BikeHike Adventure's Top 10 Travel Literature Picks

There are so many exciting elements to planning an adventure vacation and one of them is getting mentally prepared for the destination you're about to encounter by reading some great travel literature. Here are a few of our staff favorites.


The Snow Leopard, by Peter Matthiessen
This book is regarded as a classic of nature, spiritual literature and travel writing. Matthiessen travels deep into the mountains in a remote region of Nepal to help zoologist George Schaller look for the elusive snow leopard. He uses this journey as a metaphor to reflect on much broader aspects on all matters of life and death.




The Clouded Leopard: Travels to Landscapes of Spirit and Desire, by Wade Davis
Collection of short essays on travel, nature, conservation, spirituality and world cultures. Davis's essays combine his expertise in storytelling, scientific research, and his travels to remote regions most only dream of visiting. He beautifully brings to light the places where people still live in harmony with the landscape around them, and how important it is to preserve world cultures in today's modernizing world.




The Desert Solitaire: A Season in the Wilderness, by Edward Abbey
This is an account of Edward Abbey's two summers spent as a ranger in Arches National Park, Utah. Through his experiences, Abbey reflects on the condition of our remaining wilderness and the importance of preserving the environment for future generations. Desert Solitaire is a passionate, funny, poetic, tragic read that gives you a glimpse into Abbey's life and the natural beauty of the Canyonlands.





A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain: Stories by Robert Olen Butler
A Collection of 15 stories that weaves together Vietnamese folklore, the lingering effects of the Vietnam War, life in Louisiana for Vietnamese Immigrants, and family bonds. This book was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1993.






Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure, by Sarah MacDonald
The author, Sara MacDonald, quits her dream job in Australia and moves to India to be with her fiancé. When she arrives in New Delhi, she is overwhelmed and not entirely happy with her new life. Thus, she decides to find peace in the "only place possible - within herself." This book is a hilarious account of her spiritual journey throughout India and her various encounters with the locals.





The Great Railway Bazaar, by Paul Theroux
Theroux's account of his railway odyssey has become a modern classic of travel literature. This entertaining read recounts his adventures, both good and bad, on some of Asia's most renowned trains such as the Orient Express and the Trans-Siberian Express.







Three Cups of Tea, One Man's Mission to Promote Peace One School at a Time, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
This book recounts Mortenson's journey from his failed 1993 attempt to climb Pakistan’s K2, to his building schools in some of the most remote regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Mortenson combines his unique background with his intimate knowledge of the developing world to promote peace with books, and successfully bring education, hope and humanitarian aid to remote communities in central Asia.




The Motorcycle Diaries: A Journey Around South America, by Ernesto "Che" Guevara
As a young adult, Che set off from his home in Buenos Aires to travel throughout South America on his vintage motorcycle. His handwritten travel diaries of his experiences were found in a knapsack after his death and were published in 1968. This book captures the essence and exuberance of Che, and is a quick easy read, that gives a peek into the development of this young revolutionary.




Empires of the Indus: From Tibet to Pakistan, by Alice Albinia
This book is part travelogue and part history, and is a fascinating exploration of the physical landscapes and rich cultural backgrounds that comprise Afghanistan, India, Pakistan and Tibet.








Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search For Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia, by Elizabeth Gilbert
Elizabeth Gilbert describes a woman's spiritual quest for God, truth, romance, and inner peace. The characters are brought to life through her own life experiences. She suffered from depression after experiencing a bitter divorce that left her feeling lifeless. From her desperate state of grief, she planned a one year escape to explore the art of pleasure in Italy, the art of devotion in India, and, in Indonesia, the art of balancing the two.




Road Fever, by Tim Cahill
Tim Cahill recounts his road trip that took him from Tierra del Fuego to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, in a record-breaking twenty three and a half days. The account of his fast-paced journey is full of humour and adventure-packed.