7 of the Best Travel Books to Read While You’re Holed Up

I think more of us will be slowing down and reading this summer…and who doesn’t love a good book?

Especially when you are stuck at home and cannot travel. At least it is comforting to know that when you are able to travel again, the world will still be waiting for you! No matter the reason, a break from your job, a broken leg, or even a bleeping pandemic, when we travelers are forced to hunker down, we tend not to take it well.

Fortunately, there is an endless supply of legendary travel writers who will take you on a journey, without you having to leave the comforts of home. Come with me as I walk you through 7 of the best adventure travel books ever. These are books about travel and self-discovery while traveling. I have read each and every one of these and all I can say is, I aspire to be all of these awesome people. And as an added treat, feel free to browse these writers who inspire travel in Oregon.

In my opinion, these are among the best travel books of all time and are sure to inspire your wanderlust.

In a Sunburned Country – Bill Bryson

This is a fast-moving and especially hilarious look into Mr. Bryson’s personal account of hitchhiking through rural outback Australia. In the only country in the world that doubles as an entire continent. Bill’s uncanny knack for delivering incredible travel prose has you right alongside him in the driver’s seat. Australia has an unusual combination of the friendliest people and the deadliest creatures on Earth. It is an immense land with hospitality, sunshine and cold beer. And it has found Bill Bryson as its perfect guide.

Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure – Sarah Macdonald

You’ll never look at India the same way again. To most, India is a densely populated, hot and dirty, poverty-stricken land. But follow this female solo travel adventurer and come away with quite a different view. Her initial trip backpacking here in her twenties did leave a less-than-ideal impression, and she vowed to never come back. But over a decade later – love found her – and she found herself back in India. Sarah’s chronicle of this poignant and often belly-shaking journey takes her everywhere from spiritual retreats to war zones, to New Delhi nightclubs. She is on a mission to save her love life, her sanity, and her soul.

Into Thin Air – John Krakauer

The vast majority of us will never even think about partaking on this particular journey, but it is endlessly fascinating to read about. It is the journey to the summit of Everest. Even getting to Base Camp is a major bucket list item for some. Here, John Krakauer (gotta love that name) pens his memoir about his harrowing journey to the top of the world. Heart-thumping and poignant doesn’t begin to describe the wide range of emotions I felt reading this book. His narrative weaves itself around and within you, engrossing you from beginning to end. It is a book of discovery, tragedy and of redemption. It is superb.

The Alchemist – Paulo Choelho

Santiago is a shepherd who is following his ultimate dream, called his “personal legend.” And all journeys start with a dream. His starts in the great Pyramids of Egypt, and finding treasure there. But instead of monetary treasure, it is the ultimate journey of self-discovery. Paulo tells Santiago’s tale with the skill and craft of the greatest wordsmith. Throughout his journey, Santiago learns different lessons. It is a gripping narrative that will have you re-reading the book every once in awhile, just to keep your spirits up, and is a must for anyone trying to figure out what to do in life. “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it.” It is an ancient truth that, frankly, more people should take to heart.

Tales of a Female Nomad – Rita Golden Gelman

Rita’s homage to wanderlust is a work that I simply could not put down. I literally read it in the span of 36 hours. She did not satiate her wanderlust until her late forties, and actively sought out not to live in hotels, but with people who would take her in. It is another self-discovery book but from the eyes of an idiosyncratic if not eclectic female. Travel is just as much about the people as it is about the destination, and this is clearly evident in Ms. Gelman’s writing. From local villages in Mexico to observing orangutans in Borneo to discovering her roots in Israel, her narrative is both expertly conveyed and most definitely inspirational.

Love with a Chance of Drowning – Torre DeRoche

Now this is what a wanderlust girl wants to read! A tale of romance, adventure on the high seas, and of sacrificing everything to travel with a man you can’t get enough of, yet hardly know. It is a personal account of how Torre happened upon an Argentinian man in a chance encounter. They quickly fall in love, then he drops a love bomb: he is due to set sail across the Pacific in his little boat, and he wants her to come with. Swoon! And to top it off, Torre is deathly afraid of the water. What transpires is an incredible tale of conquering your worst fears in the name of love.

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BONUS BOOK: Together Apart: Be Careful What you Wish For

I included this as a bonus (without the affiliate link) because it was written by none other than….myself! Yep, I wrote a book. Now here’s the deal. This book is not for everyone. It was written primarily for women who would like a saucy read and an escape from the ordinary. But even if you’re a dude – have at it, I say! Here’s the synopsis:

Ever wonder what would happen if you met your celebrity crush?

Serene Hawthorne’s world is changed forever when her beloved husband Damon is abruptly taken from her by a fatal illness. Suddenly single and starting over in London, she is determined to make the most of it and move on with her life. A chance encounter with the quiet and reserved musician Jimmy Jones gives her hope. Trouble is, he just happens to be the drummer in the same rock band as the man who captured her heart as a young girl – bassist Jake Cabernet.

On tour with the band and completely in love with Jimmy, Serene gets to know the real Jake Cabernet, and all of her preconceptions about the man she had idolized all those years ago, vanish. As Jimmy begins to go down a dark path, Jake becomes Serene’s closest ally in helping her getting Jimmy back on track. As the tour winds down, Serene realizes that she’s beginning to fall for Jake once again, this time for entirely different reasons.

Meanwhile, on the “other side”, Damon grapples with his own demons, as the pieces of his physical life on Earth slowly fall away. But can he shrug off the strongest emotion – the longing for his lost wife, Serene?