20 Best Travel Memoirs to Get Lost in (Without Leaving Home)

These 20 travel memoirs are your ticket to amazing adventures. From stunning landscapes to life-changing experiences, these books are sure to keep you hooked.
Best travel memoirs to read scaled

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases made through links on this site. Your purchases help fund my content and come at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!

I’ve always had a bit of a tough time with travel. 

My anxiety makes it hard to step outside of my comfort zone, so I haven’t had the chance to explore the world like I’d love to. 

I’ve stuck to domestic trips for now, but I’m definitely hoping to travel more in the future when the time feels right. 

Until then, reading travel memoirs is my way of getting a little adventure in my life.

I absolutely love reading other people’s travel stories.

It’s like I get to go on these journeys with them and experience new places, all from the comfort of my own home.

I really do hope you get to love, love, love one (or all) of these books because they’re amazing.

1. Under a Venice Moon by Margaret Cameron

Under a Venice Moon scaled

Margaret’s curiosity is sparked by the hidden side of Venice. 

After a week exploring the tourist-filled city, she returns for a month to find the quieter, more personal stories behind its history. 

Stepping outside her comfort zone, Margaret forms deep, unexpected friendships, and Venice slowly becomes a second home.

With romance in the air, she wonders if she could leave her life in Perth behind and start fresh in Venice.

2. Travels with Charley in Search of America by John Steinbeck

Travels with Charley

John Steinbeck sets off on a road trip across America with his French poodle, Charley, hoping to rediscover the country he’s written about for years. 

From truckers to bears, he meets all kinds of people and reflects on what America is really like – its loneliness, kindness, and racial tensions. 

It’s a journey that gets into the heart of America and its people in a way that will warm your spirit.

3. Paris for Beginners by Rachael Coopes

Paris for Beginners

Rachael leaves behind a steady career and relationship in Australia to study at a clown school in Paris, and this opens her up to all the city has to offer. 

She experiences Parisian glamour, but also learns tough lessons about life and love. 

This memoir is about growing up, finding what truly matters, and understanding what Paris can teach you along the way.

4. The White Mosque by Sofia Samatar

The White Mosque

Sofia traces the footsteps of German-speaking Mennonites who moved to Central Asia over a century ago. 

Their village, Ak Metchet, was short-lived, but Sofia uncovers stories from the Silk Road, like those of an astronomer-king and a brave Swiss woman. 

Through fascinating characters, she explores how history, culture, and personal identity are shaped by borders, both literal and metaphorical.

5. Everything is Water by Simon Cleary

Everything is Water

Simon sets out on a four-week journey following the Brisbane River, with hopes to better understand its power over the environment and communities. 

Along the way, he explores the river’s beauty and fury and reflects on our complex relationship with nature. 

It’s a personal and thought-provoking journey that invites us to reconnect with the natural world.

6. Airplane Mode by Shahnaz Habib

Airplane Mode

Shahnaz explores the history of travel through a playful and personal lens. 

As an Indian Muslim woman, her experiences are shaped by the legacies of colonialism and capitalism. 

Through reflections on travel artifacts and her own journeys, she offers a fresh perspective on travel – both its joys and its complexities – in a world marked by history and change.

7. Full Tilt: Ireland to India with a Bicycle by Dervla Murphy

Full Tilt

At ten, Dervla dreamed of biking to India. 

Twenty-one years later, she sets off on that adventure, cycling across frozen Europe, through harsh landscapes, and into the heart of Afghanistan. 

Along the way, she meets unforgettable people, faces danger, and fulfills her childhood dream. 

8. To Shake the Sleeping Self by Jedidiah Jenkins

To Shake the Sleeping Self

Jedidiah, feeling the pressure of turning thirty and unsure about his life’s direction, quits his job and cycles from Oregon to Patagonia. 

His journey, both physical and emotional, is a search for what makes life worth living. 

Along the way, he tackles deep questions about identity, sexuality, and what it means to truly wake up to life.

9. Looking for Transwonderland by Noo Saro-Wiwa

Looking for Transwonderland

Noo returns to Nigeria after ten years, trying to understand her father’s homeland. 

She travels through bustling Lagos and quiet mountains, as she explores the country’s beauty and contradictions. 

Despite facing corruption and inefficiency, Noo uncovers Nigeria’s rich history, culture, and the warmth of its people and shows us a side of the country often overlooked.

10. Wandering in Strange Lands by Morgan Jerkins

Wandering in Strange Lands

Morgan traces her ancestors’ journeys during the Great Migration, as she tries to understand her own identity and the broader history of Black Americans. 

From Georgia to California, she explores her family’s oral histories and reflects on the impact of displacement. 

Her journey is a deep and insightful look at the stories that connect generations of Black people across America.

11. Are Ya Right, Mate? A Walk Around Australia by Terra Roam

Are Ya Right Mate

Terra Roam set off on a huge adventure around Australia, walking 17,200 kilometers all by herself to raise awareness for suicide prevention. 

Along the way, she faced everything from wild dogs to dust storms, but what really made her journey special was how she helped others struggling with mental health. 

This book is about more than just walking; it’s a powerful story of healing, strength, and finding your inner strength, all while connecting with Australia’s beautiful wild spaces. 

I love how Terra turned her personal struggle into something that could help so many others.

12. Alone Time: Four Seasons, Four Cities, and the Pleasures of Solitude by Stephanie Rosenbloom

Alone Time

Stephanie Rosenbloom takes us through the seasons in four amazing cities – Paris, Istanbul, Florence, and New York.

And she shows us how traveling alone can help us truly appreciate the little details of life. 

Her story is about noticing things you might miss when you’re distracted. 

The book digs into how solitude can inspire creativity, self-discovery, and personal growth. 

I think it’s such a lovely reminder that sometimes, being alone can help us understand ourselves better.

13. A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway

A Moveable Feast

In A Moveable Feast, Ernest Hemingway shares his memories of living in Paris during the 1920s, when he was just starting out as a writer. 

It’s filled with reflections on his time as a struggling artist, meeting other famous writers, and the challenges of living in a foreign city.

Hemingway’s Paris feels so alive in these pages, and the book makes you feel like you’re walking the streets with him. 

It’s such a sweet and nostalgic look at a time in history, especially if you love stories about writers and their journeys.

14. The Longest Way Home by Andrew McCarthy

The Longest Way Home

Andrew McCarthy’s journey is about traveling to beautiful places like Mt. Kilimanjaro or the Amazon River and about exploring his own life. 

After struggling with commitment and facing personal doubts, he sets off on an adventure to find answers and to better understand himself. 

Through his travels, he reflects on his past, relationships, and his path to becoming a travel writer. 

I love how this book combines adventure with deep self-reflection and it shows how travel can lead to unexpected personal growth.

15. Catfish and Mandala by Andrew X. Pham

Catfish and Mandala

Andrew X. Pham’s bike trip around the Pacific Rim is both an adventure and a search for identity. 

Born in Vietnam and raised in America, Pham’s journey to his father’s homeland is filled with challenges and discoveries. 

Along the way, he learns about his cultural roots and what it means to belong. 

This book is so rich with emotion and adventure, and it really made me think about how we all search for who we are in different ways.

16. America the Beautiful? by Blythe Roberson

America the Beautiful

Blythe Roberson takes us on a hilarious road trip across America’s national parks, asking the big question: Is hitting the road really about freedom, or is it just a way to escape? 

As she drives across the country, she reflects on the beauty of nature, the challenges of travel, and the realities of trying to find freedom in today’s world. 

This book is a fun mix of laughs, reflections, and a little bit of frustration with how we often romanticize travel. It definitely makes you think, all while making you laugh.

17. The Half Bird by Susan Smillie

The Half Bird

Susan Smillie’s story of setting sail across the seas in her boat is all about finding peace, self-discovery, and a deeper connection with life. 

Leaving her job in London, she sets out on a three-year journey across the continent, where she learns to appreciate life’s simple joys.

This one is a beautiful exploration of her inner world. 

It’s a reminder that sometimes the greatest adventures happen when we stop searching and start experiencing the present moment.

18. Autumn Light by Pico Iyer

Autumn Light

Pico Iyer reflects on life’s changes in Autumn Light after the sudden death of his father-in-law. 

Living in Japan, he observes the changing seasons and contemplates how time slips by and how we find meaning in the moments. 

This book is a beautiful meditation on loss, memory, and the passing of time. 

It really made me appreciate the little things in life and the people around us – such a gentle reminder to slow down and savor life.

19. Aphrodite’s Breath by Susan Johnson

Aphrodites Breath

Susan Johnson’s memoir about taking her 85-year-old mother to live with her on a Greek island is a touching and funny exploration of love, home, and family. 

It’s about the relationship between mother and daughter, and how the bond can change in unexpected ways. 

The setting in Greece adds so much beauty to the story, so that this is not just a memoir, but a beautiful journey of discovery. 

It made me think about the ways we learn about ourselves and our loved ones through the experiences we share.

20. The Good Girl’s Guide to Getting Lost by Rachel Friedman

The Good Girls Guide to

Rachel Friedman’s story is all about stepping out of her comfort zone and going on a spontaneous adventure that takes her across the world. 

From Ireland to Australia to South America, she discovers new passions, new friends, and a new sense of herself. 

This book is a great reminder that sometimes the best way to figure things out is to go on a journey, both physical and personal.

I love how Rachel learns to embrace the adventure and live in the moment, without worrying too much about the future.


If you’re in the mood for more inspiring stories, check out my other posts on the best memoirs by celebrities, nature memoirs, and sports memoirs

There’s something for everyone, and I’d love to hear which ones you’re excited to read.

Feel free to comment below and share your thoughts.

Preye

Hi! I'm Preye ("pre" as in "prepare" and "ye" as in "Kanye"), and I am a lifelong book lover who enjoys talking about books and sharing bits and pieces of all the fascinating things I come across. I love books so much that I decided to become a developmental editor, and right now, I work with authors to help them tell their stories better. On this blog, I share everything from book recommendations to book reviews and writing tips, so feel free to stop by anytime you like!

View all posts by Preye →