The Best Travel Books of All Time

We all love to travel. All of us have an ideal picture of our perfect vacation as well. Some of us may enjoy the mountains, others may enjoy being near the beach or going to forests. Vacations certainly help us relax and rejuvenate from all the stress and worries that occupy our minds and souls. Thus, it is important to take one once in a while.

Some people also carry books with them on vacation. They mostly read novels, short stories, poems etc. But, some also carry travel books about the city or country they are visiting. It gives them all the history of the place along with what foods to try, what local sightseeing spots to visit etc.

Many famous authors have written some brilliant travel books about the countries or cities that they have visited. These are just like modern-day travelogues that keep travellers’ interests hooked on the book. These books can be enjoyed over a cup of tea, coffee, or even during light meal moments.

In this blog, we will be discussing some such travel books that you can carry on your next vacation to get to know the place you are visiting better.

Top 10 Best Travel Books of All Time

1. Along the Ganges by Ilija Trojanaw- The world-famous author Trojanaw has travelled to various countries such as Germany, Kenya, South Africa etc. and has enjoyed all of their cultures as well. In this book, he has explored India’s holiest river Ganga and its Hindu devotees, paying his respects to all of them as well.

2. Among the Cities by Jan Morris- Morris takes a trip to various cities around the world and has written a very rich book describing all her travels. She has captured the essence of every city both as a reporter and a portrait artist. Even Pico Iyer has given this book a thumbs up. Iyer is also a travel enthusiast and has written huge praise for Morris’ book. The book encompasses Morris’ travels from Houston to Beirut.

3. Arabian Sands by Wilfred Thesiger- This book is Thesiger’s journey to the land of Bedouins and their dying culture. He interviews several people in the community to know about their life in the Arabian sands. This is a classical book and must be on every travel enthusiast’s list.

4. An Area of Darkness by V.S. Naipaul- V.S. Naipaul has beautifully captured the India of the 1960s. This is the travelogue that gave him a name and fame all over the world. It has been appreciated by other authors like Paul Theroux and Linh Dinh.

5. Arctic Dreams by Barry Lopez- Lopez has written a wonderful account of his time in the Arctic and has described the people, animals and wildlife found in the cold surroundings of the place. The book contains maps, field observations and appendices that will make any reader fall in love with this book.

6. As They Were by M.F.K Fisher- This is Fisher’s memoir where she has given detailed descriptions of the life she led, the sounds she heard, tasted the foods and her feelings in the region of Provence. This is a good book if you are travelling to Provence soon.

7. A Barbarian in Asia by Henri Michaux- For people travelling to South East Asia, this book gives vivid details on the lives of people who inhabit these countries. Michaux has given great descriptions of people living in these countries. Many authors and critics have called this book hilarious, bizarre and wildly self-indulgent.

8. The Baron in the Trees by Italo Calvino- This is the story of a baron by the name of Cosimo di Rond who after feeling frustrated with his parents, rebels against them and decides to live in the trees. He continues living in the trees while The Age of Enlightenment unfolds down below him.

9. The Bird Man and the Lap Dancer by Eric Hansen- Hansen’s delightful book in which he travels from Manhattan to the Maldives, makes for quite an interesting read. He has also mentioned his stint as a volunteer for Mother Teresa’s Home for the Dying and Destitute in Calcutta which is the highlight of this book.

10. Black Lamb and Grey Falcon by Rebecca West- In this book, West describes the life of the people of Yugoslavia before its disintegration a century and a half later. The book describes in detail the state of Yugoslavia on the eve of World War II. It became a very popular political book of its time and received high praise from political writers such as Robert D. Kaplan.

So, these are our top 10 books for travellers. These are must-read books and can be carried around with you on your different vacations. We hope that you loved reading about these titles. We will be back soon with a new blog on a new topic. Till then, happy reading!!