Last Updated on July 17, 2024 by Lohanna Reis

Who doesn’t love traveling? It is one of the experiences that fuel you with motivation, wanderlust, with admiration for the world, nature, plants, animals, and humanity. There are incredible places on this planet that wait for you to discover them. Students are fond of traveling. They love saying yes to many adventures, to incredible journeys that turn out to be life-changing experiences. 

How could you make the experience of traveling, which is already amazing, even more awesome? By reading the right book and listening to the right songs. Everyone has their own taste in music, but how do you choose a book that is suited for a trip? We have a list of some of the best literature for traveling students. They are suited both for long and short trips and will keep you engaged. 

 

 

   1. On the Road by Jack Kerouac

When in school or college, teachers will recommend to you a list of books you have to read. They are mostly focused on getting to know the history of the country or reading novels that are iconic for literature. EduZaurus provides essays on literature that can help you understand the classics better. 

 

 

But if you want to read something distinct, something that will make you enjoy your long way trip more, then On the Road by Jack Kerouac is a great choice. 

It tells the story of two friends who go on a trip to America, in search of excitement and meaning. You will discover two characters that will inspire you to start your own trip and soak in all the wanderlust traveling offers to you. 

 

   2. The Cloud Garden by Tom Hart Dyke 

Looking for a traveling story that is spicier? Then you should definitely choose this book by Tom Hart Dyke. It is an incredible story of two travelers who decide to go from Panama to Colombia through the Darien Gap alone. This is an interesting geographical region that is so wild, full of forests, mountains, and a large watershed. 

Crossing it alone might be dangerous, especially because it’s the area where FARC Colombia, a guerilla movement in this country conducts its activity. So, The Cloud Garden is about the quest for success that could be halted just before turning real. Definitely, a book that will make your trip more enjoyable, but more suspenseful too. 

 

   3. The Caliph’s House: a year in Casablanca by Tahir Shah 

Are you in for reading a more oriental story? Then you should choose this book written by Tahir Shah, which portrays an incredible journey in Africa. Any traveler who is interested in finding out more about these places should read this book. It presents the main character, Tahir, a man that decides to move his family from England to Casablanca. 

But, of course, things are not easy at all and Tahir starts his travels across the kingdom. From Marrakech and Tangier to the Sahara, he encounters a lot of challenges. But the story has the power to inspire you and it’s one of the best ones written. If you have a long trip ahead, then this book is one of the most inspired choices you could make. 

 

   4. Unlikely Destinations: The Lonely Planet Story by Tony and Maureen Wheeler 

For sure you have heard about Lonely Planet and their travel guides. You can now find them online too, but since 1973 when they founded the company, they have sold over 150 million books. They have focused on travel guides and traveled around the world to discover the most amazing places. 

 

 

You can see the best places to visit every year but lists of recommendations with what to see in every country and region of the world too. 

While traveling you might want to immerse yourself into a nice story, a story that will inspire you to see the world. Well, you should read this book. Unlike Destinations is the story of The Lonely Planet, a couple that decided to make travel guides available to anyone. It’s a nice book filled with autobiography, business history, and travel. A book you will surely love and that will make your trip more pleasant. 

 

 

   5. The Lost City of Z by David Grann 

When you have an intense fascination for something, you want to search and find it at all costs. The Lost City of Z is a book about mystery, but a traveling book that teaches you more about the Amazon. Percy Fawcett was an archaeologist and geographer who thought that there was an ancient city in the heart of the Amazon. 

During those times, a lot of people agreed with him so he went on the adventure of finding the City of Z, as he called it. Percy and his son disappeared in 1925 in the Amazon, so there is an entire mystery surrounding their death. Read this book to immerse in the wild universe of the Amazon jungle and read a real story of two men in search of The Lost City of Z. 

 

   6. Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts 

Are you passionate about India and waiting for a trigger to book your flight to the country? Then you should start reading Shantaram, a book written by Gregory David Roberts. It tells the story of an imprisoned man who escapes an Australian prison and flees to India. 

There, he lives a tumultuous life in Bombay which is so accurately portrayed in this book. The writer lived in Bombay from 1981 to 1987, so the life and society during those times are excellently depicted in the book. Shantaram is a book that will make you love India and want to visit it. 

 

   7. Mumbai to Vientiane – A Pensive Asian Road Trip by Leon Hewis

Another book that explores the beauty and marvels of Southeast Asia. If you want to read a traveling diary spiced up with lots of encounters with wild animals, motorcycle adventures, and delicious food, then this book is for you. 

Leon Hewis, the author of the book, has traveled from Mumbai to Vientiane by car, on foot, and by motorcycle. On his trip, he discovers himself but explores the meaning of a lot of things. A book to read if you want to uncover more of the secrets of the Middle East and Asia if you want to immerse in an amazing adventure around an impressive continent and country. 

 

   8. Vagabonding by Rolf Potts 

When you start organizing weekend getaways and short trips, the desire to spend more time traveling grows and grows. If you are looking for inspiration, for a boost of motivation to start a long trip around the world, then this is the book you need to read. 

It is about the wandering and trips of the author over a period of 10 years he spent on the road. The book is full of incredible stories, and events, but of lessons for long-term traveling too. It is a book full of resources that will help you plan your trip but will serve as a means of inspiration and motivation too. 

 

 

   9. Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen by Christopher McDougall 

It may not be the classical traveling book, yet it is one that will inspire you to find your inner fighter. Written by an American journalist, this book explores the secrets of the Tarahumara Indians in New Mexico. They are considered the greatest runners in history, being able to hunt deer and other animals. Even though they are more prone to catching diseases, they have mastered the art of long-distance running. 

And sometimes, this is exactly what you need to do to take your mind off things. Born to Run is about the story of a tribe that pushes their body to the limits. It is about finding happiness in the experience of running. Which is something each of us can do. Let yourself be inspired by the greatest running tribe while you are traveling. 

 

 

Summing up

The Best Travel Books for Literature-Loving Students & Travelers are:

1. On the Road by Jack Kerouac
2. The Cloud Garden by Tom Hart Dyke
3. The Caliph’s House: a year in Casablanca by Tahir Shah
4. Unlikely Destinations: The Lonely Planet Story by Tony and Maureen Wheeler
5. The Lost City of Z by David Grann
6. Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts
7. Mumbai to Vientiane – A Pensive Asian Road Trip by Leon Hewis
8. Vagabonding by Rolf Potts
9. Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen by Christopher McDougall 

 

Conclusion 

A lot of travel books can inspire you to plan your next trip. But what they will do for the present moment is help you enjoy them. 

If a long trip awaits you, then you should definitely grab one of these books that will be your travel companion. You will immerse yourself in some extraordinary stories and universes that will make your trip stunning. Some of the best literature for traveling students you should not miss reading.

 

Planning your next trip?

Then don’t forget travel insurance! You don’t want to get stuck paying a ton of money and ruining your trip if you get sick or have an accident without travel insurance. Our page with The 3 Best and Cheapest Travel Insurance on the Market can help you choose the right plan and will give you some discount coupons for the biggest insurance companies!

 

 Already reserved your hotel or hostel? If not, our article with The 6 Best and Cheapest Websites to Find & Reserve Accommodation can help you out. You’ll also find some promotions and discount codes.

 

 Still haven’t booked your plane ticket and want to save big? Take a look at our page with 16 Tips to Save on Flights where you’ll also find the 4 best websites to buy your plane tickets. 

 

And finally, will you need to rent a car during your trip? Then surely our page with The 5 Best and Cheapest Websites to Compare and Rent Cars Around the World will help you choose the best rental car and find a good deal.