Travel books that inspire us to 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, finds the meaning of life. Full of inspirational quotes.
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 new friends. Satiates the desire for travel adventures to become a confident person.
Unlikely Destinations (Tony, Maureen Wheeler) – written by the founders of Lonely Planet. The story follows them from the 70s England to the beginning of 21st century. Fascinating read about a company that started the travel guide book industry, impacted 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 the Amazon jungle in search of fabled lost city of Z. Blending biography & travelogue, Grann intermingles information about Percy’s life & expeditions with the science behind the myth of Z.
The Beach (Alex Garland) – a search for paradise, a quest to do something different, to get off the mundane beaten path.
Vagabonding (Rolf Potts) – Rolf spent 10 years on the road. An inspirational book delving deeply into the 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 & forests. Travel in awe, sometimes fear (jellyfish, riptides, crocs, spiders, sharks, snakes).
Turn Right at Machu Picchu (Mark Adams) – a journey through pristine Peru in search of incredible Inca ruins & awesome ancient cities.
A Year of Living Danishly (Helen Russell) – why are the Danes so happy? From childcare, education, food, interior design to taxes, a funny yet poignant story.