Malaysian woman’s epic solo motorcycle quest takes her from Asia to Antarctica

After becoming the first Muslim woman to motorcycle solo around the world, Anita Yusof now aims to conquer all seven continents

Malaysian adventurer Anita Yusof has crisscrossed the globe on two epic solo motorcycle journeys, braving bears in North America, anacondas in the Amazon and the freezing cold of Antarctica – feats that made her the first Muslim woman to ride solo around the world and earned her a place in the Asian Book of Records.

The first solo adventure in 2015 took her to four continents. Now the 57-year-old is on a new mission: to conquer all seven on her trusty Yamaha motorbike.

Her bike is currently en route to Adelaide, Australia, where she is planning a two-month ride across the Outback to Darwin.

From there, she will ship it to Timor Leste, ride through West Timor, and island-hop through Indonesia to Sumatra, before finally sailing home to Malaysia – the last stretch of another monumental journey.

The ride will complete her quest to cover every continent – a remarkable feat for the teacher-turned-explorer, who was once mocked for her ambitions but is now celebrated as a trailblazer.

Born in Batu Pahat, Johor, and raised in Ipoh, Perak, Anita taught physical education at Sultan Idris Education University’s Institute of Teacher Education in Perak.

But even then, her heart longed for distant lands. “It was my childhood dream to see the world,” she told This Week in Asia. “I started as a backpacker. My first trip was solo – to Europe.”

The travel bug firmly planted, she was soon choosing remote, off-the-beaten-path destinations. Then in 2012 events conspired to transform her from a backpacker to full-fledged adventurer.

“I was going through a critical relationship conflict,” she said. “I felt my world turning upside down. So I told myself, before I go crazy, I should do something crazy.” That “crazy” turned out to be motorcycling – a suggestion she took seriously after speaking to a fellow Malaysian who had cycled to Turkmenistan.

“He told me I would need my own transport to explore such places. Since I couldn’t cycle for long because of my job, he suggested a motorbike. And I took up the challenge.”

But she had to learn to ride from scratch, and the mother-of-two started first by exploring Malaysia, then neighbouring countries. As the mileage totted up, she set her sights on something few would dare to dream: riding solo across the world.

In 2015, after just three years on a bike, she took a year’s leave and launched Global Dream Ride, her first world tour. With her Yamaha FZ150i – a modest 150cc machine – she flew to Seattle and began the ride of a lifetime.

Her goal: four continents, 40 countries, and a legacy. By the time she returned, Anita had made history – becoming the first Muslim woman to ride a motorcycle solo around the world and the first Malaysian to be recorded in the Asian Book of Records for the longest solo ride.

But she wasn’t done.

“I didn’t feel fully satisfied,” she said. “There were still so many places I wanted to see. But I had no time and not enough money.” So she went back to work, saved diligently for three years, and in 2019, launched Global Dream Ride 2. This time, her aim was bolder: to cover all seven continents, including Antarctica.

Over the years, Anita has spent more than 200,000 ringgit (US$46,000) funding her expeditions.

She has ridden solo through the Americas, Asia, Africa and Europe, navigating foreign terrains and social dynamics with care.

One of her key strategies for safety was to blend in. “I wear male riding gear, nothing feminine,” she said. “People assume I’m a man on a motorbike. It helps me avoid unwanted attention.”

When asking for directions, she chooses carefully. “I prefer to approach women – often students – who are more likely to speak English and feel safer to talk to.” She also strictly avoids riding after dark, instead setting up camp or finding shelter at least two hours before nightfall.

Yet even careful planning could not shield her from nature’s raw unpredictability.

In Guyana, she came face-to-face with anacondas in the Amazon. A bear visited her tent in the middle of the night in the wilds of North America. Winds strong enough to knock her off her bike became a real threat in the open plains of Argentina and Chile.

“I’ve never had a real life-threatening experience with people,” she said. “But nature? Many times.”

Riding on faith

Despite these challenges, Anita finds spiritual and emotional strength in her solitude. “I’m not saying I’m pious, but I’m a strong believer in Allah,” she said. “When I’m alone and struggling, I talk to Him. I ask for strength and courage.”

That belief grounds her, especially during mentally taxing moments. “No one asked me to do this,” she often reminds herself. “I chose this path because I want to create history – first as the first Muslim woman to ride around the world, and now, to complete all seven continents.”

Her faith and stubborn determination have carried her through moments of doubt – and criticism. “When I announced my first world ride, many Malays didn’t believe I could do it,” she recalled. “I had only three years of riding experience. They mocked me. But I returned safely and proved them wrong.”

Throughout her journeys, she stays in regular contact with her children, grandchildren and friends, drawing moral support from their love and encouragement.

Her hijab also made her a target in some countries. “Some people changed their behaviour once they realised I’m Muslim,” she said. In certain places, she’d wear a buff scarf instead of a hijab to avoid unwanted attention – a practical compromise to continue her journey safely.

But all in all, travel has flipped her world view and Anita has found humanity to be complex, but overwhelmingly kind.

“People think the world is dangerous, but I’ve experienced so much kindness on the road. Yes, there are unfriendly places, but the majority? Very friendly.”