As a plus-size woman , traveling can be a bit harrowing. From stressing about taking up "too much" space on a flight to wondering if certain activities will be off limits, it can be pretty defeating. But the truth is a good 98 percent of these experiences are possible for every body. You just have to know how to make it work for you.
Don't believe me? Perhaps you'll believe Beck Delude, a plus-size travel influencer who runs Manfattan, a street-style social media sensation that began as The Manfattan Project. After taking it over, Beck transformed it into a travel account where she embarks on worldly adventures as a 6'3", plus-size traveler.
"The biggest myth is that you have to be a certain size, level of fitness, or comfort threshold to travel meaningfully," Beck recently told PMM Today . "There is this idea that if travel is not effortless, then it is not meant for you. My counter-advice is simple: discomfort does not mean you do not belong. It usually means you need different information, preparation, or pacing."
That isn't to say that she believes plus-size travel challenges don't exist—it's more that being conscious of them can set you free.
"It is about meeting them with self-compassion and planning instead of shame," she says. "You are not doing travel wrong because you need rest days, accommodations, or alternatives. You are doing it in a way that honors your body."
And you know what? She can prove it.
Climbing the Batu Caves as a Plus-Size Person
The Batu Caves are a famous Hindu sanctuary located in the heart of Malaysia. The limestone caverns were transformed into a shrine dedicated to Lord Murugan, the Hindu god of war and victory, by Indian merchant K. Thamboosamy Pillai. Today it stands as a 272-step pilgrimage that many find to be a deeply spiritual experience.
Beck climbed every single step of those colorful stairs just to prove someone with her body type can actually do it.
"I’m sharing this to make sure we’re visible out here, living our lives in the world," she wrote in her caption. "If you’ve got knees that can take stairs, this experience is for you, no matter your size. Go slow. Take breaks. You belong here."
People were utterly enamored with her journey and praised her for the inclusive, positive representation.
"Thank you for doing this so respectfully. I’m Hindu and seeing this temple for the first time through your eyes," wrote one commenter.
"I like how you showed that the breaks were taken and that it was an enjoyable experience even while the breaks were needed. It’s something that needs to be seen. We don’t have to run ourselves into the ground to enjoy our lives," wrote another.
No matter what policies are in place by airlines or what negative commenters may say when they see a plus-size person out in the wild, if you consider yourself one of them, you have every right to experience the world just as much as a thin person does. And you can do anything you set your mind to.
This story was originally published by TravelHost on Mar 11, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add TravelHost as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
