Recently updated on August 30th, 2022 at 04:25 pm
Whether you’ve already booked your trip or you’re still deciding where to go, these seven excellent travel tomes will stir serious wanderlust. From inspiring travelogues to unique destination guides, whet your jet-setting appetite by picking one up of these travel books before you head off on vacation.
Atlas of Improbable Places: A Journey to the World’s Most Unusual Corners – Travis Elborough
Journey across each continent to the relics of ancient cities, underground bunkers, abandoned theme parks and back again in Travis Elborough’s compelling compendium. Atlas of Improbable Places looks beautiful too; with a vintage feel and pretty cartography-inspired illustrations (by Alan Horsfield), it’s an understated and elegant read.
Soul of the Heel: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Puglia – Scott Bergstein
Find out what happened when married couple, Jessica and Scott Bergstein upped sticks from Pittsburgh and moved to an olive farm in Puglia, Italy. Soul of the Heel is a humorous, whirlwind of a memoir about leaving the rat race that weaves in the thrills and spills of starting a new life abroad with the region’s idyllic countryside and cuisine.
Down Under: Travels in a Sunburned Country – Bill Bryson
One of the world’s most beloved travel writers, Bill Bryson is known for his affectionate way with words in capturing his destinations’ idiosyncrasies. Down Under is a must-read for anyone heading to Australia. A warm (literally) portrait of the country that’s part-history book, part-travelogue, Travels in a Sunburned Country has all the hallmarks of Bryson’s signature wit and flair.
Cutting Back: My Apprenticeship in the Gardens of Kyoto – Leslie Buck
Japan’s gardens are some of the most immaculately manicured in the world, and Cutting Back sees horticulturalist Lucy Buck following her dream all the way to Kyoto as an apprentice gardener. Discover how she learnt to connect with beautiful Eastern landscapes and gain an insider insight to Japanese gardening culture with this charming read.
Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2017
If you’re still undecided on where to jet off to on vacation, look no further than Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2017. Each year, their expert team curate the finest, most exciting destinations to go to, and this year you can find yourself leafing through crystalline Canadian lakes and magnificent Colombian cathedrals.
In Patagonia – Bruce Chatwin
It may be 40 years old, but Bruce Chatwin’s classic, In Patagonia vibrantly depicts the extraordinary, wild landscapes of the South American region like no other book. Documenting his Patagonian adventures in 97 brief chapters, it takes the reader across Patagonia’s raw terrain, meeting unique characters and visiting amazing places along the way.
The Joys of Travel: And Stories That Illuminate Them – Thomas Swick
Rather than recommending destinations themselves, veteran travel scribe, Thomas Swick’s The Joys of Travel is a meditation on what it is that makes travelling such a pleasure. If you’re a keen globetrotter or dream of adventures abroad, it’s packed with tips and advice on how to get the most out of your travels to new lands.
You’ve got the travel books, now you need the break! Click here to discover a Trafalgar trip of a lifetime.
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