TRAVEL WRITING COLLECTIONS

Much of the best travel writing comes in short story form, and some of the best travel writing books are collections of these essays and articles.  Here find our recommendations on 16 of the best travel writing collections.

A5 TOP PICK - THE BEST AMERICAN TRAVEL WRITING

The Best American Travel Writing is a long-running series dedicated to exactly what the title says - an annual collection of the best of travel articles and essays from American writers.  Each year a notable author acts as the final editor, choosing from hundreds of great pieces.  The editor for the 2020 version is Robert Macfarlane, a prolific writer known for his bestselling books about landscape, nature and place including Underland: A Deep Time Journey.  Previous editors include noted travel writers like Bill Bryson, Paul Theroux, Ian Frazier, Pico Iyer, Tim Cahill, Frances May, Elizabeth Gilbert, and Anthony Bourdain.  The series was sadly cancelled in 2022, but past books are still worth reading.

A5 RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE BEST TRAVEL WRITING COLLECTIONS

Humans of New York
The book version of the immensely popular street photography blog.
The Kindness of Strangers
26 tales about moments of kindness from strangers when travelling.
The Best Travel Writing
Another great long-running series on travel writing, published by Travelers' Tales.
Here & There
A very witty collection of the acerbic AA Gill's best in travel writing.
To The Ends of the Earth
Paul Theroux, shares a assemblage of his best work..
Marco Polo Didn't Go There
Rolf Potts' best stories from his career as a travel writer.
Jaguars Ripped My Flesh
A selection of captivating, funny adventure travel articles from Tim Cahill.
The Best Women's Travel Writing
A series dedicated to the best travel writing with a female point of view.
The World
An anthology of 50 years of travel writing and history from the late Jan Morris.
The Way of Wanderlust
Acclaimed travel writing editor Don George shares the best of his own work.
A Book of Traveller's Tales
Eric Newby's anthology tribute to travel literature.
The Journey's Echo
A selection of observations on culture and people from the daring Freya Stark.
Video Night in Kathmandu
A wonderful collection of stories on Pico Iyer's travels through Asia.
What Am I Doing Here
A selection of articles and travel stories from Bruce Chatwin.
An Innocent Abroad
Lonely Planet shares life-changing trips from 21 travel writers and celebrities.

OTHER RELATED RECOMMENDATIONS

​Don George

Don George is one of the worlds' most successful travel editor, having worked as the Global Travel Editor for Lonely Planet Publications and as an Editor-At-Large for National Geographic.  He has edited numerous well-known travel collections, received many awards for his work, and co-founded the annual Book Passage Travel Writers and Photographers Conference.

Ox Travels

Sometimes, it is very easy to contribute to a good cause.  OxTravels is a book with 25 original travel stories from great travel writers, many who are featured on this website, published in support of a charity called Oxfam.  Regardless of the cause though, the book stands on its own as a fantastic travel writing collection.  Michael Palin provides the introduction.

Smile When You're Lying:  Confessions of a Rogue Travel Writer

Smile When You're Lying is a collection of travel writing focused on exposing the exaggerated and clichéd nature of travel writing.  Chuck Thompson is a travel writer himself, and so his no-holds-barred point of view holds merit.  More importantly, he realizes that the harsh truth of travel as it really happens can be extremely funny, insightful, and worth reading.  Click here for our review of Smile When You're Lying.