BOOKED Trips

Our Maya Angelou Travel Scholarship Application Is Now Open! Inspired by the life and work of the iconic Maya Angelou, this scholarship honors women of color who embody her spirit of exploration, creativity, and social justice. Just as Angelou drew inspiration from her travels to fuel her writing and artistry, we believe that BOOKED Trips’ book-inspired journeys can be a powerful tool for personal growth and self-discovery. We hope this scholarship will inspire recipients to explore the world, connect with different cultures, and return home with a renewed sense of purpose and inspiration. Two travelers will receive scholarships up to $5,000 toward the following 2025 BOOKED Trips experiences: ??Accra, Ghana: October 9-17, 2025 | Reading: "Homegoing" by Yaa Gyasi.? ??Marrakesh, Fes, and the Sahara Desert Morocco: November 1-10, 2025 | Reading "Dreams of Trespass: Tales of a Harem Girlhood" by Fatima Mernissi.? ??Cartagena, Colombia: December 4-8, 2025 | Reading "Love in the Time of Cholera" by Gabriel García Márquez. Scholarship Deadlines: ??Scholarship opens February 3, 2025 ??Scholarship closes 11:59 ET on March 3, 2025 ??Scholarship awardees notified Monday, March 24, 2025 https://lnkd.in/gmhc8-CJ

According to Conde Nast Traveler,?book-inspired?travel?is a 2025?travel?trend?and we’re so excited to be ahead of the curve.?Our?book-inspired experiences were even recently featured in?Fodor's Travel! https://lnkd.in/gG2NmVc6

We're giving TWO women $5,000 travel scholarships to attend a?BOOKED Trips experience in 2025! Thanks to a generous sponsor we have a $10,000 travel scholarship fund. We will award TWO women of color scholarships up to $5,000 each for a 2025 BOOKED Trips experience through?@bookedtrips?Maya Angelou Travel Scholarship fund. Just as Maya Angelou drew inspiration from her travels to fuel her writing and artistry, we believe that BOOKED Trips’ book-inspired journeys can be a powerful tool for personal growth and self-discovery. By exploring destinations through the lens of literature, recipients of this scholarship can deepen their understanding of the world, connect with like-minded women and diverse cultures, and ignite their creativity. We will host a webinar on Thursday, January 30th at 6:00 p.m. ET to share more about the scholarship opportunity. Scholarship applications will open February 3, 2025 and awardees will be announced in mid-March 2025. Scholarships can be used for our upcoming 2025 trips to Ghana, Morocco, or Colombia. ??Learn more https://lnkd.in/gmhc8-CJ

2025 TRIPS PREVIEW! We sold out our first two trips of 2025, but don't fret there are more coming! ???? March 6-11, 2025 BOOKED Trips Panama inspired by The Great Divide by Cristina Henríquez (SOLD OUT). We have an amazing journey planned in collaboration with?Trip de Jenny,?an Afro-Panamanian woman owned company in the country. ???? April 4-15, 2025 BOOKED Trips Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa inspired by Trevor Noah's book Born A Crime (SOLD OUT) we have planned with?Girls Trip Tours?&?CURIOCITY ???? October 9-17, 2025 Accra, Ghana (SPOTS OPEN MARCH 2025). Our Ghana experience in collaboration with Sorted Chale is back by popular demand and we’re mixing it up with a few new experiences that you won’t want to miss. More details to come! ???? November 2025 (SPOTS OPEN APRIL 2025): A journey through Morocco. Morocco was named one of the 29 best places to travel in 2025 and was frequently requested by you all as a trip location. ???? December 2025: Cartagena, Colombia (SPOTS OPEN MAY 2025). Cartagena was named one of the best cities to visit in 2024 by Travel & Leisure with its high-quality food, strong Afro-Colombian culture, colorful architecture, and beautiful beaches. We could all use a little romance so we’re excited for a trip inspired by “Love in the Time of Cholera” by Gabriel Garcia Márquez. Trip alumni get early access, followed by newsletter subscribers, and then the general public. Get on the list https://lnkd.in/enQQQaZA

Listen to our Founder on the Soul of Travel podcast! https://lnkd.in/ebPfs49c

We'll be announcing a few more trips in our 2025 lineup soon and *spoiler alert* we'll be going back to Ghana! Catch the recap of our 2024 trip here to see some of what we got up to! https://lnkd.in/e4VGcatb

“I am from a belief that to visit our home is to eat at our home, because food is the ultimate love language; food forgives sense and dispenses grace.” - Dipo Faloyin “Africa Is Not A Country Each?BOOKED Trips?experience starts with an opening dinner and book discussion. We welcomed our travelers in style with traditional Asante performers, a delicious multi-course meal, and an in-depth discussion of Yaa Gyasi's book "Homegoing" which is partially set in Ghana. In the book two half-sisters, Effia and Esi, are born into different villages in eighteenth-century Ghana.?One thread of?Homegoing?follows Effia’s descendants through centuries of warfare in Ghana, as the Fante and Asante nations wrestle with the slave trade and British colonization. The other thread follows Esi and her children into America. From the plantations of the South to the Civil War and the Great Migration, from the coal mines of Pratt City, Alabama, to the jazz clubs and dope houses of twentieth-century Harlem, right up through the present day,?Homegoing?makes history visceral, and captures, with singular and stunning immediacy, how the memory of captivity came to be inscribed in the soul of a nation. It was the perfect start to the trip and introduction to our book-inspired journey through Ghana. Stay tuned for more trip recaps over the next few days! https://lnkd.in/eCBA8xaH

We officially SOLD OUT our?BOOKED Trips?South Africa experience April 4-15, 2025 powered by Girls Trip Tours?Iranti?ecosystem?that supports African women-led businesses.???? A group of 12 book lovers will be joining us on our 12-day, 11-night immersive journey through Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa inspired by "Born a Crime," a memoir written by comedian, podcaster, and former host of the Daily Show Trevor Noah. ?? "Born a Crime" is a powerful blend of humor and honesty, chronicling Trevor Noah’s childhood under the shadow of apartheid, South Africa’s brutal system of racial segregation. Born a Crime isn’t just a personal story; it’s a window into a nation’s past. Born to a Black Xhosa mother and a white Swiss father, Trevor’s very existence was outlawed under apartheid’s racial classifications. Our trip will explore the legacy of apartheid. We’ll walk the streets of Soweto, the Johannesburg township where Trevor grew up, experiencing firsthand the resilience and vibrant culture that blossomed under oppression. Throughout the trip, we’ll delve deeper into South Africa’s history and contemporary issues moving beyond the headlines and stereotypes to discover the country’s complexity. ??You can join the wait list in to be notified if additional trip spots become available https://lnkd.in/eRAPbDDs

It’s our anniversary ?? Can you believe it’s already been two years of BOOKED Trips? We’re so excited to kick off our 8th incredible adventure in just a few days but wanted to pause and acknowledge this milestone and thank the many folks who have supported this work. ? A huge thank you to the 80 amazing women who have traveled with us on this journey. Your trust, support, and shared experiences have made this possible. We’re so proud of the friendships and connections that have blossomed within our community. We’ve had the privilege of welcoming travelers from multiple countries around the world including the U.S.,Canada, South Africa, and Kenya. We’re especially grateful to those who have returned for multiple trips – it’s a testament to the magic of our experiences. And let’s not forget the books that started it all. ?? Our literary adventures in Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, South Africa, Ghana, and Panama have been nothing short of inspiring. We've journeyed through: ?? Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel (Mexico City, Mexico) ???? ?? Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo (Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic) ???? ??The Man Who Could Move Clouds by Ingrid Rojas Contreras (Bogota, Colombia) ???? ?? Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey (Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica) ???? ?? Intruders by Mohale Mashigo (Cape Town, South Africa) ???? ?? More Than You'll Ever Know by Katie Gutierrez (Mexico City, Mexico) ???? ?? The Seasons of Beento Blackbird by Akosua Busia (Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica) ???? ?? Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi (Accra, Ghana) ???? But most importantly, thank you for helping us make a positive impact. We’re proud to have invested over $84,000 in local businesses, supporting everything from indie bookstores to tour guides and changemakers. Together, we’re creating lasting memories and making a difference ??

Are you a spontaneous traveler and want to join a community of women who love books and travel? You're in luck - ONE spot just opened up on our?Ghana experience reading Yaa Gyasi's book "Homegoing" October 10-16, 2024. BOOKING INFO: If you can book your flight and visa in time we'd love to have you. Email [email protected] for $500 off the trip price! SWIPE for the trip itinerary. The trip includes: ??5-star single occupancy accommodation ? ??City tour with Kwame Nkrumah Memorial, Black Star Square, Accra Arts Center, and Gallery 1957 ??Shopping at Makola Market ? ??Traditional drumming workshop ??Batik-making class ??Ghanaian cooking class ??Visit to Elmina Castle and traditional naming ceremony ??Kakum National Park & beachside meditation ??Nkyinkyim Museum & Library of Africa and the African Diaspora https://lnkd.in/eGHuDdGy