Best travel books…….So, real talk: I don’t always get to travel. Shocking, I know. Between bills, work meetings that should’ve been emails, and the occasional kid’s soccer game running way over time (seriously, why do nine-year-olds have the stamina of Olympic athletes?), hopping on a plane every other month just isn’t my reality.
But—you know what keeps me sane? Books. Specifically, the best travel books.
I swear, travel reads are like little teleportation devices. You flop on the couch, open a book, and suddenly—bam—you’re walking the streets of Tokyo, sweating your way up the Inca Trail, or drinking wine in a tiny Tuscan village where everyone probably knows more about cheese than you ever will.
And that’s the magic: no plane ticket, no jet lag, no losing your passport in an airport bathroom stall (yep, that happened once, and I will never live it down).
The Adventurer Categories (Because Not All Wanderers Are the Same)
I’ve realized over the years that people approach travel differently. Some chase danger but some chase food. Some chase peace and quiet (me, at least once a week). So, I figured why not share the best travel books for every type of adventurer?
Let’s see which one feels like you.
🌍 The Soul-Searcher
You know the type. Backpack, journal, a copy of Rumi quotes highlighted to death. They’re not just traveling—they’re on a journey. Cue dramatic soundtrack.
Book Pick: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
Yeah, I know, cliché. But also—c’mon—it’s iconic for a reason. Love it or hate it, this book nails that “my life is a dumpster fire but maybe gelato will fix it” vibe.
Also Try: Wild by Cheryl Strayed
Backpack the size of a small bear. Hiking boots. Blisters. A woman literally putting her life back together one exhausting step at a time. Even if you don’t plan on ever hiking 1,000 miles (me neither), it’s strangely motivating.
🏔 The Thrill-Seeker
These are the people who hear “let’s climb a mountain” and don’t laugh nervously. Nope, they pack rope, GoPros, and probably too little water.
Book Pick: Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
Mount Everest. Disaster. Survival. Honestly, my palms were sweaty reading this. You’ll either want to book a trip to Nepal immediately… or vow to never leave your couch again.
Also Try: The Sun is a Compass by Caroline Van Hemert
A biologist who literally treks 4,000 miles through Alaska by canoe, skis, and foot. Meanwhile, I complain if Target is out of oat milk.
🍜 The Foodie Explorer
Ah yes, the people who plan trips around meals. (Honestly? Respect.)
Book Pick: A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle
This is pure food-and-wine porn. Bread, cheese, French countryside chaos. I made it two chapters in before buying an embarrassing amount of brie.
Also Try: Yes, Chef by Marcus Samuelsson
Half memoir, half culinary travelogue, this one takes you from Ethiopia to Sweden to New York kitchens. It’s mouthwatering and kinda inspiring.
🚗 The Road-Tripper
Sometimes the adventure is less about passports and more about the drive.
Book Pick: Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck
Old-school, dog-in-the-passenger-seat, American highways kinda vibe. No Instagram filters, just real people and roadside diners.
Also Try: Blue Highways by William Least Heat-Moon
This guy literally drove around America only using the little backroads marked in blue on old maps. The result? Weird, wonderful encounters with everyday folks.
✈️ The Armchair Dreamer
Not everyone needs to actually go somewhere. Sometimes you just want to cozy up in sweatpants, flip through pages, and imagine.
Book Pick: The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner
Funny, sarcastic, and thoughtful. He literally travels the world trying to figure out what makes people happy. Iceland, Bhutan, Switzerland. (Spoiler: happiness isn’t in your Amazon cart.)
Also Try: Lonely Planet’s Travel Anthologies
Sometimes you just want bite-sized stories about places you’ll probably never visit (but hey, you could).
🐪 The Culture Junkie
These travelers aren’t in it for the thrill or the snacks—they want stories. History. People. The messy in-between stuff.
Book Pick: In Patagonia by Bruce Chatwin
This is one of those books travelers worship. Half travelogue, half myth, all weirdly fascinating.
Also Try: The Art of Travel by Alain de Botton
Not your typical guide. It’s part philosophy, part storytelling, and it makes you think about why we even want to travel in the first place.
😅 The Reluctant Traveler
Let’s be real—not everyone loves traveling. Some people panic-pack, stress over TSA, or end up crying in hotel bathrooms because nothing is going right (hi, that was me in Paris once).
Book Pick: Neither Here Nor There by Bill Bryson
Bill Bryson is basically the king of grumpy-yet-funny travel writing. He bumbles around Europe, makes sarcastic observations, and honestly? It’s hilarious if you’ve ever felt like traveling is 40% confusion.
Also Try: Notes from a Small Island (also Bryson)
A love letter to Britain but in the funniest, most self-deprecating way.
Why These Books Stick
The best travel books aren’t just about places. They’re about people. Strangers on buses. Food you can’t pronounce. Missteps that become the best stories later.
And that’s why they hit so hard—you’re not just reading. You’re remembering your own weird trips. Like when I wore flip-flops on a “light hike” (still have the scar). Or that time I thought I could carry a baguette around Paris without looking touristy. Spoiler: you can’t.
Books bring that back—the beauty, the awkwardness, the little lessons.
Quick List for Your Shelf (because I know you’re probably scrolling fast right now)
- Eat, Pray, Love – for the soul-searcher
- Wild – for the hiker who thinks REI is church
- Into Thin Air – for adrenaline junkies
- The Sun is a Compass – for Alaskan wilderness dreamers
- A Year in Provence – for food-and-wine daydreamers
- Yes, Chef – for culinary explorers
- Travels with Charley – for dog lovers and road trippers
- Blue Highways – for quiet wanderers
- The Geography of Bliss – for cozy armchair dreamers
- In Patagonia – for culture seekers
- Neither Here Nor There – for the reluctant traveler
Wrapping This Chaotic List
So yeah, those are my picks for the best travel books for every type of adventurer. Whether you’re a thrill-seeker, foodie, couch potato with a passport-sized imagination, or just someone who secretly loves the smell of old paperbacks more than airports (guilty), there’s something here for you.
Because at the end of the day? Adventure doesn’t always require a plane ticket. Sometimes it’s just a library card, a good blanket, and maybe a snack you’ll regret eating at midnight.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got three half-read travel books on my nightstand and zero self-control.
👉 Want more? I highly recommend checking out The Awkward Traveller for stories that will make you laugh-snort, and Book Riot’s travel memoir list for even more reads.
Suggested Outbound Links:
- A fun piece on travel-inspired movies to pair with these books
- A quirky personal blog about [accidentally booking the wrong flight](https://www.the Everywhereist.com/)
