Join us as we revisit some of our most memorable blog posts and celebrate women who have carved out their own journey around the world, including the Polar Regions.
Louise Arner Boyd was born September 16, 1887, one of three children born to investment banker John Franklin Boyd and his wife Louise Cook Arner. Louise enjoyed a privileged upbringing with a quality education.
One of the greatest challenges facing any explorer in the 19th and 20th centuries was securing funds to mount an expedition. Here, young Louise Boyd had an edge. Boyd’s parents passed away one after the other, in 1919 and 1920. Alone in the world and with a substantial amount of wealth at her disposal, Boyd traveled to Norway in 1924, where a sea cruise introduced her to the phenomenon of polar pack ice for the first time.
No sooner was that spark lit than Boyd began planning her first big adventure. She was taken seriously, too — in 1925, she was able to charter the Hobby, previously used by none other than famed polar explorer Roald Amundsen. It was during this first trip that she earned the moniker “The Girl Who Tamed the Arctic,” as the media delighted in her exploits and explorations — especially polar bear hunting.
In 1955 Louise Arner Boyd became the first woman to fly over the North Pole. She was also the third woman in history awarded the Chevalier Cross of the Order of Saint Olav by the Norwegian government.
Read our full blog post on Louise Boyd – The Girl Who Tamed The Arctic.
Solo Travel For WomenInspired? Curious about taking your own expedition to the Polar Regions?
There are many diverse expedition options for women, and for women solo travelers. In fact, single and solo travelers can even take advantage of No Single Supplement pricing on voyages on Ocean Endeavour Single Inside cabins.
Whether to the Arctic or Antarctica, contact a Polar Travel Adviser to get started planning your own expedition!