READ: 18 books to inspire your next holiday

Bryson tells the story of his trek through rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail. With the help of a friend Bryson starts out in north Georgia, with the intent to walk the entire 2,100 miles to Maine’s Mount Katahdin. It’s such an illuminating, funny read that you’ll be ‘choking on your coffee’.

Paris, known as the City of Light, holds many stories within its beautiful streets above the Paris Metro. The 22-short stories is the perfect companion when visiting the French capital. With some of the short stories taking place in the Metro itself, most are linked to the quartier above ground. It captures the essence of Paris and highlights hidden gems that only a local would know about.

Nobel Prize-winner Canetti records a few weeks spent in the Moroccan city in the late 1950s, capturing the vivid central square full of beggars, spice traders and camel merchants. An integral part of the book is when he describes the Mellah, or Jewish quarter, which is now all but gone.

These short stories are a selection of truthful fiction. It shows an insight into the unity of a nation, who however much filled with poverty are always hopeful and bright. It includes some VERY funny stories from a Western man now banishing his Western ways as he chooses life in the Philippines. Also if you know nothing about the Philippines Flannery will give you a small, yet mighty burst of the Filipino lifestyle.

You may remember this one was made into a film; it’s about one American woman’s soul-searching adventure across Italy, India and Indonesia. You’ll be flicking back and forth between these pages making notes (as we were) while Gilbert leaves her mundane home life to find pleasure in Italy, devotion in India and a worldly enjoyment in Bali.

This adventure thriller will definitely inspire travel. Either that or the thought of possible uncovering a real-life Leonardo DiCaprio, who featured in the film version of this book. You’ll follow Brit traveller Richard as his adventure heads to Thailand via Bangkok. The map Richard is given by a strange Scotsman, whilst in the countries’ capital, leads him to find a legendary beach but uncovers a more breath taking and terrifying truth. With the awful sunsets, you may find yourself booking a ticket to Southeast Asia before you’ve even finished the book.

Apart from being turned into an Oscar-winning film 10 years after and the book selling over 9 million copies worldwide should be a factor for why this is a truly tremendous travel inspiring read. Piscine Molitor “Pi” Patel survives 227 days after a shipwreck while stranded in the Pacific Ocean with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. While the shipwreck may not turn you to travel trust us, it’s a fantasy adventure novel is considered an epic meditation on spirituality and mythology.

This is the cult classic of travel reads, which will have you booking a road-trip through America with your friends in no time. Based on the travels of Kerouac and his rowdy companions across post-war America the book is in five parts; travelling across the USA, the book takes in New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Denver while depicting the escapades of the pair. Ready yourself for jazz, poetry and a mighty search for exploration and existence.

It’s a true story, retold into a haunting tale, who survives starvation 100 days before it takes its toll. Following his graduation, Christopher McCandless, was the promising student. He decided to give away his college fund, cut contact with his family and disappeared into the American wilderness in search of truth and adventure. The solemn book stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page, as does the untamed beauty of Alaska.

This tale recounts Thubron’s epic journey along the 7,000-mile trading route connecting Rome to China, through the likes of Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Nepal. The ancient trail proved a hub of vibrant and enlightening adventure.

American travel writer Paul Theroux recounts his four-month adventure through Europe, Asia and the Middle East. From his intriguing experiences throughout numerous beautiful destinations, it is rail travel that you will find yourself falling for as each page is a a journey.

One of the most legendary and well-regarded travel narratives is Chatwin’s. Documenting one of the most barren but beautiful corners of the globe his journey through Patagonia has been described as “a masterpiece of travel, history and adventure.” He doesn’t go in search of a specific mountain or lost tribe, in fact his witty ways see him discover sloth turds at the end of the world. Who said new adventures were boring?

We’ve got something for everyone in this selection of travel reads. Keeping it British, Raban shows us you don’t have to travel millions of miles away from home to create adventures. Raban documents his incredible voyage around his native Britain in a 32-foot sailing boat. The 4,000-mile trip sees the author reflect on his life, as well as delve into several engaging and awakening social and political themes. Somewhat heavy, but not short-changing in the adventure stakes.

If you’re planning a trip to south-east Asia try this one. Similar to Terence Flannery’s novel in the sense that a country filled with poverty and turmoil can turn out to be one of the most united, self-loving places in the world. This is a story of Bizot’s experiences in the Killing Fields of Cambodia, who suffered over 30 years of genocide not so long ago. It is both compelling and inspiring, graphically describing one man’s ringside seat at one of history’s most appalling genocides. If you are able, put Cambodia close to the top of your list of places to visit, and please read this astonishing book first.

Burton’s book is set in late 17th-century Amsterdam and it will no doubt motivate you to explore the city’s canals and visualise past lives. The author’s imagination was fired by Petronella Oortman’s Cabinet House in the Rijksmuseum and visiting it brought the world of the book and the city to potent life.

Told with suspense, sparkle and a warm humour this story captures the terrors, and pleasures of a 22-year-old woman, who against all odds, is on a journey that maddened, strengthened and ultimately healed her. Strayed loses her mum, her family scatters and her own marriage is soon destroyed. So four years later she decides, although she’s had no training whatsoever, she will hike more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington State — and she would do it alone.

This is a novel of a man who served 19 years for armed robbery in Australia, escaped prison and fled to India. Now supposedly Australia’s most wanted man he immerses himself in Bombay life, sets up a free clinic for the poor and works for the local mafia before he is recaptured nine years later. Surely this is heart-racing enough to send you on your travels?

Have you seen Friends With Benefits? The film with Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis where they vow not to get into a relationship together and end up falling in love? WELL, if you don’t Dickinson’s book will make you feel all warm and gooey and heading to NYC in search of love.