Japanese women quickly offered to take a photo of me. It felt almost like a quiet acknowledgement: We see you came here alone. Let us help you remember it.

Later, while I was sitting and looking across the mountains, a Japanese guy around my age came to sit beside me. He wanted to practise his English, so we started talking.

They were small interactions, but they showed me another side of travelling alone. When you're with someone, you're often naturally turned towards each other. When you're alone, you're turned towards the world. And the world often responds.

A night in the Japanese Alps

Once I reached the hut, unpacking wasn't particularly high on my list of priorities. The weather was still completely clear and the view stretched across the Japanese Alps, so I dropped my things and went back outside.

That evening we watched the sun disappear behind the mountains before the temperature dropped to around 5°C and pushed everyone indoors for dinner.

Sleeping at the hut was very organized but not very luxurious. There were no showers. My bed felt more like a plank, and the pillow seemed to be filled with rice. With everyone sleeping in rows, the whole place had something of a Japanese boarding-school atmosphere.

Then my alarm went off at 5 a.m. Outside, the sky was beginning to turn red. The wind was howling across the ridge and it was bitterly cold, but the mountains were completely visible. In the distance was the unmistakable outline of Mount Fuji.

For me, that sunrise was worth the entire climb.

What I took back down with me

I don't think everyone needs to climb a mountain alone. There are routes I wouldn't attempt solo, conditions in which I would turn around and plenty of hikes that are simply more fun with someone else.

But Mount Tsubakuro changed the way I thought about travelling alone.

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We often postpone things because nobody is available to come with us. A destination stays on the list until a friend's schedule aligns with ours. A hike becomes something we'll do "one day". Sometimes there are good reasons for that. But sometimes we're simply used to thinking that certain experiences require company.

That morning, standing at 2,763 metres, I knew I had got myself there. I had researched the route, checked the conditions, climbed 1,300 metres, spent the night in the mountains and reached the summit the following morning. And far from feeling lonely, I had met more local people along the way than I had during many days in the city.

That is perhaps what I would tell any other woman considering her first solo hike: 

1. Don't choose a mountain because you feel you have something to prove. 
2. Choose one that matches your experience. 
3. Prepare properly. 
4. Give yourself permission to turn back if you need to.

Eventually, you’ll stand at a peak you weren't sure you could reach. You’ll look back down at the trail below and realize that just a day ago, you were standing at the bottom, wondering if you could do this alone.

Now, you know.

NomadHer is happy to share a new series featuring NomadHers and their own travel stories through personal blog posts. All posts have been edited for grammar and clarity while making sure to retain the true voices and stories of our writers. We'd like to extend a special thank you to all of our writers and to our community!

by Marteena Mendelssohn

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Getting to Oaxaca

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I was already in Cancun before heading to Oaxaca. I explored the magnificent ruins of Chichén Itzá, and stayed at the gorgeous Nomads Hostel and Rooftop Pool in the downtown area. It was beautiful, but HOT, and I was looking for some mountain relief. From downtown Cancun, I took the ADO bus to the airport which cost me about $150 pesos (compared to the 450-500 peso Uber ride). The flight from Cancun to Oaxaca was about $162 USD with Volaris, but I did purchase my ticket about two weeks before I left which could have made a slight difference in pricing. I then took the shuttle service from the airport to the city. The Oaxacan airport is relatively small, and there were two taxi stands that had colectivos, or shared shuttles. The driver took me about two blocks away from my hostel, which was called “Ginger Banana.” This ride cost another $150 pesos. 

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Eating my way in 

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The first thing I did after my flight was grab a Tlayuda, or as some like to call it, a Mexican pizza, at Casa Taviche. Essentially, it’s a large tortilla with pork lard (asiento), beans, meat, and quesillo. To make it vegetarian friendly, just ask for no asiento! Speaking of eating sin carne, the next day I took a vegetarian cooking class with Ethnofood. Funnily enough, I was the only person who signed up for the class, but honestly, I had a great time! We made Memelitas, which is a traditional Oaxacan food typically made for breakfast or lunch. Making tortillas by hand and salsas in a molcajete, it made me realize just how much work goes into my favorite cuisine – and just how fun it can be making it! 

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The women I met along the way 

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 After heading back to my hostel, I was able to meet a group of women who just finished up an artist residency and were now spending their last days exploring the city. There’s something both inspiring and exciting about seeing other women traveling on their own, doing things they love. I spoke with a woman from Chicago who worked in ceramics, and although we both spoke English, we chose to speak Spanish with one another. There was a French girl who drew sketches who I gossiped with about our love lives, and then Jen, an Australian woman who spent the past 25 years dedicating her life to teaching water sports and has now decided to turn art into her full-time career. While I didn’t meet any NomadHers on this trip, I was able to see just how far women can go – no matter where they come from. 

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Finding Zapotec Travel 

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I spent more than a few evenings scrolling through Instagram, searching for the best things to do in the city. Eventually, a woman named Lily appeared on my feed through Zapotec Travel. It’s an agency that centers their tours around indigenous women and designs their itinerary to support local communities while also experiencing the Zapotec culture. Before coming to Central America, I didn’t think there were a large native community left, but I was very wrong. In Oaxaca alone, there are many different communities: 

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• Mixtec 
• Mazatec 
• Chinantec 
• Mixe 
• Chatino 
• Triqui 
• Huave 
• Zapotec 
• Zoque 

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Each with its own distinct culture and language, ready to be discovered. 

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Guelaguetza: the tour 

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I came to Oaxaca during the Guelaguetza festival season. Translated from Zapotec, Guelaguetza means reciprocity. The festival is about community and sharing dances, food, handicrafts, and culture. 

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Our Guelaguetza tour started at the Tlacolula market, about 45 minutes from Oaxaca city. Festive colors spilled all across the tent covered vendors, from woven textiles and embroidered clothing to piles of bright red chilies, fresh fruit, and handcrafted goods, while gold earrings caught the sunlight as vendors moved through the crowd. The smoky aroma of meat sizzling over open grills mingled with the earthy scent of warm tortillas, creating a scene that was truly a feast for the senses. During the tour, we sat and ate traditional food inside the market. Some people tried sheep and goat while I indulged in a squash flower empanada. After eating, we had some free time to roam the market where I purchased a couple bags of ripe fruit and bought a cup of sweet mamey and coconut ice cream. 

Mitla and the dances 

Once we hopped back on the bus, we drove about 20 minutes to a town called Mitla, where a stage was erected and nine different communities were able to demonstrate their traditional dances. Some felt like a ballet, with docile and graceful movements, while others were fast, containing props and flashy skirts. I loved seeing the differences of each dance and their costumes as it really showed just how unique each community really was. 

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The women-owned mezcal distillery 

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After Mitla, we drove just a few minutes to a women-owned mezcal distillery. Margarita Hernandez had grown up on the mezcal farm. She and her daughter, Fatima, guided us around the farm, explaining the subtle differences between each agave plant, learning about the distilling process, and trying out their seven mezcals from their brand “Xhaiba,” meaning sky. 

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I had tried Mezcal before, and personally, it is just too strong for my taste. Out of the seven, I really enjoyed the “Tobalá”. For me, it was amazing to see a woman at the forefront of a mezcal brand. It was clear Margarita and Fatima took pride in their work and I was happy to celebrate the passion they’ve poured into building it.

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The drive back 

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The day ended watching the valley pass from the window of the bus, with the rolling hills and small villages stretching across the landscape in the fading afternoon light. The other participants of the tour and I chatted about what else we would do in Mexico. Some, like me, were headed back to the city, while others were planning trips to the beach or to the other side of the coast. As we drove through the valley, I looked forward to the days ahead, knowing there was still so much more to see.

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All in all, my time in Oaxaca taught me that some of the most rewarding parts of travel come from the women you meet along the way. For any woman who feels a little nervous about traveling through the Americas alone, I could not recommend a better place to begin than the beautiful city of Oaxaca.

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Oaxaca Must-Dos

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⭐️ Mercado 20 de Noviembre

⭐️ Mercado de La Merced

⭐️ A cooking class! 

⭐️ Hierve el Agua waterfalls 

⭐️ The Museum of Cultures 

⭐️ Jardín Etnobiológico de Oaxaca (The Ethnobiological Garden)

⭐️ Libreria Grañen- Porrua - Cute postcards 

⭐️ La Cosecha - Food court and live music

⭐️Häxan Gothic Bar - Horror movie nights and alternative music

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Oaxaca Must-Eats

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🍽️ Tlayudas 

🍽️ Tejate - sweet drink made of cacao

🍽️ Tamales (my favorite!!!)

🍽️ Memelas

🍽️ Mole (there are seven different kinds)

🍽️ Chapulines - roasted grasshoppers

🍽️ Quesillo 

🍽️ Sal de Gusano - Earthworm salt for your mezcal 

🍽️ Huitlacoche tacos or corn fungus (I promise it’s delicious)

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Aloha 🌸

I'm Hyojeong, CEO and founder r of NomadHer, and I'm writing this from Paris, where the entire NomadHer journey first began. I came back to Paris, the very place where I literally started with $100 and I'm still waking up every single day with joy, excitement, and anticipation for a new adventure. I actually love Espresso a lot.

This year, in 2026, we received an award from the Cartier Women's Initiative, which celebrates 30 amazing female founders from around the world who are shining a light on global impact. It was a long journey, writing over 30 pages of business plans and going through more than 10 rounds of interviews with our community members and investors.When I heard the news that we were one of the 30 chosen fellows, I thought, "Who else, if not us?"

To be completely frank, my confidence was at an all-time low last year. Extreme burnout, self-imposed pressure, and the feeling that "I'm not enough, I'm not perfect" were holding me back.But when I returned from a trip to Mexico in January this year, where I had gained so much inspiration right after my university years I felt like I could finally breathe again.

Drinking horchata, eating tacos al pastor in Mexico City, and simply hanging out at Parque España watching people exercise and walk their dogs gave me so much pure joy. That’s the true power of travel. ¿Sí, verdad?  

Since starting NomadHer, the responsibilities have brought immense pressure, and to be honest, things became far "too serious" than I ever expected. All I originally wanted was to eat unlimited tteokbokki, spend casual time with my sister Meungdi, and travel wherever I wished to go.

I realized, "I need to just enjoy this journey and process again."So, here is my message to anyone starting a new journey somewhere in the world:Let's just enjoy this imperfect process and the journey that we are building step by step. We just need to listen to our inner voice and never forget that somewhere in the world, people are watching us build everything from scratch, piece by piece.

A NomadHer member named Zoe, who has been with us since 2021, messaged me this morning (literally) in our app's group chat, saying, "I've been watching your journey since the very beginning at Station F 5 years ago, and you are still creating and improving little by little."

To whoever is reading this, and whoever is at the stage of making another big change in life: I just want to remind you that we all have the power to feel joy and embrace the process as it is. No one can beat those who find true joy not to win over someone else or to compete, but to overcome ourselves and the past versions of who we were.

She Can Travel Anywhere, as always.

As the founder of NomadHer, I wear a lot of different hats and lead various projects. Here is a program I’d love for you to join!

We are hosting "She Can Found Anywhere" in partnership with Busan the city in South Korea where I was born and raised. We're selecting 15 ambitious female visionaries from around the world, and I will be personally leading the program. Creating a project like this has always been a dream of mine!

If you have any questions, feel free to drop me a message on the NomadHer App or leave a comment below.

The program runs from October 6th to 9th, so be sure to apply as soon as possible!

NomadHer: She Can Travel Anywhere" (Paris Edition) is happening on Saturday, September 26th, at Station F in Paris, France! We would love to hear your feedback, your stories, and what being part of this community has meant to you—especially during this special occasion, as it marks NomadHer's 8th anniversary. Come join us and let’s share a lot of laughs. We will share all the updates as the priority on the NomadHer App.

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