Travel in any form or shape is an ultimate source of pleasure for adventurous souls. Whether it is wanderlust movies or books on travel, for travel enthusiasts it is a gateway to another realm. There is something fascinating about experiencing life through another traveler’s eyes. More importantly, a fellow nomad’s perspective will change how you see the world.
This is the definitive Top 10 of books on travel to spark your wanderlust! 🙂
Whether you are on your way to work, chilling under the sun on a beach, or snuggled under the covers, it feels good to lose yourself in a good travel book. A travelogue that is packed with adventures, travel tips, and eye-opening discoveries. Moreover, for an armchair traveler reading good books on travel will satisfy his wanderlust without moving off the couch.
Time to share the top 10 travel books to add to your reading list. Hang tight, our list of books on travel will knock your socks off.
Inspiring, gritty, and insightful travel memoirs
Traveling is not all fun and games. These intense and inspirational books will keep you on the edge of your seat. Get comfortable, because once you start reading the book you won’t be able to put it down.
Kon Tiki – Thor Heyerdahl
“In my experience, it is rarer to find a really happy person in a circle of millionaires than among vagabonds”
Kon Tiki is a brilliant narration of Thor Heyerdahl’s voyage across the Pacific Ocean on a raft. A 4,300 nautical miles journey, nonetheless. Thor was a marine biologist who went on a quest to prove his theories about Polynesian folklore. It is one of the most inspirational books on travel that will spark your wanderlust. An epic tale of a fearless man, Thor, who sets off on a mission to test his own theory.
Did an ancient race lead by a conqueror named Kon-Tiki occupy the South Sea Island? Or was it just his strong belief in folklore? Read this intriguing story filled with heart-thumping events to find out how Thor and his fellows bravely fought the ocean to reach their destination.
Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage – Alfred Lansing
“No matter what the odds, a man does not pin his last hope for survival on something and then expect that it will fail.”
If you are looking for gritty survival books on travel, you just found one. Endurance is the true story of a British polar explorer Ernest Shackleton who went through a harrowing journey in 1914. Alfred Lansing has excellently recounted the hardship Ernest and his crew of 27 men endured to reach the South pole. His quest to hike one last unexplored continent drives him to begin his journey towards Antarctica.
But fate has something else in store for them. When they are just a day’s sail away from their destination, the ship gets wedged on an island of ice. Not one to give up, Ernest and his crew battle with the deadly South Atlantic Ocean. They endure, fight with the odds, and face dreadful situations to cross 850 miles of the journey left. This incredible tale of survival and miraculous voyage will leave you reeling and praying for the crew to make it out alive.
One Man’s Wilderness: An Alaskan Odyssey – Sam Keith
“There is always a sadness about packing. I guess you wonder if where you're going is as good as where you've been.”
It is rare to hear of a self-sufficient man who lives by his dreams. One such man, Richard Proenneke sets off to spend his life in the middle of nowhere, alone. Sam Keith has recounted how Richard spent his days unaided, wandering through the wilderness no one else dared to explore. Sam’s vivid narration skills will take you to Alaskan backwoods, experiencing life through Richard’s journal entries. From cutting woods to crafting his own log cabin, he was content with his solitary life amidst nature.
It is one of the most insightful books on travel. And then it will inspire you to go on your own self-discovery voyage. A life-altering journey to find solace in exploring nature and reconnect with your inner self.
Fun books on travel that will make you laugh-out-loud
These funny travel books will have you in fits of laughter. Witty, humorous, and entertaining, these travelogues will crack you up with amusing tales.
The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World – Eric Weiner
“Maybe happiness is this: not feeling that you should be elsewhere, doing something else, being someone else.”
The Geography of Bliss is a light-hearted autobiography of Eric Weiner. A man whose curiosity pushed him to explore what made people happy. Eric traveled around the four continents in his quest to find out the real meaning of happiness. In fact, he explored different countries to understand WHERE does a person finds contentment. Does he find what he is looking for? Do the locals he interviews know the secret of happiness? Are the people of India, Qatar, Switzerland, and Moldovia content with their life or unhappy?
Read this humorous and thought-provoking travelogue to discover if he got the answer to his questions or not.
The Innocents Abroad – Mark Twain
“In Paris, they just simply opened their eyes and stared when we spoke to them in French! We never did succeed in making those idiots understand their own language.”
Mark Twain’s “The Innocents Abroad” is a record of his voyage across Europe and the Holy land in the 19th Century. It is Mark Twain's most popular classic and humorous memoir without a doubt. As a journalist, he joins a pilgrimage group to explore Europe. His comic recount of the troubles his fellow travelers face on foreign land is nothing but hilarious. The funny jabs at French are meant to encourage travelers to explore Europe without fear. Mark Twain’s witty writing style has inspired many modern travel writers to adopt his flair for comic writing.
Full of amusing encounters and witty prose, it is one of the most entertaining books on travel that people enjoy reading to this day.
A walk in the woods – Bill Bryson
“Hunters will tell you that a moose is a wily and ferocious forest creature. Nonsense. A moose is a cow drawn by a three-year-old.”
A walk in the woods is Bill Bryson's widely read humorous travelogue. From trekking through beautiful Appalachian hills to encountering bears in the forest, his comic commentary throughout his hike will entertain you to no end. What's more, he will walk you through the Appalachian mountains while educating the readers about the history and facts associated with the hills. A trail that stretches from Georgia to Maine. And his funny encounters with silly hikers and witty retelling of his backpacking experience leave the readers smiling widely.
Light-hearted yet informational Bill Bryson’s modern classic books on travel will cheer you up if you need a break from life.
Classic travel books that never go old
The Alchemist – Paul Coelho
“It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.”
Ready to follow the adventures of a shepherd boy who inspires us to follow our dreams?
Brazilian novelist Paul Coelho’s The Alchemist has touched the hearts of millions of people. It is an enchanting tale of Santiago who travels from Spain to Egypt in a bid to find a treasure buried in Egypt. Along the way, he happens to cross paths with interesting characters. This book encourages us to follow our hearts and to believe in our dreams. In short, this classic literature is a masterpiece that is brimmed with inspirational life lessons, adventures and dreams fulfilled.
A year in Provence – Peter Mayle
“A connoisseur of woe needs fresh worries from time to time, or he will become complacent.”
A year in Provence, that’s exactly what it is about. A classic travelogue of Peter Mayle’s yearlong stay in a village of France, what it was like back in 1989.
It is an amusing recount of Peter Mayle’s escape from the gloomy streets of England to the simple village life in Provence. More importantly, You will get a glimpse of 20th century France. The food, culture, Rhone Valley, the local community, and a taste of cheap wine. This piece of art from Peter Mayle inspired thousands of people to follow his path and settle down in Provence. In addition, Peter's project transformed a poor village into a booming town teeming with retiree ex-pats. Only influential books on travel have the power to move people to this extent.
Coffee table travel books for first-time travelers
Out to explore the world for the first time and feeling lost? Before starting out, give these coffee table books on travel a read to help you discover lifetime destinations as well as hidden gems.
1,000 places to see before you die – Patricia Schultz
“If you’re waiting for a special occasion to make your next trip happen, then consider this: The day you get off the couch and head for the airport, that’s the special occasion.”
Patricia Schultz has not left any destination uncovered in her book 1,000 places to see before you die. She has remarkably introduced travel lovers to a world full of unbelievably beautiful destinations. Her book is adorned with breathtaking images and tons of useful information. In fact, this travel guide cum travel Bucket list has gained a spot on New York Times bestseller shelf. From villages, museums, wonders of the world, exotic places, to hotels and restaurants, you will find it all inside her travel guide. Moreover, the information about contacts, prices, and ideal visiting times is an added bonus.
We can’t recommend this book enough for first-time travelers. Not only for first-timers, but it is also a handy coffee table travel book every adventurer should have.
Atlas Obscura: An explorer's guide to the World’s Hidden Wonders – Joshua Foer, Dylan Thuras, and Ella Morton
“According to Icelandic folklore, thousands of elves, fairies, dwarves, and gnomes—collectively known as “hidden people”—live in rocks and trees throughout the country. It is no wonder, then, that the world’s only elf school is located in Reykjavík.”
Tired of listening about the same old travel destinations? Want to explore something unusual and exciting? Then Atlas Obscura is the book to go for. It contains hidden gems of the world that go unnoticed and appear to be strange yet wonderful. Destinations, that are mysterious, otherworldly, and worth exploring. In short, the stunning illustrations combined with flawless writing will get you reaching for your backpack and book a trip to wonderland.
Lastly, you will get to virtually explore Scotland’s magical Fingal cave or New Zealand’s surreal glowworm cave. Add this book to your collection of coffee table books on travel and uncover 700 plus hidden wonders of the world.
Conclusion of our travel reading list
Digital nomads like us feed on inspirational travel books. More so, it fuels us to keep our feet moving to go wherever the wind takes us.
It does not matter if you are a nomad or an armchair traveler, a good travel book will bring you pleasure as nothing else would. Before leaving, I couldn't resist sharing these 5 Honorary mentions.
- Travel with Ghosts: A Memoir – Shannon Leonne Fowler
- Labyrinth of Ice – Buddy Levy
- Into Thin Air – John Karakauer
- Destinations of a Lifetime – National Geographic Society
- Dark Star Safari – Paul Theroux
Hopefully, our list of top 10 books on travel sparked your curiosity enough to add these books to your reading list. If these travel books do not ignite your wanderlust, I don’t know what will 😉
