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The top 10 best travel books of the moment

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Written by Thousand Travel Miles

We love travelling and are constantly looking for the most beautiful places in the world. The anticipation, like picking a new travel destination or mapping out a scenic route, for us it often starts with books and online blogs. Despite the fact that there are hundreds of blogs, which together cover every detail of an area, country or activity, we are very much fans of travel books. We love flicking through books to find a new travel destination. The travel books below are our 10 favourites and suitable for all types of travellers.


List of the 10 best travel books of the moment!

For many travellers, the last few years were a wait and see. Many countries could no longer be visited, making travel very difficult. But, we are allowed again! That is why we have compiled a list of the best travel books that really give you inspiration. So you can be sure that your next trip will be fantastic!

1. Insta travel

Instagram travellers' favourite spots.
Insta Travel’ features the favourite destinations of Dutch and Belgian Instagram travellers. All destinations are relatively close to home, and ideal for a long holiday or a short city trip. It is a travel book for all types of world travellers, packed with inspiration, tips and beautiful photos.
Extra fun: you'll also find our trip to Cologne in this book!

2. Bucketlist travel

The 25th most beautiful trips according to Travelvalley.
The ultimate travel bucket list: the 25 trips you must have taken at some point in your life, according to Travelvalley. From warm and dreamy Marrakech to the plains of Iceland & from a road trip along the west coast of the United States to the most beautiful route through Jordan. And... much more!

3. Wanderlust

The world's coolest hiking trails.
Do you also love hiking? Then we recommend the travel book ‘Wanderlust‘ to! The book is full of the world's most legendary hiking trails. From hikes through the thrilling Canyon Trail in Zion National Park, the adventurous Caminito del Rey in Spain or the pilgrimage trail on the sacred Kumano Kodo in Japan. You will also find spectacular photos, maps, background information and practical tips for beginners and experienced hikers in this travel book.
There is now also a Wanderlust Europe!

4. Backpacking destinations

The best trips for backpackers.
This is the first book by Roëll de Ram, also known for her travel blog WeAreTravellers.co.uk. Backpacking has been popular for years and we too love it! It is definitely one of our favourite travel books. In the book ‘Backpacking destinations‘ Roëll, takes you to the best countries for a great backpack adventure. From the most beautiful spots in Sri Lanka to a road trip through rugged Iceland and weeks of trekking around South Africa. With enchanting stories, practical tips, cool itineraries and stunning photos. A book full of inspiration for budget travellers and flashpackers alike.

5. Lonely Planet guidebooks

For everything you need to know about a destination.
We think almost everyone has a book of Lonely Planet has on its shelf. Every traveller knows that these travel books are written by travel experts. They have written comprehensive travel guides for almost every destination. We have already gleaned a lot of unique information from these guides. From cool accommodation in Sri Lanka and Thailand to the best restaurants in London.

6. Ultimate destinations

Discover the ultimate top 500 travel destinations!
Have you already had the opportunity to visit quite a few places in the world? Because just what are the most beautiful places on earth? Lonely Planet's experts have figured it out for you. In the travel book, you will discover both popular tourist attractions and hidden gems. The impressive list is complemented by beautiful photos and inspiring stories.



7. Off the beaten track

Special places in the world you probably don't know yet.
In the book ‘off the beaten track‘ you will find the world's most extraordinary places off the beaten track! The book is full of photos and tips from various national and international photographers, travel journalists and Dutch celebrities. Visit parts of the world not yet discovered by mass tourism. Trendy places are fun, but unique places are even more fun!

8. In love with Europe

The most special places in Europe.
Another fantastic travel book by Roëll de Ram is ‘In love with Europe’, the follow-up to her successful book ‘In love with the Netherlands’. In this book, she shows that for beautiful destinations, you don't have to travel far at all. Both well-known countries and Italy and Portugal as off-the-beaten-track destinations like the Balkans, Faroe Islands and Slovenia can be found in this travel book. Read all about beautiful road trips, famous highlights, undiscovered gems, cultural hotspots, cool cities, impressive nature reserves and delightful islands.

9. Staycation Guide

The most special places in the Netherlands22 city trips in the Netherlands and Belgium.
If you love weekends away or never want to travel very far at all, then this travel book is perfect for you! This book is full of fun hotspots in different cities in the Netherlands and Belgium that do not require you to take the plane. Discover great accommodation and delicious restaurants in cities from Breda to Ghent and from Antwerp to Groningen. Or choose a destination in nature or by the water!

10. Solo travel

How to brave the world on your own.
In the book ‘solo travel‘ Liesbeth Rasker shows you how to explore the world on your own. Even though we always go on holiday together, we still think this is a super book. After all, it motivates people to get away and explore the world. How about a tour of Italy, wild elephant spotting in Sri Lanka Or camp on a desert island in the Philippines? The world is at your feet!

Unique travel books by Jimmy Nelson

The 2 books below are completely different from the travel books above. However, we did want to name these. Because despite being different, these two books are fantastic! We first saw these books at a friend of ours and we were immediately impressed.

Before They Pass Away

The most beautiful photos of 35 indigenous tribes.
Photographer Jimmy Nelson explains in his book ‘Before they pass away‘, captured 35 indigenous tribes, for which he travelled the world for two and a half years. The unique portraits of surviving tribes that have managed to preserve their traditional customs and practices within our increasingly globalised world are fantastic. It is a wonderful book which travellers and photography enthusiasts will want to have in their cupboard.

Jimmy Nelson

Homage to Humanity. 400 photos by travel photographer Jimmy Nelson
This book is the sequel to Before They Pass Away. We do not own this book ourselves but it is high on our travel book wish list. In his book ‘Jimmy Nelson - Homage to Humanity‘ 400 evocative photographs of iconic tribes from around the world.

Whichever of the above travel books you choose or give as a gift, they are all great! Besides, they look great on your bookshelf and are the ideal basis for putting together your personal trip. They are travel books packed with information and travel inspiration and suitable for every kind of traveller. We hope you find the perfect book to suit your next trip with these top 10 travel books! Will you let us know which book you chose afterwards? We are very curious!

Extra fun travel book tip: travel diary

Have you already found a new destination and are ready to travel? Then keep track of your own adventures in one of the cool travel diaries. While travelling, we often just kept track of our schedule and activities through various apps on our phones. Super convenient but still a bit impersonal. A shame! Because it is incredibly fun to also record your travels on paper and combine this with a photo book. Recording your trip in a travel diary has something nostalgic and besides, you easily pick it up again. Go through your photo book with friends or family and share tips on that one nice hotel, that fantastic restaurant or that undiscovered spot. 

Do you have any questions about any of these travel books? Then you can always send us a message via Instagram or via [email protected].

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