Nonfiction Travel Books
These nonfiction travel books are true stories, memoirs, and biographies that will inspire you to look at our planet in a different light. Jackie and I loved these books and wanted to share them with you.
People often get confused and think a nonfiction travel book is a travel guide. That is not the case. While some of the guidebooks have some great anecdotes, that is not their primary purpose. In the last few years, there have been some wonderful nonfiction travel books. I particularly love the books that are about the history of travel: luxury ocean liners and air travel.
A few of the books on this list are so good that they made our Nonfiction best of list! But even though I could not put all of these books on our best of list, Jackie and I have read and loved every book on here!
The Best Nonfiction Travel Books
Each colorful block below represents the best book in a subgenre. Click on the arrow to reveal my “best” pick in any category. You’ll also be able to use a page jump to see more books in that section.
The Best Nonfiction Travel Book
Come Fly the World by Julia Cooke- Jump to Section
The Best Travel Memoir
Clanlands by Graham McTavish and Sam Heughan- Jump to Section
*Post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you. Some books have been gifted. All opinions are our own.
Nonfiction Travel Books
Plot
In this delightful book, I learned about uniforms, training, frolicking adventures, and the glamorous life in the air that had me picturing Gwyneth Paltrow in View From the Top. It also discussed far more serious topics like hijackers, Vietnam War flights and rescues, and issues of discrimination toward women.
Trigger Warnings
War
Why Kirsten loves it
I learned so much while reading this book and I was swept into the story. Jackie and I talked with Julia about the research of this book, what surprised her most, and other fun things over on IG. Be sure to check it out.
Find this book in: Nonfiction Books for Beginners / Plane Books / Books set in the 70s / Best Nonfiction Books / Ultimate Beach Reads 2021 / Books Like The Alice Network / Nonfiction Travel Books
Plot
Maiden Voyages explores the women who worked on ocean liners like the Titanic and the extraordinary challenges they faced. I was in awe as I listened to this story of ships being sunk by icebergs and wartime submarines.
Why Kirsten loves it
The stories of unruly passengers, hurricanes, and the sacrifices of leaving their families to help others were unbelievable. I was so engrossed that I kept forgetting the book was non-fiction. If you love women’s history, the history of travel, or stories about the Titanic, this is the book for you!
Find this book in: Books Set in the 1920s / Gilded Age Books / Feel-Good Nonfiction / Boat Books / Nonfiction Travel Books
Plot
Paige’s look at modern travel had me compulsively flipping the pages. I was fascinated by the look at the travel industry and its impact on world culture since the 1970s.
She used concrete examples in Hawaii, Iceland, Liverpool, Barcelona, and more to show the benefits and pitfalls of tourism on the environment, country finances, and local cultures.
Why Kirsten loves it
I read this captivating look at the travel industry while I was traveling. I was able to see the good and bad parts of travel in my destination (Cambridge, MD) which has recently been revitalized but still shows the aging and hardship of its pre-tourist days.
Find this book in: Best New Nonfiction Books of 2024 / Nonfiction Travel Books
Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck
Author: Sophie Elmhirst
Year: 2025
Genre: Biography
Age Range: 15+
Plot
Maurice and Maralyn decide to sell their house and build their dream boat to sail around the world. They departed in June 1972 and everything went well for nearly a year due to their meticulous planning. When they encounter a whale injured by a whaling ship, it breaches and quickly sinks their boat. They are left stranded at sea for months.
What follows is a miraculous tale of survival as the two can only depend on each other through injury, starvation, and their eventual rescue.
Trigger Warnings
Starvation, shipwreck
Why Jackie loves it
I cannot believe what Maurice and Maralyn went through. This nonfiction reads like a novel. It was a fast read, but it was well-written and detailed. It would make an amazing movie, but nobody would believe it is true. Thank you, PRH Audio for this book #gifted.
Find this book in: Beach Reads 2025 / Best Nonfiction Books of 2025 / Boat Books / Nonfiction Travel Books
Travel Memoirs
Clanlands
Author: Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish, forward by Diana Gabaldon
Year: 2020
Genre: Nonfiction
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This hysterical book is part history and part comedy. Stars of the Outlander TV series, Sam Heughan (who plays Jamie Fraser) and Graham McTavish (AKA Dougal MacKenzie) go on a road trip with each other. Along the way, they tell funny stories and experience Scotland’s rich heritage. I laughed out loud multiple times at their antics, and then promptly watched their show Men in Kilts on Starz.
Why Kirsten loves it
I laughed out loud multiple times at their antics, and then promptly watched their show Men in Kilts on Starz. If you are a fan of the Outlander series (television series), you must read this pick.
Find this book in: Books about Scotland / Nonfiction Books for Beginners / Celebrity Memoirs / Books like Outlander / Nonfiction Travel Books
From Scratch
Author: Tembi Locke
Year: 2019
Genre: Nonfiction
More info: May 2019 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick
Age Range: 16+
Plot
I knew what this book was about before reading it and I was still not prepared for the heartbreak and beauty within the pages. This memoir is truly a love letter to Tembi’s husband who died from cancer. This is an incredibly sad book that had me in tears.
The descriptions of the food, the people, and the love she had for her husband are unlike anything that I have read before. This is a five-star book about grief if you can read through heartache. It’s one of the Netflix book adaptations I’m planning on watching.
Trigger Warnings
Death of a Spouse, Grief
Why Jackie loves it
This is a five-star book about grief if you can read through heartache. This is beautifully written and although it is sad, the authors journey to finding herself again is inspirational.
Find this book in: Books Set in Italy / Best Netflix Book Adaptations / Best Reese Witherspoon Books / Books About Food / Reese Witherspoon Book Club List 2019 / Best Nonfiction Books / Nonfiction Travel Books
Under the Tuscan Sun
Author: Frances Mayes
Year: 1998
Genre: Memoir
More info: #1 New York Times Bestseller
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
The memoir that inspired the movie starring Diane Lane was as captivating in print as it was on screen. I loved reading about Frances Mayes’s gutsy decision to pick up her life and start all over in a new country.
Why Kirsten loves it
I enjoyed hearing about her discovery of her new surroundings and finding love again in the Italian countryside.
Find this book in: Nonfiction Travel Books
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail
Author: Cheryl Strayed
Year: 2012
Genre: Memoir
More info: National Bestseller, Oprah’s Book Club 2.0 pick
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This is a perfect choice for nonfiction books for beginners. When Cheryl Strayed was 22, she lost her mother and slowly, her marriage as well. She impulsively chose to hike the Pacific Crest Trail alone- more than 1000 miles of sometimes treacherous wilderness.
Why Kirsten loves it
This is a definite feel-good nonfiction book that will take you on the trail with Cheryl as she hits rock bottom and slowly builds herself back up again with strength and humor.
Find this book in: Books Like Where the Crawdads Sing / Nonfiction Travel Books
Eat, Pray, Love
Author: Elizabeth Gilbert
Year: 2006
Genre: Memoir
More info: New York Times Bestseller, Eat Pray Love #1
Spice Rating:💋💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
By now, we’ve all probably heard about Elizabeth Gilbert’s story. It was turning into a movie starring Julia Roberts after all. But have you read the original memoir?
If not, then this should be one of the must-read books set in Italy! It talks about her time Italy, India, and Bali where she learned about herself and her passions.
Trigger Warnings
Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal Thoughts
Why Kirsten likes it
I found this story to be so compelling and unique when I first read it and actually, I quite like the movie.
Expert Tip
While these books have a lot in common on the surface (all are nonfiction travel books), if you look deeper, they are quite different. How do you choose a book you will love?
- Jackie and I have read all of these books. Have a look at the descriptions and our thoughts about why we liked each book. This will give you a better idea of what the book is about
- Have a look at what other posts these books are found in. If it is also in a list of books about grief, it will be a different tone than a feel-good nonfiction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a nonfiction travel book?
The books on this list are not travel guides. Rather, they are memoirs, biographies, and true accounts of people and their experiences traveling. These books have everything from the first luxury ocean liners to ship wrecks and hiking.
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Epilogue
What is your favorite nonfiction travel book? I would love recommendations for my TBR.
