Best Travel Books Of All Time

86 top travel books and you’ve read none of them? Like any such list you can argue over the contents - that’s partly what they’re for - but I find it hard to believe that a travel writer hasn’t read any of them at all? Some of them are travel classics, some of them are brilliant reads, and I’m pleased to see Paul Theroux’s magnificent DARK STAR SAFARI on there. How about starting with that one, or George Orwell’s DOWN AND OUT IN PARIS AND LONDON? There is enough time for you to catch up!

I’ve read six out of 86! So much to read, so little time… Nice to see they’ve included some books that are about places, but that aren’t considered conventional “travel literature” like Orwell’s Down and Out and Churchill’s history of the reconquest of the Sudan. (Of course, being a history nerd, I was also glad to see these books on the list because they improved my total!)

Mike - I know it’s pathetic, and I don’t have a good excuse; however, I do read I seem to be influenced a lot by where I am, and what I’m doing. So I read books(which may not be good)in relevance to that, so I’m always left behind on the stuff I should be reading. Need to fix that though.

Am currently reading the Ghosts of Spain: Travels Through a Country’s Hidden Past, by Guardian’s Giles Tremlett;Shantaram and The Great Novel of India by Shashi Tharoor.

But I think I will pick up the books you recommended, I was wondering where to start!

Eva: 6 is a great total

Hey Abha, I second Mike’s recs, Down and Out in Paris and London is great. But if you’re on a Spain kick you might also really enjoy Orwell’s Homage to Catalonia - it’s my favourite Orwell book period, not just my favourite Orwell travel book.

Congrats on the Vagablogging gig by the way!

Abha, I’m 30 years older than you so have had more time - but what a coincidence, I just bought that Giles Tremlett book! There are some great titles on that list, so let’s hope it encourages people to try a few.

OK, I went through the list for fun and have read 29 of them. That doesn’t include one or two I started but didn’t get far with, like The Worst Journey in the World, or ones I’m not sure about. I *think* I read Mark Twain’s books when I was young, but can’t be sure.

I have nine under my belt. It’s a great list though and wish I knew of some of these titles before. I’m glad they didn’t just add every commercilaized out there. It’s nice list to keep around.