Eagerly searching for reading to feed your wanderlust? Plenty of time and running out of ideas on productive things to do? Reading is a sure-fire way to while away the hours. But there are lots of travel books to choose from so, due to the sheer volume, you may have trouble picking just one. Well then, I think that you’ve come to the right blog! For you, several travel pros and I curated this list of the best travel books of all time.
We all wish that soon enough we’ll be able to go places, or travel like we used to but, hopefully, these selections will still keep the wanderlust pumping through your veins. When next possible, these books will surely get you inspired to travel somewhere new in the future, or maybe even revisit a prior location with a fresh perspective.
Pick a great travel book, wear some comfy sweats or pajamas, a hot or cold drink in hand, maybe even a travel-inspired cocktail or mocktail, we don’t judge, maybe include a tasty snack then sit yourself down on your favorite spot and you’re all set! Enjoy
Eat Pray Love (Editor’s Choice)
Book By: Elizabeth Gilbert
I believe that every wanderluster, and others around the world, have heard about the bestseller book Eat Pray Love, or know the popular travel movie (same title) based on the book.
In my opinion, while the movie is really good, with the amazing actress Julia Roberts playing the lead, but there is nothing like immersing yourself in a good book. The story is quite deep and by reading the book, you can use your imagination to engage with the story and feel the magic.
For those of you who are not familiar, in summary, Eat Pray Love is about a woman experiencing a broken marriage and then a difficult divorce, who decides to leave it all behind to work on herself by starting a productive, and spiritual journey. She goes to eat in Italy, Pray in India and find love in Bali. La vie est belle!
For me, this book is so special since I had sort of my own Eat Pray Love journey, but at different destinations. I also got divorced and left everything behind in my dear city NYC to embark on a solo trip that started in Germany and evolved into me traveling around to many other different countries across Europe, including Turkey, where I skipped my flight to remain there for over 8 weeks.
From that point on, Turkey immediately became my soul country. I have been on the run for almost 6 years now, I’ve living all over, essentially being nomadic, to even finding love on the road. My solo adventure after divorce forever changed my life, just like in the book!
As you can see some books can inspire more than wanderlust but life changes too. I totally recommend that you grab a copy and read this book. I promise that it won’t disappoint!
Suggested by Olga Maria
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The Alchemist (Editor’s Choice)
Book by: Paulo Coelho
One of the best books of all time, in my opinion, is a totally timeless classic called The Alchemist, by Brazilian author, Paulo Coelho. This is the most riveting book that has inspired and emotionally moved so many people around the world. The Alchemist was even on The New York Times bestseller list for over 300 weeks.
This book totally changed my life as a teenager and inspired me to leave my island of Puerto Rico by myself, without friends or family, to go to chase my dreams in NYC, even though I didn’t speak any English. I was definitely following my personal legend as the main character Santiago in the book.
I’m a huge believer and living proof that, as it says in the book, “And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it.”
The book’s story goes as follows: A young shepherd named Santiago is able to find treasure beyond his most surreal dreams. Along his journey, he learns to listen to the heart, and then realizes that what he went after, his dreams and personal legend, are not only his, but part of the Soul of the Universe.
When you sit to read this book, as the main character is paying attention to the signs of the universe, you should as well. The symbolism, deep thoughts and learning that you can grasp from this book are truly life-altering.
If you can only select one book, this one is my top recommendation. I promise that it will change your life forever.
Suggested by Olga Maria
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Under the Tuscan Sun (Editor’s Choice)
Book By: Frances Mayes
If there’s one book (travel memoir), eventually adapted to a travel movie, that makes you daydream about wanting to buy one of those recently advertised online 1 dollar house in Italy, repair it and move there, it is Under the Tuscan Sun. Anyone who reads this book not only wants to live in Tuscany, but it also makes you fall in love with food based on the recipes that are included in the book (don’t read this book hungry!).
Throughout the book, you really begin to envision the beautiful countryside of Tuscany, daydreaming with the main character of the book Frances and imagining who the previous owner of the villa was (she thought was a Nonna) and would she approve, or probably not approve, all of the changes she wants to make. What does it say about obstacles when the workers hired were lazy and made it more difficult to restore the villa? Learning more about Italy through the cultural and gender differences, language barriers and much more is also part of the fun.
Overall, it’s the descriptive language used that transports you from wherever you are straight to Tuscany and, as a bonus, there are recipes that are just as enjoyable. A must read!
Suggested by Olga Maria
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How to Be Like Walt: Capturing the Disney Magic Every Day of Your Life
Book by Pat Williams
Seemingly every child dreams about going to Disneyland when they grow up. Whether they take to the movies, TV shows, or books, the timeless characters never cease to inspire.
Seemingly I wasn’t the norm growing up. I never loved any of the Disney classics and wasn’t wowed when I had the opportunity to visit Disneyland, a bucket list destination for millions, in 2013. But fast forward to now and I want to return after reading How to be like Walt by Pat Williams. This book has changed my whole image of Disney as a whole. From what I thought of as just another theme park to a WOW, it’s a whole creation that many thought could never be achieved.
Walt Disney had such big dreams that despite having numerous setbacks, at no point did he ever refuse to stop creating. Even when he was working in an office with bare feet with no shoes.
It’s also crazy to think that Mickey Mouse almost never came to be if he hadn’t been stabbed in the back by a client who essentially stole the rights to the rabbit, Oswald. But that setback led to the creation of Mickey Mouse, the gateway to Walt achieving his dreams. But the dreams just got bigger as the Walt Disney brand grew. And I’m now a Walt Disney fan after understanding the story behind the brand.
The Walt Disney brand is massive to this day, more than 50 years after Walt passed away. Disneyland was the utopia that only Walt could see in the future. I want to return and really appreciate what went into the creation. How he made the impossible, possible and today thousands of dreams come true at Disneyland thanks to Walt.
Suggested by Jub behind the blog, Chur New Zealand.
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Out of Africa
Book by Karen Blixen
Out of Africa is a book to read if you have the wanderlust for Kenya or if have been dreaming of going on a safari in Africa. The book is a memoir published under the author’s pen name, Isak Dinesen. The book brings to life the Colonial days of life in Kenya. It is about an aristocratic Karen Blixen who travels to Africa to join her husband in Kenya. They run a coffee plantation below the Ngong Hills, ten miles southwest of Nairobi. Karen develops feelings for a hunter named Denys while having trouble making the marriage work and discovering that the Baron is unfaithful. She tries to the very hard to make her coffee plantation work and helps empower the local community especially the children.
If find yourself in Kenya you should visit the museum where the author Karen stayed. Set in expansive gardens her colonial house where she lived in Nairobi, Kenya has been turned into a museum that everyone can visit. Plan to spend at least 2 days to explore the capital city and to visit some of the ‘Out of Africa’ sites.
Suggested by Priya Vin from Outside Suburbia
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Over the Edge of the World: Magellan’s Terrifying Circumnavigation of the Globe
Book by Laurence Bergreen
The book “Over the Edge of the World: Magellan’s Terrifying Circumnavigation of the Globe” by Laurence Bergreen is knockout! It is a powerful adventure describing the harrowing experiences of Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan, the first person to circumnavigate the globe.
Magellan takes off from Spain with 5 ships and a crew of 270 men on September 20, 1519 in search of a trade route from Europe to the spice riches of the east.
Along the arduous expedition Magellan experiences mutiny, scurvy, fierce storms, starvation and hostile natives. In hindsight, the journey is a testament to Magellan’s skill as a navigator and leader. While reading the book, though, one would have to wonder if the journey was foolhardy.
Magellan was killed by natives during an altercation in the Philippines. His colleague, Juan Sebastian Elcano led the much-depleted expedition back to Spain about two years later, on September 6, 1522. All that remained of the intrepid journey was one ship and a handful of emaciated men. The entire voyage was documented by the ship’s chronicler, the Venetian Antonio Pigaffeta who, remarkably survived to later write about the journey.
Although Magellan’s expedition was successful in that it did, in fact, reach the eastern Spice Islands, the route circumnavigated both the Cape of Good Hope in Southern Africa and Cape Horn in South America and was too difficult a journey. Consequently, the trade route was not profitable and not immediately utilized.
Nevertheless, the journey provided useful information for future exploration. The book faithfully recreates the voyage using Pigafetta’s descriptions resulting in one of the world’s great adventures.
Suggested by Talek Nantes of Travels with Talek.
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Homegoing
A Novel by Yaa Gyasi
Homegoing is a MUST read in general, but especially for any travelers interested in visiting Ghana or a destination in the Afro-diaspora! The novel follows the generational tree of two half-sisters living in what is now known as Ghana. One sister is kidnapped and sold into slavery, and the other experiences colonialism from within Africa.
As the story progresses, we see the generational trauma proceed down the family line, the stories happening in both the United States and Africa running parallel to each other. Homegoing blends the genres of historical fiction and contemporary, but it is first and foremost a powerfully beautiful work of art. Each and every character is perfectly sculpted into the story, and with each new chapter you fall deeper in love with their passions.
This book is also a tear-jerker, but it is an important read for everyone. Without flinching, the book even breaks down the nuances of how colonialism, racism, and colorism are still rampant in today’s society, nearly three hundred years later. When people ask why race is important, this book explains that.
When people ask why diversity, inclusion, and representation are important, this book explains that. Homegoing is an overall amazing story that needs to be told time and time again!
Suggested by Kay of The Awkward Traveller.
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Down Under / In a Sunburned Country
Book by Bill Bryson
“Down Under” is the British title of Bill Bryson’s famous travel book about Australia. For some reason, he chose to call it “In a Sunburned Country” when published in the US and Canada, but don’t let that confuse you. The two books are exactly the same. Bill Bryson is a gifted writer and manages to combine humor and personal anecdotes from his own travels in Australia, with historical accounts from the first explorers and settlers on the continent.
It doesn’t make a shred of difference that the book was written all the way back in the year 2000, because the content is still very relevant, interesting, and funny to read today. Highlights include the tale of a 4,352 km (2,704 miles) train ride from Sydney to Perth, an overview of how everything on the continent will probably kill you, as well as a look into how Australia developed from a British penal colony to the independent and modern society it is today.
“Down Under” is for everybody. If you’ve never been to Australia, the book will definitely inspire you to put this vast continent on your bucket list, and if you’ve visited several times before, it will give you a lot of cultural and historical background instead. Most of the story revolves around Bill Bryson’s numerous own visits to Australia, where he pretty much covers all the states and territories.
He fell in love with the country during his very first visit, and so will you, probably. You’ll find that the people are some of the friendliest and happiest on Earth, the natural landscape is breathtaking, the weather is great, and the cities are clean, modern, pretty and packed with culture.
Your only problem will be to chose where to go – the country is massive, and each region has it’s own distinctive pros and cons. Our personal favorite travel experience in Australia was an amazing Tasmania road trip – a beautiful island which Bill Bryson curiously doesn’t cover in the book. However, wherever you choose to go, you aren’t likely to be disappointed!
Suggested by Nick from The Danish Nomads
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Time Was Soft There
Book by Jeremy Mercer
This memoir by Jeremy Mercer is a fascinating glimpse into bohemian life in Paris. A young crime reporter in Canada, Jeremy made enemies with the wrong people and one day received a death threat from an underworld criminal in his hometown. Running for his life, he ended up in Paris with no plan and very little money.
Through word of mouth, he heard about an English-language bookshop just across from Notre Dame, where George Whitman, the eccentric elderly owner, allowed writers and other wandering souls to sleep there for free. With nowhere else to go, Jeremy showed up at the bookstore and was offered a bed. In exchange, all George asked him to do was write a one-page autobiography, help out in the store for a couple of hours each day, and read one book a day.
Jeremy stayed at Shakespeare and Company for about five months, sharing the crowded space with many other lost souls who passed in and out during that time. He also became good friends with George the owner — a kind, caring soul disguised as a grumpy old man. But at 86 years old, George knows he won’t live forever and is worried about what will happen to the bookstore when he’s gone. Time Was Soft There recounts the story of how Jeremy came up with a plan to save the bookstore and continue George’s legacy.
Amazingly, the plan worked, and Shakespeare and Company remains an iconic, living landmark in Paris today. It’s been brought into the 21st century and even has an attached café serving some of Paris’ best vegan and vegetarian food, but the welcoming, bohemian atmosphere is the same. And yes, you can even live in the bookstore, as long as you write an autobiography, help out a bit, and read a book a day.
Note that Shakespeare and Company has been forced to close temporarily due to the COVID-19 lockdown in France, but they plan to reopen as soon as possible.
Suggested by Wendy Werneth of The Nomadic Vegan
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Seven Years in Tibet
Book by Heinrich Harrer
Austrian mountaineer Heinrich Harrer wrote Seven Years in Tibet: My Life Before, During and After, a mesmerizing autobiography on him and his companion, Peter Aufschnaiter’s escape from an Indian British internment camp and subsequent stay in Tibet.
During his time in Lhasa, Harrer became the tutor of the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso. Seven Years in Tibet is charming in that it truly captures two adventurers’ courage in the face of perils and their candid exploration of the unknown. It gives a beautiful glimpse of Tibet after World War II, a peaceful time just prior to its capture by the Communist Chinese People’s Liberation Army.
Harrer writes that “Wherever I live, I shall feel homesick for Tibet. I often think I can still hear the cries of wild geese and cranes and the beating of their wings as they fly over Lhasa in the clear, cold moonlight. My heartfelt wish is that my story may create some understanding for a people whose will to live in peace and freedom has won so little sympathy from an indifferent world.”
His words paint a vivid picture of Tibet and its people. After reading it, I felt as if I’ve visited Lhasa myself. It is truly a piece that will let you travel while staying at home, and hopefully, one that will give you the desire to better understand some of the world’s most secluded areas,
Due to the popularity of the book, Seven Years in Tibet was made into a movie starring Brad Pitt. Unlike other book-to-film adaptations I’ve seen, I thought this film did a wonderful job in capturing the emotions that Harrer held for his second home. Both pieces will surely feed your wanderlust and help regroup you for future trips!
Suggested by Daisy from Beyond my Border blog
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What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding: A Memoir
Book by Kristin Newman
One of the Best Travel Books for that young, solo female traveling is: What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding: A Memoir by Kristin Newman. This is the type of book that I imagine a young woman can enjoy while curled up on her couch reading and dreaming about going out and exploring the world. The book is fun, lighthearted, and hilarious – making it a quick read even for those not too fond of reading.
What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding is about Kristin Newman’s journey through the world. Many can probably relate to the general issue of the story: do I really want to do what the world expects of me? We are now questioning society norms, and breaking them, and that is exactly what Kristin focuses on with her book. She dives into should all relationships lead to marriage? Should I be doing this type of job? Do I have to make things work if I’m not happy? Then when the decisions got difficult, she did what a lot of us want to do: she traveled.
Her travels focused on escaping problems, and she did not deny that one bit. However, escaping these problems and traveling led her to eventually realize her personal issues (with relationships mainly) and resolve these issues after some self-discovery through travel. Her adventures focus on slow travel, staying in locations for multiple weeks or even months. She would typically develop a “vacationship”, or a relationship with a local. In the end, her traveling and relationships through travel helped her learn more about herself.
Ultimately, this is a great book for young woman who may feel guilted about wanting to go out into the world. For them this book will be enlightening as it breaks a lot of social norms expected for women (get married, have a family ASAP!), and discusses woman sexuality which is still taboo for many (just read some of the bad reviews of the book). Any female traveling can gain confidence for their first solo trip after this book, and will be prepared for whatever adventure awaits them.
Suggested by Amy Dodd of Oceans to Alpines blog
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Ulysses
A novel by James Joyce
If there is one single book that forever feeds my wanderlust to explore the nooks and crannies of a city, then it is James Joyce’s Ulysses. Joyce famously claimed that he “want[ed] to give a picture of Dublin so complete that if the city one day suddenly disappeared from the earth it could be reconstructed out of [his] book.” And that is exactly how this modern novel from 1922 is written.
This book explores one single day (June 16th 1904) in Dublin, Ireland, on 732 pages (imagine the amounts of details and observations in it!). If you delve into the world of Ulysses, you inevitably are being sucked into the world of Dublin at the turn of the century. The book is in parts written so meticulously and passionately that it can easily be read as an homage to Joyce’s home city, although he had a very complex relationship with Ireland in general.
I love the minute details of the book. When you are in Dublin you can follow Leopold Bloom’s (the main character) footsteps through Dublin on one day. You can, for example, start outside his home on Eccles Street number 7 and stop, as he does, at 1 p.m. for a gorgonzola cheese sandwich and a glass of burgundy at Davy Byrne’s pub.
Afterwards, you can head to Glasnevin Cemetery and ponder, like Bloom, on life and death. Maybe you are lucky to be in Dublin during Bloomsday (June 16th). Then you can dress up in early 20th century clothes and roam around the city exploring the world of Joyce’s Ulysses. It’s a lot of fun!
Suggested by Emer and Nils from Let’s Go Ireland
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The Motorcycle Diaries
Book by Che Guevara
I love a story that takes me somewhere else; but I like it even more when it brings a change to my reality. A book, like a film, teaches me and makes me dream. It is a fragment from someone else’s life; an experience and a point of view I would never have had otherwise, locked as I am in my own self.
This is exactly what ‘The Motorcycle Diaries‘ manages to do, a perfect mix of both. Not only does it bring us to the exotic landscapes of South America, it also broadens our mind and opens up our world. You might have read the book, you probably saw the movie. The Motorcycle Diaries is the autobiography of Ernesto Guevara on his way to becoming the famous “Che”. It’s a tale of discovery, a real coming-of-age story.
Their desire to understand life brings Ernesto Guevara and his dear friend Alberto Granado on a motorbike road trip through Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela. It’s a discovery of their own country, of a continent they only knew from the books, and of the living conditions of the workers. In the case of Guevara, it’s also a discovery of himself, of who he would become and the legacy he would give to the world.
The book was written during that trip in 1952, but was only published in 1993. The movie then brought the story to everyone’s eyes in 2004. I’ve read the book once and seen the movie twice – long before and shortly after going on a backpacking trip to South America myself. So, in a way, that story made me travel twice.
Suggested by Anthony of Green Mochila blog
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My Family and Other Animals
Book by Gerald Durrell
My Family and Other Animals is the first book in the series of Gerald Durrell’s Corfu Trilogy. Each of the three books can be read separately and the first one is my favourite!
The story begins with the Durrell family that decides to move to Greece to escape from the harsh British winters. Gerald Durrell who is a young aspiring naturalist is delighted at the prospect of traveling to an exotic island. Greece proves to be a wonderful place for Gerald where he could collect specimens of animals, birds, and insects.
The characters introduced in this book are very endearing and adorable. There is Mama Kondos, a widow of eighty summers, who thinks that some misfortune has befallen Gerry if he forgets to visit her, Spiro their handyman, who thinks that Turks are the reincarnation of Satan, Margo, Gerald’s annoying hypochondriac sister, and so many other delightfully odd characters.
Gerald Durrell beautifully describes a magical world, where tangerine trees are fragrant with the warmth of the early sun, a place that is abundant with fruits, flowers and all creatures big and small, the sea, warm and lovely people. After reading this book, you can easily spend the entire day ecstatically dreaming Corfu.
Suggested by Khushboo Motihar of Munni of All Trades
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Wanderlust of Dragonlance Series
Book by Mary Kirchoff and Steve Winter
The book “Wanderlust” of Dragonlance series will make you travel on different regions of your imagination. It will deeply entertain you, allowing yourself to forget the difficulties of our present world. So, better hop in and enjoy a great journey!
“Wanderlust” features a kender named Tasslehoff Burrfoot. Kenders look like humans that grew only up to 4 feet – small creatures who are fond of wandering all their lives. He has no fear and welcomes every encounter as a new adventure. And dying means just a next escapade for him. He is always excited on things, and speaks rapidly when much more excited.
Tas is fully equipped with wonderful things that usually kenders carry on their pouches. Kenders never end their curiosity that they love picking things, not only on their surroundings but on others’ pockets. This is an ability of kenders in which they are called small thieves,. Kenders would admit they find it and just borrow it for the moment. But if no one asking, they would own it lodging it deep on their many pouches. They survived through lock picking skills that they can escaped even on well-guarded jails.
In “Wanderlust”, Tas walked on muddy roads to reach the town Solace. He was much fascinated that accidentally got a bracelet made by the dwarf Flint Fireforge. Flint got very angry and was only calmed by Tanis Half-Elven.
And the adventure began that the whole fate of all the races got into chaos. Together, the kender Tas, the dwarf Flint and the half-human half-elf Tanis deal with other races and defend themselves from a mage and made an ally with an elf princess.
And, as expected, a plan made is not on agenda of a very adventurous kender that left the chaos situation more chaotic than ever.
Suggested by Maria Elsa Jose of Travelling Quote blog
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PS I Love You
Book by Cecelia Ahern
“It was long ago, but I still remember when I first read PS I Love You from Cecelia Ahern.
It’s a very emotional book, so crying was inevitable, and even to this day, I get tears in my eyes when thinking about it. Still, the book also takes us to the green-hued landscapes of Ireland, which are breathtaking.
PS I Love You is about Holly, a young woman who just lost her husband to a terminal illness and is unable to pick up the pieces. She is completely lost.
But it turns out, her deceased husband, Gerry, left her letters to guide her through the period after his death. While Holly follows his advice throughout Ireland in search of happiness, we readers travel with her.
This emotional story is played in County Wicklow, which is a short trip from Dublin.
I won’t lie. In my first stay in Dublin, I didn’t manage to visit that location as I only had two days in the Irish capital city.
Still, a few years ago, my husband and I went on a road trip in Ireland, and I couldn’t avoid but to think about this book.
It struck me so much, every time I visit Ireland, I have to think about it. No matter how many times I travel to the Emerald Isle.
Suggested by Bruna Venturinelli of Maps ‘N Bags Travel Blog
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Apples Are From Kazakhstan
Book by Christopher Robbins
To be honest, rather than that this book inspired me to travel to Central Asia it was the other way around. My trip to Kazakhstan fascinated me and made me want to read more about the country. Unfortunately, there are not a lot of travel books about this region.
Apples are from Kazakhstan or in search of Kazakhstan, the land that dissapeared from Cristopher Robbins is one of the few travel accounts out there and it reflected the exact same feeling I had after visiting the country. Why do we know so little about Kazakhstan, the ninth biggest country in the world.
I certainly learned more about Kazakhstan’s history and culture from this book, but most of all it is a travel book with the right combination of background information and the authors own adventures. The book will make you laugh at times, but also confront you with its dark history of gulags and nuclear test sites. A history that will probably be completely new to most of us, because it is not what we learn about in school.
It was great to read about the places I had been to, but this book also told of many other places in Kazakhstan I had not visited yet. Probably the biggest lesson from this book is how diverse this region is and it inspired me to go back to see more of this incredibly beautiful country with its steppes, mountains and nomadic spirit.
Suggested by Ellis Veen from Backpack Adventures
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The Seven Sisters
Literary series by Lucinda Riley
“In light of the current situation, most people are stuck at home and running out of interesting things to do. Well, there is something we all can do while staying at home: read books that feed our wanderlust. While the temptation of watching a new movie on Netflix is big, reading will certainly add more value to yourself.
My husband recently gave me a pretty lovely book I’m reading now under quarantine. It’s called The Seven Sisters. It is an excellent historical novel that mixes with the histories of Rio de Janeiro and some of its most popular attractions, such as Christ the Redeemer statue.
The story begins in Switzerland when six sisters are told their adoptive father has just passed away. And while each one of them receives a little clue about their heritage, the book focuses on only one of the sisters, Maia. Seeking her own story, she follows her clue, which leads her to Rio de Janeiro, and that’s where it all begins. The story is fascinating, and Lucinda Riley’s writing is witty, whimsical, and seamless. The Seven Sisters is a long book, but you do not realize it. More importantly, this book brings me good memories from all the lovely vacations I had in Rio de Janeiro, let alone Brazil. And for those who haven’t been to Brazil yet, it can give them some fantastic bucket list ideas.
Suggested by Bruna Venturinelli, Founder of I Heart Brazil
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The Magic of Traveling: Follow the Locals
Book by Bistra Yakimova
Some time ago we wanted to find a way to feed people’s wanderlust, apart from our travel blog. That’s why we decide to publish a book! It was nothing short of a bumpy journey by that’s why we travel, right? To enrich ourselves with a whole new palette of experiences. So the book tells stories and shows pictures from 14 different places all over the world.
Readers will dance samba in Rio de Janeiro, follow a mysterious Japanese lady in Kyoto, search for happiness in the Dominican style, find hidden treasures in New Zealand. If you want to know the answers to questions like: How can you thrive amid the chaos in India? How much does a dream cost in Greece? Is it possible to meet your soulmate in multi-million China? Then “The Magic of Traveling: Follow the Locals” book is just a great choice for you!
You will explore interesting corners of the world and have fun with people from different nations and cultures. You will learn if it’s possible to travel slowly when you are pressed for time, how to collect not only souvenirs but also experiences, and how to see true celebrities instead of just landmarks and monuments. You will find out if two ordinary travelers will succeed in finding the magic of traveling by following the locals. Let’s hit the road.
Suggested by Bistra from The Magic of Traveling
Africa: Altered States, Ordinary Miracles
Book by Richard Dowden
Often travelers fall in love with Africa and feel the need to go back. The colors, the smells, the sounds: all are so different and recognizable that in Italian we also use the expression “Mal d’Africa” (Africa Sickness) when we refer to the homesickness from the continent.
As a humanitarian, I often visited this beautiful area of the world. Even more, I lived there for some time. And I enjoyed many aspects of life. I struggled to find good books about Africa. Often, the authors just visited one country for some short time and pretend to be experts.
Well, its contradictions and way of life are not easily understandable and you need a lot of contact with the people. The best book in this regard is “Africa: Altered States, Ordinary Miracles” by the current Director of the Royal African Society, journalist Richard Dowden.
In every page of the book, you can understand the first-hand experience that Dowden has. It is divided into multiple chapters, each speaking about a certain country or topic, such as HIV. The author lived and traveled for many years in Africa and his knowledge of countries, governments, history, and people are of a very top level.
If you loved traveling to Africa or if you are planning to go there, I highly suggest that you read this book, you will understand many more things than with the local guides who are only trying to show you the exotic part of life in one of the most beautiful continents of the world.
Suggested by Mario Migliore from Rest & Recuperation blog
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The Worrier’s Guide to the End of the World
Book by Torre DeRoche
Judging by the title, ‘The Worrier’s Guide to the End of the World’, doesn’t really sound like a travel book, even lesser a travel book that is actually going to make you want to travel. However, make your feet itch it does!
This story is the tale of chronic worrier and author of ‘Love With a Chance of Drowning’, Torre de Roche as she struggles to deal with grief and find her place in the world, very much more alone than she ever has been. After a chance meeting with kindred spirit Masha, Torre joins her on her quest to walk the planet. The pair of them embark on a pilgrimage through Italy in which they sing, dance, eat berries and fall back in love with the world.
Just like all good stories though, things don’t stay rosy forever. After completing the European leg of their journey together, Masha invites Torre to take on the biggest challenge of all: a pilgrimage through India following in the footsteps of Gandhi. India proved to throw significantly more challenges at the pair and both the pilgrimage and their relationship quickly dissolved as they walked.
The dark humour in this story makes it considerably more light-hearted than its title implies. However, it is the deeply personal tale that really keeps you hooked. This story of determination, passion and friendship is everything you didn’t know you were looking for. Torre found some of her answers on the road, maybe you will find some of yours there too.
Suggested by Sheree Hooker from Winging the World
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A Year in the Merde
Book by Stephen Clarke
When it comes to describing and understanding the French, Stephen Clarke sets the standard!
His bestseller, A Year in the Merde, is the perfect read for anyone craving to know more about the french culture.
This book is both entertaining and informative. It tells us the story of an english lad, Paul West, who moves to Paris for a year. He bumps into every cultural difference you can possibly think of when you start working in a french company and adopting a parisian lifestyle. Cocky french boss, cheeky french girlfriend… you name it!
The plot and the characters are absolutely hilarious but more importantly, the story behind it is extremely accurate. It brings out loads of singularities which are very much present in the french society such as bureaucracy, the rivalry between Paris and the rest of France…
Stephen Clarke is an extremely talented author and knows how to make his readers laugh out loud. He captures the cultural differences between France and the UK and puts them down on paper in a very unique way.
As a french person, I absolutely loved reading A Year in the Merde. It was so interesting to see my own country and culture through the eyes of someone from abroad. It’s highly caricatural and you do need to take everything with a pinch of salt, as you do with british humour, but I particularly recommend it for anyone looking to visit or move to France. You will be in stitches!
Following the success of A Year in the Merde, Stephen Clarke also published two sequels: Merde Actually and Merde Happens.
Suggested by Pauline Vergnet from Beeloved City
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A Year in Marrakesh
Book by Peter Mayne
Reading Peter Mayne’s evocative descriptions of the secret alleyways and hidden corners of the labyrinthine old medina in Marrakech is enough to make anyone want to go and visit for themselves. Peter moved to Marrakech during the 1950s and what he sees and experiences has changed very little over the decades.
There aren’t many places where it truly feels like stepping back in time, but here in Marrakech that’s exactly how it is. Living amongst the locals, the author recounts tales of daily life of those around him, as well as what it was like being the token foreigner on the street.
Readers are taken on a sensory journey through the colorful and bustling souks, the warren-like derbs (neighborhoods), and along the city walls, giving a privileged glimpse into local life and what goes on behind closed doors in this magical red city. It’s fascinating to read about Peter’s interactions with his neighbors and store owners, as well as his frustrations with getting used to the way things are done here in Morocco.
Add in the descriptions of local sights like the famous palaces and the main square, Djemaa el Fna, and you have a travel guide like no other. It’s not often that a book transports you thousands of miles without even leaving your sofa, and I guarantee once you’ve read this memoir you’ll feel like you’ve been there in person.
It was this very book that inspired me to visit Marrakech myself, a city that seemed familiar despite it being my first time there. I’ve just returned from my tenth visit, and fondly think of it as my second home. The power of a single book can sometimes be life-changing!
Suggested by Heather Cole from Conversant Traveller
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Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail
Book by Cheryl Strayed
Cheryl Strayed’s Wild will inspire you to find extraordinary experiences out of the smallest events in our lives. Realizing that ordinary moments, can transform us in profound ways can help us through these hard times. While we may just want to jump on a plane to escape, Wild reminds us that we can also find adventure in our own backyards and we don’t need a million dollars to do it.
Wild is an autobiographical account of Cheryl Strayed’s solo journey along the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon, to Washington State. With no training, little money, and nothing to lose, she made an impulsive decision inspired by heartbreak, loss, and wanderlust.
Her book showed me how travel can heal, adventure can be hard and trying, but in the end, it is one of the most strengthening experiences we can have to get through some of the darkest of times. The book was made into a movie in 2014, starring Reese Witherspoon. Fun fact you can even spot the author of the book in a cameo wishing herself good luck as she drops off Reese to begin her journey at a motel.
Staying at home is hard, especially for those of us that love to travel. But by seeing the journeys others’ have been on both fictional and non-fictional it will inspire us to look forward to future adventures. The book and the movie will inspire you to see even you afternoon bike ride or walk as an adventure preparing you for something greater in the future!
Suggested by Sarah Fay from Travels of Sarah Fay
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The Travelling Cat Chronicles
Novel by Hiro Arikawa
The Travelling Cat Chronicles is the heartwarming tale of a cat and his master as they travel around Japan. It’s one of the best Japanese novels to make its way to the West in recent years and gives a fascinating insight into Japanese culture and customs.
Satoru and Nana, a crooked-tailed cat, take off in a van and visit many different regions of Japan including Mount Fuji, Sapporo, Hokkaido and more. I’m sure many pet owners would love to admire something as beautiful as Mount Fuji with their furry friends in tow.
What’s unique is that the story is partially told from Nana’s point of view so you know exactly what this cat thinks of human behavior. He’s snarky and witty and his commentary on human social norms is surprisingly thought-provoking.
Nana is as self-interested and aloof as cats go but Satoru took him in as a stray and you can tell that the bond between the two runs deep. This type of cat literature is common in Japan and a lot of Japanese literature features cats but not many involve a cat on the road!
Nana has no idea why Satoru and he have embarked on this journey all around Japan but at each stop, Satoru’s friends seem particularly interested in Nana. The seasons change as they continue from friend to friend and it’s not until the very end that the meaning of their journey becomes apparent. You’ll want to make sure you’ve got a large box of tissues nearby because it’s a real tear-jerker!
Suggested by Laura from What’s Hot?
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Radio Shangri-La: What I Learned in Bhutan, the Happiest Kingdom on Earth
Book by Lisa Napoli
I read ‘Radio Shangri-La: What I Learned in Bhutan, the Happiest Kingdom on Earth’ by Lisa Napoli while I was still in college. I have had Bhutan in my bucket list ever since! I visited Bhutan recently and it has changed a lot since the book was written. But it is still the best place I have had the luck to visit and would definitely visit it again.
The book follows the journey of the author who is a radio journalist to Bhutan as a volunteer for the first youth-oriented radio station in Bhutan, Kuzoo FM. It was a radio station run by young volunteers and broadcasting 24 hours a day. Bhutan was undergoing many changes as it was gradually opening its doors to the outside world. She has captured the unique charm of this Himalayan Kingdom so beautifully through her words, the readers would yearn to go there!
To hiking up to the Tiger’s Nest monastery to spinning the prayer wheels in a traditional Bhutanese temple, there is a lot to explore here. Pristine lakes with round pebbles and colorful wildflowers studding its banks are some of the most beautiful sights to marvel in Bhutan. Tasting the national dish ‘Ema Datshi’ and sipping the butter tea called ‘Suja’ on a foggy morning are all experiences in itself. The Bhutanese people are very passionate about preserving their environment and their vibrant culture, and its a lesson many can learn.
Suggested by Neethu Nair from Our Backpack Tales
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Nine Lives
Book by William Dalryample
Some books are able to transport you not only to another world but to another life. The words take you on a journey through someone else’s shoes, able to see and experience the world in a whole different light. Nine Lives is one of those books.
Each chapter explores the life of nine Indians each on their own religious journey; a Jain nun, a worshipper of the Tantric god Tara, a prison worker who turns into a dancer for three months of the year being possessed by gods, the last hereditary poets of one of India’s great epics and the story of a young middle-class woman who was dedicated by her parents to a temple among others.
The stories of these individuals retold by Dalrymple captivate your mind, as each chapter takes you through the intricate details of their religious path. Conjuring up an image of modern India and its intertwining connection with historical religious practices.
Whilst looking for indoor activities during these uncertain times, this book invokes a fascinating image of this colorful land, whether India has somewhere you’ve longed to visit or you’re curious to travel somewhere far from the comfort of your sofa. Each life path has its charm and there may be aspects of some that are not for everyone but these raw descriptions allow you to experience the rawness of modern India from the pages of a book.
Suggested by Sarah from Veggie Vagabonds
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Angels and Demons
Novel by Dan Brown
I’ve always been a lover of books, it’s been my absolute favorite thing to do growing up. I love how words from a book leap at me and transport me to places I haven’t been to. And with lots of time being cooped up at home these days, I’ve turned back to reading voraciously.
Angels and Demons is a wonderful book that captured my attention as firmly as The Da Vinci Code. While I like the other book, I like Angels and Demons more simply because the intrigue, history and mystery that it possessed. I happen to like mysteries and The Illuminati is that.
The book started just right the murder of Leonardo Vetra, a top physicist, with an ambigram of the word “Illuminati” which resulted for Robert Langdon, a symbologist, to be picked up by someone from the Vatican. He was flown in the Vatican along with Vittoria, Vetra’s adopted daughter because aside from the ambigram, an anti-matter canister was stolen in CERN and is currently hidden somewhere in the Vatican City with a countdown timer set to detonate at midnight, thereby wiping out Vatican.
In a race against time, things got more complicated when it was known that not only the Pope was poisoned, but that four Prefereti, the cardinal favorites who are most likely to elected as pope, are missing. When the Prefereti turned up dead one by one, with an ambigram burned to their chest using that word as a means to their deaths, it became more apparent there is more to the plot.
Throughout the book are the various famous landmarks of Vatican City where a Prefereti is killed or dumped. Those historical places are described in great detail and I can see it clearly in my imagination. There’s nothing more I liked in the book than seeing the churches, museums and famous landmarks painstakingly described that it literally came alive in my mind.
I was glued to the book from start to finish and couldn’t bear to put it down unfinished as I lose myself to the drama and intrigue flowing in it. If you’ve read the book, it might not be a bad idea to re-read it again. It’s a fantastic book to spend a few hours snuggled up in your favorite chair.
Suggested by Lesley Anne Montano, Virtual Assistant
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Outlander
Novel by Diana Gabaldon
As long as I can remember Scotland has had an appeal to me. The accent, the traditional dress, the bagpipe music, the scenery – Scotland has such a rich history. The appeal grew even more after reading the Outlander series (published in the UK as Cross Stitch) by Diana Gabaldon. Passion, love, adventure, fear, betrayal, these books have it all.
The novels combine many genres, such as historical fiction, adventure, romance and a nice dose of sci-fi/fantasy in the form of time travel. Set in Scotland in both 1945 and 1743, Gabaldon paints a very detailed picture of life in the Scottish Highlands. Some find the books too long-winded, but for me the vivid descriptions of the scenery and characters really make the story come to life.
The heroine of the Outlander books, Claire Randall, is a strong and independent woman. She’s practical, witty and very capable. The story starts in 1945 just after WWII when Claire, a former combat nurse, travels to Scotland with her husband Frank to research his Scottish ancestry.
While plant-gathering near standing stones on the hill of Craigh na Dun near Inverness, Claire touches one of the stones and finds herself transported to 18th-century Scotland. There she meets charismatic James Fraser of Clan MacKenzie and they find both adventure and romance, while Claire keeps searching for a way to return to her own time.
The Outlander books were also turned into a tv series that first aired on the American network Starz, with Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan in the lead roles.
Suggested by Lisa from Flipflop Globetrotters
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The Colossus of Maroussi
Book by: Henry Miller
The Colossus of Maroussi is both a travelogue and a time capsule. The account is written by Henry Miller, but the protagonist is definitely Greece herself. Miller finds himself enchanted by all things Greek, not least the landscape and the seas. But most beguiling of all for him, and for us, are the Greeks themselves.
Miller had been living in Paris when Lawrence Durrell invited him to visit Greece in 1939, and he happened upon a fascinating crowd. This included the Nobel Prize-winning poet Giorgos Seferis, the painter Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghika, the naturalist Theodore Stephanides (you’ll know him from “The Durrells” if you’ve seen it), and the great intellectual, poet, and mesmerizing raconteur Giorgos Katsimbalis. It soon becomes clear that Katsimbalis, with his outsized passion for life, is the Colossus of the title (Maroussi being the district in Athens where Katsimbalis lives).
Miller captures both the romance of pre-war Athens, and an eternal Greece. His travels take him across thrillingly rough stretches of sea. There are trips along dusty roads, nights in fading grand hotels, and plenty of evenings of retsina, philosophy, and revelry.
The island of Poros is never more enthusiastically described. He also visits Hydra – home of Ghikas and long (and still) an island of artists, and a strangely desolate version of Crete. His experiences of ancient sites are moody and evocative, and lovers of Greece will envy Miller his days in a Greece full of mystery, as yet unspoiled by crowds.
But the eternal Greece shines through. Today’s visitors will recognize the warm evenings in the National Garden around the Zappeion, the taverna conversations stretching late into the night, and the windswept seas. But most of all, they’ll recognize the light: “The light otf Greece opened my eyes, penetrated my pores, expanded my whole being.”
Suggested by Amber Charmei from Provocolate.com
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RECOMMENDED: The best off the beaten path places to visit in Greece
Backyard to Backpack: A Solo Mum, a Six Year Old and a Lifechanging Adventure
Book by Evie Farell
What if you followed your heart to a life that made you truly happy?
Evie Farrell did. When her daughter Emmie was six years old, left her career, sold or donated almost everything she owned, rented out her house and began an epic two-and-a-half-year backpacking adventure that changed her life forever.
They camped on the Great Wall of China, hung in train doorways in Sri Lanka, swam with mantas in Indonesia, donated much-needed blood in Cambodia, spotted wild orangutans and pygmy elephants in Malaysian Borneo, prayed in Buddhist temples in Taiwan and were chased by monkeys everywhere.
In their journey toward happiness, self-acceptance and stepping off the path of expectation they learnt more about each other and the world around them than they ever expected.
Backyard to Backpack is the inspirational true story that will have you asking yourself what might be if you took a chance and started your own adventure.
Evie Farrell is a mum from the burbs who chased a life of love and adventure travelling the world with her daughter. She runs the wildly popular blog and Instagram account Mumpack Travel.
Suggested by Evie Farell from Mumpack Travel
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Tracks
Book by: Robyn Davidson
I found the book Tracks by Robyn Davidson to be a unique way of looking at how women travel and why they choose to do it. The book is a memoir featuring the writer on her quest to traverse the Australian Outback with only four camels and a dog for company.
However, in order to fund her journey, she must also be photographed by a young man from National Geographic. It’s a bit of a heartbreaking story—as someone who has never experienced love before, she finds this interaction with another human being strange. For the most part, her journey is solitary, though, and we get to know her as an individual and how it would feel to walk across an entire continent alone.
Braving storms, snakes, and the desire to be alone and then finding it oppressive, this journey tests everything she has as a human being. She pushes herself until she finally reaches her destination with a better understanding of human behavior and herself. After dealing with the heartbreak of loss and the realization that she needs to love in order to open herself up, this book is about the journey inside of us as much as it’s about travel.
What I personally love about this book is that Davidson is clearly a gifted writer. She tries to explain why it is she chooses to undertake such a dramatic journey, but in the end, she chalks it up to the desire to do something that she can’t really explain. I know I have been there in my urge to travel. Sometimes, you just have a case of wanderlust—though I don’t think I’ll bring along camels on my next trip!
Suggested by: Alex from Alexonthemap.com
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A Walk in the Woods
Book by: Bill Bryson
A Walk in the Woods is a comedic travel book written by the American-British Travel Writer Bill Bryson. The book tells Bryson’s humorous account of his attempt to hike America’s Appalachian Trail with his friend Stephen.
If you are unfamiliar with the Appalachian Trail, it is a 3500 km route that runs across the centre of the USA from Georgia in the South, to Maine. The route is so challenging that only 25% of those that attempt it manage to complete it.
Bryson and his companion are out of shape, out of practice, and totally unprepared for what awaits them in the wilderness. As two overweight, middle aged men armed with a backpack full of cakes and snacks, they are the most unlikely duo for a long distance 3500km hike. The trials and tribulations that Bryson gets himself into along the way are utterly hilarious – hiding in the woodlands to avoid an annoying backpacker, getting snowed into a redneck outpost, and terrifying encounters with bears.
If you love hiking, nature, and the great outdoors, this book gives you a wonderful opportunity to live vicariously through someone else’s hiking experience. If anything, it teaches you what NOT to do on a long distance hike. The book is inspiring and will have your mind wandering to the possibility of doing a long hike yourself – be that the Appalachian Trail, the PCT or the Camino. It’s a light-hearted read that will take your mind off the darkness that is going on in the world, and is guaranteed to cause big belly laughs.
Suggested by Melissa Douglas from Highheelsandabackpack.com
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Inferno
Book by: Dan Brown
Inferno is a crime-thriller written in art-history setting, authored by Dan Brown and its the 3rd of the trilogy featuring Robert Langdon, the protagonist (played by Tom Hanks in the movies), set in Europe. Like Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons, before this, the books is shrouded in mystery and art history! The story is primarily set in Florence, Italy and a little bit of Venice & Istanbul.
When I visited Florence, I did take off half a day to just roam the streets of Florence to see the various sites described in the book. The movie begins with Baboli Gardens located in the opposite bank of River Arno, as compared to the rest of the locations described. The 2 banks are connected by the historic Ponte Vecchio. Beneath it is the Vasari Corridor which is now inaccessible for public except for limited guided tours. Soon the characters enter the Uffizi Gallery, one of the 2 extremely important museums in Florence along with Galleria Accademia (where the original of Michelangelo’s David is present now).
Then they roam around Palazzo Vecchio (original location of Michelangelo’s David) and Loggia dei Lanzi, where I too ventured. Finally they head to Florence Baptistery before the story moves to Venice. While I did want to go inside Florence Cathedral to see the Baptistery, the very long queue there was a total let-down!
I’m yet to visit Istanbul and I need to see Hagia Sofia my own eyes! Its high up on my wishlist, thanks to Dan Brown’s Inferno.
Suggested by Bhushavali from My Travelogue by Bhushavali
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Not Afraid of the Fall
Book by: Kyle James
Dreaming of leaving your job and traveling for a few months? Kyle James and his girlfriend Ashley (Ash) did exactly that! This captivating memoir is difficult to put down. Kyle’s way of tracking their travels is more than just a diary. It makes you feel like you’re trying to find their BlaBlaCar and suffering in their AirBnB.
However, if you’re looking for in-depth descriptions and tips on where to go, this is not the travel memoir for you. You won’t find hidden gems or see the world in rose-colored glasses. You won’t even find a life-changing moment. What you will find is a more honest look at traveling and what it’s like traveling with your partner for a long time.
Rather than checking off a list everywhere they go, filling their days running from place to place, spending an exorbitant amount of money – Ash and Kyle focus on embracing the day and what it has to bring. Sometimes it’s a hangover from the night before, sometimes it’s cliff diving.
The book is relatable to anyone who has traveled with their partner and a desire to escape the mundaneness of routine. Traveling is more than a pretty picture (which Kyle describes the selfie-culture perfectly) and sometimes you’re going to fight with your partner – and that’s okay. The connections they make along the way are real and inspiring.
My favorite part of the book, and why I couldn’t put it down, was the human element Kyle embedded throughout the story. From the rough patches (both with traveling and with Ash) to the great pleasure exploring brought them both, to the omnipresent worry he felt about post-travel life. These are things we like to pretend don’t actually exist on vacation, but they do. It was refreshing to read someone who is relatable.
Suggested by: Pam from DirectionallyChallengedTraveler.com
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Origin
Book by: Dan Brown
Dan Brown’s Origin is the latest novel in his Robert Langdon series. If you like the combination of mystery, fiction and reality like me, you have to read it. At the beginning of the book, you will explore together with the main character the stunning Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao.
That is not the only place colorfully described in the book, later you will also get a chance as you read along to visit for example Spanish gem La Sagrada Familia and the controversial Valley of the Fallen. As usual in Brown’s books, you will also virtually visit other countries, so don’t worry, if Spain is not your jam.
In Origin, you will inspect Europe’s largest synagogue – the Dohány Street Synagogue, Buda Castle, picturesque Chain Bridge, the Parliament, and one of the hippest spots in Budapest – bar Szimpla. All of it in, as you have already probably guessed – Hungary.
While I’ve never seen the Spanish main spots of this book, I’ve been to all of the mentioned places in Budapest and I can tell you, it only made me want to go back and focus on all the details I have previously missed or forgot meanwhile.
The plot is no less intriguing than the spots you will definitely want to visit once you finish the book. I don’t want to spoil anything, but I can say that together with the main protagonist, you will try to uncover the answers to fundamental questions of human existence. As it is with all Dan Brown’s books, the combination of religion, history, architecture, science, and ciphers will hook you up.
Suggested by Diana from CzechSouls.com
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Names For The Sea: Strangers In Iceland
Book By: Sarah Moss
When she was nineteen, Sarah Moss spent a summer hitchhiking and camping in Iceland and vowed she would return. Then life happened. Many years later, married with two sons and a job lecturing at an English university, Sarah sees an advertisement for a job vacancy lecturing at the University of Iceland, and applied on a whim. What comes next is the story of a woman uprooting her entire life to follow her dreams, and the story of starting over as a stranger in a new country.
Sarah’s writing is delicate and atmospheric, and she has a precise way of capturing the beautiful nature and scenery so unique to Iceland. To better understand her new home, Sarah decides to dig deeper into Icelandic culture by interviewing Icelanders. Her aim is to hear, in their own words, what it is that makes Iceland so special. From a woman who claims to be able to see Elves, to a poet who saw the only bombs fall on Iceland in 1943, the stories told in the book are brought alive by the locals who tell them.
Iceland is often just seen as a layover or long-weekend destination, but this book makes me feel like I could spend months travelling in Iceland without even scratching the surface! Sarah’s descriptions of the northern lights had me fascinated and desperate to see them for myself. If you’re looking for a country filled to the brim with breath-taking nature, culture and history, Iceland has got you covered – and Names for the Sea lets us explore it without even leaving the front door.
Suggested by: Ella from Manymoremaps.com
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The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane
Book by: Lisa See
Set in China, with vivid descriptions of vast tea plantations, this is the story of love and deep-rooted culture. The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane takes you on a journey to Yunnan in rural China. This is the story of a young girl named Li-Yan who is born and raised in a remote village from the tribe of Akha that is full of superstitions.
The author takes you on a journey into Li-Yan’s life. She goes through a lot of difficult moments. Her courage is admirable including the strength and resilience to overcome difficult circumstances. This is such an informative read as it gives you wanderlust and, on several instances, I had to go on Google to learn more about the culture and their way of life to properly understand the Akha culture.
The detailed description of the tea business, tea preparation was very fascinating to me. One of the reasons I would love to visit China is to explore the vast tea culture and business. Seeing images of how the Puer tea looked like and watching videos of how it is prepared helped me understand some aspects of the narrative.
This is a captivating read that covers major themes such as culture, adoption, family, and love. If you are looking for a book to inspire you to visit China then this is a good recommendation. I loved the style of writing as it vividly describes the people from Akha with deep-rooted cultural traditions and their love for tea. I can already visualize myself hiking the mountains of Yunnan.
Suggested by: Sharon from Shaz On The Move
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Turn Right at Machu Picchu
Book by: Mark Adams
Turn Right at Machu Picchu is an excellent book that does a fantastic job of telling the story of Machu Picchu’s history. On top of that, the book details the author’s journey hiking the Inca Trail himself, along with a friend and a group of local Peruvian guides.
Machu Picchu and the Inca who built it have a history that is full of drama and intrigue. The Inca fought Spanish settlers in a series of battles that forced the Inca high into the Peruvian mountains. In those mountains, the Inca built a city in the clouds, literally. The legendary city of Machu Picchu was the site of the last stand of the Inca.
At this historic place, they were able to hide from the Spanish, who searched but could never find them. To this day we do not know what happened to the Inca who lived in Machu Picchu. After they disappeared from the Spanish settlers they were lost to history. Machu Picchu itself was lost to history as well, for hundreds of years.
In the early 20th century, the ancient city was rediscovered, and since then has become a destination for adventurers and photographers. The author of Turn Right at Machu Picchu, Mark Adams, completed the Inca Trail hike himself.
The Inca Trail hike is a multi-day hike that you can still complete, which ends at the city in the clouds. This amazing book, Turn Right at Machu Picchu, will inspire you to visit this Peruvian destination in the clouds. Enjoy!
Suggested by: Zach & Julie Ruhl from Ruhls of the Road
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Notes From a Small Island
Book by Bill Bryson
Considering I’m a Brit living in Australia, getting lost in a good book about home is something I always crave, even if it does makes me feel a little homesick. One of my favourite books about England is Bill Bryson’s ‘Notes From a Small Island’.
The book follows Bryson’s farewell journey as he travels around the green and sleepy English isle before he moves to the US. It’s a sort of final ode to Britain written as a travelogue.
Bryson is a really amusing author and his self-deprecating humour and mundane observations of the British way of life highlight the oddities, eccentricities, colourful characters and quaintness of the place I call home. Although he takes the mickey about things such the English perspective of driving distances and the carelessness towards the country’s heritage, there’s a real underlying fondness for England.
Bryson delves into local history in an approachable and easy reading way, piecing together how these past events have shaped modern day life. On his journey he also uncovers just how much of this history and heritage is accessible to the public. For example, there are 445,000 listed historical buildings, 12,000 medieval churches, 1,500,000 acres of common land, 190,000 km of footpaths and public rights-of-way and 600,000 known sites of archaeological interest. It’s not only impressive but super inspiring – you really want to go on your own adventure and start discovering all of them!
‘Notes From a Small Island’ is a really heart-warming and painfully British read that perfectly captures the essence of England. It’s a must-read for Anglophiles, Brits or anyone dreaming of travelling to the UK.
Suggested by Tammy from TravellingTam.com
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Shantaram
Book by: Gregory David Roberts
I read Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts when I was a teenager and I have been obsessed with visiting India ever since! The book reads like a crazy adventure story but is actually based on Roberts real life including escaping from prison in Australia, living in a slum in India and joining a Mumbai mafia group.
He depicts India with such vibrancy and charm that I was enthralled and even visited the real cafe he frequents in the book when I visited Mumbai many years later. His time spent living and working in the slums of Mumbai I found particularly interesting as he shows the real sense of community that the dwellers feel by living there.
This book has stayed with me and I saw many backpackers reading it when I first went to India. I thoroughly recommend this book for anyone in need of some escapism (which is probably most of us right now) and also anyone with an interest in India.
It is shocking, exciting, contains a romantic love story and also deals with some deeper questions as Roberts explores concepts of religion and the meaning of life by talking to monks, mafia moguls and other incredibly interesting characters that I have no doubt are very real people. I defy you to read this book and not fall in love with India!
Suggested by: Steffy from Beachbumadventure.com
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Love and Gelato
Book by: Jenna Evans Welch
Love and Gelato is a fun YA story that is perfect for anyone dreaming of visiting Italy or looking for inspiration to travel. It’s the perfect lighthearted European story with a little romance and a lot of fun.
Lina’s mother is dying and her last wish is for Lina to get to know her father who is in Tuscany, Italy. Lina never met him before and she really doesn’t want to go to Italy. She is only sixteen, used to her life in Seattle and she doesn’t know anyone and her friends aren’t there.
However, she decides to go and once she gets there, she is given a journal her mother wrote when she lived in Italy. Lina meets her charming neighbor, Ren, and they follow her mother’s footsteps around Tuscany and Florence uncovering more than she ever knew about her parents while learning about herself along the way. Visiting the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio along with tons of other places, she is pleasantly surprised by her love for Italy and everything it has to offer.
Whether you’re visiting Italy for fun or to get to know your long lost father, Love and Gelato will have you dreaming of the Tuscan countryside and the cozy streets of Florence. And of course of pizza and gelato. While it is a young adult book, it’s great for anyone looking for a light read set in Italy.
Suggested by Megan from Redaroundtheworld.com
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Whatever you do, don’t run: True Tales of a Botswana Safari Guide
Book by: Peter Allison
One of my most favorite books about traveling is called Whatever you do, don’t run from Peter Allison. Peter Allison worked as a safari guide in Botswana and in this book you would get to know his stories from it. And there is a lot of them. Almost all of them are about at least one animal or the culture around safari and living in the wild.
In the book, you will get to know why locals called him Horny elephant, how he drowned two cars in the river full of hippos or how he befriended honey badger. Generally, the stories are very funny and joyful. It is not a read that would make you question your life choices more like to think about why haven’t you become a safari guide.
At the same time, you won’t hear only about how joyful is the work, you will also get to know about the tourists mistake that people are making and what exactly are the tasks that safari guide must do. The book is clearly screaming wanderlust and even better, you will get to know all about African animals, how they behave, why and when can you see them.
All in all, the book is not just funny but also very helpful for everyone who would like to go on a safari. Not just in Botswana, everywhere. I found the book hilarious and it really made me think about going to Africa. One year from when I read it, I sat on a plane to Tanzania.
Suggested by Albina from Gingeraroundtheglobe.com
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The Man-Eaters of Kumaon
Book by: Jim Corbett
Set in the early 1900s in the backdrop of the Himalayan foothills ‘The Man-Eaters of Kumaon’ by Jim Corbett is an enthralling recollection of the adventures of Corbett. In those times these foothills were almost inaccessible. If a man eater, whether a leopard or a tiger, began terrorizing the population of Kumaon there was little they could do except pray and hope it went away.
Jim Corbett, a huntsman, came as their only hope and hunted more than a 100 man eaters on foot with his faithful dog. This is curiously different from his later life when he became a conservationist and explained that the only reason a cat ever became a man eater was due to injury, old age or extenuating circumstances. His book reflects on his many adventures in vivid detail. Within each encounter he remembers the trip to determine which of his particular adversaries was on the hunt, the people whom he looked up to and the cats whom he loved dearly.
He remembers each of their unique personalities and painstakingly explores the reason for their turning into a man-eater. From stalking the cat in the pitch-black night to the victory and sadness he felt when the hunt came to an end this book is a marvelous exploration of the big cats, people and the culture of Kumaon. These forests are now included in the renowned and beautiful Jim Corbett National Park in India. Every summer thousands of wildlife lovers wait patiently for hours to capture glimpses of these magnificent kings of the jungle and the name of Jim Corbett lives on.
Suggested by: Kanupriyaa from Sunsetjeans.com
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The Snow Leopard
Book by: Peter Matthiessen
“From deep in the earth, the roar of the river rises. The rhododendron leaves along the precipice are burnished silver, but night still fills the steep ravines where southbound migrants descend at day to feed and rest. The golden birds fall away from the morning sun like blowing sparks that drop away and are extinguished in the dark.”
The Snow Leopard is an account of Peter Matthiessen’s two-month journey in Nepal and Tibet in 1973, with his biologist friend George Schaller. The journey took place a year and more after his wife’s death from a sudden and rapid cancer.
On the surface, the purpose of the journey was simple for both of them. His friend wanted to study the Himalayan blue sheep that he believed was the origin of all kinds of sheep, while Matthiessen’s quest is to spot the ever-elusive snow leopard and meet the Lama of Shey at the Crystal mountains, a place very few westerners have been to.
Together with a team of Sherpas, they walk up and down the icy, fragile mountain trails, with dwindling food supply and blizzards and a lot more. Days would end with Matthiessen recording the day’s events. Matthiessen watched foxes hunting, rivers roaring, griffons soaring overhead and the nature in its unobstructed glory.
But the book is a lot more than just a travel journal, physical journey or a meditation on nature. It’s an account of past and present as well as his inner and outer journey, and how everything melts into one. And about the contemplation of just being and experiencing the world while attempting to accept the human existence and at the same time trying to be more than that.
The Snow Leopard is a masterpiece of travel and nature writing that effortlessly transcends both genres. It’s one of the most important books I have ever read. The afterimage of it stays with you long after you have finished it.
Suggested by Deb Pati from The Visa Project.
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Inspired to see the world
I hope that this list of the best travel books for every wanderluster, inspires you to plan your future trips. We might not be able to travel right now, but we are still travelers in our heart and soul.
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