Wanderlust Reads: Unforgettable Travel Books to Fuel Your Adventures

Travel guides serve as excellent tools for aiding wanderers in exploring locations. However, the most remarkable travel books can also fuel wanderlust. Whether fiction or nonfiction, there is an abundance of literature steeped in a sense of place waiting to ignite your upcoming expedition. 

As a travel writer and avid reader, I frequently turn to literature for travel inspiration. When I come across a new book that captivates me, it finds a spot on my packing list. This practice not only encourages preparation; it enriches the experience while on-site. 

To assist you in discovering your next unforgettable journey, I have curated a selection of my favorite books that address travel in innovative and sometimes unexpected manners. Ever dreamed of exploring French Polynesia? Richard Powers’s novel Playground will have you preparing your diving equipment. Nat Geo’s 100 Nights of a Lifetime might motivate you to bypass the throngs and delve into astrotourism. The New Tourist encourages you to reconsider not only your destination but also your motivations. 

All of these works kindle a sense of amazement for our planet, whether you’re prepared to embark on a journey or simply dream from the comfort of your favorite chair. Here are my selected recommendations.  

Ideal for: Travelers aiming to make a positive difference 

Tourists often receive negative perceptions. However, Paige McClanahan argues that we are all tourists when we venture away from home, and that’s not inherently negative. In her thought-provoking book, the Paris-residing American writer examines the transformation of mainstream travel, tracing its path from the guidebook-carrying backpackers of the 1970s to the large groups flooding tourist traps today. 

Exhaustively researched, with reports from Barcelona to Iceland, McClanahan discusses the beneficial and detrimental effects of tourism with delicacy and insight.  

Ideal for: Travelers aiming to evade the throngs

From Amsterdam to Venice, popular tourist sites globally are grappling with overtourism challenges. A potential solution? Visiting less recognized alternatives. Acclaimed travel writer Andrew Nelson presents 100 such destinations, including Puglia’s charming Lecce, which offers all the allure, history, and wine of bustling Florence, along with sunny shores. 

Rather than Miami, architecture aficionados might find it rewarding to explore Detroit’s underrated yet beautiful Art Deco structures. Nature enthusiasts may find Western Australia’s Ningaloo Reef appealing, as Nelson indicates, where immense whale sharks are more common than in the Great Barrier Reef. 

Bonus: By discovering these less frequented options, travelers are likely to save money and return with an even greater appreciation for our precious Earth. 

Ideal for: Ocean enthusiasts, forward-thinkers, and classic adventurers  

This literary work will resonate with anyone who enjoys reading, not solely wanderers. Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Richard Powers leads readers on a thrilling, breathtaking adventure set in French Polynesia, where a small atoll serves as the basis for a bold initiative to build floating cities in the world’s largest ocean. 

In Playground, Powers skillfully explores themes of artificial intelligence, colonization, and climate change through the stories of richly depicted characters. While it may not conform to the traditional travel book mold, this narrative fosters admiration and reverence for the ocean and all its marvels, particularly when we journey. 

Ideal for: Adventurers captivated (and troubled) by Antarctica or polar environments 

Elizabeth Rush’s timely and fresh perspective on Antarctica emphasizes not individual legendary achievements, but rather the ability of communities to foster change. This narrative documents the author’s 2019 journey alongside 57 scientists and crew members during a months-long mission to Thwaites Glacier, a location never previously explored. 

Rush presents what’s at risk for the Earth if the world’s widest glacier, also known as “Doomsday Glacier,” melts. At the same time, she provides hope. This is a crucial read for travelers—or anyone—concerned about shifts in climate. 

(These must-have winter items assisted our author in enduring Antarctica) 

Ideal for: Night sky enthusiasts and late-night thinkers 

Travel writer and novelist Stephanie Vermillion illuminates 100 nocturnal escapades across the globe—and not all are centered around observing the stars. From eye-opening twilight tours of Rome’s Coliseum to bioluminescent mushroom hikes in South Australia, Vermillion showcases extraordinary experiences in over 30 nations. (Indeed, there are numerous astrotourism concepts as well.) This serves as the ideal coffee table travel book for those who savor late-night expeditions—even from the coziness of their own residence.   

(Here’s a practical manual for stargazing) 

Best for: Adventurers who value leisurely travel, intriguing personalities, and craftsmanship  

A serendipitous meeting with one of the final bearers of the 300-year-old lace-needlework craftsmanship in Burano, Italy, prompted Eliot Stein to pen his maiden travel account. Nearly twenty years later, the BBC journalist and editor’s profound curiosity and respect for the guardians of vanishing customs around the globe remains undiminished. 

In this publication, Stein traverses five continents and interacts with over a dozen such individuals, from those safeguarding West Africa’s living libraries to Scandinavia’s last night watchman. Stein’s tribute to history acts as a counterbalance to today’s travel version of fast fashion, reminding us there’s a wealth of experiences awaiting if we take our time and “dare to listen.”  

Best for: Anyone starting out in hiking, particularly women and underrepresented communities 

After observing a lack of racial diversity on hiking paths, Rhiane Fatinikun established Black Girls Hike U.K. to create a secure and welcoming community for Black women to explore the English countryside. Her book brims with practical guidance on maximizing any hiking journey, alongside motivating conversations with Black women in the outdoor space. 

Fatinikun elevates things by recommending her top British hikes, including Glencoe Pass in Scotland and Land’s End in Cornwall, England. Fatinikun writes like a supportive friend eager for fellow women to embrace the outdoors at every opportunity—ensuring they feel a sense of belonging when they venture out.    

(From sunscreen to first aid, here’s all the hiking gear you need) 

Best for: Adventurers seeking profound experiences 

With its extraterrestrial-like scenery, Chile’s Atacama Desert is unlike any other place on Earth. This uniqueness renders it an ideal substitute for Mars, according to NASA, and a frequently photographed locale for daring explorers. In this evocative travel memoir, Mark Johanson chronicles the three months he devoted to the world’s driest non-polar desert, not for planetary investigation but to deepen his understanding of his adopted homeland in Chile. 

Delving into the folklore and figures of this breathtaking environment, the expatriate unveils the nuances of a nation where he’s resided for almost a decade with his Chilean companion. Johanson’s vivid narratives encourage readers to transcend mere “bucket list” travel and engage with a location in more meaningful ways.   

Best for: Young explorers and families who cherish the outdoors 

Targeted at juvenile readers (ages 7-11), National Geographic Explorer Stephanie Pearson’s newest volume is the ideal companion to her 100 Great American Parks. Spanning from Acadia to Zion, America’s “best idea” serves as the backdrop for these inspiring tales of courage and exploration. 

Discover the pioneering Black family that navigates individuals through the Mammoth Caves of Kentucky and the sled dogs conducting snowy rescue operations in Denali, Alaska. With stunning illustrations by Madeline Kloepper, this book is sure to motivate any child to carve out their own path in the great outdoors.   

(Avoid crowds at these 10 least-visited national parks) 

Best for: Adventurers who adore the ocean and My Octopus Teacher  

Travelers enchanted by Craig Foster’s Academy Award-winning 2020 documentary, My Octopus Teacher, will likely appreciate his memoir. Within it, the filmmaker, naturalist, and originator of the Sea Change Project shares his experiences in locations like the Great African Seaforest and the Okavango Delta, while offering insights into how the wonders of the sea can unite us on land. 

Best for: Nature enthusiasts  

Singing sand dunes, colorful trees, exploding ants, and rosy armadillos. In Atlas Obscura’s latest publication, founder Josh Foer and plant and animal correspondent Cara Giaimo spotlight 500 of the most peculiar and least-comprehended plants, animals, and fungi across all seven continents. With profound insights and whimsical humor, this comprehensive and engaging field guide is perfect for travelers captivated by nature’s wildest elements.  

Best for: Fiction aficionados who enjoy history and cuisine   

Yang Shuang-zi’s novel might bear “travelogue” in its title, yet this National Book Award recipient is considerably more intricate than a conventional tale of a foreigner abroad. Set in Taiwan during Japanese colonization in the 1930s, it follows a Japanese author traveling with a translator who understands the island’s unspoken philosophies. 

As the narrative progresses, the writer explores some of the finest and most challenging elements of travel, encompassing food to what is often obscured in translation. The book serves as both a tribute to exploring worlds beyond our comprehension and a call to allow locals to shape the narrative, rather than leaving it to a traveler’s idealized fantasies. 

How we selected the finest travel books 

With over 20 years of experience as a travel journalist who also covers culture and literature, I applied my personal insights and evaluations to compile this.list. In choosing my options, I took these elements into account: 

• Author proficiency: Every book in this compilation has been authored by renowned writers or specialists in their respective domains. 

• Recognition: The titles featured on this roster have received critical recognition or accolades, including the National Book Awards, as exemplified by Taiwan Travelogue. 

• Diversity: This selection encompasses a variety of locations, adventures, and perspectives to cater to a broad spectrum of travel preferences.