avid traveller

7 Must-read Books for Avid Travellers

Reading Time: 3 minutes

There is nothing like a well-written book to help fuel your desire for travel. From practical how-to guides to more fictional tales set in certain places, books can give you a real insight into different parts of the world you haven’t been. But what are the best books to enjoy as an avid traveller?

 

1. Travels with a Donkey in the Cevennes

 

Most people know the name Robert Louis Stevenson from his most famous book, Treasure Island. This was not all he wrote, though, as this enchanting story shows. Travels with a Donkey in the Cevennes is a book set in France during the 1870s. It sees the main character Robert trekking across the country with his donkey, Modestine, in tow. If you want to go back in time and get a feel for the landscape and way of life in 19th-century Europe, it is a great read.

 

2. World Walk

 

This inspiring travel tale is actually based on a true story and written by Steven Newman. Originally a newspaper journalist, Newman decided to pack up his things at age 28 and set off on a four-year mission to walk the world on foot. This book tells the story of his adventure and is full of drama, wildlife, humour and exotic destinations to take in.

 

3. On The Road

 

If you love travelling in and around America, this is a great book to inspire your next trip. It is also a stone-cold classic read from Jack Kerouac! It tells the story of Sal Paradise (who is loosely modelled on the author) and Dean Moriarty’s wander around the rural USA in the 1940s. Its informal style draws you right in and there is plenty of high jinks to keep you reading. Of course, you might also pick up some places you fancy heading to.

 

4. In a Sunburned Country

 

Bill Bryson is one of the most popular and widely read travel writers. His books are invaluable for the avid traveller looking for the real story behind popular destinations. In a Sunburned Country sees the author in Australia and is sure to inspire dreams of heading there too when reading. Over the course of the book, it sees Bryson visit scorched deserts and vibrant coastlines to find the real Australia.

 

5. Love with a Chance of Drowning

 

From author Torre DeRoche, Love with a Chance of Drowning is both beautiful and exotic. It is essentially a travel memoir that shows how the author left her corporate lifestyle to sail around the South Pacific with a man she had only just met. Of course, the setting and places they sail to is the main attraction here and shows how awesome this part of the world is. As well as that though, it shows how following your dreams can be worthwhile and should inspire you to travel more.

 

6. World Travel: An Irreverent Guide

 

If you have ever watched The Layover or Parts Unknown, you will know Anthony Bourdain. Sadly, he has now passed away but this book shows just why he was so special. Bourdain travelled a lot in his lifetime and this book brings together many of his journeys into one tome. Full of refreshing humour and honesty, it tells you the real story of where he has been for any traveller to take in.

 

7. Bad Lands: A Tourist on the Axis of Evil

 

From Lonely Planet founder Tony Wheeler comes this thought-provoking book. It tells the story of his travels around some of the most dangerous countries – from Afghanistan to Iraq and North Korea. As well as showing what each country offers to visitors, he also delves into deeper issues such as attitudes towards human rights. A great read for the traveller who likes to get off the beaten track.

Books can help find your next trip
Any avid traveller will love reading books which tell them about new places and offer insights into new cultures. As well as being interesting, this is perfect for finding new places to visit yourself. If you are looking for this kind of inspiration yourself, any of the above books are ideal.