60 Great travel books to feed your wanderlust

There are plenty of stories to feed your wanderlust. I love reading and like books that inspire me to travel and dream about new adventures. This literature list will provide you with 60 great travel books to feed your wanderlust. Enjoy!

I’ve collected all the 60 travel books in a list in my Amazon store. This way you don’t have to search for it yourself. Enjoy!

How to travel the world on $ 50 a day: travel cheaper, longer and smarter – Matt Kepnes

Matt is a travel blogger and tries to travel as cheap as possible. In this book he shares his experiences with you. Definitely one of the best travel books written ever.

The Geography of Bliss – Eric Weiner

This book is about Eric who sets out on a yearlong journey to find the world’s happiest places. He heads to places like Iceland, Qatar, Denmark, India, and Moldova.

Dances with wolves – Michael Blake

The novel “Dances With Wolves” by Michael Blake tells the story of an American soldier, Lieutenant John Dunbar, who is posted in an abandoned fort on the frontier of Indian and white territory during the Civil War where he gets in contact with an Indian tribe. In the course of time he gets more and more familiar with their way of life down to joining them after having struggled between the two totally different cultures of the white people and the Indians. The movie of this book is also worth to watch!

A walk in the woods: rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail – Bill Bryson

The Appalachian Trail stretches from Georgia to Maine and covers some of the most breathtaking terrain in mountains, forests and lakes. In this book, Bryson decides to hike this trail. This book is also turned into a movie. Also worth to watch.

Under the Tuscan Sun – Frances Mayes

This book is about a ten-days trip to Tuscany, Italy and describes the story of starting a new life in Italy.

Walking with the ghosts in Papua New Guinea – Rick Antonson

Acclaimed travel writer Rick Antonson tackles his most challenging adventure yet: a formidable trail through the remote jungles of Papua New Guinea. Rick has traveled to parts of the world that are not simply exotic but sometimes damned near inaccessible.

Among the Tibetans – Isabella Lucy Bird

In this travel book Isabella Lucy Bird writes of her journey through the Himalayas on horseback and of her four months of living with “the pleasantest of people”.

Work, save, travel repeat – Jereme M. Lamps

Jereme Lamps is a travel veteran who quit his job to spend 500 days exploring the world. The practical information presented in this book is brought to you fresh from travelers around the world.

Kinfolk Travel: Slower Ways to see the World – John Burns

Explore the art of mindful travel with Kinfolk, the pioneers in “slow living,” their philosophy of simplicity, authenticity, intentionality and community.

Travels with Hafa: in search of ourselves – Nathan Pettijohn

On the heels of a breakup, author Nathan Pettijohn rents an RV and takes off on the road with his dog to explore the Pacific Northwest. Along their journey, Pettijohn and his dog Raphael, or “Hafa,” meet with locals in small towns and stay at sites ranging from national parks, trailer parks, and campgrounds, to parking lots and open spaces. It’s a inspirational story!

Slow Travel: A Movement – Penny Watson

This book explores slow travel as a physical or philosophical endeavor, taking readers off the beaten track and through nature, and unveils journeys that will nurture talent and ignite the inner-self. In this fast-paced world, it’s worth adjusting your vacation time to a pace we can all strive to keep up with.

Where the Crawdads Sing – Delia Owens

This book is a murder mystery novel by American zoologist Delia Owens. The story follows two timelines that slowly intertwine. The first timeline describes the life and adventures of a young girl named Kya as she grows up isolated in the marshes of North Carolina. It’s very inspirational to read how Kya lives in the nature.

Confessions of a Divemaster – Kris Mears

Enjoy breathtaking encounters marine encounters with killer whales, whale sharks, manta rays and bull sharks. From lion fish stings, grouper attacks and diving through earthquakes, this book will make you want to quit your job tomorrow and become a dive professional.

The Slow Road to Deadhorse – James Anthony

In this travel book James Anthony writes about his discoveries and reflections on the backroads of North America.

Destination Earth – Nicos Hadjicostis

In his book, Destination Earth, Nicos Hadjicostis speaks to the philosophical underpinning of that search as he has himself realized it through world travel. Enriched with travel incidents and some of the author’s best travel photos, Destination Earth sheds light on both Travel and Life.

High, Wide, and Handsome – Julian Bishop

Julian Bishop and his family have lived in three continents and traveled to over 100 countries. High, Wide, and Handsome is an extremely witty travel book that seeks to understand American culture. It explores why the USA has been so successful since independence. It is an essential read for anybody interested in America.

Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life – Héctor

Héctor is a citizen of Japan, where he has lived for over a decade. According to the Japanese, everyone has an ikigai—a reason for living. And according to the residents of the Japanese village with the world’s longest-living people, finding it is the key to a happier and longer life. In researching this book, the authors interviewed the residents of the Japanese village with the highest percentage of 100-year-olds—one of the world’s Blue Zones. Ikigai reveals the secrets to their longevity and happiness: how they eat, how they move, how they work, how they foster collaboration and community, and—their best-kept secret—how they find the ikigai that brings satisfaction to their lives

Wild – Cheryl Strayed

This story is about an American woman who hikes 1700 kilometers, namely the Pacific Crest Trail. This travel book is also turned into a movie.

The Way of the World – Nicholas Bouvier

Niclas is 24 years old and decides to make a road trip with a friend from Geneva to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

People we meet on vacation – Emily Henry

Alex and Poppy. They have nothing in common. She’s a wild child; he wears khakis. She has insatiable wanderlust; he prefers to stay home with a book. And somehow, ever since a fateful car share home from college many years ago, they are the very best of friends. For most of the year they live far apart, She’s in New York City, and he’s in their small hometown, but every summer, for a decade, they have taken one glorious week of vacation together.

Into Thin Air – Jon Krakauer

This travel book is a personal story of the Mt. Everest Disaster is a 1997 written by Jon Krakauer. It details Krakauer’s experience in the 1996 Mount Everest disaster, in which eight climbers were killed and several others were stranded by a storm.

Clanlands: Whisky, Warfare, and a Scottish Adventure Like No Other – Sam Heughan

In this book two friends, Sam and Graham, begin their journey in the heart of Scotland and travel from there all the way to Inverness and Culloden battlefield. Along the way, they experience adventure and a cast of highland characters.

The 4-Hour Work Week: Escape the 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich – Timothy Ferriss

This book is the step-by-step blueprint to free yourself from the shackles of a corporate job, create a business to fund the lifestyle of your dreams, and live life like a millionaire, without actually having to be one.

The Bucket List: 1000 Adventures Big & Small – Kath Stathers

Build your dream vacation with this eclectic and tantalizing collection of 1,000 life-affirming adventures spanning the 7 continents.

She’s Up to No Good: A Novel – Sara Goodman Confino

This book is a novel that describes the story of Jenna, who accompanies her grandmother on a road trip to the seaside Massachusetts town where much of their family history was shaped.

Nepal One Day at a Time – Patti Lefkos

Nepal One Day At A Time speaks to all of us who at mid life are seeking to make a difference by pursuing “the alternate path.” Her compelling personal story captures the essence of what it means to truly live a life full of intention and reminds us all that it is never too late to chart a new course towards a life of greater purpose.

In a Sunburned Country – Bill Bryson

This book provides a good overview of Australia. The writer loves Australia and he can write about it in a very funny and informative way.

Down Under – Bill Bryson

This travel book is about the journey of Bill Bryson through Australia.

What Happens in Paradise – Elin Hilderbrand

This novel tells the story of a woman, Irene, who must start anew after her idyllic life is shattered by her husband’s death in a helicopter crash in the Caribbean. Irene slowly untangle a web of lies, faces the truth about her husband and her own future. Rich with the lush beauty of the tropics, this novel transports us to an island paradise and unfolds a mesmerizing tale of drama, romance, and intrigue.

Into the wild – Jon Krakauer

This book is based on a true story. It is about a boy who gave up social life and start living on his own in the nature. This book will definitely inspire you and if not, the movie will.

The great railway bazaar – Paul Theroux

This book describes a four-month journey, mainly via train, through Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Love with a chance of drowning – Torre DeRoche

This travel book is about a girl’s overcoming fear of the ocean to sail across the Pacific with her boyfriend.

Wanderlust, a love affair with five continents – Elisabeth Eaves

Elisabeth is going on a world journey. This book is all about backpacking and experiencing new cultures.

The man who cycled the world – Mark Beaumont

This books describes the story of Mark, who cycles around the world in 194 days.

Around the World in 80 Days – Mark Beaumont

The inspiring story of one man’s record-breaking cycle around the world. On Monday 18th September 2017, Mark Beaumont pedalled through the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. 78 days, 14 hours and 40 minutes earlier he set off from the same point, beginning his attempt to circumnavigate the world in record time.

Lonely Planet’s Amazing Train Journeys – Lonely Planet

Experience 60 of the world’s greatest and most unforgettable train journeys, from classic long-distance trips like Western Canada’s Rocky Mountaineer 

Coasting – Jonathan Raban

This book is about a boy who makes a journey and only uses a compass for navigation.

50 States, 5,000 Ideas: Where to Go, When to Go, What to See, What to Do – National Geographic

This richly illustrated book from the travel experts at National Geographic showcases the best travel experiences in every state, from the obvious to the unexpected. Sites include national parks, beaches, hotels, Civil War battlefields, dude ranches, out-of-the-way museums, and more. You’ll discover the world’s longest yard sale in Tennessee, swamp tours in Louisiana, dinosaur trails in Colorado, America’s oldest street in NYC, and the best spot to watch for sea otters on the central California coast.

The Travel Book – Lonely Planet

This is another encyclopedia created by Lonely Planet which consist of more than 228 amazing destinations and more than 817 incredible images.

The beach – Alex Garland

This book is amazing! Richard is an American backpacker who is searching for paradise in Thailand. He will go on adventure to ‘the beach’ and thinks he has found paradise. The movie of this story is also amazing to watch!

Castaways – Lucy Irvin

Castaway is a 1983 autobiographical book about Lucy’s year on the Australian tropical Torres Strait island of Tuin. Her book was the basis of the 1986 film Castaway.

Off Track Planet’s Travel Guide for the Young, Sexy, and Broke – Anna Starostinetskaya

This book features around 100 exciting destinations and everything young people want to know about, like the cities with the craziest sex shops; the best places to get a tattoo; where to check out some amazing street art; why you should try fried bugs; the best clubs to party until dawn; and much more.

What I was doing while you were breeding – Kristin Newman

Kristin spends her life dealing with the stresses of her job and the anxieties of watching most of her friends getting married and starting families while she wrestles with her own fear of both. She decides to travel the world.

Holy Cow – Sarah MacDonald

Sarah is 21 years old and goes backpacking through India. This is an inspiring travel book!

Eat pray love – Elizabeth Gilbert

Nice book about a woman’s search for everything across Italy, India and Indonesia. This book is also turned into a movie, which is very inspiring.

On the Road – Jack Kerouac

This book is about a road trip through America. Two friends head west from New York City across the country in search of fulfilment.

Venice – Jan Morris

This book is about a young person who visit Venice during the world war II and is one of the best books ever written about Venice.

A Cook’s tour – Anthony Bourdain

The New York chef Anthony Bourdain travels the world in search of the perfect meal, meets lots of interesting people and gets grotesquely drunk with them.

Road fever – Tim Cahill

This book is about Tim who goes on a journey that took him from Tierra del Fuego to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, in a record-breaking twenty three and a half days.

127 Hours: Between a Rock and a Hard Place – Aron Ralston

While exploring a remote canyon in Utah, mountaineer and adventurer Aron Ralston becomes trapped when a boulder falls on his arm. Over the next five days (127 hours), Ralston examines his life and considers his options, leading him to an agonizing choice: to amputate his arm so that he can extricate himself and try to make his way back to civilization or remain pinned to the canyon wall and likely die. The movie of this book is also worth to watch!

Vagabonding: an uncommon guide to the art of long-term world travel – Rolf Potts

This book is about to take time off from your normal life to discover and experience the world on your own terms. It is about long-term travelling and how to travel (and think).

The art of travel – Alain de Botton

This book seeks to explore the reasons and desires behind our need to travel. It takes a look at our instinctive wish to seek out the exotic, the curious and the striking.

7 Years in Tibet – Heinrich Harrer

This book is about an Austrian mountaineer who heads out to conquer a Himalayan mountain in 1939. After getting captured and sent to a prison camp, he ends up breaking out with another man and sneaking into the holy Tibetan city of Lhasa. He befriends the young Dalai Lama just as the Chinese attempt to invade Tibet by force. This book is also turned into a movie and definitely worth to watch.

The New Granta Book of Travel – Liz Jobey

This book is about the fact that there is always something new to be discovered.

Wind, Sand and Stars – Antoine de Saint-Exupery

This book is about the early days of aviation and an overwhelmingly optimistic and enlightening worldview.

5 Ways to carry a boat – Ben Grounwater

This is a book about an Australian travel blogger who travels the world by couch surfing and who gets in contact with lots of strangers.

Skating to Antartica – Jenny Diski

This book describes the story of Jenny who gets to discover the beauty of Antarctica.

Tracks: A Woman’s Solo Trek across 1700 Miles of Australian Outback: Robyn Davidson

Accompanied only by her faithful dog and four camels, an Australian satisfies her craving for solitude by embarking on a solo trip across the desert from Alice Springs to the Indian Ocean. I love this book. You should also watch the movie of this story!

Cruising Altitude: tales of crash pads, crew drama and crazy passengers at 35000 feet – Heather Poole

This book is about Heather’s hard-, but funny life as a flight attendant.

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I hope I highlighted one of your favourite travel books. If I forgot any good travel books, I would love to hear about them in the comment section below.

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