Travel: that intoxicating experience that calls you forth to new horizons and cultures. If you love exploring the world then these books will appeal to you, a selection of great and inspiring books that every travel buff will love.
The Lost City of Z by David Grann
The Lost City of Z is another travel book that was made into a movie. It’s the fictional adventure story of an explorer called Percy Fawcett who went looking for a mythical lost city called Z. It delves into deep questions about ancient civilizations and cultures as it traces Fawcett’s epic journey through the jungle and his search to uncover the treasures and truth of the past.¹
Seven Years in Tibet by Heinrich Harrer
Seven Years in Tibet is a travel classic written by Heinrich Harrer. It’s the true story of Harrer and his friend’s epic exodus from India after they were locked up during World War Two. They set out from India and make their way to Tibet where they have all kinds of incredible and life-changing experiences. This book is moving and inspiring and was also made into a popular 1997 film starring Brad Pitt.²
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
Eat, Pray, Love has become something of a classic in the travel genre and is all about Elizabeth Gilbert’s journey to find something more in life than the trappings of material success. After separating from her husband and unsuccessful relationships, Gilbert wanted something more so she set out on a trip all over the world, discovering food and pleasure in Italy, devotion and the sacred in India, and the balance of life enjoyment and enlightenment in Bali.³
A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast is a true gem of travel literature. It’s all about living in Paris after World War One in the 1920s. This was an exciting time when the city was full of expats and artists honing their creative edge and living and loving to the max. For everyone who’s dreamed of living in a foreign country or discovering themselves and the world in an exciting time, this is the book for you.²
On the Road by Jack Kerouac
On the Road by Jack Kerouac ranks up there with the best travel books ever written. Penned in 1957, this book defined a generation as it told the story of the writer’s monumental trek from New York to the west. Kerouac’s authenticity, curiosity and struggle to become a better version of himself and live life to the fullest will resonate strongly with those who read it. This book is perfect for all those who are also on their own journey to find purpose and identity in a wild world.¹
Congo by Michael Crichton
Congo by Michael Crichton is another book about the quest to find a lost city called Zinj. The book takes place deep in the jungles of Congo and follows the adventure of primatologist Peter Elliot and a brilliant gorilla called Amy as they try to pick up the pieces and find the city after a previous expedition team is killed in mysterious circumstances. This is an excellent and engrossing adventure book that will keep you turning the pages late into the night.⁴
Under the Tuscan Sun by Francis Mayes
Another staple in the travel genre is Under the Tuscan Sun by Francis Mayes. It’s all about trying to make an ancient Tuscan villa into her new home and encourages readers to think outside the box and take bold steps to follow their dreams in embracing new cultures and experiences around the world.²
[1] https://matadornetwork.com/bnt/the-50-greatest-travel-books-of-all-time/
[2] https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/thirteen-travel-books/
[3] https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19501.Eat_Pray_Love
[4] https://reedsy.com/discovery/blog/best-adventure-books