10 Most Inspiring Travel Memoirs of All Time
When I’m not traveling, I love spending my time reading. Actually, come to think of it, I always have a book with me even when I’m on the road. I once even worked in a bookstore just so I could be surrounded by books all day.
And surprise, surprise, my favorite genre is travel memoir. Or really, any book that sparks the urge to pack a bag and go.
There are so many travel memoirs out there, but these are the ones I’ve read and truly loved.
If you’re a seasoned traveler searching for fresh inspiration, an aspiring explorer needing that little push out of your comfort zone, or someone who prefers experiencing adventures from the coziness of an armchair, these books deserve a spot on your reading list, if they’re not there already.
Enjoy!
Table of Contents
#1 Eat, Pray, Love
Okay, okay — I know this one is predictable. And I also know a lot of people criticize the author for coming across as spoiled and ungrateful. Some parts of the book are admittedly pretty cringey.
But I’m putting it first on this list because it was the very first travel memoir I ever read. I’d even go as far as to say it was the book that inspired me to travel solo.
It tells the story of how the author found herself — and a new husband — on her first solo trip across two continents.
Back when I read it, I was genuinely in awe of her courage. Now that I’ve visited all the places she went to and more, and done most of the things she did (minus finding a husband), I’m not sure I’d feel the same way if I picked it up again.
Still, it’s a good read for anyone going through a similar phase in life, or for those who are just starting to dip their toes into solo travel.
#2 A Dip in the Ocean
Propelled by the grief of her father’s death and the realization that life is too short not to be lived to the fullest, 23-year-old Sarah Outen set out on an ambitious solo journey across the Indian Ocean, rowing from Australia to Mauritius in her tiny boat.
Just imagine rowing alone for months across some of the roughest waters on the planet. Along the way, she broke two oars, ate 500 chocolate bars, and lost 20 kilograms of body weight.
Not exactly the kind of adventure I’d picture myself in, but that’s the beauty of books, isn’t it? They let us experience adventures we’d never dare to attempt ourselves.
#3 Wild
In a similar vein, Cheryl Strayed set out on a long solo journey following her mother’s death and the collapse of her marriage.
But unlike Outen, Strayed traveled on foot — 1,100 miles along the west coast of the United States, from the Mojave Desert all the way to Washington state. And unlike Outen, she was completely unprepared, with no prior experience in long-distance hiking.
Her book captures every raw, exhausting, and sometimes hilarious moment of that trek and shows how she pushed through both the physical pain and the emotional weight, step by step, to complete the journey.
#4 Call of the White
This is the story of eight women from across the globe who set out on an all-women skiing expedition to the South Pole.
Chosen from over 800 applicants from places as varied as Jamaica, India, Brunei, and Cyprus, some of these women had never even seen snow — or even heard the word ski. Yet they were about to face a challenge like no other.
The expedition was led by the author herself, who not only handpicked the team but also guided them through one of the harshest landscapes on Earth. They battled 80 mph winds, frostbite, injuries, and hidden crevasses, relying on sheer determination and teamwork to keep moving forward.
It’s a story that pulses with courage, grit, and the unstoppable power of women pushing themselves beyond what seems possible.
#5 Tracks
In Tracks, Robyn Davidson sets out on a staggering 1,700-mile journey across the harsh Australian desert, with nothing but four camels and a dog for company.
Caring for yourself on a solo trek is one thing, but looking after five other living beings, all depending on you to survive, is a whole different challenge.
Luckily, Davidson had extensive experience with camels. She knew how to calm them when they got skittish, tend to their injuries, and keep the caravan moving through an unforgiving landscape.
Unlike Call of the Wild (see above), this book immerses you in the sweltering heat, encounters with poisonous snakes, and the unsettling presence of lecherous men in the desert. There’s something about the desert that seems to bring out the worst in people, and Davidson doesn’t shy away from showing it.
#6 The Gringo Trail
The Gringo Trail follows the author on a wild backpacking journey through Ecuador, Bolivia, and Colombia with two of his best friends.
True to the backpacker spirit, the trio dove headfirst into Latin American culture, traveling on a shoestring budget, meeting locals, and living in a haze of drugs and adventure.
But the fun soon took a darker turn. What started as a thrill became an addiction that consumed their lives and left a lasting mark on who they were.
Told with dark humor and unflinching honesty, this travelogue is a raw, engaging, and sometimes shocking look at life on the road in South America. Beautiful, chaotic, and unforgettable all at once.
#7 Into the Wild
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer examines the true life story of a young man named Chris McCandless who abandoned all his worldly possessions, burned all his money and walked deep into the Alaskan wilderness.
Four months later, his emaciated corpse was found along with an SOS note. While some people may think of McCandless as a crazy person who rightly got what he deserved, his decision to leave civilization behind in search of solitude and nature might strike a chord with some of us.
Don’t we sometimes wish we could walk away from our problems, relinquish our former selves, and start over as someone new in a place where nothing is familiar?
#8 A Walk in the Woods
Bill Bryson is no beginner in travel writing. In this book, he recalled the humorous tale of his hike on the Appalachian Trail — the longest continuous footpath in the world.
Accompanied by a fickle and physically unfit friend, he had to deal with bears, moose, bobcats, rattlesnakes, tics, poisonous plants, and annoying hikers.
Despite all that, Bryson gamely faced the challenges to achieve a lifetime ambition: not to die outdoors.
This is one of the five books on this list that have been turned into movies.
#9 Snowing in Bali
Snowing in Bali isn’t exactly a travel memoir. It’s Kathryn Bonella’s gripping account of her investigation into Bali’s hidden drug world.
The book is a sequel to Hotel K, named after Bali’s notorious prison that houses many foreigners convicted of drug-related offenses.
Having visited Bali many times myself, I found it fascinating — and a little chilling — to read about familiar streets, cafes, and neighborhoods that I’d always seen as sunny and serene, now layered with stories of crime and tragedy I never knew existed.
After reading this book, you can’t help but look at the island with new eyes, and occasionally wonder if the friendly faces you meet on the street could be part of something much darker.
#10 What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding
Like me — and so many other female travelers I’ve had the privilege to meet — Kristin Newman spent much of her twenties and thirties hopping from one wedding or baby shower to the next.
Not ready to settle down herself, she instead took off on extended trips around the world each year.
During her travels, she fell in love not just with the places she visited, but also with the locals she met along the way — men who could satisfy her emotional and sexual needs with no strings attached.
Her adventures include encounters with Israeli bartenders, Finnish poker players, charming Bedouins, and even Argentinian priests.
Again, not my kind of adventure, but it’s a funny, cheeky, and utterly entertaining read.
What are your favorite travel memoirs? Why do you like them? Share in the comments below.
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Menarik semua buku2 tu. Dok bayangkan kuat betul semangat mereka.
Haah. Baca buku-buku ni memang bagi inspirasi untuk travel macam diorang.
I’m always looking for new books! Thanks for this.
Laurenbarrettwrites
Thanks for your feedback, Lauren. I hope you found one or two you like from this list. 🙂
I love to read travelog novel. Aside from we could read about their experiences, we too could expose to the reality of world
True, and they inspire me for my own adventures 🙂
Those who plan to travel solo but no guts to do so, i bet these kind of books can inspire them. I have a friend who used to travel solo & i inspired by her spirit so much.
Yes, these books have inspired me and will continue to do so 😃
Book no 3 – wild, sound interesting. Should get one. Love the courage and moving forward spirit of of the author
Ya, I think that was the one that I could relate to the most. 🙂
Buat masa ni, no #1 tu lee yang banyak Sis buatnya.. ikutlah mana dan apa kita suka, kalau kita suka apa yang kita buat, semua keliling kita akan bahagia kan kan kan..
Betul tu. As long as kita tak susahkan orang lain.
Oh such a nice sharing! Thank you. I need a dip in the ocean now too I miss holiday huhu
I would love to row a boat across the ocean, not just a dip in it 😝
Banuaknya buku.. Semua berkenaan travel ke.. Kkta ni dhlama tak baca buku sangat. Busy dengan kerja dengan anak2
I’m a bookworm and am always surrounded by fellow bookworms. Some of them are working mothers too. I guess you make time for things that matter to you 😉
Buku travel macam ni bagus juga bagi sikit pengalaman orang yang pernah pergi kepada kita yang nak pergi tempat barukan. Tapi tu lah saya ni pemalas nak membaca terutama buku ilmiah ni hehehehe wakakkaka…
Hahaha, takde la ilmiah mana pun buku-buku ni. Baca pasal pengalaman orang, macam baca blog juga 😉
This is interesting on how they actually published books about their journey and reading your brief is enough for me to imagine about how tough the journey is! Nice articles. Thanks for sharing this sis..
Yup and they are all written in such vivid ways that you feel like you’re on the journey with them.
Nice sharing. I wish I can spend time reading books too. All books you share very interesting to read.
Hope you found something you like in this list 🙂
Wow! you had read so many books! Do check out https://www.bookxcessonline.com/ , many exciting books available to shop with superb affordable price!
Yes, I’ve visited them a few times, actually (the physical store). And I’m a loyal fan of their BBW Book fair. 🙂
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