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As the literary tourism trend continues to grow in 2026, more travellers are shaping trips around the books they read, whether that means retracing a character’s journey or simply finding inspiration for where to go next.
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From classic memoirs to modern fiction, travel writing has become essential holiday packing.
Here are some of the best travel books to take with you on holiday this summer, across fiction and non-fiction.
The Great Railway Bazaar by Paul Theroux
A classic of modern travel writing first published in 1975, this book follows Paul Theroux on a four-month rail journey through Europe and Asia. It’s sharp, observant and full of memorable encounters, making it one of the most enduring books ever written about travelling across continents.
In Patagonia by Bruce Chatwin
This travel classic follows Bruce Chatwin through the remote landscapes of southern Argentina and Chile. Blending history, anecdote and personal reflection, it remains one of the most atmospheric books about distance, myth and place.
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
Elizabeth Gilbert’s 2006 memoir traces her journey through Italy, India and Indonesia after a personal crisis. Food, spirituality and self-discovery shape the story, turning it into one of the most widely read modern travel memoirs – and a blockbuster film adaptation starring Julia Roberts.
A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle
Set in the south of France, this light and witty memoir follows Peter Mayle’s move to Provence. It mixes food, landscape and everyday life, offering a warm portrait of rural French living that still feels ideal for summer reading.
Wild by Cheryl Strayed
Cheryl Strayed recounts her solo hike along the Pacific Crest Trail after a period of loss and upheaval. The book combines physical challenge with emotional recovery, making it one of the most powerful modern memoirs about travel and change.
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
Based on a true story, this book follows Christopher McCandless as he leaves conventional life behind and heads into the Alaskan wilderness. It explores freedom, risk and the desire to escape, and has become a defining modern story about the pull of the road.
The Beach by Alex Garland
Set in Thailand, this novel follows a backpacker searching for a hidden island paradise. It captures the fantasy of off-grid travel, while also exposing its darker sides, from escapism to entitlement and illusion.
Vagabonding by Rolf Potts
Part travel guide and part philosophy, this book argues that long-term travel is less about wealth than priorities and perspective. This remains one of the most influential books for readers who dream of travelling more freely and for longer.
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
This bestselling novel follows a young shepherd travelling from Spain to Egypt in search of treasure. Its journey is both physical and symbolic, which is why it continues to resonate so strongly with travellers.
Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts
Set largely in Mumbai, this sprawling novel follows an escaped convict building a new life in India. Dense, vivid and immersive, it offers a strong sense of place and remains a favourite for readers who want to lose themselves in a destination.
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