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This book collection, in my humble opinion, contains twenty of the best travel books ever. It includes both personal travel journals and travel fiction.
Why do I read travel books? My first international trip was at the age of five, and I have been traveling ever since, but I’ve also been an avid reader. And I’ve continued to rely on books and articles to feed my appetite for world adventures.
“The man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read.”
Mark Twain
If you are looking for inspiration, you’ve come to the right place. These travel books will, without a doubt, give you serious wanderlust. However, they can also be great gifts for family and friends.
The books are listed in alphabetical order. Click the front-cover or title to purchase it from Amazon.
“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.”
Joseph Addison
Benefits of reading travel books

Reading is good for you! As a matter of fact, some Yale researchers believe it may even help you live longer. Research indicates that people over 50 who read more than 30 minutes a day live an average of 23 months longer than non-readers. This alone is a great motivator to read books. However, there are many other benefits to consider, if you are not yet convinced. Here are my top five:
- Travel books expose me to new ideas. As a result, I am always thinking of ways to improve my travel-hacking abilities.
- They dare me to go to new places, explore different cultures and connect with diverse people.
- I find that reading them allows me to live in multiple realities, thus improving my imagination.
- I believe that reading travel books has improved my writing skills.
- Losing myself in a great book allows my mind to wander. Hence, I find myself less stressed.
For these reasons, I read quite a bit. However, I am also a fan of audiobooks especially during long flights or my commute to work.
I would love to hear your opinion of any of the books I’ve recommended in this post. Please leave your thoughts, or additional book recommendations, in a comment below.
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I’ve never really thought about travel books as a kind of genre or niche but I guess they are! I had book club today and we were struggling to choose a book. I think I might take your list along to my next meeting for some ideas! Thanks!
That’s awesome! Yes, there are many books that fit in this genre, including fiction and personal diaries. Good luck with your book selection, let me know which one you end-up choosing.