Books

10 of the Best Books about Travel and Self Discovery

Updated January 15th, 2021ย 

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There are not a lot of things I like to do more than travel or read. Any travel addict or avid reader will agree that both experiences can be life changing and help you learn about the world while discovering more about yourself. It’s probably no surprise that I read a great deal of books about travel and self discovery. When I am not out traveling the world myself I love reading about other people’s adventures, especially solo travel books about real people finding out more about themselves as they explore new places.

While it will be immediately clear that all the recommendations below are travel memoirs, the self discovering that each writer undergoes is more evident in some of the stories. Each one made me think about myself, what type of traveler I am and what type of adventures I want in the future. Regardless of the extent that self-discovery plays a role in each of the books, you will be inspired and finding yourself through travel in no time!ย 

If you are looking for even more unique memoirs check out my list full of books for every type of traveler.

Books about Travel and Self Discovery

#1: The Yellow Envelope: One gift, Three Rules, and a Life-Changing Journey Around the World

The Yellow Envelope

Kim Dinan and her husband quit their jobs, sell everything and leave the lives they know to travel the world indefinitely. What makes The Yellow Envelopeย stand out from others is that the travelers are given a yellow envelope with money to use to help others and spread kindness around the world.

This book is more than the typical tale of we went here, then we went there and so on. Instead the memoir focuses on Kim and her husband’s personal journeys and the growth and changes that traveling brings. Many truths about traveling versus being a tourist are shared. Those feelings and idea of an alternate lifestyle of traveling will resonate with any long-term traveler.

#2: My Holiday in North Korea: The Funniest/Worst Place on Earth

The author Wendy Simmons chronicles her 10 day holiday in North Korea. She explains what it was like traveling around on her own without other Westerners and only her North Korean handlers, drivers and other guides. Through her written memories and numerous photographs you get an inside look thatโ€™s hard to have unless you are brave enough to visit for yourself.

No Dad, North Korea isn’t next on my list! But this was a fascinating read for anyone interested in what it is really like to visit the country. It really makes you wonder what life is like for residents of the country. If North Korea interests you, but you don’t want to visit, here are some more books about North Korea.ย 

#3: The Good Girlโ€™s Guide to Getting Lost: A Memoir of Three Continents, Two Friends, and One Unexpected Adventure

Unlike many travel memoirs that take place in Africa and Asia and seem to focus on more exotic adventures with experienced travelers or backpackers, The Good Girl’s Guide to Getting Lost started off with a simple summer in Ireland. Rachel Friedman forms a long-lasting friendship that ends up leading her to more travels around the world.ย 

The progression of Friedman’s travel locations and experiences, as well as her savviness as a traveler are very relatable. I couldn’t help but to identify with Friedman’s growth as a traveler and person.ย 

#4: No Baggage: A Minimalist Tale of Love and Wandering

Believe it or not, in No Baggage, Clara and her unlabeled travel companion, Jeff, take off for Europe without any plans or luggage! While navigating the world of unplanned travel, Clara also tries to figure out herself and her relationship with Jeff.

Have you seen the picture of me with my luggage when I came back from Russia? Well letโ€™s just say I am learning to pack lighter, but I could never do what the two in this story do! While it is not my travel style, it was a really interesting read that gets you thinking about how important our material possessions really are.

#5: Braving It: A Father, a Daughter, and an Unforgettable Journey Into the Alaskan Wild

Told from the fatherโ€™s, James Campbell’s, perspective Braving It describes the three father and daughter wilderness trips that Campbell and his daughter took together in the Alaskan wild. It is the perfect travel adventure book that mixes the hardships of staying and traveling through remote areas with the changing dynamics of the father-daughter relationship.ย 

On some levels it really made me want to start a life of wilderness camping and in other ways it really made me never want to do that.

#6:ย The Lost Girls:ย Three Friends. Four Continents. One Unconventional Detour Around the World

Three New York City 20 something women quit their jobs and say goodbye to stressful city life in order to travel the world. In The Lost Girlsย all three women tell their adventurous backpacking storiesย in alternating perspectives. Unlike many of the solo travel books on this list, this one is also a strong story about friendship.ย 

Of all the books about travel and finding yourself this was the one that gave me the final push to follow through on my wanderlust and start seriously applying for teaching jobs abroad.

#7:ย No Touch Monkey

Ayun Halliday honestly shares her travel stories with a great deal of humor in No Touch Monkey. Whether you can relate to her many traveling blunders or not, you can’t help but laugh.

I found myself laughing along with her tales and taking note to prevent them from happening to me in the future! Some things you need to learn for yourself and others you can save yourself the trouble by learning from Halliday!

#8: Love with a Chance of Drowning

If you were afraid of the water would you get on a sailboat and travel around the world? Wellย Torre DeRoche did and she tells you all about it in her memoir, Love with a Chance of Drowning.

I liked this story, because it presented a different way to explore the world, almost primarily by sailboat! Even if it never crossed your mind before you will want to find the love of your life than you can hop in a sailboat with and set off into the sunset.

#9: Miss Adventures: A Tale of Ignoring Life Advice While Backpacking Around South America

In Miss Adventures, much to the worry of her friends and family, Amy Baker quits her job and takes off to South America for a multi-country backpacking trip.ย Like many backpackers Baker tries to figure out life on the road while having exciting and not-so exciting adventures. What makes the book a little different isย Baker’s quest to sort through the advice she has been given.

This book immediately appealed to me due to my newfound love of South America. This is a great read for anyone living or wanting to take the leap to live a non-traditional life. If you ever have been given some well-meaning advice from someone who has never left home you will be sure to identify with this book!

#10: A Fork in the Road: Tales of Food, Pleasure & Discovery on the Road

I received A Fork in the Road as a present and my first reaction was, wow I am so touched you know me so well: giving an avid reader such as myself that loves to eat and travel more than anything else, a book of short stories revolving around food and travel!

Because the compilation of travel stories is written by different travelers, there is a variety of the types of stories and a wide range of settings. Some stories I wanted to go on and on, whereas others didn’t connect with me. For anyone with a love of food and travel, you will surely enjoy quite a few of the stories!

So what are you waiting for? Order one of these books about travel and self discovery and be transported to another world! Hopefully they will inspire you to do some soul-searching and plan your next adventures.ย 

Which books about travel and finding yourself do you recommend?ย 

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