Books for Travel: My Favorite Travel Narratives

I continue my great ambition at the moment: to share with you all these books that have made me travel! After providing you with a list by category, here's the time to dive into travel narratives. True stories from real adventurers lived in every corner of the globe. Here are some traveler narratives to discover.

Once you start to take an interest in the topic, you realize that travel narratives abound! They come in all kinds, as varied as the ways of traveling and the philosophies of travelers. Alone, in couples, on foot, by bike, hitchhiking...

Some are so well-known that we almost forget they narrate a journey, like Che's adventures. Others remain hidden in the shadows, forgotten by the general public when they deserve to be more recognized.

Here are some travel narratives that I have read and enjoyed. Of course, there are many more... which I invite you to share with me in the comments at the end of the article.

One of my first travel narratives, my very first contact with the fascinating world of Alexandre Poussin. From this author, I have only read this adventure and his book >, which I will discuss in a future article dedicated to thought-provoking books... But I recently enjoyed following the Poussin family's trek in Madagascar, with two children now accompanying the couple on their journeys. A family certainly unlike any other!

This great African adventure is divided into two books: Africa Trek - From Cape to Kilimanjaro (2004) and Africa Trek - Volume 2 - From Kilimanjaro to Lake Tiberias (2005).

Sonia and Alexandre Poussin embarked on a crazy project, that of walking from the Cape of Good Hope to Lake Tiberias, following the Rift Valley, in the footsteps of the first humans: Africa Trek. An epic journey of 3 years covering 14,000 km, crossing more than 10 countries and especially discovering today's Africa and its people.

It's impossible to speak of one without the other! After introducing Alexandre, it naturally leads to Sylvain: these two friends traveled and recounted their adventures together (>). However, it was only months later that one of his books slipped into my hands.

Known for his >, this author has published numerous works, from travel narratives to short stories and essays.

Lovers of wide-open spaces, of both movement and stillness: >(which has almost nothing to do with the film!), this book is for you! Some passages are so accurate, so powerful... Once you discover this author, it's hard to let go! He particularly inspired me in writing the articles > and >.

Other reading suggestions from this author: L'axe du loup, Berezina, Géographie de l'instant, S'abandonner à vivre.

Fairly early, I understood that I wouldn't be able to do much to change the world. I then promised myself to settle down for a while, alone, in a cabin. In the forests of Siberia. I acquired a wooden isba, far from everything, on the shores of Lake Baikal. There, for six months, five days' walk from the nearest village, lost in overwhelming nature, I tried to be happy. I believe I succeeded. Two dogs, a wood stove, an open window to a lake are enough for life. And what if freedom consisted of possessing time? And if happiness came from having solitude, space, and silence - all things that future generations will lack? As long as there are cabins deep in the woods, nothing will be entirely lost. (Back cover)

I discovered this great traveler through François Quiquet's blog (A World of Adventures) and devoured the book Wild by Nature.

This extraordinary and solitary adventurer has been traveling the world on foot for over 25 years and has already accomplished impressive challenges: crossing the United States, traversing the Australian Outback (14,000 km), and crossing the Andes (7,000 km). She has shared her travels through several books: Wild by Nature: From Siberia to Australia, 3 years of extreme solo walking >> (2014), High Altitude Deserts, From Chile to Machu Picchu, 8 months on foot in the Andes >> (2015), and >(2016). In 2013, she won the European Adventurer of the Year award and, in 2014, National Geographic nominated her for Adventurer of the Year. This book, the first in the series and the only one I have read (so far), plunged me into a world that is foreign to me on every level: traveling alone, in areas of the world I have never been to and that make me dream (like the steppes of Mongolia), on foot and in extreme conditions. A powerful narrative, dislocating, tiring at times (as you truly share in the moments of intense effort), and rejuvenating all at once. Like the essence of Freedom. While the content is captivating, it occasionally falters in form: digressions, a style that stumbles and hesitates at times, with the feeling of a lack of immersion in emotion, remaining above the facts in a sort of logbook style. But despite these flaws, it's a read that occupied my mind during and after I turned the pages of the book. A beautiful journey...

Like the tale of 1001 nights, Sarah Marquis took 1000 days and 1000 nights to cross the Australian continent, alone and on foot. From 2010 to 2013, accompanied only by her backpack, she traveled 20,000 km from Lake Baikal (a reminder of the previously presented book!) to the Australian bush.

We're diving into a totally different style! Another solo traveler, but of an entirely different kind.

I, who am saturated from reading (too) often that traveling as a woman is complicated/dangerous/irresponsible (delete where inapplicable), opened this book without great conviction... until I came across the author's introduction, who expresses being tired of answering the same questions regarding her countless adventures around the globe. Because she travels alone. Because she is a woman. Because she is short. And blonde. And adventurous!

The humorous tone and self-deprecating style of > quickly hooked me and I enjoyed following our heroine's (mis)adventures around the globe!

A young woman wandering the world outside the tourist trails and traveling in a more disorganized than organized manner is the subject of fascination and questions for many of us...

: this quote from Mark Twain finds a perfect illustration in Mike Horn's epic journey. I discovered this extreme challenge man with his adventure >: a world tour along the equator. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and enjoyment of the writing: smooth and immersive style, with some beautiful passages returning humankind to its foundations, in contact with nature, alone before a profoundly hostile environment (such as deep in the jungle). But ultimately, the greatest dangers for man are not the storms on the ocean or the wild animals of the jungle... but men, unpredictable. Man is a wolf to man... As if I wanted to get lost in the middle of a desert after reading this book!

40,000 kilometers: a non-motorized world tour on foot along the equator in 17 months. Latitude Zero, the crazy project of returning to its starting point while always moving straight, through oceans, forests, deserts, and mountains. 6 main chapters reflecting its 6 major stages: the Atlantic, South America, the Pacific Ocean, Indonesia, the Indian Ocean, and Africa. The list of challenges that this adventurer has already met is impressive: paragliding expedition in the Andes of Peru (1991), descent of 7,000 km of the Amazon by hydrospeed (1997), Latitude Zero: round the world along the equator (1999-2000), Arktos: round the Arctic Circle - 2,000 km - (2002-2004), 1,000 km to the North Pole (2006), climbing 2 8,000-meter peaks in the Himalayas (2007), Pangaea: non-motorized world tour (since 2008).

The real question here would be: why did I wait so long before reading this book? I had already met Ludo during travel blogger events; that's how I discovered his book >... but it took me a few more years to immerse myself in this narrative, even though it was on my >.

Ludovic is more than a world tour hitchhiker: he's a character, a peace ambassador. Through his book and story, he shares his questions, doubts, surprises, and learnings. The most important of all: the earth is beautiful, people are good... and the more we exchange, the more barriers and clichés fall away, the more interest in the fragility of nature comes to the forefront.

He talks about his journey and projects, like Travel With A Mission (TWAM) in a TEDx conference in 2012. You will find more information about this adventurer on his website.

Ludovic, with his Master's degree in hand, decides to begin new learnings to gain the most beautiful degree: his >. On January 1, 2003, he sets off for >, a journey that was supposed to last two years and ended up lasting five. His motto: hitchhiking, by car and by boat. For Ludo, it's the best means of meeting the inhabitants of our beautiful planet, regardless of culture, religion, or social background. His thumb will take him from Europe to Africa to embark for a transatlantic journey to South America, from where he will then explore Antarctica, before driving up the Pan-American Highway to North America, before continuing with a crossing of the Pacific, reaching Oceania, then Asia and the Middle East... until he returns to where he started, in Europe. Moving straight ahead to reach his destination, which is none other than his starting point: a beautiful challenge, a memorable journey, and messages that will uplift you.

I hope this non-exhaustive list will inspire some of you to embark on this kind of literary adventure. Some of these books have enthralled me, moved me, and even made me cry.

Here, I only speak of narratives: there are still many other literary styles for traveling. I will discuss that in other articles focused on novels and reflective books.

And just in the realm of travel journals, there's an infinite number of (auto)biographical works from travelers: feel free to share your reading recommendations in the comments! I'm always thrilled to discover new authors and embark on new adventures!