We love reading, especially about travel. So today, on World Book Day we’ve rounded up some of our favourite travel books to inspire you.
The Old Patagonian Express by Paul Theroux
A must-read for anyone who loves South America as much as we do, The Old Patagonian Express follows travel writer Paul Theroux as he recounts his train journeys all the way from Boston in the United States, through Mexico and Central America, and on to the southern tip of Argentina. Passing through colourful Latin American towns and making an obligatory pit-stop at Peru’s Machu Picchu, Theroux provides an intriguing and detailed view of the people and places he comes across.
The Motorcycle Diaries by Ernesto Che Guevara and Aleida Guevara
We know ‘Che’ for his role in the Cuban revolution, however in this famous book we are trailing behind a younger Ernesto Guevara in his 20s as he revs up his motorbike and blazes through South America. We enjoyed looking out for early revolutionary signs of the man he was to become and stayed mesmerised by his diary accounts through Argentina, all the way to Miami in Florida, and back again.
Shadow of the Silk Road by Colin Thubron
Written by one of our favourite travel writers, Colin Thubron, Shadow of the Silk Road follows Thubron’s journey along the ancient Silk Road from China, over the mountains of Central Asia, through Afghanistan, into Iran and finally ending up in Turkey. Thurbron so poetically describes the sights, sounds and smells of these foreign lands that you can almost believe you’re there, riding the camel beside him. He never fails to entertain with anecdotes such as being locked up in China and undergoing a dental operation with no anaesthetic in Iran.
The Beach by Alex Garland
Most of you are probably familiar with the movie of this book featuring none other than (now Oscar winner) Leonardo DiCaprio, but how many of you have actually read the book? If it’s at all possible, the book is even more captivating and thrilling than the film and so accurately describes ‘that’ paradisiacal beach that you can almost believe you’re actually there. Although, for protagonist Richard this ends up being somewhat more of a nightmare than paradise, we still all harbour a secret dream to escape to our own Thai beach one day.
Wild: A Journey from Lost to Found by Cheryl Strayed
Another of our favourite travel books that has now been turned into a movie, Wild is an intense and reflective journey, following the footsteps of Cheryl Strayed over a one thousand mile stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail. It’s a touching story about how the author overcomes her past issues by taking on the uncertainties of extreme weather, venomous snakes and physical fatigue to reach her goal.
