Adventure travel is all about facing the unknown, braving your fears, and tackling the most challenging, and potentially dangerous, ways to explore the world. For adrenaline junkies, it’s the ultimate way to travel, leading to some compelling stories that may inspire you to embark on your own adventures.
Inspirational Adventure Books
In these adventure travel stories, you will discover remarkable accounts from individuals who undertook life-changing expeditions. They ventured to off-the-beaten-path locations, chased their destinies, and faced near-death experiences in incredible feats of survival.
If you’re a thrill seeker who enjoys extreme travel narratives, these adventurous tales will certainly resonate with you.
1. Tracks by Robyn Davidson
Tracks is arguably the most inspirational story about travel and self-discovery of all time. It narrates the true tale of Robyn Davidson, who decided to walk across Australia with her dog and four camels.
Braving the harsh Australian outback, she encountered various challenges, from poisonous snakes to the unease of interacting with solitary Aboriginal individuals.
The 1700-mile adventure took her 9 months to complete and was well-documented by National Geographic reporter, Rick Smolan, whom she met in Alice Springs.
Robyn never intended to pen her journey, driven solely by her love for Australia’s scenery; fortunately, her inspirational writing is especially beneficial for solo female travelers looking for their own epic adventures. Get it on Kindle or Paperback
2. The Worst Journey in the World by Apsley Cherry-Garrard
This account describes Apsley Cherry-Garrard’s experience as the youngest member of Robert Falcon Scott’s South Pole expedition, which turned disastrous, making him the sole survivor of that infamous journey.
This memoir shares firsthand experiences along with diary entries from his teammates, offering a detailed account of this legendary expedition.
Apsley’s writings honor the memory of brave Arctic explorers and showcase a remarkable feat of survival, detailing an incredible adventure in a realm known to many only through books. Pick it up on Amazon in Paperback or Kindle
3. Life Lessons From the Amazon by Pip Stewart
Pip Stewart, an adventurous traveler enthusiastic about life, narrates her three-month endeavor following Guyana’s Essequibo River from source to sea.
With guidance from the Waï Waï indigenous community, she journeyed through dense rainforests, perilous rapids, and the mountainous Guiana Shield while facing threats from poisonous insects and wild animals.
Throughout her journey, Pip survives various challenges and learns about the communities that thrive in this wilderness. Life Lessons from the Amazon is an homage to nature and stands as one of the most exhilarating adventure narratives.
Purchase it on Kindle or Paperback or Audiobook
4. Footloose: Twisted Travels Across Asia by Mark Walters
In our modern world, where flying has made travel effortless, it’s refreshing to hear stories from those who journey without flights—only trains, buses, and the kindness of strangers.
This is precisely how Australian traveler Mark Walters embarked on his trip, opting to wear flip-flops and carry minimal gear as he journeyed from Australia through Asia and Europe using only land and boat transport.
During his travels, he encountered risky characters, faced the sights of Chinese tanks, and shared a beer with a former Soviet officer. If you seek a humorous travel narrative full of excitement, this one will surely entertain. Buy it on Amazon
5. Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road by Neil Peart
Neil Peart faced a tragic 10-month period marked by the loss of both his wife and daughter, leaving him to isolate himself at home by a lake.
Feeling directionless, he embarked on a motorcycle journey across North America, Mexico, and Belize, covering a staggering 55,000 miles.
This inspiring book narrates his journey, illustrating memorable landscapes and the people who helped him regain emotional stability.
Peart’s story serves as a personal odyssey toward self-discovery and healing, reminding readers that adventure can also be about finding communities and overcoming grief. Check it out on Amazon
6. Tuk-Tuk to the Road by Antonia Bolingbroke-Kent
While traveling by planes, trains, and buses is common, how about journeying 12,000 miles in a tuk-tuk? Antonia Bolingbroke-Kent and her friend Jo Huxster took on this unique adventure.
They purchased a tuk-tuk in Thailand and drove it back to Brighton, UK—a journey encompassing 12,561 miles aimed at raising £50,000 for the mental health charity, Mind.
Tuk Tuk on the Road details their remarkable traverse through twelve countries and two continents, recounting their encounters with locals, survival through an earthquake, and amusing breakdowns along the way.
This entertaining travel memoir illustrates their determination and resilience. See it on Amazon in Kindle or Paperback.
7. Cycling Home from Siberia by Rob Lilwall
Cycling Home from Siberia is Rob Lilwall’s thrilling memoir detailing his incredible cycling journey from Siberia to England, navigating through Papua New Guinea’s jungles, facing a cyclone in Australia, and crossing the war-torn Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan.
Previously a high-school geography teacher, Rob’s sense of adventure led him on a transformative cycling expedition over three and a half years. This inspirational narrative will undoubtedly motivate you to pursue your own adventures. Get Kindle or paperback on Amazon
8. Riding With Strangers by Elijah Wald
Hitchhiking is not for everyone; it requires a spirit of adventure. Elijah Wald chronicles his experience hitchhiking across the United States to showcase humanity’s hospitability.
He shares the pleasures and challenges of road travel while introducing the quirky individuals he meets—ranging from everyday people to intriguing conspiracy theorists and friendly truck drivers.
This memoir is both humorous and enlightening, presenting a unique perspective on adventure travel as a means to connect with diverse people. See it on Amazon
9. Ubuntu: One Woman’s Motorcycle Odyssey across Africa by Heather Ellis
The term “Ubuntu,” meaning humanity to others, embodies the lesson Heather Ellis learned while motorcycling across Africa in her twenties.
Beginning her journey from Jabiru to Durban, South Africa, she navigated through breathtaking landscapes like Mt. Kilimanjaro and encountered challenges from armed bandits while aiding locals along the way.
This brave travel narrative highlights Heather’s journey through extreme challenges, leading her to understand the essence of ubuntu. Available for Kindle or paperback on Amazon
10. Motorcycle Diaries by Che Guevara
The Motorcycle Diaries is the acclaimed travel memoir of Ernesto “Che” Guevara, known for his role in Cuba’s liberation. This classic account details his early travels across South America as a medical student, revealing profound social injustices and moments of beauty.
On his 1939 Norton 500cc motorbike, called La Poderosa (The Mighty One), he journeyed alongside Alberto Granado, experiencing diverse landscapes and societies.
Che’s poignant memoir serves as a reminder that adventure travel uncovers not only beauty but also the harsh realities of life. Buy it for Kindle or Paperback on Amazon
11. Adrift: Seventy-Six Days Lost at Sea by Steven Callahan
Although being lost at sea is not planned, making the best out of a challenging situation can lead to exceptional adventures, as illustrated in Steven Callahan’s account.
In 1981, Steven embarked on a sailing adventure, but storms led to his predicament. After abandoning ship, he survived in an inflatable life raft for 76 days before being rescued by fishermen.
Adrift tells the captivating survival story of Steven Callahan’s determination and resilience on the open sea. Get it now here.
12. Across the Empty Quarter by Wilfred Thesiger
Wilfred Thesiger was a notable British explorer who traversed Saudi Arabia post-World War II, hired to locate locust breeding grounds across the Empty Quarter desert.
Accompanied by camels and local Bedouins, he braved desolation, tribal tensions, and formidable landscapes from Oman to Yemen. Thesiger’s memoir reveals the courage and resilience required for such an expedition, spotlighting a vanishing way of life.
This account provides an insightful perspective on true adventure travel, with Thesiger’s life filled with captivating explorations worldwide. Available on Amazon
13. Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer
Into The Wild follows the story of Christopher Johnson McCandless, who left behind a conventional life to explore the wilderness of Alaska.
Abandoning societal expectations, he embraced solitude in nature for a mantra of self-discovery. Unfortunately, this journey cost him his life, but it left behind a powerful resonating message.
Jon Krakauer’s work provides a respectful recounting of McCandless’s adventure and the lessons learned from this tragic yet profound narrative. Get it on Amazon
Final Word
These adventure travel books serve as inspirations for wanderlust, whether you’re seeking thrilling, action-packed stories or enlightening spiritual journeys. This compilation showcases a diverse selection, offering something for every adventurous reader.
What are your favorites? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
