5 travel books to keep you inspired during lockdown

Physical distancing is still recommended at this point in time. So, we understand that travelling around our beautiful country is pretty much out the window for the foreseeable future. But luckily, there are so many travel books out there to fuel your wanderlust from the comfort of your own living room. Flipping through the pages of a travel picture book can ignite your curiosity and inspire you to explore. And engrossing yourself in a well-written travel story can take you on an adventure, around all corners of the globe. If you’re missing holidays and weekend trips away, source some of the following books and start exploring while remaining safe at home.

Travel books for the home-bound explorer:

1. Journeys of a Lifetime by National Geographic

Beautiful descriptions brought to life with awe-inspiring imagery, “Journeys of a Lifetime” highlights some of the most breathtaking and life-changing travel destinations the world has to offer. From famous tourist hotspots to places ‘loved-by-locals’, this book is an ultimate travel list for awakening a spirit of adventure. If you’re at home with the family, why not make an evening of this book? You can huddle up together by the fireplace and marvel over the colourful pages, discussing which places you’d like to visit most. (Learn how to forward-think your family holidays.)

2. The Bucket List by Kath Stathers

Life-affirming experiences meet eclectic self-improvement activities in Kath Stathers’ cultural and culinary narrative. “The Bucket list” is a fun and uplifting read, covering 1000 adventures, big and small. Stathers lists places to visit around the world, including beaches, museums, monuments, islands, and restaurants. And describes wondrous activities to do in each, like bird watching in Kenya and cloud diving in Sri Lanka. If your busy schedule has got you on a treadmill, use this book to ‘hop off’ and rediscover what’s truly important in life.

3. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

A poetic and spiritual adventure through the desert, international best-seller “The Alchemist” should be on all your reading lists – travel, philosophy, mystery, and the like. The story’s hero, Santiago, goes on a quest in search of treasure. However, the treasure he discovers turns out to be far different from what he anticipated. And far more valuable. If you love travel books that take you on a transformational journey, we challenge you to read “The Alchemist” during lockdown. And discover the treasures that lie within yourself.

4. Dark Star Safari by Paul Theroux

Great travelogue writer, Paul Theroux, puts his own experiences to pen and paper as he recounts his voyage across the length of Africa. “Dark Star Safari” is an honest account of one man’s expedition from Cairo to Cape Town, where he describes various encounters and unexpected events that came his way. Are you ready for an African adventure? Pick up this book and we’re sure you won’t want to put it down until the very last page. 

5. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

If it’s fantasy and fiction you're after in a good book, why not put a travel spin on your next read with “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”? Loved by children and adults alike, this timeless story is the epitome of exploration. The novel sees planet earth under alien attack, with protagonist Arthur Dent rescued by his alien friend, Ford Prefect. Together, they embark on an incredible journey through outer space, detailing every plant they come across in a hitchhiker’s guide to the galaxy. If you've got little ones with wild imaginations, you can bond over this novel during ‘story time’, and get them excited about becoming explorers themselves.

Keen to broaden your horizons with travel books?

Even though you’re at home, you can still go on an adventure. Unleash your wanderlust with travel books, whether they are photographic, biographic, or fictional in nature. Exploring, in any shape or form, can further your interest in travel. So, keep reading, keep exploring, and stay inspired!

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