Travel Writers' Showcase
You are invited to explore the world of travel writing. Great books by writers who explore the world.
The first travel writers were explorers and adventurers. Almost everyone has heard of the travels of Marco Polo, the thirteenth century Venetian merchant who became an emissary to the court of Kublai Khan.
(the image at left depicts the Polos departing Constantinople; courtesy Wikipedia)
Even today, with the rapid exchange of information on the web, the immediate broadcast of international events by satellite, and a wealth of audio-visual material on travel destinations, travel writing remains a popular literary genre.
This page is designed to introduce readers, especially those who might be new to travel writing, to some of the top contemporary writers in the field.
Exotic Destinations
Travel writing may be about any place on earth, from the pub at the end of your block to the far corners of Tibet. Here are some images of exotic destinations to spark your imagination and lust for travel.
Every week or so the images will be changed to a different destination.
This week we are going to the Yucatan!
Where have YOU been?
Tulum
Tulum
Tulum
Tulum
Tulum
Tulum
Tulum
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Travel Writing Is:
Travel writing is a style of writing that describes a place, usually using humorous and opinionated views, personal to the writer, or serious and greatly descriptive prose.
Travel writing is often associated with tourism, and includes works of an ephemeral nature such as guide books. Travel writing has also been produced by other types of travelers, such as missionaries, explorers, scientists, pilgrims, and immigrants.
Travel writing which is valued as literature may be referred to as travel literature.
Travel writing is often used to show an individual interpretation and perspective on a place. Spoken word is used throughout travel writing due to its more natural, welcoming and explanatory manner.
Travel writing is also explored in the television show, Word Travels, following South African travel writer Robin Esrock and Canadian travel writer Julia Dimon.Word Travels Official Site The show is broadcast on OLN in Canada, and National Geographic Adventure Worldwide.
Michael Palin
Full Circle: One Man's Journey by Air, Train, Boat and Occasionally Very Sore Feet Around the 20.000 Miles of the Pacific Rim
Amazon Price: (as of 11/11/2009) 
Michael Palin's Hemingway Adventure
Amazon Price: (as of 11/11/2009)
Himalaya
Amazon Price: $21.86 (as of 11/11/2009)
Sahara
Amazon Price: $13.22 (as of 11/11/2009)
New Europe. Michael Palin
Amazon Price: (as of 11/11/2009)
Peter Mayle
A Year in Provence
Amazon Price: $9.36 (as of 11/12/2009)
Toujours Provence
Amazon Price: $10.04 (as of 11/12/2009)
Encore Provence: New Adventures in the South of France
Amazon Price: $11.16 (as of 11/12/2009)
French Lessons: Adventures with Knife, Fork, and Corkscrew
Amazon Price: $10.04 (as of 11/12/2009)
A Good Year: Portrait of the Film based on the Novel by Peter Mayle (Newmarket Pictorial Moviebooks)
Amazon Price: $29.95 (as of 11/12/2009)
Paul Theroux
The Great Railway Bazaar
Amazon Price: $9.72 (as of 11/12/2009)
To the Ends of the Earth
Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 11/12/2009)
Pillars of Hercules
Amazon Price: $11.56 (as of 11/12/2009)
The Kingdom by the Sea: A Journey Around the Coast of Great Britain
Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 11/12/2009)
Ghost Train to the Eastern Star: On the Tracks of the Great Railway Bazaar
Amazon Price: $18.48 (as of 11/12/2009)
Viewer Participation Poll
Elizabeth Gilbert
Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia
Amazon Price: $10.20 (as of 11/12/2009)
Pilgrims
Amazon Price: $10.08 (as of 11/12/2009)
Broken Spears: A Maasai Journey
Amazon Price: (as of 11/12/2009)
Coyote Ugly (Unrated Special Edition)
Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 11/12/2009)
More Popular Recent Titles
Shadow of the Silk Road (P.S.)
Amazon Price: $11.51 (as of 11/12/2009)
Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time
Amazon Price: $9.47 (as of 11/12/2009)
Best Travel Writing Annual Anthologies
The Best Travel Writing 2006: True Stories from Around the World
Amazon Price: $15.69 (as of 11/12/2009)
The Best Travel Writing 2007: True Stories from Around the World
Amazon Price: $8.90 (as of 11/12/2009)
The Best Travel Writing 2008: True Stories from Around the World
Amazon Price: $15.25 (as of 11/12/2009)
The Best Travel Writing 2009: True Stories from Around the World
Amazon Price: $12.21 (as of 11/12/2009)
Travel Writing Through History
The Cambridge Companion to Travel Writing (Cambridge Companions to Literature)
Amazon Price: $21.26 (as of 11/12/2009)
The Travels of Marco Polo
Amazon Price: $10.04 (as of 11/12/2009)
The Travels of Ibn Battutah
Amazon Price: $10.03 (as of 11/12/2009)
Seven Years in Tibet
Amazon Price: $10.85 (as of 11/12/2009)
The Silk Road Journey With Xuanzang
Amazon Price: $21.25 (as of 11/12/2009)
Comments? Questions?
Share your journeys here. Become a travel writer!
Ramkitten wrote...
I hadn't heard of some of these authors, though travel-writing is one of my favorite genres. I'll definitely check out some of these books and am lensrolling this to my new lens on Travel-Adventure Writer, Peter Jenkins.
Posted February 24, 2009
SaraMu wrote...
Lovely lens. I am just getting started on the travel writing front so this is excellent. Thanks!
Posted October 30, 2008
MobyD wrote...
5 stars! I've seen most of Michael Palin's travel shows. I should read his books, too. Nicely done lens!
Posted October 17, 2008
BigGirlBlue wrote...
I have an online acquaintance who is a travel writer. She actually has an online website/magazine. She's always looking for other travel writers and it's a small paying market if you're interested. It's called Travel Glitter.
Posted September 23, 2008
by TankDog
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