For me, traveling transcends the simple act of moving from one point to another. It is also about immersing myself in an exotic retreat, even if this means a travel book. Stories about the natural world continue to inspire authors, and since I may not be able to visit all the different places in the world, I often pick travelogue books to read.

I love how these stories uniquely take me to distant lands and engulf me in exotic cultures, inspiring wanderlust wherever I may be. Discovering new places gives me insight and knowledge about places I otherwise may not experience.

Recently, I have added different travelogues to my Goodreads library, and if, like me, you love traveling (not just) through books, then these stories will open the world for you!

At the moment I have a short list of books from recent years that I found special and worth to share with you.

From city to hiking and walking/footing accounts, these travelogues will help you explore the contrast between your insider and outsider gaze.

 What Are The Top Travelogue Books?

Rubbings, by Chris S Witwer (2024)

Rubbings is a travelogue book for you if you are looking for an exploration adventure or a comfortable solitude. It will highly appeal to you if you have or have not had the chance to travel through Europe.

This is a young woman’s story after she decides that experiencing Europe is what would complete her college education. Alone, she sets out to see, taste, and touch the most she can in art, coffee, and history.

Among the places she explores are Rome, the Italian Riviera, Florence, and the Mediterranean Sea High. She also gets a touch of Westminster Abbey, Notre Dame, the Louvre, 221B Baker Street, and Salzburg.

After reading this book and having visited Europe recently, I couldn’t help but think about how its cities have changed owing to big corporations and commercialism.

This is a book that takes you back in time, giving you an extraordinary experience that is now gone. You will journey to destinations where modern gadgets were nonexistent and a time when you fully experienced places with very little.

I loved traveling with Chris, and this account made me feel young again. I could vividly picture how the world has changed through her perspective. One notable thing about this book is that it is not just a physical journey. It is a fusion of an emotional and spiritual expedition you will love.

The Alchemist: A Fable About Following Your Dream, by Paulo Coelho (2014)

The Alchemist almost always crosses your mind when you mention travelogues or travel fiction books. There was no way I was omitting it on this list.

The book has made it to international bestsellers and is a timeless classic. It has enchanted many of us through its timeless fable that inspires us to embrace our dreams and follow our hearts. If you are looking for a self-discovery travelogue, you won’t go wrong with this one.

The Alchemist has been a tremendous literary treasure in my life, and the profound journey has given me immeasurable insight and value. Coelho’s storytelling combines unmatched adventure with wisdom.

This is Santiago’s journey, as a shepherd boy on a quest to search for a worldly fortune. His journey leads him to varied but satisfying riches which he never imagined.

This story will teach you the importance of listening to your heart and realizing your opportunities and life’s omens. These profound lessons will leave you with a transformative impact on your mindset and decision-making. You will be confident and chase your dreams with steadfast determination.

I have always loved how entertaining and enjoyable this book is, but most importantly, I must commend Coelho for putting together a philosophical yet spiritual book about destiny. It is empowering, and I encourage you to recommend it to anyone you consider valuable.

Pacific Odyssey, by Chet Nairene (2024)

Do you delight in devouring international adventure books? If yes, this one will be an absolute delight from the beginning. If you also love literary escapes that take you to far-off lands with a romantic touch, it will also appeal to you.

This one blew me away after reading Nairene’s first novel, Pacific Dashway. It is a rollercoaster engulfed in intrigue, humor, and twists.

Pacific Odyssey is Lew Clarke’s ruthless and materialistic tale while traveling for self-awareness and in search of what happiness means. He is an arrogant businessman who sets out on a bizarre mission to Amazia, Southeast Asia.

His experiences and trials in a faraway land result in his awareness of supernatural power and the importance of being intentional in a new world. His modern-day skills are not very useful in this land.

I love that this travelogue book combines ideas of the Western world, such as technology, with those of the Eastern side, like magic and mysticism. These felt like two colliding worlds, ultimately making this story very exciting.

You will enjoy reading about Lew’s interactions with the quirky characters as they helped him navigate this new and strange land and marvel at their intriguing culture clash. You will laugh while being whisked to a hidden fantasy world.

This is not just a physical journey. It is emotional and exotic and will push all your buttons.

A Walk Down Rushville, by Barbara Burton (2024)

This is a travelogue for you if you fancy mystery, suspense, and a psychological thrill. This is Barbara’s debut novel, and I must say it caught my attention immediately and held tight to my interest.

In this page-turner, Barbara tells the story of Skyler Bennet. She is depressed, lonely, and withdrawn in a small Southern California town. Owing to these situations, she walks at night with her Labrador to find peace and also get away from her torturous thoughts. During one late-night walk, Skyler witnesses a murder, and when the assailant notices her, her life takes a turn.

A Walk Down Rushville spans breathtaking villages in the small California beach town, but you also get to enjoy the spectacular North Carolina, Edenton, and Forio, Italy. Barbara’s vivid descriptions of these places bring this book to life amazingly.

You will love Skyler’s courageous spirit and may even find her relatable and fascinating. You will care about her as she journeys through her traumatic experience. Walk with her, help her learn a new meaning of family, and see how her lessons will open her heart.

This travelogue book substantially explores the true meaning of family and all the different forms it can come in.

Force of Nature, by Joan M. Griffin (2023)

Get your hiking boots ready and allow Griffin to take you on a journey through the John Muir Trail and feel like you are on it from the comfort of your chair.

This book is thorough and descriptive, and Joan’s attention to detail is evident from start to finish. If you love hiking and have never been on this trail, you will wish to go here for your next trip.

Force of Nature is the story of three female friends in their fifties as they hike the John Muir Trail. This adventure is not easy from the beginning, owing to the ferocious weather and self-imposed accidents, but when they take on an abandoned hiker, she enriches it. Together, they end up at the High Sierra peak, Mt. Whitney.

I loved how Joan describes the Sierra Nevada trail, its beauty, delights, and perils in a way that made me feel like I was trekking along with these women.

You will enjoy the lessons on the meadow and mountain areas, the high mountain lakes, wildflowers, and the odd snow formations these hikers meet on their way. Their coping mechanisms for balance issues, weather changes, injuries, and many obstacles make this a read of perseverance and sheer determination.

This book will fuel your growth, heighten your spirits, and encourage you to form travel-bonding relationships.

Invitation to Italy, by Victoria Springfield (2024)

Having read The Italian Fiancé and A Farmhouse in Tuscany, I couldn’t wait for Victoria to invite me to Italy again. When this book was released, I placed my order immediately.

Once again, Springfield has transported me with this Italian fix and, more specifically, to the heavenly island of Procida. Abi follows her teen daughter here, staying with her ex-husband and Marissa, his glamorous fiancé.

Invitation to Italy is an easy read, making it the perfect summer companion. The twisty plot is beautifully crafted, and the believable characters spring to life, creating an endless page-turner.

You will love the cobbled streets, lovely coves, and the sceneries Victoria vividly describes. The specifics she uses amazingly set the scene. You will ache for Italy’s sun on your skin, your mouth will water as you think of the limoncello, and you will even smell the salty air while reading. As you flip the pages, you will marvel at the breezy but not shallow writing style.

Set your bottle of prosecco and grilled calamari and go on this fabulous journey. Better yet, add the book’s destination recommendation to your travel bucket list.

The Last Hike, by Lee Lovelace (2022)

This is another hiking travelogue and will be right up your alley if you have wanted to hike The Appalachian Trail or have just been fascinated by its stories. This book is fictional, but I loved how awfully realistic it seemed. It hooked me and entertained me thoroughly. It will bring you to your core authentically and funnily, and you won’t put it down.

Paul, the protagonist in the book, had always yearned to trek The Appalachian Trail, but like for many of us, life came in between his dream. Death was the only deliverance to this path, and that’s how he headed to Maine from Georgia. Paul was unaware that his story would bring him incredible loss, love, and relationships during his adventure.

Get to see how extreme weather conditions challenge Paul’s journey and how he undergoes various health issues, and also get to ease this with the splendid beauty he encounters.

This book is well-written, and its descriptions are as thorough as those of a true AT hiker. It is an excellent addition that will significantly make you value family.

Since it is such an excellent work of fiction but inspired by actual life events, it will be up to you to determine which sections are made up and which are real. You will keep wondering what’s to come with every page, but without spoiling anything, I will say it is worth every word.

Whiskers Abroad, by Carrie Lanell Carter (2022)

I am a cat lover, and Japan is one of the destinations on my bucket list. Needless to say, I was utterly thrilled when a friend recommended this book to me. If you relate to me and feel we share the same interests, this one may turn out to be your new favorite Japan guide.

This read features a Japan trip shared by Audrey and Ashi, her cat. It is interestingly told in a way that the two recount alternate versions of events. They are on a twelve-day trip visiting various cities packed with adventure.

Carrie provides you with detailed descriptions of what Japan has to offer, from the incredible locations to the smells and sounds. This travelogue book has different points of view that will allow you to engage with a human and animal perspective, taking you on a unique journey.

You will love how Audrey and Ashi depict and embody travel's best and worst moments. With wonder, fascination, exhaustion, and anxiety, this book will show you the importance of co-existing on this planet.

Whiskers Abroad is now part of my Japan’s travel preparation/guidance books. It is informative on some of the most amazing places, delicacies, and unique cultural customs. It can be yours too.

Final Thoughts on Travelogue Books

By reading these travelogue books, you will get captivating tales and more. They have the ability to take you on various human experiences and substantially showcase the essence of travel.

They will remind you that traveling is not only about soon-to-be or already-visited destination(s). It is also about the journeys we undertake and the absorption we gather through authors. Why not pick any or several and witness their transformative potential and enduring appeal?

If you are looking for travel related books mostly non-fiction check out our travel book list.

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