Travel stories gifts

In January 2003, Nicholas Sparks and his brother Micah set off on a three-week trip around the world. An adventure by any measure, this trip was especially meaningful as it marked another milestone in the life journey of two brothers who, by their early thirties, were the only surviving members of their family. As Nicholas and Micah travel the globe,...

New to Penguin Classics In 1933 Robert Byron began a journey through the Middle East via Beirut, Jerusalem, Baghdad, and Teheran to Oxiana—the country of the Oxus, the ancient name for the river Amu Darya which forms part of the border between Afghanistan and the Soviet Union. The Road to Oxiana offers not only a wonderful record of his adventures,...

'Byrne comes across like a post-punk Michael Palin.' - The Times 'An engaging book; part-diary, part-manifesto.' - Observer Bicycle Diaries by David Byrne, co-founder of the group Talking Heads, explores his unique immersion into urban landscapes around the world through cycling. Since the 1980s, Byrne has used a bicycle as his principal means of transportation. He even takes a folding...

In his most autobiographical novel to date, Paulo Coelho interweaves adventure, philosophy, and the true stories of his own life to give readers an essential book for our time. A journey to the past. A map for the future. Drawing on the rich experience of his own life, bestselling author Paulo Coelho relives the dreams of a generation that longed...

Now a limited Netflix series starring Zoe Saldana! This Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick and New York Times bestseller is “a captivating story of love lost and found” (Kirkus Reviews) set in the lush Sicilian countryside, where one woman discovers the healing powers of food, family, and unexpected grace in her darkest hours. It was love at first sight when...

Flights is a series of imaginative and mesmerising meditations on travel in all its forms, not only the philosophy and meaning of travel, but also fascinating anecdotes that take us out of ourselves, and back to ourselves. Olga Tokarczuk brilliantly connects travel with spellbinding anecdotes about anatomy, about life and death, about the very nature of humankind. Thrilling characters and...

Lonely Planet's USA's National Parks is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Hike beautiful Yosemite, marvel at the Grand Canyon, and spot volcanoes in Hawai'i; all with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of USA's National Parks and begin your journey now! Inside the...

Come on a round-the-world adventure as we explore 60 amazing places from across the globe! Packed with fascinating facts, this fully illustrated book introduces kids to some of the best places to visit on our planet. Continent by continent, they'll find out the top things to see and do: playing in Central Park, getting lost in the Amazon Jungle, climbing...

This latest edition of Lonely Planet's Experience Rome travel guide reveals exciting new ways to explore this iconic city with all the tools you need to create your own unique trip. Discover amazing local experiences, from digging into a slice of pizza rossa at Panificio Passi in Testaccio, to admiring the Vatican's showpiece basilica from St Peter's Square, and watching...

Lonely Planet's Botswana and Namibia is our most comprehensive guide that extensively covers all the region has to offer, with recommendations for both popular and lesser-known experiences. Spot jackals in Etosha National Park, explore the German colonial town of Luederitz, or marvel at mighty Victoria Falls, all with your trusted travel companion. Inside Lonely Planet's Botswana and Namibia Travel Guide:...

Life-changing food adventures around the world. A Moveable Feast is a collection of traveller's tales set around the world. It transforms the planet into an endless all-you-can-eat buffet for mind, soul, and stomach. Writers include food celebrities Anthony Bourdain, Matt Preston, and Andrew Zimmern. Edited by Don George.

A thrilling, real-life journey of a young woman who flew solo around the world, capturing breathtaking moments and overcoming incredible challenges. Join Zara Rutherford on her inspiring solo flight around the world! At just 19 years old, Zara embarked on a daring adventure to become the youngest woman to fly solo across the globe. This captivating book chronicles her journey...

The book that redefined travel writing - Guardian Bruce Chatwin sets off on a journey through South America in this wistful classic travel book. With its unique, roving structure and beautiful descriptions, In Patagonia offers an original take on the age-old adventure tale. Bruce Chatwin's journey to a remote country in search of a strange beast brings along with it...

Christine thought a year in South Korea would hit the pause button on her messy life. Her dad's death had left her anxious and depressed, and her career in musical theatre had reached a new low of shopping-centre kids' shows. When she found herself pulled over by the side of the road, dressed as a dinosaur and sobbing uncontrollably, it...

Black Lamb and Grey Falcon by Rebecca West is an extraordinary blend of travel memoir and historical analysis, undertaken during a six-week journey through Yugoslavia in 1937. Spanning over 1,000 pages, this epic work offers a detailed exploration of the landscapes, cultures, and political tensions of a region on the precipice of war. West meticulously documents her travels while engaging...

The charming sequel to the bestselling The Unlikely Voyage of Jack de Crow When A.J. 'Sandy' Mackinnon sailed a tiny dinghy through twelve countries from North Wales to the Black Sea, he survived pirates, the English Channel, international incidents and all the disasters, big and small, that can befall a little boat on a long voyage. Those adventures became his...

A rich and exquisite anthology that illuminates Japanese travel over a thousand years Shortlisted for the NSW Translation Prize Discover a realm of travel writing undreamed of in the West - a richly literary tradition extending through a thousand years and more, whose individual works together weave a dense and beautiful brocade of repeated patterns and motifs, tones and textures....

INTRODUCED BY CAROLINE EDEN, award-winning author of Black Sea, Red Sands and Samarkand 'Medieval pomp, splendour, and picturesqueness... a life that one can hardly even realize.' In 1912, Ella R. Christie — a veteran Scottish traveller who had made expeditions to Kashmir, Tibet, Malaya, Borneo, China, Korea, and Japan — steamed across the Caspian Sea to explore Central Asia. Her...

Ever since he can remember, Dom Joly has been fascinated by travel to odd places. In part, this stems from a childhood spent in war-torn Lebanon, where instead of swapping marbles in the schoolyard, he had a shrapnel collection—the schoolboy currency of Beirut. Dom's upbringing was interspersed with terrifying days and nights spent hunkered in the family basement under Syrian...

Into the world of 1950s Ireland—a lushly green, windswept landscape studded with holy wells and the decaying country houses of a vanished ruling class—arrives Ithell Colquhoun. An occultist and a surrealist painter, Colquhoun's travels around the island are guided by her artist's eye and her feeling for the world beyond our own, as well as her spikily humorous view of...

"Deep down, there is just something that draws us to the land, to wild places. We were there to listen to the land." When National Geographic Adventurers of the Year Amy and Dave Freeman marry, they set out on an unusual honeymoon: a three-year, 12,000-mile journey across North America. From Alaska's Inside Passage to Florida's Key West, they traverse the...

Eothen, which means 'news from the east', started out as a few notes scribbled on the back of a map, to amuse a friend who wanted some advice for his own youthful 'year off' travels, but it became one of the most influential, witty and idiosyncratic of travel books. It took Kinglake seven years before he had finished crafting this...

Bidding adios to work and Sydney, Erna and Alex decide to pursue a dream of living in the north of Spain. They fall in love with a tiny Castilian village, and set about restoring a long-forgotten, falling down villa that will soon be their new home. Letting go of old ways, they get swept up in the colourful goings-on of...

Explore the art of mindful travel with Kinfolk, the pioneers in "slow living," their philosophy of simplicity, authenticity, intentionality, and community. With nearly 450,000 copies in print, the Kinfolk series has applied this philosophy to entertaining (The Kinfolk Table), interior design (The Kinfolk Home), and living with nature (The Kinfolk Garden). Now they have turned their attention to "slow travel,"...

Italian Journey 1786-1788 is Goethe's famous account of his time and travels in Italy. In 1786, already recognised as the leader of the Sturm und Drang literary movement, Goethe embarked on a journey to Italy. This journey was both a personal and artistic quest, aiming to provide relief from his responsibilities and the pains of unrequited love. As he visited...

If Joan Didion was right, and we do tell ourselves stories in order to live, then a travel story is the best story of them all. And I had form for escaping in stories... Kate Wills wasn't expecting to be divorced after less than a year of marriage. She hadn't anticipated restarting a life that had, for the last 12...

New to Black Classics for this Classic Travel Book, with a new introduction by Jon Lee Anderson. During the years he spent among the Marsh Arabs of southern Iraq, Wilfred Thesiger came to understand, admire, and share a way of life that had endured for many centuries. Travelling from village to village by canoe, he won acceptance by dispensing medicines...

New to Black Classics Wilfred Thesiger was born in Addis Ababa in 1910 and educated at Eton and Oxford. Though British, he was repulsed by the softness and rigidity of Western life, "the machines, the calling cards, the meticulously aligned streets, etc." In the spirit of T.E. Lawrence, Thesiger spent five years exploring and wandering the deserts of Arabia. With...

Great Railway Journeys in Asia showcases 34 of the best rail journeys in South, Southeast, and North Asia. The journeys chosen by David Bowden, an avid rail traveller, range from quirky trains used as essential travel for locals, such as the North Borneo Railway, to trains on which passengers can experience 5-star luxury as they travel through stunning scenery, as...

What would it be like to move to Japan, leaving everyone you know behind, to become part of a traditional Japanese household? At Home in Japan tells an extraordinary true story of a foreign woman who goes through an amazing transformation, moving from a suburban lifestyle in California to a new life in Japan. She dedicates 30 years of her...

Discover 60 of the world's most spectacular gardens plus 120 travel ideas to ignite a love of outdoor spaces. Featuring the history of every botanical gem, beautiful photography, and trip planning tips, this uplifting book explores the restorative effects of flora and fauna, and the joy to be experienced from each of the inspiring gardens inside it. Walk spellbinding nature...

Discover twice the city in half the time as Lonely Planet's local travel experts reveal all you need to know to plan the ultimate short trip to Boston. This latest edition uncovers the city's most popular experiences and unexpected surprises. From following the Freedom Trail to walk in the footsteps of history, to cruising out to the Boston Harbor Islands...

Lonely Planet's New England is our most comprehensive guide that extensively covers all the region has to offer, with recommendations for both popular and lesser-known experiences. Marvel at the beauty of the 5000-mile coastline, explore the region's rich history in Boston, and sample the best local cuisine; all with your trusted travel companion. Inside Lonely Planet's New England Travel Guide:...

Lonely Planet's local travel experts reveal all you need to know to plan the trip of a lifetime to Georgia, Armenia & Azerbaijan. Discover popular and off the beaten track experiences, from visiting Georgia's Truso Valley for a hike past majestic scenery, to riding a cable car to the tiny village of Tatev, and seeing Tsminda Sameba Church in the...

Another addition to Penguin Modern Classics' key Kerouac holdings, alongside On the Road, The Town and the City & The Subterraneans. As he roams the US, Mexico, Morocco, Paris and London, Kerouac records life on the road in prose of pure poetry. Standing on the engine of a train as it rushes past fields of prickly cactus; witnessing his first...

Lonely Planet's Pocket Amsterdam is your guide to the city's best experiences and local life - neighbourhood by neighbourhood. Discover beautiful canals, admire world-class art museums, and taste the finest Dutch cuisine; all with your trusted travel companion. Uncover the best of Amsterdam and make the most of your trip! Inside Lonely Planet's Pocket Amsterdam: Full-colour maps and travel photography...

Michael Palin recreates the extraordinary life and tragic death of a First World War soldier - his great-uncle Harry. From the time, many years ago, when Michael Palin first heard that his grandfather had a brother, Harry, who died in tragic circumstances, he was determined to find out more about him. The quest that followed involved hundreds of hours of...

THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLING HILARIOUS NEW BOOK FROM THE NATION'S FAVOURITE COMEDIAN, BILLY CONNOLLY Being a Rambling Man was what I always wanted to be, to live the way I damn well pleased. I've met the weirdest and most wonderful people who walk the Earth, seen the most bizarre and the most fantastic sights - and I've rarely come across...

Moon Fiji by Minal Hajratwala is your ultimate guide to discovering the enchanting beauty of Fiji, an idyllic South Pacific paradise renowned for its colourful reefs, dramatic volcanic landscapes, lush emerald rainforests, and pristine beaches. This expertly crafted guidebook offers everything you need to embark on an unforgettable adventure across the Fijian archipelago. Inside you'll find: Flexible itineraries: Enjoy meticulously...

'Nothing less than a guided tour of the human soul ... A masterpiece' Elizabeth Gilbert 'A work of spiritual evolution [and] inner journeys told through extraordinary exteriors' Washington Post One of our most perceptive travel writers embarks on an exploration of the world's holiest places and where we might find paradise on Earth. It’s so easy, I thought, to place...

We cherish things, Japan has always known, precisely because they cannot last; it's their frailty that adds sweetness to their beauty. Returning to his home in Japan after his father-in-law's sudden death, Pico Iyer soon immerses himself in the rhythm of daily life, engaging in simple yet profound routines. He frequents the local post office during the day and plays...

The moving sequel to The Lost World of the Kalahari. In this moving sequel to The Lost World of the Kalahari, van der Post records everything he has learned of the life and lore of Africa's first inhabitants. The Heart of the Hunter is a journey into the mind and spirit of the Bushmen, a people outlawed by the advance...

Days seem so exhilarating aboard a ship: surrounded by water, an ever-changing spectrum of blues, greys and black, the sky surrounds you like a great bowl. The colours change from Prussian blue, speckled with turquoise, white horses, to fifty shades of grey, with the horizon a thin silver line and a Biblical display of golden sunrays, spilling down. For Celia...

Raised in Appalachia, Grandma Joy lived a life shaped by constraints and hardships, while her grandson Brad grappled with the weight of family rifts and unresolved pain. Together, they embarked on a quest not only to witness the majesty of America’s wild landscapes but also to heal generations of struggles and misunderstandings. Over seven years, they sought to visit all...

Laurens van der Post shared a deep-rooted attachment to Europe, Africa and Japan, and this work is a testament to his commitment to writing and initiating cultural and political commentaries on the issues and personalities of his time. Bringing together his conversations with Jean-Marc Pottiez, A Walk with a White Bushman is brimming with ideas, insights, people and events; at...

The Serene City beckons, promising Paradise regained for Ruth Cracknell and her husband, Eric, as they set forth on a carefully planned holiday. What they are seeking is time. Time to think, time to gaze, time for each other. But from the moment the holiday becomes an uncharted journey, their time is measured. Journey from Venice is confronting yet deeply...

The history of Dublin's famous Shelbourne Hotel, told by one of Ireland's most brilliant novelists. Elizabeth Bowen takes us on a tour through the history of the famous Dublin landmark, the Shelbourne Hotel, in this evocative account of Irish life. Looking out on Dublin as if from the windows of the Shelbourne, and then turning inward to witness the impact...

Learn the building blocks of drawing cityscapes – bricks, trees, roads, windows, railings, tiles – to recreate everyday scenes from your travels.With Alice’s clear step-by-step instructions, you’ll develop the skills to create memory-filled sketchbook pages, as you capture the atmosphere of any trip in your drawings.With inspiration from major cities such as Barcelona, Tokyo and Amsterdam, you can either sketch...

An account of a journey on foot across the mountains to the two lost worlds of Central Africa. Summoned to Whitehall in 1949, Laurens van der Post was informed that in old British Central Africa there were two large tracts of country that London didn't really know anything about. He was tasked with going in on foot and taking a...

Welcome to the Tyrrhenian Sea, home to la dolce vita, sun-drenched islands, and seaside towns where even the simplest trattoria exudes effortless glamour. Following the success of her first book, A House Party in Tuscany, food writer Amber Guinness embarks on a journey from the Tuscan coast through Lazio and Campania, via Naples and the Amalfi Coast, to northern Sicily...

'Nothing short of a masterpiece' JAN MORRIS '[This] gloriously ornate account of that epic journey is a classic' ROBERT MACFARLANE 'Not only is this journey one of physical adventure but of cultural awakening. Architecture, art, genealogy, quirks of history and language are all devoured -- and here passed on -- with a gusto uniquely his' COLIN THUBRON, Sunday Times 'One...

Intrepid Vietnam is your inspirational guide to discovering the most engaging and fulfilling experiences from across the country, for locals, new and repeat visitors alike. Whether it's your first time exploring the country, or you're looking for a chance to uncover new corners and experiences, this guide is not simply a checklist of things to do. Instead, it offers insight...

Intrepid Italy is your inspirational guide to discovering the most engaging and fulfilling experiences from across the country – for locals, and new and repeat visitors alike. Whether it's your first time exploring this vast country, or you're looking for new corners to discover, this guide is not simply a checklist of things to do, but instead offers insight into...

Intrepid Iceland is your inspirational guide to discovering the most engaging and unique experiences from across the country, for first-timers and returning travellers alike. Whether it's an introduction to the country, or a chance to explore new places and experiences, this guide is not just a checklist of things to do, but instead offers insight into the tapestry of things...

Intrepid Australia is your inspirational guide to discovering the most engaging and unique experiences from across the country, perfect for locals, first-time visitors, and returning international travellers alike. Whether it's an introduction to the country or a chance to explore new places and experiences, this guide is not just a checklist of things to do but instead offers insight into...

Passionate plant-based food guru, surfer, traveller and Instagram blogger Kelsi Boocock is back with another vibrant collection of punchy flavours and inspiration from her travels. Healthy Kelsi Travel Kitchen features over 100 quick and easy, vibrant plant-based (vegan) recipes inspired by Kelsi's recent travels around the world to places such as Bali, Morocco, Israel, Italy, Turkey, and Thailand. Packed with...

A collection of the year’s top food and travel writing, selected by the trailblazing New York Times bestselling author and Emmy-nominated host of Taste the Nation and Top Chef, Padma Lakshmi. “Food and travel are natural companions,” writes guest editor Padma Lakshmi. From this pairing comes “the possibility of seeing anew, of examining how we make and assign meaning.” The...

In this astutely observed travel account, Pulitzer Prize-winner John McPhee plunges into the wild frontiers and frigid climate of Alaska, exploring the varied regions and people of this Northern US state. Travelling by foot and canoe, McPhee moves from urban landscape to the remote Alaskan bush, drawing a rich and comprehensive history of a vast land and its inhabitants. With...

A Financial Times and Observer "best summer read" 'With its union of practicality and magic, a kitchen is a portal offering extended range and providing unlikely paths out of the ordinary. Offering opportunities to cook, imagine and create ways back into other times, other lives and other territories. Central Asia, Turkey, Ukraine, the South Caucasus, Russia, the Baltics and Poland....

In Walking the Great North Line, poet and travel author Robert Twigger embarks on an extraordinary journey to uncover the hidden mysteries of England. Driven by a desire to discover a unique path up the country, Twigger stumbles upon the Great North Line—a remarkable straight line running from Christchurch on the South Coast to Lindisfarne. This intriguing route, aligned at...

The Sahara embodies scale and mystery, the thin line between survival and destruction, the power to take life or to transform it... Of all Michael Palin's epic voyages, this may be his greatest ever challenge: crossing the vast and unforgiving Sahara Desert. From the westernmost point of Senegal to Libya's Mediterranean beaches, Sahara is a journey full of beauty, excitement,...

"Hemingway's world was close and uncomfortable and itchy and sweaty and frequently exhausting... This stuff was too good to be wasted on school exams. I must be bold and fearless and go out there and do it myself." Join Michael Palin as he journeys from the forests of North Michigan to the bars of Cuba in a quest to unravel...

It was a journey of dazzling extremes. Beauty and ugliness, sophistication and squalor, unceasing urban noise and monastic tranquillity. This is a record of a year of wonder. Full Circle is the diary of Michael Palin's epic 245-day, 50,000-mile adventure around the rim of the Pacific Ocean. It's a journey that takes him through eighteen different countries, including some of...

"The reason why the 80-day journey retains its appeal is that it is still the minimum time needed to go round the world and notice it. To see it, smell it and touch it at the same time . . ." More than a century on from Phileas Fogg's fictional adventure around the world, Michael Palin sets out from the...

The esteemed author of the New York Times bestseller To Shake the Sleeping Self, Jedidiah Jenkins, returns with a profound and poignant exploration of life’s essential elements in Like Streams to the Ocean. Jenkins invites readers on an introspective journey through the pivotal junctures that define our existence, offering a thoughtful meditation on the foundations that shape us and the...

In On the Plain of Snakes, master travel writer Paul Theroux embarks on an enthralling journey into the culturally rich yet troubled landscape of modern Mexico. His travels start in Nogales, a border town cleaved in two by a towering 40-foot steel fence. This border marks more than just geography; it bisects two distinct worlds—the prosperous American side and the...

A 40-year-old gay man and his eccentric conservative mother travel the country together and find surprising answers to our generational and cultural rifts. His mother walked across America in the seventies. Her past fascinates him. Her faith confounds him. They embark on a 5,000-mile journey to discover how families can stay together when beliefs are pulling them apart. When his...

Anima, by the award-winning writer Kapka Kassabova, is a spellbinding journey into the heart of Europe's last moving pastoralists. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Pirin Mountains, this poignant narrative explores the lives of shepherds who still follow the ancient rhythms of transhumance—moving with their grazing animals in search of seasonal pastures. For thousands of years, humans and grazing...