While we cannot escape to the wilderness or our favourite beach resort at the moment we can still dream of lands far away and hope for new adventures in the near future. We have picked some of our favourite travel books about travel that will tickle your imagination and inspire you to plan your next big adventure.
On the Road by Jack Kerouac
This book was listed as one of the top 100 novels of all time by the Guardian. It details a fictional journey across America. It is an epic adventure that captures the spirit of the Beat Generation. After its publication in 1951 it would go on to influence writers, poets and musicians from around the world. If this one isn’t on your reading list, it should be. Buy this book online
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
The perfect blend of adventure and dramatic descriptions of landscapes that we long to see, this is a beautiful read for all travel enthusiasts. In this book we see the young character of Christopher Johnson McCandless abandon all possessions and disappear into the wild. If you are looking for a read that asks you to question your way of life and the importance that we place on material objects than this is the book for you. We always suggest reading the book first but this adventurous read was remade into a fantastic movie with Emile Hirsch as McCandless. Buy this book online
The Alchemist by Paolo Coelo
“The journey, not the destination matters” T.S. Eliot
Famous author Paolo Coelo published this international best selling novel in 1988. It details the journey of a Spanish Shepherd named Santiago. Every character we meet and the little snippets of life advice we pick up along the way makes this book enchanting to every reader. If you are a dreamer then you will love following Santiago’s quest to discover the power of positivity. It teaches us to listen to our heart and enjoy the smaller moments that are part of the bigger journeys when we travel. Buy this book online
A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway
If you are a fan of poetry and prose than you can’t go wrong reading any of Hemingway’s works. A Moveable Feast is a memoir of Hemingways time in Paris. It is a deeply personal account and a reflection on the landscapes of Paris. It provides vivid descriptions of Parisian life and culture which would make anyone want to book a flight to the romantic capital of Europe. For writers, Hemingway also gives some insights into his process and struggles as a young writer. We loved every page of this fantastic novel. Buy this book online
Lands of the Lost Borders: A Journey on the Silk Road by Kate Harris
This travelogue chronicles Harris’s observations from Turkey to the Stans of Central Asia and China. If you are looking for valuable insights and a real life journey on the Silk Road then this is the perfect book. We get to know the kind people that Harris meets along way. This novel asks us to question the limits that we place on ourselves and dares us to explore. Buy this book online
The Art of Travel by Alain de Botton
To end our list we get back to basics with Alain de Botton. This novel avoids the temptation of telling us where to go, what to do, where to stay and what to enjoy. Instead we are reminded of why we travel. With easy to read, essay style writing we get to consider the reasons why travel has become such an important part of our everyday lives. The reality is that it is not about the grand experiences or small moments but the journey as a whole and creating long-lasting memories. Buy this book online
Enjoy these travel books and sharing the joy of travel from unique perspectives. If you have any suggestions for inspirational travel reads or books that give you hope we would love to hear about them. You can send your suggestions to info@travelbug.ie
