COVID-19 has brought global travel to a grinding halt, but this doesn’t mean you can’t start brainstorming and researching your next dream destination. Reading travel books can help you learn valuable information about potential destinations and satisfy your wanderlust. Here are eight great travel books to get you started.

1. Walking the Nile by Levison Wood. If you’re looking to explore Northern Africa, Wood guides readers through multiple countries as he navigates the length of the Nile on foot. He covers a range of topics from topography to local culture and wildlife.
2. The Year of Living Danishly by Helen Russell. Nordic countries repeatedly rank as some of the happiest in the world. Russell explores one in particular, Denmark, to try and pinpoint what exactly makes citizens of this hygge-loving country so satisfied.
3. An Embarrassment of Mangoes by Ann Vanderhoof. If you’ve ever dreamed of quitting your nine to five in favor of a tropical paradise, this is the book for you. Vanderhoof and her husband trade life in Canada for a sailboat to explore a variety of Caribbean islands and share a multitude of their favorite local recipes along the way.
4. Cuba on the Verge edited by Leila Guerriero. 12 different writers explore the mysterious baseball and classic car-loving country to offer varying perspectives from across the island.
5. Oracle Bones by Peter Hessler. Hessler, Beijing correspondent for The New Yorker, paints a picture of China’s rich history through the lens of multiple individuals facing the country’s rapidly changing landscape.
6. Tracks by Robyn Davidson. This fascinating book was made into a popular movie and details Davidson’s 1,700 mile journey across the Australian outback. Her interactions with camels, Aboriginal Australians, and the wide desert landscape will captivate and excite you.
7. AWOL on the Appalachian Trail by David Miller. Tales of long-distance treks have gained popularity in recent years. Miller’s account of his 2,172 miles, through fourteen states, along the Appalachian Trail details the mental and physical logistics of navigating a trail that many begin, but few finish.
8. The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony. If exotic wildlife draws you to your travel destinations, Anthony’s account of caring for a herd of wild elephants on a preserve in Zululand, South Africa will draw you to the country and to these magnificent giant animals. 

Use this extra reading and planning time to organize your next dream vacation. Reading about fabulous destinations is the best way to inspire your travel bucket list!