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Traveling as a Student [Guide + Infographic]

As the famous saying goes, “the world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” This is the reason why numerous people decide to leave their homes and go on a voyage around the world. It’s about seeing new places, having exciting experiences, and learning more about ourselves and the world around us. Every destination is unique and exciting.

This article will:

• Talk about 5 ways to travel abroad while studying at college.
• Offer some practical tips for traveling on a budget.
• Give valuable advice on travel etiquette.
• ✅ Student Traveling: the Benefits
• 💸 Saving Money for a Trip
• ✈️ Traveling Abroad while Studying at College
• 🎒 Practical Traveling Tips
• 🛄 Travel Etiquette Infographic
• 🌍 Student-Friendly Countries

✅ The Benefits of Traveling as a Student

When you’re a student, you want to have fun and make memories that last forever. One of the best ways to do it is to go on a trip.

Because traveling is a rewarding experience that can change your life.

Exploring new places is important for education, and it benefits you in several ways:

• It allows you to step outside your comfort zone. While the idea of visiting a different country is exciting, you may feel anxious about doing it. Traveling encourages you to explore. You learn a lot in unexpected and unfamiliar situations. It can be daunting at first, but things get easier as you figure out how to navigate new environments.
• It widens your horizons. Traveling allows you to experience new things, meet interesting people, and explore beautiful places. All in all, it makes you more open-minded.
• It helps you to become more self-reliant and confident. When you travel, you are challenged to do things on your own. Overcoming various obstacles along the way will help you gain experience, confidence, and independence.
• It encourages you to learn new things. The more you see while traveling, the more you want to explore. Traveling enables you to learn more about various cultures, languages, and cuisines.
• It improves your cultural sensitivity and compassion. Traveling makes you more perceptive of other people’s mentalities. It teaches you to shift perspectives and see where someone else is coming from.
• It allows you to get immersed in another language. Living abroad is a great way to learn a new language. You are not only practicing your skills every day but also get immersed in the culture of that language.
• It creates opportunities for networking and meeting new people. Visiting different countries allows you to make new friends or create valuable connections with people from across the globe.
• It leads to better academic performance . Traveling is the best teacher. You get the first-hand experience, which is more valuable than theoretical knowledge. This can even improve your grades!
• It enhances your communication and social skills. When you travel, you are likely to talk to the locals. You may want to make some new friends, or you may just ask for directions. All this allows you to improve your social skills and become more confident.
• It leaves you with good stories to tell. More experience means more stories to share with other people.
• It increases your creativity . Experiencing new things can spark interesting ideas and make you more imaginative.
• It boosts your problem-solving skills. When you travel, you make numerous decisions along the way. It allows you to improve your critical thinking.
• It inspires you. Exploring a new place can fill you with energy and enthusiasm to pursue your dreams or make a change.

💸 How to Start Traveling when You’re a Broke College Student

When you are a broke student, you may be thinking that traveling is something you can’t afford. That couldn’t be further from the truth! It just means you need to develop such skills as goal-planning and money-saving. Below is a short plan of what you can do.

• Choose a place you want to go to and make visiting it your long-term goal. This can motivate you as well as give you some time to prepare and think everything through.
• Learn budgeting and money-saving skills. When you’re traveling as a student, it’s essential to keep track of the budget. Before visiting a foreign country, try to calculate how much money you will need for living expenses. Consider things such as transportation fees, accommodation, sightseeing, and food. If you don’t have enough money, start saving up!
• avoid buying things you don’t really need;
• use inexpensive, high-quality food products,
• cook for yourself instead of eating out,
• save your change,
• use students discount,
• reduce transportation costs.
• Create a savings account that is separate from your main bank account. It will help you be smart and intentional with your money. You can also download a budgeting tool such as Budget Planner to keep track of your expenses.
• Find extra ways to make money. Consider a part-time job or a suitable side-hustle. That way, you can get some extra cash and also gain some work experience.

✈️ 5 Ways to Travel Abroad while Studying at College

Sometimes you may think that there is no right time for a student to travel. The summer break is months away, and it’s even longer till you graduate.

Can’t wait to experience new places? There is a way out for you.

Below you’ll find 5 best options for students to experience other cultures while being enrolled in a college.

Just choose the one you like best.

• Self-planned trips during college breaks. Traveling in the off-season is probably the easiest way to visit a country and learn about its culture. It will also help you change your environment and see things from a different perspective.
• Short mission trips. Mission trips are focused on collaborating with local communities. Most of these trips are religious, and you may need time to prepare. You will learn about the ministry experience, practice spiritual discipline, and read the Scripture. If you find these things interesting, then this option may be suitable for you. Mission trips are usually managed by organizations such as Royal Servants, The World Race, etc.
• gather the necessary legal documents;
• get familiar with your responsibilities and the project;
• research required and recommended vaccines for your destination;
• pack only essential things.
• It helps to network globally;
• It allows you to live anywhere in the world;
• It provides you with a chance to learn a new language;
• It adds a unique point to your CV;
• It helps you develop communication skills.
• Summer jobs abroad. Taking up summer jobs can also be a great way to get some valuable experience in a foreign country. For instance, you can join a summer camp, teach English, or work as an au pair.

🎒 Practical Traveling Tips for Students

Now, you’re all set to start budgeting and saving money.

But what about the journey itself?

You probably want to know how to make the most of it while traveling on a budget. Well, you’re in luck: we’ve prepared some excellent tips for you on how to plan and prepare for the trip.

• Plan your trip in advance. It’s best to make all the necessary reservations and prepare checklists of the things you want to take with you. Doing so will help you organize your trip and avoid problems and unnecessary expenses.
• Have a dream destination list. In order to see as much as possible, you can make a list of every place you want to visit in your destination. Just think of the museums, galleries, streets, restaurants, and attractions you plan to see and write them down.
• Study the culture of your destination beforehand. When you travel abroad, it’s a good idea to learn a little about the place’s culture and look up some essential words in the dictionary. You will know what to expect, how to behave, where to eat, and what places to visit.
• Book your hotel or apartment in advance . Prices change with the season, and early reservations can save you a lot of money. Try not to waste your time and plan everything beforehand. It will allow you to learn more about student discounts, find cheaper accommodations, and discover more affordable transportation options.
• Get the International Student Identification Card. As a student, you have many benefits. It will be extremely helpful if you learn how to use them. For instance, an ISIC card offers various benefits such as discounts on attractions, museums, and transportation.
• Plan transportation. When you come to a foreign country, you have to navigate unfamiliar places.Consider every option you have: buses, trains, and alternative transport. It’s best to plan your routes in advance and create opportunities for yourself to get off the beaten path.
• Make friends with the locals. Traveling is not only about visiting historical places, but it is also about meeting new people. By making friends with the locals , you can learn more about their culture and language. It’s an excellent opportunity to socialize and become more confident. So, always be friendly, and learn at least a couple of useful phrases in the local language.

🛄 Travel Etiquette [Infographic]

Knowing how to behave while traveling is an integral part of preparation. In some countries, things you consider appropriate are forbidden, and vice versa. This is travel etiquette – a set of codes and rules a person should follow while traveling. Knowing them will save you time and trouble, as well as enhance your experience. Below we’ve outlined some crucial dos and don’ts of international traveling.

🌍 Bonus: Top Student-Friendly Countries

Countries such as France, Switzerland, and Norway can be pricy for most students to visit. If the flight there doesn’t break the bank, then accommodation, food, and tours surely will. Luckily, some countries are accessible, safe, and budget-friendly.

• China. Beijing and Shanghai are two cities in China that are excellent for students. You can find affordable accommodations (around $10 a night) in both cities and enjoy some excellent food. Visiting historical and cultural sites is also not a problem. Day trips to popular destinations such as The Great Wall of China are affordable, and there are many ways to get there.
• India. In India, you will find affordable accommodation and enjoy delicious, inexpensive meals. While flights to India can be expensive, you can easily find inclusive tours and flight deals. There are numerous historical places for you to visit, such as the Taj Mahal and the beaches of Goa. You may also consider experiencing cities like New Delhi and Mumbai.
• The Netherlands. The majority of Western European countries are too expensive for most students to visit. The Netherlands, however, is budget-friendly. In Amsterdam , you can find various inexpensive activities and attractions, including museums, concerts, and clubs. Besides, accommodation is affordable.
• Portugal. Lisbon is a city that is perfectly suited to college students. Why not check out its many historic places? You can also visit Algarve – a magnificent city with beaches, hiking trails, castles, and an ocean view.
• Ecuador. Quito is another city that is ideal for students who travel. It has everything one needs: history, beautiful nature, and delicious food.

To sum up, traveling is an excellent way for students to learn more about the world, gain new experiences, and become more independent. We wish you the best of luck on your future trips!

🔗 References

• For a More Creative Brain, Travel – The Atlantic
• The Ultimate Guide to Traveling When You Have No Money
• How to Travel for Free: 6 Ways to Vacation for Cheap | Time
• Educational Benefits of Travel – Travel Tips – USA Today
• 8 Pieces Of Travel Etiquette Every Tourist Should Know – Bustle
• Travel etiquette: 6 cardinal sins of traveling – Times of India
• Top 20 countries for international students – The Guardian
• The 27 Cheapest Places To Travel This Summer – Forbes
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How to Travel on a Budget in College

Published by rachel bicha on october 14, 2020 october 14, 2020.

It’s the unending student dilemma—you want to travel more but you’re on a shoestring budget already. How can you afford to book a ticket to the other side of the globe when you’ve been eating Top Ramen for dinner every night this week? Thankfully, there are ways to travel on a budget so that you can make the most of your college years and start seeing the world! You do not have to be rich to travel—but there are a few tricks of the trade to make traveling without breaking the bank a lot easier. So how do you travel on a budget? We’ve got 18 tips you need to know. 

1. Save for travel regularly—before you’re planning your trip! 

The easiest way to have money to travel is to start saving in advance and work your travel fund into your regular budget. Set aside a separate account for your travel savings and put money into it each month like a bill. Having a regular savings plan can help you save up a lot for future trips! ⁠Even if you’re only able to save $20 extra every month, by the end of the year, you’ll have an extra $240 for a fun getaway. 

2. If you can, pick up a side job or extra hours at your current job for your travel fund. 

Free time isn’t always easy to find in college, especially when you’re busy juggling classes, friends, homework, internships, clubs, a part-time job or other things. However, if you do have some spare evenings each week—or even just a few hours on the weekend—see if you can pick up a side hustle or even some extra hours at your current job to help save more for your travel fund. If you want more ideas, check out our guide to how to save money to travel more in college. 

3. Plan a trip to visit friends.

It’s likely that some of your friends from college live in some pretty cool places—take advantage of the opportunity to go visit them in their hometowns and explore a new city! Staying with friends—or staying with someone your friends know if you’re traveling through town—can save you a ton on hotel costs. Plus, you’ll get to explore somewhere new with a friend and have a built-in local tour guide. Win-win!

4. Consider options besides a hotel. 

If you’re not staying with friends or someone you know, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll need to stay in a hotel. There’s a lot of other options for budget accommodation that can help you save money. If you’re traveling internationally, hostels are very popular in many parts of the world and you can often stay a night in a hostel for less than $40, even if you’re in a popular destination like Rome or Paris. Airbnb and other home-sharing apps also offer some cheap places to stay, especially if you’re sharing a space with friends. 

5. Get student discounts on flights. 

If you’re a student or under 26, you basically never need to pay full price for flights. At StudentUniverse, we work directly with the airlines to negotiate cheaper prices for students so that you can travel more for less! Plus, we have regular sales and promo codes on offer to make your flights even cheaper. Whether you’re flying back and forth to school or away for a summer vacation, snagging a discount on your flights can bring down the cost of your trip by a lot. Struggling to find something that fits your budget? We’ve got nine essential tips to make sure you can always find cheap flights.  

6. Be flexible with your travel dates. 

Even if you want to—or need to—travel during a peak travel time, there’s still ways to find cheaper tickets. If you have any flexibility with your travel dates, you can sometimes save hundreds of dollars just by leaving or returning a day or two earlier or later than planned. Typically, it’s more expensive to fly on Fridays and Sundays and cheaper to fly on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. In addition, be sure to check all your airport options. Many large cities have several airports and sometimes smaller airports have great deals!

7. Consider your destination carefully and pick one that’s budget-friendly! 

If you want to plan a trip, but don’t have anywhere specific in mind, picking a budget-friendly destination can save you a ton of money. Of course, you can travel on a budget to any destination if you plan carefully. However, some destinations are much easier to travel cheaply than others. For example, Santorini might be a bucket-list trip, but it’s much more expensive than, say, Croatia, Mallorca or Malta—all other similar destinations. Central and South America or Southeast Asia are also home to dozens of budget-friendly destinations. 

8. Travel to cities where you don’t need to rent a car. 

Similarly, if you’re flying to a new city, consider a destination where you can get around without having to rent a car. Car rentals can sometimes be pricey, especially if you’re under 25. As a result, if you can eliminate the need to rent a car altogether, or at least for part of your trip, you can easily save hundreds of dollars. Look for destinations that are easily walkable or have great public transit options— New York , Seattle, Boston , San Francisco, Chicago , Austin and New Orleans, just to name a few. 

9. Don’t be afraid of public transportation. 

This is especially important if you want to avoid paying for a car rental, but make sure you take advantage of public transportation! Many cities, in the US and abroad, have great public transport systems that are usually fairly cheap, reliable and easy to use. Taking the subway or hopping on a local bus or streetcar can get you around to many major attractions and areas of the city for usually just a few dollars—much cheaper than an Uber or taxi! And of course, renting a bike or just walking can be a great way to experience a new city as well. 

10. Travel during off-season. 

If you have the option of choosing when you’ll be traveling, try to travel during off-season. Off-season, or “shoulder season” (in-between peak and non-peak seasons) can vary based on destination, but in general, summer is peak season and late-fall through early-spring is off season. For some destinations, like Colorado or Miami, winter can actually be more crowded. Do some research for your destination to find out when peak and off-peak seasons are, then plan accordingly. 

11. Pack your own snacks. 

When you’re making your packing list, don’t forget to pack some of your favorite travel snacks with you! Airport food is notoriously expensive, so having your own food for the airport is a MUST. But even beyond that, having some granola bars or other easy snacks on hand while you’re exploring a new place can help you save money on eating out costs. By not having to spend money on snacks or smaller meals, you can plan to splurge a bit more on a fancier dinner or local specialties. 

12. Cook some of your own meals.

If you’re staying in a hostel, Airbnb, with friends or in other house-sharing options, you’ll probably have a kitchen at your disposal. If you can make some of your own meals, it’ll make it much easier to travel on a budget! While eating out in a city will likely cost $15-$20 or more per meal, groceries for a week of dinners will cost much less. To save even more, check out all of our tips to save money on food while traveling.

13. Pack light. 

If you want an easy way to save money while you travel, try to avoid checking a bag. While some airlines offer a free checked bag (especially if you’re flying internationally), many airlines still charge between $25-$50 for checking a bag, and more if your bag is over the weight limit. Depending on your itinerary, this can easily add on $100 or more to your trip! Keep in mind too that if you’re traveling internationally and planning on hopping on some budget flights overseas that those flights will incur luggage fees as well, if you have a bag. For the easiest (and cheapest) airport experience, try to pack lightly ! 

14. Opt for an outdoor adventure. 

If you’re looking for a budget getaway, consider going camping, heading out on a National Park road trip or even going for a backpacking trip. Camping can be a lot cheaper than staying in a city, since campsite fees are much cheaper than a hotel and exploring a National Park is usually free, or basically free. If you’re heading out for a road trip , planning a few nights to explore a State or National Park along the way can help you save money AND explore somewhere incredible. 

15. Use credit card points.

If you have a credit card, make good use of credit card rewards to book travel. Many credit cards offer reward centers where you can book flights, hotels, cars and more, or (even better!) cash-back options where you can earn cash back on regular purchases and put it towards your travel expenses. Look into what your credit card offers and take advantage of those points! If you don’t have a credit card yet (and want to get one), look into some of the best travel credit cards for students and start earning points now that you can use for traveling. 

16. Work or volunteer abroad if you’re taking a longer trip. 

Want to live in Europe for a few months but don’t have the cash to make it happen? No worries, there’s still options for you! Sometimes longer trips actually make it easier to travel on a budget because you have the opportunity to get a short-term job or volunteer placement that often will cover your accommodations and some food costs. Work as a waiter/waitress, a bartender, in a hostel, as a tour guide, at a ski resort or even on a farm! While it won’t be a complete vacation, it’s an incredible opportunity to travel for cheap and stay abroad for a much longer time. WWOOF and Workaway are great places to find placements almost anywhere in the world. 

17. Enjoy free and cheap things to do in town. 

No matter where you’re going, there’s always some options for free activities and things to do. Whether it’s a free walking tour of the city, a picnic in the park, a local hike or a free museum, there’s a lot of options for things to enjoy for free (or very cheap!). Do some research in advance to find some budget-friendly activities. Need some ideas? Start with our guides on free and cheap things to do pretty much everywhere. 

18. Don’t forget your student ID!

Your student ID can score you discounts on all kinds of travel-related expenses—not just flights! Many museums offer discounted rates to students and you can sometimes find discounts on rail passes, attractions, some hostels and more. When in doubt, it never hurts to ask! 

For more college travel tips, check out our guide to everything college students need to know about travel ! Ready to start planning your trip? Check out some of our cheapest flights available currently.

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45 of the Best Travel Books That Inspire Wanderlust

I love reading a great book especially if it takes place somewhere that I dream of traveling to . I am always looking for the best travel books that inspire wanderlust so I asked my fellow travel bloggers to name their favorite inspirational books about travel.

Whether looking for books that inspire you to travel or the best books to read while traveling, here are 45 of the best travel books every traveler needs to have on their reading list.

Best Travel Books

The ultimate travel book is the nomad’s bible. I’m talking about On the Road by Jack Kerouac. This book is fast-paced (some might say rambling) but no other piece of travel literature so evokes the spirit of adventure and excitement that travel brings. It is especially descriptive and inspiring with regards to the quintessential American road trip . Follow Sal Paradise and his kooky, often drug-addled friends in a cross-country quest for something deep, spiritual, and unforgettable.

There are few pieces of modern travel literature that has captivated readers around the world in quite the same way as Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts. The part-truth, part-fiction novel tells the story of an Australian convict named Lin who escapes prison and ends up in Bombay, India. His journey is both poetic and chaotic as he learns about his new environment and surrounding culture while living in the slums. Roberts’ writing is breathtaking, and his descriptive and elegant style transports the reader directly into the heart of bustling Indian society.

“It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.”

When it comes to book that will make you want to pack your bags and chase your dreams, you really won’t find anything better than Paulo Coelho’s legendary tale found in “The Alchemist”.  It’s a quick and easy read (less than 200 pages), but it’s chalk full of inspirational travel quotes , life lessons, and thought provoking questions.  It was recommended to me by a friend, and once I finished it — I was only mad at myself for not reading it sooner.  It may be one of the most famous travel books out there, and it’s for good reason.  If you haven’t read this one yet, than don’t wait any longer!  It’s truly something special!

We are inundated with advice on where to travel to, but we hear little of why and how we should go, even though the art of travel seems naturally to sustain a number of questions neither so simple nor so trivial…” writes Alain De Botton in ‘The Art of Travel’ . The book is neither a guide book nor an account of experience in far away places. Rather it is journal about how our thoughts and our very being is affected by the ‘not so simple’ act of travel. The book definitely creates a craving to leave everything and travel to far off places. But what it does better is being a companion who that helps you put in words exactly what you felt while travelling.

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail  by Cheryl Strayed

If there is one ‘wild’ travel book you should read this year, it’s Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed. While the travel movie starring Reese Witherspoon is good, the book goes a mountain canyon beyond. Cheryl Strayed’s gritty portrayal of herself as a broken woman seeking redemption through nature and physical challenge is both a nail-biting travel adventure and a literary masterstroke. The way she entwines her inner journey with the harsh awe-inspiring landscape is, to my mind, inspiring. You won’t just find yourself rooting for her through every snowy pass and rocky trail, you’ll want to get out there and do it yourself.

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

Gabor Kovacs, Surfing the Planet

Into the Wild is probably one of the best motivational books for those who want to travel with the objective of finding themselves. In Jon Krakauer’s book we can read about Christopher McCandless’ real story, who after his university graduation decided to get rid of all his material possessions and set out on a great adventure completely alone. McCandless was found dead in Alaska and this book tells us his tragic adventure based on his diary and the author’s investigations. Into the Wild teaches us a lot about life and makes us reflect on what we really want from it. Despite the tragic end, I enjoyed reading every bit of this adventure, which made me desire to live something like that.

The Pilgrimage by Paulo Coelho

Claudia Tavani, My Adventures Across the World

The Pilgrimage tells the story of Paulo as he walks his way to Santiago in what is both a journey and a self-discovery experience. To this date, it is still one of the books that most inspired me to travel, not only to discover new, beautiful places but also to better understand myself.  While traveling became a way of life for me – as a result of a long trip across Central and South America in which I had plenty of time to think and figure out what I wanted to do with my life – it actually took me much longer to eventually walk the Camino de Santiago. I walked the Camino del Norte (the Northern route) to Santiago de Compostela last summer and, needless to say, it was an incredible, enlightening experience.

Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino

Allison, Eternal Arrival

Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino is a masterpiece, somewhere between poetry and fiction. The narrator, a young Marco Polo, entertains Kublai Khan with stories of intriguing cities, each more impossible sounding than the next. As the book goes on, it becomes more and more fantastical, leaving you wondering whether or not any of these cities exist at all — or whether they’re all one city described in various ways from the vivid imagination of a young traveler. Calvino’s lush prose makes this question almost irrelevant, and after reading this short but sweet novella you’ll be left wanderlusting for all these impossibly beautiful cities. To be able to describe a city the way Calvino does these “invisible cities” is a lifelong pursuit.

A Fortune Teller Told Me by Tiziano Terzani

Barbara Wagner, Jet-Settera

Tiziano Terzani’s A Fortune Teller Told Me is a book about an Italian journalist who travels across Asia and consults some of the most famous fortune-tellers of Asia along the journey. He consulted shamans, soothsayers and sorcerers during his travels. One of the fortune tellers in Hong Kong told him that he should not get on a plane for a year, because the plane would crash, so he ended up traveling across Asia taking trains, boats, cars. The book describes his journey across Burma, Thailand , Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Mongolia, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore , and Malaysia over land.

Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

Samantha, There She Goes Again

This incredibly complex book takes place over the decades, with the two main threads taking place during the sixties in southern Italy and present day Hollywood. The whole book is rife with nods to the entertainment industry, both in the height of its glamourous days to a sarcastic view of its current reality-ridden state. Walter is great at invoking the various settings, and this is best seen in his descriptions of southern Italy. It’s so beautiful, so nostalgic, you want to book your ticket to Positano as soon as you’re done reading!

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

They say most good books are based on a true story, and Eat, Pray, Love is exactly that and one each person can identify with.

It is a story of a woman who decides to end her marriage and go on a journey of discovery around the world and food for her soul. Set in three beautiful locations of the world Italy (Eat), India (Pray) and Bali (Love). We follow Elizabeth on her travels while she eats bowls of pasta and gelato which leave one instantly hungry and craving all the things she goes searching for in this book. Each part of the journey literally inspires one to book a ticket and go do their own Eat, Pray, Love trip. India a land of miracles and temples gives us a glimpse of the arranged marriage ceremonies while in Bali one learns to open their heart and love again.

The book not only inspires one to travel but also to follow their dreams. Life is too short not to eat that gelato or fall in love with a tall dark stranger.

Verushka Ramasami, Spice Goddess Blog

The Motorcycle Diaries by Che Guevara

Himanshu, Everything Candid

The Motor Cycle Diaries written by Che Guevara is a cult book and thus a must read for every travel loving soul. It has all the elements to ignite wander thirst within you and put you in a whirlwind of thoughts that will make you travel. It’s a frank account of an inquisitive traveler who experiences the amusing world and that changes himself forever.

This book is a travel journal written by revolutionary hero Che Guevara when he was 23 years old and decided to travel the world with his friend Alberto riding their old motorcycle they christened “the Mighty One”. During their 9 months of travel on battered road of Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia and Venezuela to do their medical residency and serve at leprosy colonies of Latin America. His narration of his experiences are free-spirited and original to the core just like his shaping-up rebellion nature.

This book has all the elements that define a perfect road trip and make you realize how you can explore your true self by traveling across geographies and meeting different people. This journey, thus, transformed Che and by the end of journey it was clear what would be his destiny. This high-spirited book is an impactful read and an inspiring tale of a great legend in the making. A truly iconic book by a larger than life icon from last century.

A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson

Nisha Jha, Lemonicks

A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson has to be my book which inspires wanderlust. If you are into hiking or love outdoors, this book is for you. The author Bill Bryson tries to take the Appalachian Trail stretching from Georgia and has a hilarious take on it. The book is written in a humorous style, with more serious discussions and curiosity relating to the trail.

The book teaches us about our co-travelers and how it could be, in some cases, a daunting experience. The goals, outlook could be different. At times, you need to discard many things which are really not needed. He has wonderfully described the natural beauty of majestic mountains, silent forests, sparking lakes.

The Places Inbetween by Rory Stewart

Alice, Teacake Travels

There’s nothing I love more than going to countries people tell you you shouldn’t go to. There are a lot of stereotypes and misconceptions out there about what a country is really like, how the people are and your level of safety once you’re there. Understandably, some countries are more dangerous than others but I feel we shouldn’t leave them alone and books like The Places Inbetween keep my wanderlust for these countries pulsing. Rory Stewart’s amazing account of his walk across Afghanistan in 2002 following the US invasion is a unique insight into this fascinating country and I love how personal it is. Like all good stories, it’s the local people that really make it.

In Xanadu – A Quest by William Dalrymple

Maria, Maria Abroad

In Xanadu – A Quest  is a personal travel memoir of William Dalrymple’s journey along Marco Polo’s footsteps from Jerusalem to Xanadu, the summer palace of Kubla Khan. As an avid traveler, Dalrymple spends his summer break from Cambridge to take an overland journey from Jerusalem to Aleppo, to Eastern Turkey, across Iran and Pakistan, and finally through China until his final destination – Xanadu. Along the way he shares his encounters with locals and other travelers, funny stories, bureaucratic hurdles and historic insights on the places he visits.

Can We Live Here?: Finding a Home in Paradise by Sarah Alderson

Jolene and Andrzej Ejmont, Wanderlust Storytellers

‘’In 2009, Sarah and John Alderson quit their full-time jobs in London and headed off, with Alula, their three-year-old daughter, on a global adventure to find a new home.’’

It is easy to connect with Sarah as you read her witty novel about what it is like to give up your job and to chase adventure in life!  Her story is honest and real; one can’t help but feel inspired to chase a similar lifestyle! But mostly to simply be brave enough to follow your dreams! Destinations you will read about include: London, India, Australia, USA , Bali and more!

Rohan Cahill-Fleury, Travels of a Bookpacker

The story of a man determined to visit all the countries in the former Soviet Union. Some are popular tourist destinations e.g.  Czech Republic but he also travels to some more ‘off the beaten track’ locations such as Kyrgyzstan and Moldova.

It provides interesting account of local life in these countries as well as the practicalities and issues traveling there as a tourist. There is some simple, easy to follow history of each country explained as well as interesting anecdotes. You’ll find yourself adding countries to your travel list you’d never considered before!

A Sense of the World: How a Blind Man Became History’s Greatest Traveler by Jason Roberts

This biography follows the life of James Holman, a British guy who went blind during the course of his life but wasn’t discouraged by it and travelled the world anyway. Known in the 19th century as the “Blind Traveller”, he hopped on sailing boats across the oceans, crossed Siberia until he overstayed his welcome, and got invited to explore South America . His books were both despised and celebrated by his contemporaries. Unfortunately, many works have not survived to this day – hence the man’s obscurity. This budget-minded, nifty and unstoppable fellow is one to read about. After picking up your jaw, you’ll likely travel with a changed perspective.

Iris, Mind of a Hitchhiker

The Adventures of Tintin by Hergé

Inma,  A World to Travel

As a very visual person , the first books I read – if you want to call them that – were indeed comics. I would literally read one or two daily as the local library was a few steps away from my home and – newsflash! – travel ones were my favorite of them all. The Adventures of Tintin by Belgian cartoonist Hergé was a comic series that took me to Egypt, Congo, Tibet and even the Moon before I turned 8. Such great memories!

Around the World in 50 Years: My Adventure to Every Country on Earth by Albert Poddel

Megan and Mike from  Mapping Megan  and  Waking Up Wild

This is an inspiring story of an ordinary guy who visited every country on Earth. He survived riots, revolutions, civil wars, trigger-happy child soldiers, robbers, pickpockets, corrupt cops, voodoo priests and Cape buffalo. He went around, under, or through every kind of earthquake, cyclone, tsunami, volcanic eruption, snowstorm, and sandstorm that nature threw at him. He ate everything from old camel meat, rats, dung beetles and the brain of a live monkey.  And he overcame attacks by crocodiles, hippos, anacondas and several girlfriends who insisted he stop this nonsense and marry them.

This is a remarkable and meaningful tale of quiet courage, dogged persistence, undying determination, and an uncanny ability to escape from one perilous situation after another and return with some of the most memorable, frightening and hilarious adventure stories you have ever read.

The World by hitchhiking: 5 years at the University of Life by Ludovic Hubler

After business school, Ludovic decided to get on the road to get a Life PhD. His hitchhiking tour of the world ended up lasting for 5 years during which he also experimented with boat-hitching and  ice-breaker hitching  – A story full of beautiful life lessons in kindness and inspirational meetings, including one with the Dalaï-lama.

Covering 59 countries around the world and people of all background, this book inspires wanderlust not only to seek new landscapes but new connections and understanding of life. It is a book that makes you want to meet all mankind. But be careful, after reading it you will have a strong urge to pack a bag and lift your thumb!

Claire,  ZigZag On Earth Travel Blog

Without Reservations by Alice Steinbach

Penny Sadler,  Adventures of a Carry-on

Without Reservations, by Alice Steinbach, is THE book that I credit with giving me a chronic case of wanderlust. Perhaps because I suspect she and I are close in age, I could relate to her observations of the people she met in her travels, and her self observations. Her writing is so sensual, I always felt I was right there with her — in Paris, Italy and England. This paragraph is beautifully descriptive it made me want to go and have my own adventures.

“Last night on the way home from a concert at Sainte-Chapelle, I stopped on the Pont Royal to watch the moon struggle through a cloudy night sky.

From the bridge my eyes followed the lights of a tourist boat as it moved like a glowworm across the water.  Here in Paris, I have no agenda; here I can fall into step with whatever rhythm presents itself. I had forgotten how wonderful it is to stand on a bridge and catch the scent of rain in the air. I had forgotten how much I need to be a part of water, wind, sky.”

Love with a Chance of Drowning by Torre DeRoche

Liz, Lizzie Meets World

Even if you’re not a fan of chick lit, you’ll love Torre DeRoche’s “Love with a Chance of Drowning.” It’s a love story wrapped in adventure, delivered with a healthy dose of humor and innuendos. DeRoche takes you through the gorgeous remote islands of the Pacific while riding on a leaky boat, as she shares her greatest fears and how she conquers them. This book will have you laughing and crying (cry-laughing even) and dreaming of palm trees and blue seas.

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlo Ruiz Zafón

Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s most acclaimed novel, The Shadows of the Wind, is a magnificent book about a young boy whose life revolved around Barcelona where he eventually found himself in a tangle of mystery and drama. I can’t tell much because you have to read it actually to feel what I’m talking about.

So, how did this particular book inspired me to travel? It made me intrigued about Barcelona. So intrigued that I invited myself to join my friends who already planned their trip to the mystery city – they had to change plans to fit me in, but they were a real sport about it. Also, my visit to Barcelona ignited my passion for travel and also it is the place where I swore I’ll make it a goal to enjoy whatever our pretty wild world can offer us.

Evan, Pretty Wild World

The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss

In an era today where we mostly go to work for around 9 hours a day, and spend another few hours preparing for work, and even commuting to/from it, Tim Ferris gives us a chance to open our mindset that we can actually have a 4 hour work week instead of a 40 hour one. Four hours a week to work anywhere we want. Sounds too good to be true? It really isn’t. By working remotely, creating businesses and putting systems in place, you, as a business owner/worker, can actually do whatever you want. Most people who want to travel full time but are just wondering how to fund their travels can definitely pick up this book to become inspired, and eventually become a full time nomad.

Ruby,  A Journey We Love

Delaying The Real World by Colleen Kinder

I read this book by Colleen Kinder towards the end of my college career. This book was immensely responsible for a change in my beliefs of how life worked after graduation. Delaying The Real World is “a twentysomething’s guide to seeking adventure.” Within its pages, you will find hundreds of suggestions for things you could do around the world, other than heading straight into a cubicle. Suggestions include wanderlust-inspiring options such as teaching English abroad, working on a cruise ship, building homes in villages, or leading tour groups. There are also tons of helpful websites and inspiring anecdotes from real people living out adventurous lives. I highly recommend this book to anyone bitten by the travel bug, and looking for a way to make life an adventure.

Brianna,  Archives of Adventure

Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel by Rolf Potts

In 2013, my boyfriend and I planned to quit our jobs and go for a RTW trip for a year. We were reading dozens of travel guides, found some travel blogs and hosted lots of people from different countries via Couchsurfing community so we could learn about their lands and traditions.

And then we discovered the Vagabonding. Without any exaggeration, the book changed our lives. It gave us not only necessary courage to leave our comfortable life in Germany and set off for an adventure, but it also proved that long-term travel is a lifestyle. A fascinating lifestyle!

Rolf Potts will guide you, he will warn you, he’ll give you plenty of practical advice, and he’ll definitely inspire you to hit the road.

Ivana Greslikova & Gianni Bianchini, Nomad is Beautiful

It’s Only the Himalayas: And Other Tales of Miscalculation from an Overconfident Backpacker by S. Bedford

One of the most recent books that inspired wanderlust was “It’s Only the Himalayas: And Other Tales of Miscalculation from an Overconfident Backpacker”. This laugh-out-loud travel memoir by Sue Bedford chronicles her year long adventures and misadventures with her best friend.

In her book, Sue details her close encounters with a lion, epic fails and triumphs trekking to Annapurna Base Camp with her dad, and her steamy romances in Asia. Since I’ve never backpacked across the world, this book gave me a lot of insight on both the challenges and amazing experiences to have on this type of journey.

This book also inspired me to travel with my mom. Since reading this book, we’ve traveled to Bermuda, Italy and Switzerland together. As Sue describes in the “It’s Only the Himalayas” author interview, traveling with your parents builds on your friendship and strengthens your bond.

Danielle,  The Thought Card

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne

A book that completely captured my imagination and wandering spirit and inspired me to explore regions of the earth I never thought I would surf in was 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. The tale of adventure and discovery helped inspire me to go surfing in places like Iceland, Africa and numerous small islands in the Pacific. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea goes into the underwater exploration of almost every region of the globe it describes an underwater world that is almost impossible to comprehend yet drove my imagination wild. From navigating under ice in the Antarctica to fending off natives off the islands of Papua New Guinea and exploring the Corals of the Red Sea it is a tale of travel and adventure that has transcended centuries and stays relevant today.

Dane,  Holiday From Where

Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

Heart of Darkness might sound like an odd choice when naming books that inspire wanderlust, but for me it did just that. It reminded me of the raw, real, tough travel that backpackers make through developing countries, getting right into the middle of the unknown and making their own pathway through. In the book the subjects are travelling by boat through the jungles of Congo, and the further down stream they get the higher the sense of danger. Things just keep getting weirder and weirder and you begin to feel as if they are descending into a madness. The book is dirty and gritty, but so eloquently written that it transports you deep into the heart of Congo and sits you right next to the authors alter ego – Marlow.

Crystal, Castaway With Crystal

Around India in 80 Trains by Monisha Rajesh

Less a travel guide than an odyssey of self-discovery, Around India in 80 Trains is the account of a British woman of Indian origin who returns to travel the country she left as a child.

In a largely unplanned journey she visits the four corners of India’s train network by taking as many different trains as possible, from the crush of Mumbai’s commuter trains to a truly special hospital carriage.

While Monisha doesn’t have the easiest of journeys, the sheer variety of the places she sees and the effervescent people she meets puts India near the top of my travel list.  I’ll definitely be taking the train when I visit.  And if a spiritual awakening is thrown in too, so much the better.

Emily, from Kids and Compass

Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure by Sarah Macdonald

Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure is a hilarious memoir about a journalist’s unanticipated return to India; the country she hated and vowed never to visit again.

The book follows Sarah as she tries to settle into a new life in Delhi and documents all the culture shock and frustrations that go with it. Having already visited India , I found myself laughing out loud because I could completely relate to her story.

Sarah does a great job of bringing all the smells, colours, sounds and chaos of India straight to the hands of the reader, while also thoughtfully and light-heartedly explaining the many faiths and religions that embody the country.

This book makes the eccentricities of India seem so endearing that you’ll want to book your flight and experience them for yourself!

Nicole. Wee Gypsy Girl

The Beach by Alex Garland

The Beach is a story of American and European backpackers who found a paradise in an island in Thailand. The island features an untouched beach and lagoon. It is part of a huge marine park, making it inaccessible to tourists. There they lived in a secret small community, doing idyllic chores everyday – planting, fishing and construction – until this thin slice of civilization crumbles through a series of incidents. The Beach is written in 1996 but remains a classic. It fulfills the wish of every modern backpacker: getting out of the race for an authentic experience and finding a beautiful, unspoilt paradise that’s in no danger of turning into a typical commercialized tourist attraction.

Katherine,  Tara Lets Anywhere

The Promise of Iceland by Kari Gislason

Long before I traveled to Iceland, it was a destination which fascinated me for its unknownness and unusualness. I read everything I could, but my favourite was a memoir by half-Australian, half-Icelandic author Kari Gislason , called The Promise of Iceland. Gislason was born in Reykjavik but left at age ten; he returned in his late twenties to track down his father and his regular explorations of many significant parts of Iceland convinced me that it was a place I absolutely had to visit. The book is the perfect mix of intriguing story and sightseeing, and will definitely get you booking an Iceland trip as soon as possible.

Amanda, Not a Ballerina

The Year of the Hare by Arto Paasilinna

The book that sparked my interest about Finland is The Year of the Hare written by Arto Paasilinna, one of the most famous Finnish novels. It’s the story of a frustrated journalist who hits a hare with his car, then decides to rescue it and moves to the countryside together with the hare. It inspired me because it’s a fun story, and it talks about the love that Finnish people have for their nature. Visit Helsinki in winter  and you’ll see what I mean – Finns like to enjoy nature even when it’s -30 outside!

Margherita Ragg, The Crowded Planet

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

For anyone who has read The Millennium Trilogy, which includes The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, you would be aware it is a crime book that is rather dark, which then opens the question, why would this book inspire wanderlust? Well for me, the book obviously did but for a slightly strange and odd reason. As an Aussie, snow is foreign and rare to us down in the sunburnt country. Reading this book, however, opened my mind to the beauty of snow and what I could experience. Since then I have been attracted to the cold and the cool white fluffy stuff. I have fallen in love with it so much I will be embarking on a trip to Antarctica.

Lauren,  The Traveller’s Guide By #ljojlo

A Year in Provence  by Peter Mayle

Amy, A Traveling Broad

Whether you’ve been to France or not, you’ll be drawn into this best-selling memoir by Peter Mayle. In it, he regales readers with tales of his year he lived in a 200 year old stone farmhouse in southeastern France with his wife and dogs. His wit and humor make the book an easy and enjoyable read. His vivid descriptions of people, places and things makes it easy for readers to see things through his eyes. His stories include his first experience with “le mistral” (a violent, cold northwesterly wind); his initial resistance to French customs such as kissing hello; and his interactions with a local construction crew. “A Year in Provence” offers readers a glimpse of life in this beautiful region of France, making you want to buy a ticket when you’re done.

My Life in France by Julia Child

This will not inspire you to take the road and travel but it will definitely make you curious about how the French eat, cook, sleep and cook. It really is true — France is a country that will teach you how to cook. When Julia arrived in France, she didn’t know anything about cooking (nor spoke a single French word) and I kind of resemble to that experience. I did a culinary trip in South America for 3.5 years and when I came back home, my mother was surprised that I already know how to fry an egg properly. Believe me, I never learned to cook back home because my grandmother and mother are pretty good at it. My siblings and I didn’t bother learning at all.

That trip also made me very fluent in Spanish — something I never thought I will be capable of. In Julia’s book, it is highlighted that when you are surrounded by a certain culture for a long time, you will definitely know how to adapt and adjust to its setting. I think this is one of the best reasons to travel and to keep traveling.

Trisha,  PS I’m On My Way

Shopping for Buddhas: An Adventure in Nepal by Jeff Greenwald

Lance and Laura Longwell, Travel Addicts

Over 25 years ago, I discovered the Jeff Greenwald book, Shopping for Buddhas:  An Adventure in Nepal.  I would soon be moving to Nepal for a study abroad program and was riveted by the story of shopping for the perfect Buddha statue.  Less than a year later, I would find myself in Nepal exploring the back alleys of Kathmandu and Bhaktapur in the early days of the civil war .

The Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiessen

Peter Matthiessen was a CIA agent and a co-founder of the literary magazine The Paris Review. He was also a student of Zen Buddhism, which he explores in this classic travel book. In 1973 Matthiessen trekked in the remote mountains of Nepal with a field biologist friend, who was there to study the Himalayan blue sheep. During this trek they hoped to see the rare snow leopard. He writes about the harsh physical challenges of the trip, and on life and death, and practicing Buddhism. Even though they travel through such challenging conditions, this book really made me want to go to Nepal .

James Clark, Nomadic Notes

Funny Boy by Shyam Selvadurai

One of our favourite books that inspired wanderlust, specifically for Sri Lanka, was “Funny Boy”, written by Shyam Selvadurai. It is almost an autobiographical story about a young Tamil gay boy growing up in 1980s Sri Lanka during the civil war era, struggling to come to grips with his homosexuality in a very religious and traditional family and society.

It’s a really good insight into what it was like in the country during these awful civil war years. In addition for LGBT travellers, it is particularly insightful to read, mainly because since the 1980s, the country has not changed at all with regards to LGBT rights. It’s still illegal to be gay in Sri Lanka and many of the issues faced by Arjy are still the case today.

Stefan and Sebastien, Nomadic Boys

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

The book is set in Afghanistan and talks about an unlikely friendship between a wealthy Pashtun kid, Amir and his servant Hassan and their relationship growing up. The book traverses through the past and present with Amir making a decision to travel back to his homeland from the United States, his current adopted home to save the life of his friend’s son. The story is fascinating, not just for its strong characterization but also for the vivid portrayal of life growing up in this vastly unexplored country. The country has been in the news for all the wrong reasons but this book makes sure every reader is transported back to the beautiful country it was before the conflict tore it apart and made it what it is in now – a picture of warzone ruin. It remains one of our favorite books and incites wanderlust for the simple reason, the beauty we take for granted today, might not be available to see tomorrow.

Rishabh Shah, Gypsy Couple

The Caliph’s House: A Year in Casablanca by Tahir Shah

This travel book is about culture, traditions and challenges faced by an Afghan person who convinced his wife to escape the stable life in UK and shift with the whole family to unpredictable Morocco. The main hero buys one of the posh old houses “Dar Khalifa” in Casablanca. As the house was missing residents for many years it started slowly falling into pieces. The hero decides to return the glory and the prosperity to the house. To achieve this goal he needs to confront local peculiarities of lifestyle and working culture. Tahir Shah describes different sides of Morocco: its colors, feelings, history and, of course, superstitions.

Natalia, mytriphack

A House in Fez by Suzanna Clarke

Tamason,  Travelling Book Junkie

Have you ever fell in love with a country so much that you imagine one day moving there?  This is exactly what happened to Suzanna and her husband. During a trip to Morocco they fell in love with the African country enough to purchase a property and rather than just using it as a holiday home, they decided to immerse themselves completely into the Moroccan way of life.

Without being able to speak Arabic, they move to the city of Fez, a city not necessarily known for its touristic pull, purchase a tired riad in need of serious renovation and spend a year transforming it into a beautiful home.

This is a story about courage and conviction,  Suzanna and her husband don’t linger on the consequences of such a move, they simply follow their hearts.

Wanderlust is all about following your heart and making decisions that will enrich your life for the better whilst exploring a different part of the world and for me this is a book that highlights just that.  It also led to us jumping on a plane to explore Fez for ourselves, highlighting that it is a book that inspires wanderlust in others as well.

Dark Star Safari by Paul Theroux

Mar, Once in a Lifetime Journey

Dark Star Safari by Paul Thereoux is my all-time most favourite travel book. Brilliantly sarcastic and no-bullshit, Theroux recounts the adventures and misadventures of his overland trip from Cairo to Cape Town 30 years after he spent time as a teacher in Malawi. This book was the most beautiful way for me to remember all the places I worked in Africa and it was also slightly sad to realize that, for some of them, those 30 years Theroux talks about were actually detrimental to their development. Dark Star Safari is a poignant and honest view of the continent from the point of view of an outsider. Theroux has no qualms in being to the point and very honest, sometimes bordering insulting, when describing the people and places. There are no taboos in his vocabulary and no holy cows he tells it how it is.

If you are still looking for more travel inspiration, here are  other travel books for the book lover on your list. What are your picks for the best travel books to inspire wanderlust?

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savvyglobetrotter

25 comments.

This is a great list of travel books and I have read few of them like kite runner, alchemist etc. Others I am going to grab soon.

LOADS of great books in there 🙂 🙂

This is a great list of travel books, have definitely added a few of these to my list!

Such inspiring reads! I’ve only read a couple but excited to download more to my Kindle. Cue the wanderlust!

Lovely compilation indeed. Given my passion for books and travel, I found this post really enjoyable. Before travel, books were the vehicles that I traveled the world on the wings of imagination. The books are great and each unique in its own way, My pick of the lot are, Shantaram and The Motorcycle Diaries.

Extensive list. I’ve read Eat, Pray, Love. And I’m reading the Alchemist. I’m on my way! Lol

Wow! What a fantastic compilation of books. There are so many gems that I’m adding to my reading list!

That’s a great list to fill up the evenings for the whole year 🙂 I love books about travel especially with a cultural twist))) Thank you for putting this post!

Ah wow, absolute go-to reading list here 🙂 I can see a fair few I need to get hold of 🙂

What a great list! So happy to see my favorite novel of all time on there: The Shadow of the Wind. I have read 12 of these books… which means you ahve given me a LOT of great reading ahead. Thank you.

Wow, epic list of travel books! I’ll have to refer back to this one when I’m looking for my next book. I love books, both fiction and non-fiction, that take you on a journey to new places and stirs that wanderlust to travel somewhere new!

I’d add Alastair Humphries’ “Microadventures” and “203 Travel Challenges. Travel the World. Discover Your Inner Self” – both are inspiring in a way that makes you act and improve yourself while having fun on the road.

Thanks for the suggestions! I’m putting them on my reading list.

At the risk of being spammy (sorry!), try my novel set in Greece: “Girl Gone Greek” – you might like it. Check out the Amazon reviews first (on COM and CO dot UK) and see if you like the sound of it. Enjoy!

Hi Rebecca, I lived in Greece a few years when I was younger so this book sounds really interesting. Adding it to my reading list!

These are definitely the absolute classics for travel!

I recommend An Embarrassment of Mangoes. Sailing and cooking in the Caribbean. Will have to check out some of your recommendations!

That’s a great list, found so many of my favourites in here including Alain de Botton’s Art of Travel that I dared to criticise in an article – he is my favourite contemporary philosopher but on the travel topic I reckon he could do a lot better 😉 Thanks for sharing, will download a couple about nomadic families to cheer myself up from fever and chest infection. Greetings from London!

So Darcee & I are heading to Morocco this year so I was looking for some great books to dive into the world of the area. I have never even heard of A House in Fez or The Caliph’s House: A Year in Casablanca! We are hoping to head to Casablanca so I may start with The Caliph’s House! Thanks for this list. Many of the books are already on my list! Love Jack Kerouac!

wow, it`s huge! Noted. about ”Shantaram”

Very good performance but what a long story! Full of tragedy violence drugs and sadnesses. Makes you realize how people live in the rest of the world! Fighting for everything just to survive! An intimate look at life in India!

Thanks for this list! I’ll be checking out several of these titles. The interesting part about this blog post is the highlights about each book and how each book may be relevant. Great post.

So many of my trips have been inspired by reading novels! Last year, I took a January teaching job in Hawaii, after reading Honolulu and other fiction set on Oahu. I’m most interested in the fortune-teller book, I wonder if that will be my next trip…

Looks like some awesome reads to me. Anything by Paula Coelho absolutely rocks. Ryan

Great post/list and book review. I am placing Beautiful Ruins and a Walk in the Woods on my list.

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The 2024 Tiffany Blue Book Collection Takes Flight

Schlumberger never settled for anything ordinary. Why should you?

Before long Schlumberger was collaborating with Schiaparelli on buttons and costume jewelry. She was the avowed Surrealist, but Schlumberger had his own approach to the exquisitely bizarre. “I try to make everything look as if it were growing, uneven, at random, organic, in motion,” he once said. That fantastical aesthetic, which he brought to Tiffany when he joined the maison in 1956, applied to stone-studded creatures of land and sea, motifs from myth, history, and the heavens above. The 2024 Tiffany Blue Book Collection, titled Tiffany Céleste and designed by chief artistic officer of jewelry and high jewelry Nathalie Verdeille, looks up. It takes stars and wings and constellations and rays of light and translates them into one-of-a-kind jewels.

Flights—of fancy and otherwise—are a consistent theme in Schlumberger’s oeuvre. This is, after all, the man who designed Bird on a Rock . But his Wing earrings and his rare Pegasus brooch are equally coveted—just try keeping up with the prices at auction.

The Blue Book’s Wings necklace pictured here references both those archival pieces and then puts them through Verdeille’s vast imagination—and Tiffany’s access to such stones as the 20-carat oval diamond at the center. Schlumberger’s legacy is intact, from the otherworldly inspiration to the yellow gold ray detail at the bottom of the piece. It was also clearly on display when Jennifer Lopez wore the necklace to the Met Gala earlier this year. The dress she chose to wear with her Schlumberger tribute? It was Schiaparelli.

Above: The one-of-a-kind Wings necklace from Tiffany & Co.’s 2024 Blue Book Collection. Tiffany & Co. platinum, 18k gold, and diamond necklace. Prop styling by Rebecca Bartoshesky at Hello Artists.

Editor-in-Chief Stellene Volandes is a jewelry expert, and the author of Jeweler: Masters and Mavericks of Modern Design (Rizzoli).

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The T&C Jewelry Wardrobe: The New Pearl Rules

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100 Must-Read Travel Books

Rebecca Hussey

Rebecca holds a PhD in English and is a professor at Norwalk Community College in Connecticut. She teaches courses in composition, literature, and the arts. When she’s not reading or grading papers, she’s hanging out with her husband and son and/or riding her bike and/or buying books. She can't get enough of reading and writing about books, so she writes the bookish newsletter "Reading Indie," focusing on small press books and translations. Newsletter: Reading Indie Twitter: @ofbooksandbikes

View All posts by Rebecca Hussey

Real travel is awesome when we can manage it, but sometimes we just have to travel from our armchairs, right? When armchair travel is the most we can do, it’s good to have many reading options from which to choose. So I put together a list of 100 of the best travel books that will take you around the world without requiring any more effort than lifting your hand to turn the pages.

I did my best to organize these by geographical region, although sometimes that’s tricky since there are many ways to divide up the regions of the world. And I had to include a large category of “various locations” since some travel books really do take you everywhere. Within the geographical region, the books are organized chronologically.

I hope you will find some books on this list that pique your interest and can help you find adventures from the safety of your own home. Or maybe they will inspire you to go on a journey, or prepare you for an upcoming trip. Maybe you will read one of these on an airplane. Whatever the case, if travel is something that interests you, I hope this list helps you find new books to love.

Best Travel Books Set In Europe

Mary Wollstonecraft, Letters Written During a Short Residence in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark (1796)

“ Originally published in 1796, Mary Wollstonecraft’s account of her trip to Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, is compelling both in its picture of countries rarely visited in Regency times and insights into Mary’s personal life. ”

Robert Louis Stevenson, Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes (1879)

“ Ever hopeful of encountering the adventure he yearned for and raising much needed finance at the start of his writing career, Stevenson embarked on the120 mile, 12 day trek and recorded his experiences in this journal.”

Edith Wharton, A Motor-Flight Through France (1908)

“ Shedding the turn-of-the-century social confines she felt existed for women in America, Edith Wharton set out in the newly invented ‘motor-car’ to explore the cities and countryside of France.”

D.H. Lawrence, Sea and Sardinia (1921)

“ Written after the First World War when he was living in Sicily, Sea and Sardinia records Lawrence’s journey to Sardinia and back in January 1921. It reveals his response to a new landscape and people and his ability to transmute the spirit of place into literary art.”

George Orwell, Down and Out in Paris and London (1933)

“ This unusual fictional account – in good part autobiographical – narrates without self-pity and often with humor the adventures of a penniless British writer among the down-and-out of two great cities. ”

Rebecca West, Black Lamb and Grey Falcon (1941)

“ Written on the brink of World War II, Rebecca West’s classic examination of the history, people, and politics of Yugoslavia illuminates a region that is still a focus of international concern .”

Mary McCarthy, The Stones of Florence (1956)

“ Mary McCarthy offers a unique history of Florence, from its inception to the dominant role it came to play in the world of art, architecture, and Italian culture, that captures the brilliant Florentine spirit and revisits the legendary figures Dante, Michelangelo, Machiavelli, and others who exemplify it so iconically.”

Jan Morris, The World of Venice (1960)

“ Often hailed as one of the best travel books ever written, Venice is neither a guide nor a history book, but a beautifully written immersion in Venetian life and character, set against the background of the city’s past. ”

Patrick Leigh Fermor, A Time of Gifts (1977)

“ In 1933, at the age of 18, Patrick Leigh Fermor set out on an extraordinary journey by foot – from the Hook of Holland to Constantinople. A Time of Gifts is the first volume in a trilogy recounting the trip, and takes the reader with him as far as Hungary.”

Tété-Michel Kpomassie, An African in Greenland (1981)

“ Tété-Michel Kpomassie was a teenager in Togo when he discovered a book about Greenland—and knew that he must go there. Working his way north over nearly a decade, Kpomassie finally arrived in the country of his dreams. ”

Peter Mayle, A Year in Provence (1989)

“ In this witty and warm-hearted account, Peter Mayle tells what it is like to realize a long-cherished dream and actually move into a 200-year-old stone farmhouse in the remote country of the Lubéron with his wife and two large dogs. ”

Frances Mayes, Under the Tuscan Sun (1996)

“ Frances Mayes—widely published poet, gourmet cook, and travel writer—opens the door to a wondrous new world when she buys and restores an abandoned villa in the spectacular Tuscan countryside. ”

Adam Gopnik, Paris to the Moon (2000)

“ Paris. The name alone conjures images of chestnut-lined boulevards, sidewalk cafés, breathtaking façades around every corner–in short, an exquisite romanticism that has captured the American imagination for as long as there have been Americans.”

Lori Tharps , Kinky Gazpacho: Life, Love & Spain (2008)

“ Magazine writer and editor Lori Tharps was born and raised in the comfortable but mostly White suburbs of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she was often the only person of color in her school and neighborhood. At an early age, Lori decided that her destiny would be discovered in Spain. ”

Sue Monk Kidd and Ann Kidd Taylor, Traveling with Pomegranates: A Mother-Daughter Story (2009)

“ Between 1998 and 2000, Sue and Ann travel throughout Greece and France. Sue, coming to grips with aging, caught in a creative vacuum, longing to reconnect with her grown daughter, struggles to enlarge a vision of swarming bees into a novel. Ann, just graduated from college, heartbroken and benumbed by the classic question about what to do with her life, grapples with a painful depression. ”

André Aciman, Alibis: Essays on Elsewhere (2011)

“ From beautiful and moving pieces about the memory evoked by the scent of lavender; to meditations on cities like Barcelona, Rome, Paris, and New York; to his sheer ability to unearth life secrets from an ordinary street corner,  Alibis  reminds the reader that Aciman is a master of the personal essay. ”

Sarah Moss, Names for the Sea: Strangers in Iceland (2012)

“ Novelist Sarah Moss had a childhood dream of moving to Iceland, sustained by a wild summer there when she was nineteen. In 2009, she saw an advertisement for a job at the University of Iceland and applied on a whim, despite having two young children and a comfortable life in an English cathedral city.”

Robert Macfarlane, The Old Ways: A Journey on Foot (2012)

“ In this exquisitely written book, Robert Macfarlane sets off from his Cambridge, England, home to follow the ancient tracks, holloways, drove roads, and sea paths that crisscross both the British landscape and its waters and territories beyond. ”

Best Travel Books Set In  Latin America

Zora Neale Hurston, Tell My Horse: Voodoo and Life in Haiti and Jamaica (1938)

“ Based on Zora Neale Hurston’s personal experience in Haiti and Jamaica, where she participated as an initiate rather than just an observer of voodoo practices during her visits in the 1930s, this travelogue into a dark world paints a vividly authentic picture of ceremonies and customs and superstitions of great cultural interest. ”

Sybille Bedford, A Visit to Don Otavio (1953)

“ In the mid-1940s, Sybille Bedford set off from Grand Central Station for Mexico, accompanied by her friend E., a hamper of food and drink (Virginia ham, cherries, watercress, a flute of bread, Portuguese rosé), books, a writing board, and paper. Her resulting travelogue captures the rich and violent beauty of the country as it was then. ”

V.S. Naipaul, The Middle Passage , (1962)

“ In 1960 the government of Trinidad invited V. S. Naipaul to revisit his native country and record his impressions. In this classic of modern travel writing he has created a deft and remarkably prescient portrait of Trinidad and four adjacent Caribbean societies–countries haunted by the legacies of slavery and colonialism .”

Bruce Chatwin, In Patagonia (1977)

“ An exhilarating look at a place that still retains the exotic mystery of a far-off, unseen land, Bruce Chatwin’s exquisite account of his journey through Patagonia teems with evocative descriptions, remarkable bits of history, and unforgettable anecdotes.”

Paul Theroux, The Old Patagonian Express: By Train Through the Americas (1979)

“ Beginning his journey in Boston, where he boarded the subway commuter train, and catching trains of all kinds on the way, Paul Theroux tells of his voyage from ice-bound Massachusetts and Illinois to the arid plateau of Argentina’s most southerly tip. ”

Salman Rushdie, The Jaguar Smile: A Nicaraguan Journey (1987)

“ In this brilliantly focused and haunting portrait of the people, the politics, the land, and the poetry of Nicaragua, Salman Rushdie brings to the forefront the palpable human facts of a country in the midst of a revolution. ”

Mary Morris, Nothing to Declare: Memoirs of a Woman Traveling Alone (1987)

“ Traveling from the highland desert of northern Mexico to the steaming jungles of Honduras, from the seashore of the Caribbean to the exquisite highlands of Guatemala, Mary Morris, a celebrated writer of both fiction and nonfiction, confronts the realities of place, poverty, machismo, and selfhood. ”

Jamaica Kincaid, A Small Place (1988)

“ Lyrical, sardonic, and forthright, A Small Place magnifies our vision of one small place with Swiftian wit and precision. Jamaica Kincaid’s expansive essay candidly appraises the ten-by-twelve-mile island in the British West Indies where she grew up, and makes palpable the impact of European colonization and tourism. ”

Isabel Allende, My Invented Country: A Nostalgic Journey Through Chile (2003)

“ Isabel Allende evokes the magnificent landscapes of her country; a charming, idiosyncratic Chilean people with a violent history and an indomitable spirit, and the politics, religion, myth, and magic of her homeland that she carries with her even today. ”

Best Travel Books Set In  North America

Olaudah Equiano, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano (1789)

“ Widely admired for its vivid accounts of the slave trade, Olaudah Equiano’s autobiography — the first slave narrative to attract a significant readership — reveals many aspects of the eighteenth-century Western world through the experiences of one individual. ”

Isabella Bird, A Lady’s Life in the Rocky Mountains (1879)

“ Bird was born in 1831 in Cheshire, England, and became one of a distinguished group of female travellers famous in the nineteenth century–a time when it was considered that a lady’s place should be confined to the home. Isabella travelled and explored the world extensively and became a notable writer and natural historian.”

John Steinbeck, Travels with Charley in Search of America (1962)

“ In September 1960, John Steinbeck embarked on a journey across America. He felt that he might have lost touch with the country, with its speech, the smell of its grass and trees, its color and quality of light, the pulse of its people.”

Edward Abbey, Desert Solitaire (1968)

“ This is a rare view of a quest to experience nature in its purest form — the silence, the struggle, the overwhelming beauty. But this is also the gripping, anguished cry of a man of character who challenges the growing exploitation of the wilderness by oil and mining interests, as well as by the tourist industry. ”

Robert Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values (1974)

“ A narration of a summer motorcycle trip undertaken by a father and his son, the book becomes a personal and philosophical odyssey into fundamental questions of how to live. ”

Edmund White, States of Desire: Travels in Gay America (1980)

“ In this city-by-city description of the way homosexual men lived in the late seventies, Edmund White gives us a picture of Gay America that will surprise gay and straight readers alike.”

William Least Heat-Moon, Blue Highways: A Journey into America (1982)

“ William Least Heat-Moon set out with little more than the need to put home behind him and a sense of curiosity … His adventures, his discoveries, and his recollections of the extraordinary people he encountered along the way amount to a revelation of the true American experience.”

Gretel Ehrlich, The Solace of Open Spaces (1984)

“ Poet and filmmaker Gretel Ehrlich went to Wyoming in 1975 to make the first in a series of documentaries when her partner died. Ehrlich stayed on and found she couldn’t leave. The Solace of Open Spaces is a chronicle of her first years on “the planet of Wyoming,” a personal journey into a place, a feeling, and a way of life. ”

Jonathan Raban, Bad Land: An American Romance (1985)

“ In towns named Terry, Calypso, and Ismay (which changed its name to Joe, Montana, in an effort to attract football fans), and in the landscape in between, Raban unearths a vanished episode of American history, with its own ruins, its own heroes and heroines, its own hopeful myths and bitter memories. ”

Jon Krakauer, Into the Wild (1996)

“ In April 1992 a young man from a well-to-do family hitchhiked to Alaska and walked alone into the wilderness north of Mt. McKinley. His name was Christopher Johnson McCandless. He had given $25,000 in savings to charity, abandoned his car and most of his possessions, burned all the cash in his wallet, and invented a new life for himself. ”

Jenny Diski, Stranger on a Train: Daydreaming and Smoking Around America with Interruptions (2002)

“ Using two cross-country trips on Amtrak as her narrative vehicles, British writer Jenny Diski connects the humming rails, taking her into the heart of America with the track-like scars leading back to her own past. ”

Rebecca Solnit, A Field Guide to Getting Lost (2005)

“ A Field Guide to Getting Lost draws on emblematic moments and relationships in Solnit’s own life to explore the issues of wandering, being lost, and the uses of the unknown. The result is a distinctive, stimulating, and poignant voyage of discovery. ”

Sarah Vowell, Assassination Vacation (2005)

“ With Assassination Vacation, [Vowell] takes us on a road trip like no other—a journey to the pit stops of American political murder and through the myriad ways they have been used for fun and profit, for political and cultural advantage. ”

Cheryl Strayed, Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail (2012)

“ At twenty-two, Cheryl Strayed thought she had lost everything. In the wake of her mother’s death, her family scattered and her own marriage was soon destroyed. Four years later, with nothing more to lose, she made the most impulsive decision of her life.”

Suzanne Roberts, Almost Somewhere: Twenty-Eight Days on the John Muir Trail (2012)

“ It was 1993, Suzanne Roberts had just finished college, and when her friend suggested they hike California’s John Muir Trail, the adventure sounded like the perfect distraction from a difficult home life and thoughts about the future. But she never imagined that the twenty-eight-day hike would change her life. ”

Gloria Steinem, My Life on the Road (2015)

“ Gloria Steinem—writer, activist, organizer, and one of the most inspiring leaders in the world—now tells a story she has never told before, a candid account of how her early years led her to live an on-the-road kind of life, traveling, listening to people, learning, and creating change. ”

Best Travel Books Set In  Asia

Matsuo Bashō, The Narrow Road to the Deep North (1689)

“ In later life Basho turned to Zen Buddhism, and the travel sketched in this volume reflect his attempts to cast off earthly attachments and reach out to spiritual fulfillment. The sketches are written in the ‘haibun’ style–a linking of verse and prose. ”

Alexandra David-Néel, My Journey to Lhasa (1927)

“ In order to penetrate Tibet and reach Lhasa, she used her fluency of Tibetan dialects and culture, disguised herself as a beggar with yak hair extensions and inked skin and tackled some of the roughest terrain and climate in the World.”

Eric Newby, A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush (1958)

“ No mountaineer, Newby set out with a friend to explore the formidable peaks of the Nuristan Mountains in northeast Afghanistan. His witty, unorthodox report is packed with incidents both ghastly and ecstatic as he takes us where few Western feet have trod.”

Peter Matthiessen, The Snow Leopard (1978)

“ When Matthiessen went to Nepal to study the Himalayan blue sheep and, possibly, to glimpse the rare and beautiful snow leopard, he undertook his five-week trek as winter snows were sweeping into the high passes. This is a radiant and deeply moving account of a ‘true pilgrimage, a journey of the heart.'”

Michael Ondaatje, Running in the Family (1982)

“ In the late 1970s Ondaatje returned to his native island of Sri Lanka. As he records his journey through the drug-like heat and intoxicating fragrances of that ‘pendant off the ear of India,’ Ondaatje simultaneously retraces the baroque mythology of his Dutch-Ceylonese family. ”

Vikram Seth, From Heaven Lake: Travels Through Sinkian and Tibet (1983)

“ After two years as a postgraduate student at Nanjing University in China, Vikram Seth hitch-hiked back to his home in New Delhi, via Tibet. From Heaven Lake is the story of his remarkable journey and his encounters with nomadic Muslims, Chinese officials, Buddhists and others. ”

Christina Dodwell, Traveller in China (1985)

“ Christina Dodwell s wanderlust, combined with her inventive and unorthodox methods of travel and her unquenchable curiosity about people, make her the ideal guide to the remoter parts of China’s vast territory. ”

Pico Iyer, Video Night in Kathmandu (1988)

“ Why did Dire Straits blast out over Hiroshima, Bruce Springsteen over Bali and Madonna over all? The author was eager to learn where East meets West, how pop culture and imperialism penetrated through the world’s most ancient civilisations. Then, the truths he began to uncover were more startling, subtle, and more complex than he ever anticipated. ”

Pankaj Mishra, Butter Chicken in Ludhiana: Travels in Small Town India (1995)

“ From a convent-educated beauty pageant aspirant to small shopkeepers planning their vacation in London, Pankaj Mishra paints a vivid picture of a people rushing headlong to their tryst with modernity. ”

Andrew Pham, Catfish and Mandala: A Two-Wheeled Voyage Through the Landscape and Memory of Vietnam (1999)

“ Catfish and Mandala is the story of an American odyssey—a solo bicycle voyage around the Pacific Rim to Vietnam—made by a young Vietnamese-American man in pursuit of both his adopted homeland and his forsaken fatherland.”

Ma Jian, Red Dust: A Path Through China (2001)

“ In 1983, at the age of thirty, dissident artist Ma Jian finds himself divorced by his wife, separated from his daughter, betrayed by his girlfriend, facing arrest for ‘Spiritual Pollution,’ and severely disillusioned with the confines of life in Beijing. So with little more than a change of clothes and two bars of soap, Ma takes off to immerse himself in the remotest parts of China. ”

Suketu Mehta , Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found (2004)

“ The book combines elements of memoir, travel writing as well as socio-political analysis of the history and people of Mumbai. Mehta writes as a person who is at one level outsider to this magnificent city and on the other hand is the one who is born here and has lived his childhood in the city then known as Bombay. ”

Faith Adiele, Meeting Faith: The Forest Journals of a Black Buddhist Nun (2004)

“ Reluctantly leaving behind Pop Tarts and pop culture to battle flying rats, hissing cobras, forest fires, and decomposing corpses, Faith Adiele shows readers in this personal narrative, with accompanying journal entries, that the path to faith is full of conflicts for even the most devout. ”

Barbara Demick, Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea (2009)

“ Award-winning journalist Barbara Demick follows the lives of six North Korean citizens over fifteen years–a chaotic period that saw the death of Kim Il-sung, the rise to power of his son Kim Jong-il, and a devastating famine that killed one-fifth of the population. ”

Katherine Boo, Behind the Beautiful Forevers (2012)

“ In this brilliant, breathtaking book by Pulitzer Prize winner Katherine Boo, a bewildering age of global change and inequality is made human through the dramatic story of families striving toward a better life in Annawadi, a makeshift settlement in the shadow of luxury hotels near the Mumbai airport. ”

Best Travel Books Set In  Africa

Mary Kingsley, Travels in West Africa (1897)

“ Upon her sudden freedom from family obligations, a sheltered Victorian spinster traded her stifling middle-class existence for an incredible expedition in the Congo. ”

Beryl Markham, West with the Night (1942)

“[Markham’s] successes and her failures—and her deep, lifelong love of the ‘soul of Africa’—are all chronicled here with wrenching honesty and agile wit. Hailed by National Geographic as one of the greatest adventure books of all time, West with the Night is the sweeping account of a fearless and dedicated woman. ”

Maya Angelou, All God’s Children Need Traveling Shoes (1986)

“ Once again, the poet casts her spell as she resumes one of the greatest personal narratives of our time. In this continuation, Angelou relates how she joins a “colony” of Black American expatriates in Ghana–only to discover no one ever goes home again. ”

Eddy L. Harris, Native Stranger: A Black American’s Journey into the Heart of Africa (1992)

“ Recounting his journey into the heart of Africa, an African American describes his encounters with beggars and bureaucrats, his visit to Soweto, a night in a Liberian jail cell, and more. ”

Philip Gourevitch, We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Families (1998)

“ Philip Gourevitch’s haunting work is an anatomy of the killings in Rwanda, a vivid history of the genocide’s background, and an unforgettable account of what it means to survive in its aftermath. ”

Colleen McElroy, Over the Lip of the World: Among the Storytellers of Madagascar (1999)

“ McElroy’s tale of an African American woman’s travels among the people of Madagascar is told with wit, insight, and humor. Throughout it she interweaves English translations of Malagasy stories of heroism and morality, royalty and commoners, love and revenge, and the magic of tricksters and shapechangers. ”

Charlayne Hunter-Gault, New News Out of Africa: Uncovering Africa’s Renaissance (2006)

“ In New News Out of Africa , this eminent reporter offers a fresh and surprisingly optimistic assessment of modern Africa, revealing that there is more to the continent than the bad news of disease, disaster, and despair.”

Noo Saro-Wiwa, Looking for Transwonderland: Travels in Nigeria (2012)

“ She finds [Nigeria] as exasperating as ever, and frequently despairs at the corruption and inefficiency she encounters. But she also discovers that it is far more beautiful and varied than she had ever imagined, with its captivating thick tropical rainforest and ancient palaces and monuments.”

Best Travel Books Set In The  South Pacific

Robyn Davidson, Tracks: A Woman’s Solo Trek Across 1700 Miles of Australian Outback (1980)

“ Robyn Davidson’s opens the memoir of her perilous journey across 1,700 miles of hostile Australian desert to the sea with only four camels and a dog for company with the following words: ‘I experienced that sinking feeling you get when you know you have conned yourself into doing something difficult and there’s no going back.'”

Dea Birkett, Serpent in Paradise (1997)

“ Acclaimed British travel writer and journalist Dea Birkett, obsessed like many with the island’s image as a secluded Eden and its connection to the mysterious and intriguing Bounty legend, traveled across the Pacific on a cargo ship and became one of the very few outsiders permitted to land on Pitcairn. ”

Bill Bryson, In a Sunburned Country (2000)

“ Despite the fact that Australia harbors more things that can kill you in extremely nasty ways than anywhere else, including sharks, crocodiles, snakes, even riptides and deserts, Bill Bryson adores the place, and he takes his readers on a rollicking ride far beyond that beaten tourist path. ”

Kira Salak, Four Corners: A Journey into the Heart of Papua, New Guinea (2001)

“ Traveling by dugout canoe and on foot, confronting the dangers and wonders of a largely untouched world, [Salak] became the first woman to traverse this remote country and write about it. ”

Best Travel Books Set In The  Middle East/North Africa

Mary Wortley Montagu, The Turkish Embassy Letters (1716)

“ Her lively letters offer insights into the paradoxical freedoms conferred on Muslim women by the veil, the value of experimental work by Turkish doctors on inoculation, and the beauty of Arab poetry and culture. ”

Robert Byron, The Road to Oxiana (1937)

“ In 1933 the delightfully eccentric Robert Byron set out on a journey through the Middle East via Beirut, Jerusalem, Baghdad and Teheran to Oxiana -the country of the Oxus, the ancient name for the river Amu Darya which forms part of the border between Afghanistan and the Soviet Union. ”

Isabelle Eberhardt, The Nomad: The Diaries of Isabelle Eberhardt (1987, written in late 19th century)

“ Eberhardt’s journal chronicles the daring adventures of a late 19th- century European woman who traveled the Sahara desert disguised as an Arab man and adopted Islam.”

Sara Suleri, Meatless Days (1989)

“ In this finely wrought memoir of life in postcolonial Pakistan, Suleri intertwines the violent history of Pakistan’s independence with her own most intimate memories—of her Welsh mother; of her Pakistani father, prominent political journalist Z.A. Suleri; of her tenacious grandmother Dadi and five siblings; and of her own passage to the West. ”

Amitav Ghosh, In an Antique Land: History in the Guise of a Traveler’s Tale (1993)

“ Interspersing his quest with accounts of his stay in ‘Masr’ and the people he met, Ghosh weaves together a narrative packed with exuberant detail, exposing ties that have bound together India and Egypt, and Hindus and Muslims and Jews, from the Crusades to Operation Desert Storm.”

Rory Stewart, The Places in Between (2004)

“ In January 2002 Rory Stewart walked across Afghanistan–surviving by his wits, his knowledge of Persian dialects and Muslim customs, and the kindness of strangers … Along the way Stewart met heroes and rogues, tribal elders and teenage soldiers, Taliban commanders and foreign-aid workers. ”

Colin Thubron, Shadow of the Silk Road (2007)

“ Making his way by local bus, truck, car, donkey cart, and camel, Colin Thubron covered some seven thousand miles in eight months out of the heart of China into the mountains of Central Asia, across northern Afghanistan and the plains of Iran into Kurdish Turkey and explored an ancient world in modern ferment. ”

Gertrude Bell, A Woman in Arabia: The Writings of the Queen of the Desert (2015, written in early 20th century)

“ This is the epic story of Bell’s life, told through her letters, military dispatches, diary entries, and other writings. It offers a unique and intimate look behind the public mask of a woman who shaped nations. ”

Lynsey Addario, It’s What I Do: A Photographer’s Life of Love and War (2015)

“ Lynsey Addario was just finding her way as a young photographer when September 11 changed the world. One of the few photojournalists with experience in Afghanistan, she gets the call to return and cover the American invasion.”

Best Travel Books Set In  Arctic/Antarctic

Ernest Shackleton, South: The Story of Shackleton’s Last Expedition, 1914-1917 (1919)

“ In an epic struggle of man versus the elements, Shackleton leads his team on a harrowing quest for survival over some of the most unforgiving terrain in the world.”

Barry Lopez, Arctic Dreams (2001)

“ Lopez offers a thorough examination of this obscure world-its terrain, its wildlife, its history of Eskimo natives and intrepid explorers who have arrived on their icy shores. But what turns this marvelous work of natural history into a breathtaking study of profound originality is his unique meditation on how the landscape can shape our imagination, desires, and dreams. ”

Sara Wheeler, Terra Incognita: Travels in Antarctica (1996)

“ Terra Incognita is a meditation on the landscape, myths and history of one of the remotest parts of the globe, as well as an encounter with the international temporary residents of the region – living in close confinement despite the surrounding acres of white space – and the mechanics of day-to-day life in extraordinary conditions. ”

Gretchen Legler, On the Ice: An Intimate Portrait of Life at McMurdo Station, Antarctica (2005)

“ Sent to Antarctica as an observer by the National Science Foundation, Gretchen Legler arrives at McMurdo Station in midwinter, a time of -70 degree temperatures and months of near-total darkness. ”

Various Locations

Ibn Battuta, The Travels of Ibn Battuta , (14th century)

“ Ibn Battutah—ethnographer, bigrapher, anecdotal historian and occasional botanist—was just 21 when he set out in 1325 from his native Tangier on a pilgramage to Mecca. He did not return to Morocco for another 29 years, traveling instead through more than 40 countries on the modern map, covering 75,000 miles and getting as far north as the Volga, as far east as China, and as far south as Tanzania. ”

Martha Gellhorn, Travels With Myself and Another (1979): “ Out of a lifetime of travelling, Martha Gellhorn has selected her ‘best horror journeys.’ She bumps through rain-sodden, war-torn China to meet Chiang Kai-Shek, floats listlessly in search of u-boats in the wartime Caribbean and visits a dissident writer in the Soviet Union against her better judgment.”

Barbara Savage, Miles from Nowhere: A Round-The World Bicycle Adventure (1983)

“ This is the story of Barbara and Larry Savage’s sometimes dangerous, often zany, but ultimately rewarding 23,000 miles global bicycle odyssey, which took them through 25 countries in two years.”

Elaine Lee, editor, Go Girl!: The Black Woman’s Book of Travel and Adventure (1997)

“Globe-trotting attorney Lee assembled 52 travel pieces presenting the uncommon perspective of black women, mostly African Americans. Assembled under the headings ‘Back to Africa,’ ‘Sistren Travelin’,’ and ‘Trippin’ All Over the World,’ many initially appeared in popular women’s or travel magazines.”

Cheryl J. Fish, editor, A Stranger in the Village: Two Centuries of African-American Travel Writing (1999)

“ Dispatches, diaries, memoirs, and letters by African-American travelers in search of home, justice, and adventure-from the Wild West to Australia. ”

Caryl Phillips, The Atlantic Sound (2000)

“ Liverpool, England; Accra, Ghana; Charleston, South Carolina. These were the points of the triangle forming the major route of the transatlantic slave trade. And these are the cities that acclaimed author Caryl Phillips explores–physically, historically, psychologically–in this wide-ranging meditation on the legacy of slavery. ”

Alain de Botton, The Art of Travel (2002)

“ Any Baedeker will tell us where we ought to travel, but only Alain de Botton will tell us how and why … de Botton considers the pleasures of anticipation; the allure of the exotic, and the value of noticing everything from a seascape in Barbados to the takeoffs at Heathrow.”

Geoff Dyer, Yoga for People Who Can’t Be Bothered to Do It (2003)

“ As he travels from Amsterdam to Cambodia, Rome to Indonesia, Libya to Burning Man in the Black Rock Desert, Dyer flounders about in a sea of grievances, with fleeting moments of transcendental calm his only reward for living in a perpetual state of motion. ”

Susan Orlean, My Kind of Place: Travel Stories from a Woman Who’s Been Everywhere (2004)

“ In this irresistible collection of adventures far and near, Orlean conducts a tour of the world via its subcultures, from the heart of the African music scene in Paris to the World Taxidermy Championships in Springfield, Illinois–and even into her own apartment, where she imagines a very famous houseguest taking advantage of her hospitality. ”

Ryszard Kapuściński , Travels with Herodotus (2004)

“J ust out of university in 1955, Kapuscinski told his editor that he’d like to go abroad. Dreaming no farther than Czechoslovakia, the young reporter found himself sent to India. Wide-eyed and captivated, he would discover in those days his life’s work—to understand and describe the world in its remotest reaches, in all its multiplicity.”

Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love (2006)

“ Setting out for a year to study three different aspects of her nature amid three different cultures, Gilbert explored the art of pleasure in Italy and the art of devotion in India, and then a balance between the two on the Indonesian island of Bali. ”

Tahir Shah, Travels with Myself (2011)

“ Travels with Myself is a collection of selected writings by Tahir Shah, acclaimed Anglo-Afghan author and champion of the intrepid. Written over twenty years, the many pieces form an eclectic treasury of stories from Latin America, Asia, Africa, and beyond.

Elisabeth Eaves, Wanderlust: A Love Affair with Five Continents (2011)

“ Spanning 15 years of travel, beginning when she is a sophomore in college, Wanderlust documents Elisabeth Eaves’s insatiable hunger for the rush of the unfamiliar and the experience of encountering new people and cultures. ”

Paula Young Lee, Deer Hunting in Paris: A Memoir of God, Guns, and Game Meat (2013)

“ What happens when a Korean-American preacher’s kid refuses to get married, travels the world, and quits being vegetarian? She meets her polar opposite on an online dating site while sitting at a café in Paris, France and ends up in Paris, Maine, learning how to hunt. ”

Emily Raboteau, Searching for Zion: The Quest for Home in the African Diaspora (2013)

“ On her ten-year journey back in time and around the globe, through the Bush years and into the age of Obama, Raboteau wanders to Jamaica, Ethiopia, Ghana, and the American South to explore the complex and contradictory perspectives of Black Zionists. ”

Amanda Epe, A Fly Girl: Travel Tales of an Exotic British Airways Cabin Crew (2014)

“ A Fly Girl gives insight to the highs and lows in the world of a former BA cabin crew, in an intriguing travel writing memoir. In the global landscape the memoirist meticulously documents personal adventures, social structures and political history throughout her daring and exciting expeditions.”

Robert Moor, On Trails: An Exploration (2016)

“ Throughout, Moor reveals how this single topic—the oft-overlooked trail—sheds new light on a wealth of age-old questions: How does order emerge out of chaos? How did animals first crawl forth from the seas and spread across continents?”

What do you think are the best travel books? Check out even more recommendations for travel memoirs here !

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Statement on the Removal of Books and Library Materials

Post Date and Author:

The New College Library is following its longstanding annual procedures for weeding its collection, which involves the removal of materials that are old, damaged, or otherwise no longer serving the needs of the College. This process is carried out by professional Librarians trained to assess the collection. A library needs to regularly review and renew its collection to ensure its materials are meeting the current needs of students and faculty. The images seen online of a dumpster of library materials is related to the standard weeding process. Chapter 273 of Florida statutes precludes New College from selling, donating or transferring these materials, which were purchased with state funds. Deselected materials are discarded, through a recycling process when possible. 

Separate from the New College library weeding its collection, a number of books associated with the discontinued Gender Studies program were removed from a room in Hamilton Center that is being repurposed. These books came from a number of sources, primarily donations over a number of years. Again, Gender Studies has been discontinued as an area of concentration at New College, and the books are not part of any official college collection or inventory. When the books were not claimed for pickup from the room, they were moved to a book drop location by the library where they were later claimed by individuals planning to donate the books locally.

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Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Travel To... Book Series Kindle Edition

Historically, black colleges and universities were established to educate African American students when segregation laws prohibited them from attending the same schools as white students. Today, HBCU campuses and programs fulfill an ever-evolving mission that has allowed them to provide affordable education for diverse generations. Travel to… Historically Black Colleges and Universities to take a guided tour to a handful of the campuses that paved the way for some of the country’s brightest minds!

Over 100 black college and universities were established nearly 200 years ago during segregation. Get ready to take a journey back in time across the United States to learn about Historically Black Colleges and Universities’ black history.

Storybook for Grades 5-9 Features:

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About Rourke Educational Media:

We proudly publish respectful and relevant nonfiction and fiction titles that represent our diverse readers, and are designed to support reading on a level that has no limits!

• Reading age 10 - 15 years
• Print length 53 pages
• Language English
• Grade level 5 - 9
• Publisher Connections
• Publication date October 6, 2023
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Welcome to a field trip on a page!

Highlighting the importance of place and time, the Travel To … book series spans the most known to the most obscure places, times, and touchstones that tell the stories of who we are—but that’s not all! Each nonfiction book includes:

• Before and during reading activities
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• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CFYVZG94
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Connections (October 6, 2023)
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 6, 2023
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• File size ‏ : ‎ 49551 KB
• Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Not enabled
• Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
• X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
• Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
• Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 53 pages
• #1,114 in Children's Travel Books (Kindle Store)
• #1,560 in Children's School & Education Books
• #1,561 in Children's People of Color Biographies

About the author

J. p. (janice) miller.

Growing up in Asheville, North Carolina JP’s weekdays were filled with school and sports. Her weekends with church. In between, she loved to read. She had an unrelenting thirst for books about African American people and culture, but few were to be found in the 1960s and 70s. Back then she was drawn to books that were packed with adventure. Preferably short. After retiring from the U. S. Forest Service in 2015, she dedicated her life to writing stories of African Diaspora in Children’s literature. Now she writes the type of stories she would have enjoyed as a child. Short, exciting, and filled with rich African American culture.

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Florida college empties gender diversity library, tosses hundreds of books

New college of florida, a public liberal arts school in sarasota, has undergone major changes at the behest of the state's republican governor..

A Florida college overhauled by the state's Republican governor sent hundreds of library books, many of which contained LGBTQ+ themes, to a landfill.

It's the latest development in a conservative campaign that has brought national scrutiny to New College of Florida , a small liberal arts school in Sarasota. Gov. Ron DeSantis, a prominent figure in the GOP and a former presidential candidate, vowed to turn the campus into the "first public university to push back on gender indoctrination."

The school's transformation, which prompted many students and faculty members to flee to other schools, has influenced Republican efforts nationwide to reshape higher education in the party's image.

On Tuesday afternoon, a dumpster in the parking lot of the school's Jane Bancroft Cook Library overflowed with books and collections from the now-defunct Gender and Diversity Center. Video showed a vehicle driving away with the books before students were notified. (In the past, New College students have been given an opportunity to purchase books leaving the college's library collection.)

Some of the discarded books included, "Nine and Counting: The Women of the Senate," "The War of the Worlds" and "When I Knew," a collection of stories from LGBTQ+ people recounting when they knew they were gay.

After Gannett's report was published, New College spokesperson Nathan March sent a statement saying the story was false. The college was carrying out two separate procedures: a routine maintenance of its campus library and removing materials from the GDC because the gender studies program no longer exists.

"A library needs to regularly review and renew its collection to ensure its materials are meeting the current needs of students and faculty," March wrote. "The images seen online of a dumpster of library materials is related to the standard weeding process."

March referenced Florida Statute 237 as the reason each book could not be donated or sold. However, Florida law states that New College could dispose of state-funded personal property by "selling or transferring the property to any other governmental entity ... private nonprofit agency ... (and) through a sale open to the public."

He also said that, because no one claimed the GDC library of books from its previous home in the Hamilton Center, the books were moved to a donation box behind the library. The donation box sits several feet from where the book-filled dumpster sat, and New College's move-in day isn't until Aug. 23, meaning most students are not on campus yet.

Several students also said they were never told the GDC books were available to claim.

Amy Reid, the faculty chair and representative on the board of trustees, said when colleges throw away books, they also throw away democracy.

"Books are what matter," she said.

Natalia Benavites, a 21-year-old fourth-year student at New College, said books in the dumpster carried the college's seal as well as a "discard" sticker on the spine. When she asked officials whether they could donate the books, she was told that under state statute the college can't donate books purchased with state funds.

The college also discarded books from the Gender and Diversity Center, which was located across campus. The GDC books were purchased individually and not with state funds, Benavites said.

Follow Herald-Tribune Education Reporter Steven Walker on Twitter at @swalker_7. He can be reached at [email protected].

Best Travel Book for a College Student

• June 22, 2023

Best Travel Book for a College Student – Good travel books for college students, whether fictional books or non-fictional works, can transport you out of the usual stress of everyday life traveling as a student who is always engaging in one form of travel or the other, this grants you the opportunity to visit places you’ve always dreamed of seeing, or to increase your connection with beloved destinations as a college student. Here are some of the best books to buy while you prepare to travel as a student!

Top Best Travel Book for a College Student

1. alain de botton’s “the art of travel”.

Many travel books are written to inspire the student’s fantasies and his or her desire to travel, but de Botton is a very special one as it takes candid look and/or intellectual look at why you should embark on journeys. The Author of this book was able to brings to light the truths that you may not want to see or believe as a college student. A lot of travel text gives us hint on how or where to go, and based on this fact, it will be easy for travelers to lose track of their essence of traveling in the first place.

The book by Alain de Botton’s named “The Art of Travel” is perfect for travels and is recommended for college students as a reminder that traveling is not only concerning their incredible moments. The smallest information here is a part of the experiences you gain as a college student taking a travel tour.

2 How to Travel the World on $50 a Day – A Book Written by Matt Kepnes

This is one of the best book travel book for college students, in fact every student should have this in his or her library. It presents the how-to guide that are needed by learners who are highly interested in exploring different places on a budget. It contains certain details on how you can save money on transportation, save money on food, save money on accommodations, and on airline tickets. If you are a college student who are seeking to get decent travel guide booklets, this is a perfect literature to read.

3 On the Road , A Book Authored by Jack Kerouac

Jack Kerouac’s book titled “On the Road,” is a classic of the Beat Generation, that was written and published in the year 1957, is an exciting work of literature. The book narrates the story of Sal as he gets off New York City and travels to the west, there he made new friends, and he also rode the rails. The frustration & the expectation to see the globe felt by the main character are emotions you will most likely identify with on certain level. With the experience gained, he was able to mature into a better, stronger, & his personality became more self-assured throughout his period of journeying.

4 The Geography of Bliss, a Book Written by Eric Weiner

This best travel book for a college student offers you a real-life experience beyond fantasies. The author embarks on a travel that would take him across the globe and it lasted for a full year. He is in looking out for the sources of happiness. On his journey to find out the factors that will impact to human happiness. In as much as he doesn’t get a single key to happiness along the trip way, his trip was exciting and it provides humorous read.

List of Best Travel Books

A) best travel novels & stories (fiction).

• The Kite Runner written by Khaled Husseini
• One Hundred Years of Solitude written by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
• The Alchemist written by Paulo Coehlo
• Shantaram written by Gregory David Roberts
• On the Road written by Jack Kerouac
• A Woman in Jerusalem written by A.B. Yehoshua
• Burmese Days: A Novel written by George Orwell
• American Dirt written by Jeanine Cummins
• The Great Alone written by Kristin Hannah
• Next Year in Havana written by Chanel Cleeton

B) Best Travel Books Based in Africa

• Desert Flower written by Waris Dirie
• African Diary written by Billy Bryson
• Blood River: A Journey to Africa’s Broken Heart written by Tim Butcher
• Gratitude in Low Voices written by Dawit Gebremichael Habte
• It’s Our Turn to Eat written by Michela Wrong

C) Best Travel Books Based in Asia

• Bad Lands: A Tourist on the Axis of Evil written by Tony Wheeler
• Escape from Camp 14 written by Blaine Harden
• Lands of Lost Borders written by Kate Harris
• Seven Years in Tibet written by Heinrich Harrer
• Sold: A Story of Modern-day Slavery written by Zana Muhsen

D) Best Travel Books Based in Europe

• The Choice written by Edith Eger
• Under the Tuscan Sun written by Frances Mayes
• A Year in Provence written by Peter Mayle
• Driving Over Lemons written by Chris Stewart
• Eat Pray Love written by Elizabeth Gilbert

E) Best Travel Books Based in North America

• A Walk in the Woods written by Bill Bryson
• Wild written by Cheryl Strayed
• Into the Wild written by Jon Krakauer
• Blue Highways: A Journey into America written by William Least Heat-Moon
• The Divide: A 2700 Mile Search For Answers written by Nathan Doneen

F) Travel Books Based in South America

• The Lost City of Z written by David Grann
• The Motorcycle Diaries written by Ernesto Che Guevara
• Life and Death in the Andes written by Kim MacQuarrie
• In Patagonia written by Bruce Chatwin
• Marching Powder written by Thomas McFadden and Rusty Young

G) Best Travel Books Based in Oceania

• In a Sunburned Country written by Bill Bryson
• The Happy Isles of Oceania written by Paul Theroux
• The Sex Lives of Cannibals written by J. Maarten Troost
• Blue Lattitudes written by Tony Horwitz
• A Land of Two Halves written by Joe Bennett

H) Best Travel Guide Books and Compilations

• Journey of a Lifetime written by National Geographic
• Wonders of the World written by Lonely Planet
• How to Travel the World on $50 a Day written by Matt Kepnes
• The Adventure Traveler’s Handbook written by Nellie Huang

I) Best Travel Books For Kids

• Explorers: Amazing Tales of the World’s Greatest Adventurers written by Nellie Huang & Jessamy Hawke
• Beginner’s World Atlas written by National Geographic Kids
• Let’s Explore Activity Book written by Lonely Planet Kids
• This is… Travel written by Miroslav Sasek
• Hello, World written by Ashley Evanson

The best travel books for college students are often those books that have the power to transform you no matter how long your journey might be. Pick from our list of the best travel book for college students.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are travel books called.

Travelogue ( A book written up from a travel diary, or illustrated talk describing the experiences of and places visited by traveller)

Who is the best travel writer in the world?

Jack Kerouac.

Freya Stark.

Jan Morris.

John Steinbeck.

Peter Mayle.

Anthony Bourdain.

Elizabeth Gilbert.

What makes a good travel book?

The best travel books for college students are often those books that have the power to transform you no matter how long your journey might

• Little family adventure.com – The World’s Best Travel Literature For Learners
• Nomadicmatt.com – TRAVEL BOOKS THAT WILL GIVE YOU SERIOUS WANDERLUST
• Topuniversities.com – Books That Let You Travel the World From Your Bedroom
• Wildjunket.com – Best Travel Books

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Tim Walz’s Long Relationship With China Defies Easy Stereotypes

Mr. Walz, the Democrats’ vice-presidential nominee, taught in China and has visited the country around 30 times. But he has also been critical of the Chinese government’s human rights record.

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By Amy Qin and Keith Bradsher

Amy Qin reported from Washington, and Keith Bradsher reported from Foshan, China.

In the summer of 1989, Tim Walz faced a difficult choice.

A newly minted college graduate from small-town Nebraska, he had just turned down a stable, 9-to-5 job offer and moved across the world to teach at a local high school in China. He had made it as far as Hong Kong, just across the Chinese border, when People’s Liberation Army tanks rolled into Tiananmen Square to crush pro-democracy protests.

Rumors were flying about a possible civil war in China. Many foreigners, including most American teachers, had fled the country. Should he go back home or continue his journey into China?

He decided to go in.

“It was my belief at that time that the diplomacy was going to happen on many levels, certainly people to people,” Mr. Walz recalled in 2014 during a congressional hearing marking the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown. “The opportunity to be in a Chinese high school at that critical time seemed to me to be really important.”

The one year that Mr. Walz spent teaching English in southern China was the start of what would become a decades-long relationship with the country. As high school teachers in Nebraska and Minnesota, Mr. Walz and his wife, Gwen, regularly led trips to China in the 1990s and early 2000s to introduce students to China’s history and culture. Mr. Walz has said that he has traveled to China some 30 times, including for his honeymoon.

That deep history of engagement with China reflects a lesser-known international dimension of the Democratic vice-presidential candidate. If elected vice president, Mr. Walz would bring to the White House unusually extensive personal experience in China — a history that supporters say could be an asset at a time of volatile relations between Washington and Beijing.

But the campaign has so far made little mention of Mr. Walz’s experience there, even as it has leaned into depictions of the Minnesota governor as an avuncular Midwestern dad, coach and teacher. And it has yet to lay out how Vice President Kamala Harris or Mr. Walz would handle China, which both the Biden and Trump administrations have treated with toughness.

Republicans, by contrast, have already begun to seize on the governor’s personal experience in China to accuse him of being soft on a country that is now seen as America’s greatest military and economic rival.

Richard Grenell, who served as ambassador to Germany and acting director of national intelligence in the Trump administration, said on X that “Communist China” was “very happy” with Ms. Harris’s choice of Mr. Walz as her running mate. Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas said that Mr. Walz owed “the American people an explanation about his unusual, 35-year relationship with Communist China.”

A spokesman for Ms. Harris and Mr. Walz’s campaign accused Republicans of “twisting basic facts” and “desperately lying” to distract from former President Donald J. Trump’s agenda.

“Throughout his career, Governor Walz has stood up to the CCP, fought for human rights and democracy, and always put American jobs and manufacturing first,” said James Singer, the spokesman, referring to the Chinese Communist Party. “Vice President Harris and Governor Walz will ensure we win the competition with China, and will always stand up for our values and interests in the face of China’s threats.”

Mr. Walz’s record in the House, from 2007 to 2019, showed a lawmaker who often drew on his personal experience in the country to lay out sharp critiques of China’s human rights record. He took a special interest in Tibet and Hong Kong, meeting with both the Dalai Lama and Joshua Wong, a prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy activist.

An adventure

Years before Mr. Walz became an outspoken critic of the Chinese government, he was a wide-eyed college graduate eager to learn more about the world beyond the farms and ranches of Nebraska.

Mr. Walz was 25 when he arrived at Foshan No. 1 High School in southern China, near Hong Kong, as part of the WorldTeach program, a nonprofit affiliated with Harvard University. The school is in one of Foshan’s oldest neighborhoods, where thick banyan trees dangle aerial roots over sidewalks and streets.

Mr. Walz soon settled into the cocoon of daily life on a small-town campus, even as the chaos of the Tiananmen Square crackdown more than 1,100 miles away rippled across the country. He taught four English and U.S. history classes a day with about 65 students in each class. As one of the first American teachers at the school, he was afforded small luxuries like an air-conditioner and a monthly salary of around $80 — double what the local teachers earned.

Students loved their “big-nosed” teacher, giving him the nickname “Fields of China” because his kindness, they explained to him, was so expansive. For Christmas, some of his students and friends cut down a pine tree, decorated it and brought it to his room.

“No matter how long I live, I’ll never be treated that well again,” Mr. Walz told the Star-Herald in Scottsbluff, Neb., in 1990.

He also took a train up to Beijing and visited Tiananmen Square, where soldiers had fatally shot hundreds, maybe thousands, of protesters and bystanders not long before.

Upon his return to Nebraska in 1990, he told the Star-Herald that going to China was “one of the best things” he had ever done. But he said he also felt that the Chinese people had been mistreated and cheated by their government for years.

“If they had the proper leadership, there are no limits on what they could accomplish,” Mr. Walz said at the time. “They are such kind, generous, capable people.”

Returning again and again

By 1994, Mr. Walz had taken a job teaching social studies at Alliance High School in western Nebraska. There, he met and fell in love with a fellow teacher, Gwen Whipple. They married on June 4 — which happened to be the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown. He later would say, “There was no doubt I would remember that date.”

Shortly after, they left for a trip that effectively became their honeymoon: a field trip to China with 60 students.

Mr. Walz was determined to share with his students the marvel of discovering the wider world beyond small-town America, according to interviews with four former students and a professor who went on the yearly trips that the Walzes had organized in the 1990s.

The students, most of whom had never traveled abroad, barely spent any time in the classroom. In addition to sightseeing, they met with tai chi masters, practiced their chopstick skills at family-style meals and tried Chinese calligraphy.

On the trip in 1993, Mr. Walz brought the group to meet his former students at Foshan No. 1 High School. One of Mr. Walz’s friends guided them throughout the two-week trip and was so beloved that one of the students, Kyle Lierk, recalled crying when they had to say goodbye.

“It was clear that Tim was able to build the trip around humanity,” recalled Mr. Lierk, now 47.

Shay Armstrong, a former student who went in 1993 and 1994, recalled learning about some of the more disturbing aspects of Chinese Communist Party rule. They were told about the harsh “one-child” policy, under which most couples who had more than one child were forced to pay fines.

While visiting Tiananmen Square, Mr. Walz explained the history of the bloody crackdown and the brutal governance of Mao Zedong, China’s former chairman, she said.

“It wasn’t all bubbles, hearts and rainbows,” recalled Ms. Armstrong, now 46.

The Walzes continued leading the student trips to China even after they moved in 1996 to Mankato, Minn., organizing the visits through a company that they had established called Educational Travel Adventures.

A vocal critic of China

As a congressman, Mr. Walz did not shy away from talking about his experience in China.

But he was also critical of the Chinese government from the start. And over his 12-year tenure in the House, Mr. Walz’s criticisms of China’s human rights record became even sharper, especially as the Chinese government took a more authoritarian turn under Xi Jinping.

Mr. Walz served on the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, a bipartisan group of lawmakers focused on monitoring and reporting on human rights and the rule of law in China. Transcripts show that other commission members often praised Mr. Walz for his expertise.

“You are a great asset to our commission,” Representative Chris Smith, Republican from New Jersey and then-chairman of the commission, said to Mr. Walz during a 2011 hearing.

Mr. Walz cosponsored a resolution demanding the release of Liu Xiaobo, a Chinese dissident and Nobel laureate. He criticized China’s unfair trade practices and crackdown on rights lawyers and religious groups.

In 2015, Mr. Walz participated in a rare American delegation to Tibet led by Nancy Pelosi, then the House minority leader. The next year, he met with the Dalai Lama in what he later described in a social media post as a “life-changing” lunch.

Jeffrey Ngo, a prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy activist, credited Mr. Walz with being at one point the only House Democrat willing to continue backing the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, which would compel the U.S. government to impose sanctions on officials responsible for human rights abuses in Hong Kong.

Mr. Ngo said Mr. Walz’s support helped keep the bill alive at a crucial time until it was eventually passed.

“Walz is perhaps the most solid candidate when it comes to human rights and China on a major-party ticket in recent memory, if not ever,” Mr. Ngo said.

Toward the end of his tenure in Congress, Mr. Walz continued to stress the importance of identifying areas of cooperation with China. But he also began to question the long-held wisdom that opening up trade with China would lead the country to become more open and democratic.

“I certainly was under the illusion that liberalizing trade and openness would have a significant impact on liberalization of personal freedoms,” Mr. Walz said during a congressional hearing in 2016. “I have now seen that is not the case.”

In the decades since Mr. Walz arrived at Foshan, the high school that launched his lifelong interest in China has expanded considerably.

On a visit to the high school on Wednesday, news of Mr. Walz’s ascent to the Democratic ticket drew vastly different reactions.

As students in blue and white uniforms exited the school’s gates, they said that their school’s connection to a suddenly prominent American politician had been the talk of classrooms and online chat rooms.

Meanwhile, a school dean said that the school had no comment on Mr. Walz. And guards at the school gate prevented journalists from entering the grounds to see the campus museum.

Dionne Searcey , Amy Chang Chien , Li You and Alain Delaquérière contributed reporting and research.

An earlier version of this article misstated the last name of the person who took the photograph featuring Mr. Walz and students at the Great Wall of China. She is Jillian Walker, not Jillian Taylor.

How we handle corrections

Amy Qin writes about Asian American communities for The Times. More about Amy Qin

Keith Bradsher is the Beijing bureau chief for The Times. He previously served as bureau chief in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Detroit and as a Washington correspondent. He has lived and reported in mainland China through the pandemic. More about Keith Bradsher

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Candidates’ Careers. How Trump, Vance, Harris and Walz got here.

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Trump’s 2025 Plans. Trump is preparing to radically reshape the government.

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New College discards scores of books in ‘weeding’ of collection

• Divya Kumar Times staff

New College of Florida has discarded scores of books from its collection — including a number about gender studies — in what the university described as a “weeding” of its libraries.

Some on social media decried the move as photos circulated online of piles of books in boxes and what appeared to be a giant dumpster.

But the university said its library was following its standard annual procedures for updating its collection , “which involves the removal of materials that are old, damaged, or otherwise no longer serving the needs of the College.”

DEVELOPING: New College of Florida has sent thousands of books to the dump @NewCollegeofFL @richardcorcoran @swalker_7 pic.twitter.com/Vhh2C1nyJq — zander moricz (@zandermoricz) August 15, 2024

DEVELOPING: New College of Florida dumped hundreds of library books this afternoon. The school also emptied the college’s Gender and Diversity Center, tossing hundreds of their books. Working to file a story now. pic.twitter.com/073dU3A6mp — Steven Walker (@swalker_7) August 15, 2024

University spokesperson Nathan March said in a statement that the process was carried out by “professional librarians trained to assess the collection” and that state law prevents the university from selling, donating or transferring the books purchased with state funds.

“Deselected materials are discarded, through a recycling process when possible,” March said in the statement.

A separate set of books, he said, were discarded from the school’s gender studies program, which trustees moved to discontinue this year. Those books, March said, came from multiple sources, including donations, and were moved to “a book drop location.” where he said they were claimed by people planning to donate them.

Amy Reid, a faculty trustee and former director of the gender studies program, said the thousands of books that eventually ended up in the dumpster as well were not connected with the gender studies program.

The books were removed from the Gender and Diversity Center, a student space that was to be repurposed. Reid said faculty did not receive any warning the space was being repurposed. The space, she said, held thousands of books collected over 30 years. One student salvaged about 20 in the back seat of her car and she heard of someone else attempting to save some from the dumpster.

“That is totally an abhorration and a violation of what a university is supposed to be doing,” she said.

Spokespeople for Gov. Ron DeSantis cheered the move on social media. Jeremy Redfern congratulated the school on “putting gender studies books in the garbage,” while Bryan Griffin said “the gender studies books ARE getting dumped because that propaganda is no longer offered at @NewCollegeofFL.”

Putting gender studies books in the garbage? Great job, @NewCollegeofFL 👏 https://t.co/Pk2jxUHYU7 — Jeremy Redfern (@JeremyRedfernFL) August 15, 2024

Bacardi Jackson, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, called the removal of the books, particularly around LGBTQ+ and religious studies topics, “a brazen act of censorship.”

“The dumping of these books is more than just the disposal of outdated materials,” Jackson said in a statement. “It is a clear and dangerous signal of the extent to which political interference is poisoning our educational institutions.”

Divya Kumar is the higher education reporter. Reach her at [email protected].

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Florida’s New College discards gender studies books in ‘weeding’ of libraries

Dozens of books were discarded from New College's campus Thursday. (Chloe Trofatter / Tampa Bay Times)

New College of Florida has discarded scores of books from its collection — including a number about gender studies — in what the university described as a “weeding” of its libraries.

Some on social media decried the move as photos circulated online of piles of books in boxes and what appeared to be a giant dumpster.

But the Sarasota campus said its library was following its standard annual procedures for updating its collection, “which involves the removal of materials that are old, damaged, or otherwise no longer serving the needs of the College.”

University spokesperson Nathan March said in a statement that the process was carried out by “professional librarians trained to assess the collection” and that state law prevents the university from selling, donating or transferring the books purchased with state funds.

“Deselected materials are discarded, through a recycling process when possible,” March said in the statement.

A separate set of books, he said, were discarded from the school’s gender studies program, which  trustees moved to discontinue  this year. Those books, March said, came from multiple sources, including donations, and were moved to “a book drop location” where he said they were claimed by people planning to donate them.

Spokespeople for Gov. Ron DeSantis cheered the move on social media. Jeremy Redfern congratulated the school on “putting gender studies books in the garbage,” while Bryan Griffin said “the gender studies books ARE getting dumped because that propaganda is no longer offered at @NewCollegeofFL.”

Bacardi Jackson, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, called the removal of the books, particularly around LGBTQ+ and religious studies topics, “a brazen act of censorship.”

“The dumping of these books is more than just the disposal of outdated materials,” Jackson said in a statement. “It is a clear and dangerous signal of the extent to which political interference is poisoning our educational institutions.”

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Breaking news, travel blogger ‘totally stranded’ after learning egyptian hotel he booked actually didn’t exist.

A travel blogger was gutted to find out that the hotel he booked in Egypt turned out to be ancient history.

Mark Jeavons, 43, was excited for his four night stay at the Pyramids and Sphinx View Hotel in Giza, Egypt, which was quoted as £40-per-night ($52 US).

But when he arrived at the listed address at midnight, he was alarmed to discover there was no hotel – just an empty back alley.

It was nothing like the photos on the listing he had booked via Booking.com – which had dozens of positive reviews and featured a rooftop area from which you could see the Pyramids.

Mark, an English teacher, from Wolverhampton, said: “There was nothing at the address.

“It was a back alley with no sign of a hotel.

“The taxi driver was asking people on the street but no one had heard of it.

“I was totally stranded – it was not ideal.”

He had reserved a room from January 4 to 7 2024 for his “bucket list” solo adventure.

Mark was quoted around £40 ($52 US) a night to be paid in person at the non-existent hotel with the address of Gamal abd al nasser st nazlet elsemman, 12557, Egypt.

He reserved the room through Booking.com but was not made to pay any deposit and had made plans to pay in person at the hotel.

He was forced to roam the streets until he found emergency accommodation more than an hour later at The Sun and Sand Hotel.

He ended up shelling out more than £80 ($104) a night on his last-minute refuge.

Mark said: “You just assume it is going to be good if the reviews are all good.”

Mark said the hotel’s reviews were glowing and he didn’t think twice before booking.

But on his return, he set about unearthing the mystery of the invisible hotel.

He said: “I later found out on Google reviews that there were lots of people saying it was a scam and not to book it.”

After Mark complained to Booking.com, the hotel vanished from the site.

A record of the hotel still exists on hotel comparison site Trivago – with no photos or reviews but a location still visible on a map.

The Sphinx and Pyramids View hotel in Giza was uploaded to the Booking.com site on July 19, 2024 – and is listed on the same street as The Pyramids and Sphinx View hotel on Trivago.

The hotel has so far received 44 reviews to garner a 9.0 rating, with glowing recommendations drowning out a handful of reviewers calling the hotel a scam.

The hotel’s Booking.com photos depict luxurious bedrooms, scantily-clad women posing in bath tubs and women standing in front of the pyramids.

Despite the false start, Mark had a great time touring the pyramids, temples and taking to the skies in a hot air balloon over Luxor.

He said: “There is more freedom when you are solo travelling.

“It would have been worse if there were wife and kids.”

Mark has travelled to more than 40 countries, writing up his experience for his MJ Travel Guides blog – https://mjtravelguides.com

A spokesperson for Booking.com said: “We were sorry to hear about the experience of this customer with a property listed on our platform.

“While the hotel has successfully hosted a number of guests, we are investigating further and will be in contact with the customer directly to offer any further support.”

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