A case study of women and adventure : "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing" : the lure of adventure travel for women

There has been a dramatic change in the way adventure travel for women has been conceptualised as we head into the 21st Century (Attarian, 2001; Landphair, 2011; Mitten, 1994). What actually defines 'adventure' is a dynamic and evolving notion, shaped by the women themselves who are participating in these types of travel options. A wide variety of commercial tourism organizations around the world have been set up to address heir changing needs. Based on this premise, the authors have undertaken in-depth interviews with four 'adventurous' women who have travelled extensively to far and remote places in both developed and developing countries. These case studies ascertain the allure of adventure travel for women and uncover their perceptions and interpretations about the phenomenon. Several emergent themes were forthcoming, including the desire to redefine oneself, the need for personal growth, and to deepen one's understandings via cultural immersion.