One of our favourite things about travelling is that we suddenly find time to read. Whether we are hitching, camping or backpacking around the world we often manage to read two or even three travel books a week. Check out the list below and if you think we’ve missed any real gems then please do let us know in the comments box at the bottom of the page. Many of these books are best read when you're actually in the country they are set in; for example, reading Shantaram in India is a really fantastic experience and you will get a lot more out of the book.
On the Road
Jack Kerouac’s seminal novel should be compulsory reading for all nomads, backpackers and folks who want to live off the grid. In ‘On The Road’ discover 1950′s underground America as Kerouac hitches backwards forwards across the states in search of Jazz, drugs, sex and the meaning of life.
Shantaram
The book follows the possibly true, possibly exaggerated, story of an escaped Australian convict who finds his way to India where he falls in love, works for gangsters, fights the Russians in Afghanistan, gets imprisoned in Bombay, becomes a professional forger and an amateur doctor and experiences life in an Indian slum. The book is extremely well written and paints an accurate, although somewhat rosy, picture of life in India.
The Motorcycle Diaries
A travel classic, these are the diaries of Che Guevara in which he travels around South America by motorbike. Still one of the best travel guide books for those interested in exploring South America on your own motorbike!
The Kite Runner
A fascinating, sometimes painful, read about Afghanistan under Taliban rule. The story follows the fate of two young boys, one of whom is able to escape to America whilst the other, of the Hazara minority group, is forced to stay behind. A great book to read if you are interested in travelling around Central Asia.
Heart of Darkness
At the peak of European Imperialism, steamboat captain Charles Marlow travels deep into the African Congo on his way to relieve the elusive Mr Kurtz, an ivory trader renowned for his fearsome reputation. On his journey into the unknown Marlow takes a terrifying trip into his own subconscious, overwhelmed by his menacing, perilous and horrifying surroundings. The ultimate travel guide to a forgotten part of Africa.
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