Good travel reads…

Best travel books which inspire us to take our own unique journey, explore far-off lands:

The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho) – a book about following our dreams. The story follows a young shepherd boy from Spain to Egypt, as he follows his heart, goes with the flow, learns love, the meaning of life. Full of inspirational quotes, “if you can concentrate on the present, you’ll be happy, life is the moment we’re living right now.” 

Love With A Chance Of Drowning (Torre DeRoche) – beautifully written book about overcoming fear of the ocean to sail across Pacific with her boyfriend. Awesome, vivid descriptions of the scenery, people, experiences. 

The Caliph’s House (Tahir Shah) – inspired by Moroccan vacations, Shah decides to buy a house in Casablanca. Moves his family from England for a new adventure. Beautifully written, endlessly enthralling. 

On The Road (Jack Kerouac) – Sal leaves New York, heads west riding the rails, making friends, partying. Desire to see the world through travel adventures to become a better, stronger, confident person.

Unlikely Destinations (Tony, Maureen Wheeler) – written by founders of Lonely Planet, story follows them from 70s England to beginning of 21st century. Fascinating read about a company that started travel guidebook industry, changed how we travel.

The Lost City of Z (David Grann) – seeks to find out what happened to South America explorer Percy Fawcett, who trekked through Amazon jungle in search of fabled lost city of Z. Blending biography, travelogue, Grann intermingles information about Percy’s life, expeditions with science behind the myth of Z, possibility there was a vast advanced civilisation in the Amazon. 

The Beach (Alex Garland) – a search for paradise, quest to do something different, get off the mundane beaten path.

Vagabonding (Rolf Potts) – Rolf spent 10 years on the road. An inspirational book, delves deeply into philosophy of long-term travel.

In A Sunburned Country (Bill Bryson) – an Australian journey from east to west, through little mining towns, forgotten coastal cities, off-the-beaten-paths, forests. Travel in awe, sometimes fear (jellyfish, riptides, crocs, spiders, sharks, snakes).

Turn Right at Machu Picchu (Mark Adams) – roughing it through pristine Peru in search of incredible Inca ruins, awesome ancient cities.

A Year of Living Danishly (Helen Russell) – figure out why Danes are so happy? From childcare, education, food, interior design to taxes, sexism, a funny poignant story. Informative, hilarious, self-deprecating, a great story of someone trying to fit in.