The Perfect Travel Companion?
In this blog Karis suggests books that might just scratch that travel bug itch.
In my opinion there is nothing better than travelling with a good book. We all know that no matter how action packed your trip is, there’s always that bit of downtime where you can truly immerse yourself into whatever you are reading. Whether it’s a long haul flight, sleeper train or perhaps a day on the beach, a good book is the perfect travel companion.
Personally I am a big fan of travel books, not only do they provide inspiration for future trips but I also find they are often fast paced, funny and easy to read. Perfect for when you are trying to unwind. Of course I also enjoy living vicariously through other peoples adventure (while in the comfort of my favourite arm chair at home!)
Below I have compiled a list of some of my favourite travel books, I hope you enjoy these as much as I did.
A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson - The classic - The Appalachian Trail stretches from Georgia to Maine and covers some of the most breathtaking terrain in America—majestic mountains, silent forests, sparking lakes. If you’re going to take a hike, it’s probably the place to go. And Bill Bryson is surely the most entertaining guide you’ll find. He introduces us to the history and ecology of the trail and to some of the other hardy (or just foolhardy) folks he meets along the way—and a couple of bears. Already a classic, A Walk in the Woods will make you long for the great outdoors (or at least a comfortable chair to sit and read in).
Around the World in 80 Trains by Monisha Rajesh - When Monisha Rajesh announced plans to circumnavigate the globe in eighty train journeys, she was met with wide-eyed disbelief. But it wasn't long before she was carefully plotting a route that would cover 45,000 miles - almost twice the circumference of the earth - coasting along the world's most remarkable railways; from the cloud-skimming heights of Tibet's Qinghai railway to silk-sheeted splendour on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.
Journey to Impossible Places by Simon Reeve - In Journeys to Impossible Places, best-selling author and presenter Simon Reeve reveals the inside story of his most astonishing adventures and experiences, around the planet and close to home. Simon takes us on the epic and thrilling adventures that followed, in beautiful, tricky and downright dangerous corners of the world, as he travelled through the Tropics, to remote paradise islands, jungles dripping with heat and life and on nerve-wracking secret missions.
Don’t Go There: From Chernobyl to North Korea—one man’s quest to lose himself and find everyone else in the world’s strangest places by Adam Fletcher - Adam Fletcher is accidentally tear-gassed in street protests in Istanbul, he goes on a journey to change his humdrum life, taking his eccentric German girlfriend, Annett, along with him. Their quest to better understand themselves (and everyone else) threatens their world view, sanity, and relationship. Don’t Go There is a hilarious travelogue full of interesting characters, uncomfortable moments, unusual destinations, and British humour that will appeal to lovers of Bill Bryson, Douglas Adams, and David Sedaris.
Travels with Rachel: In Search of South America by George Mahood - Knee-deep in a swamp in the depths of the Bolivian jungle, hunting for anacondas in a pair of sandals, it occurred to George that perhaps he should have booked that all-inclusive honeymoon to the Maldives after all.
Join George and Rachel on their hilarious journey through the wilds of Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia, as they climb volcanoes, fish for piranhas, trek through the Amazon rainforest, take death-defying bus rides, sample some of the continent’s strangest delicacies, and try to get to Machu Picchu.
No Wrong Turns: Cycling the World, Part One: Paris to Sydney by Chris Pountney - When Chris Pountney pedals away from the Eiffel Tower he is doing more than just going for a bike ride. It is the start of an ambitious attempt to become perhaps the first person ever to circumnavigate the planet using only a bicycle and boats. With a list of seven challenges to guide him (but no real map), he heads east towards Asia and Australia. The Sydney Opera House is his goal.