Ten Travel Books that are Also Movies

Turning a book (especially a well-loved one) into a movie is a tricky endeavor. Sometimes it’s hard to capture the emotions, sometimes parts of the story have to be left out, sometimes production studios have specific ideas for what they’re looking for in the film. Generally, though, travel books lend themselves well to movies–movies add pictures of landscapes, locations, and food to the book’s descriptions and truly bring them to life.

Here are ten of the most popular book/movie combinations (plus some honorable mentions and, of course, some children’s books and movies, too) in the travel genre–as is usual, some books and movies are very similar, some are very different.

Around the World in 80 Days (1956 and 2004)

The Jules Verne classic (written almost 150 years ago!) is so engrossing that it’s been adapted for film and television SEVERAL times–most popularly the 1956 film starring David Niven and the 2004 version starring Jackie Chan. (Though I also love the 1989 miniseries starring Pierce Brosnan–swoon.) It’s the story of Phileas Fogg, a rich British gentleman, who accepts a bet that he can travel around the world in 80 days or less. Taking along his valet, Passepartout, the two encounter adventures and struggles (including a detective trying to track them down) as they travel via train, elephant, ship and more in this classic adventure. My movie review for Around the World in 80 Days (the 1956 version) is one of the first reviews we ever wrote and I wrote a book review for Around the World in 80 Days, too–the 2004 version is a bit silly, but it’s fun.

A Walk in the Woods (2015)

Bill Bryson is a well-known travel writer with at least twelve books to his name; A Walk in the Woods is my favorite one (it was featured on our list of Ten Funny Travel Books and is very popular). It’s the autobiographical account of Bryson’s attempt to hike along the Appalachian Trail with his friend Stephen Katz. Although the two only hiked about 800 miles of the 2,190 mile trail, they still manage to see a lot and learn a lot along the way. In 2015, the book was adapted into a movie starring Hollywood classics Robert Redford and Nick Nolte. It’s a difficult book to adapt and the movie doesn’t quite capture the humor, but it was a decent attempt.

Eat, Pray, Love (2010)

Eat, Pray, Love might be the most popular travel book and travel movie of all time (well, so far). It’s the story of Elizabeth Gilbert spending a year living in Italy, India, and Bali, Indonesia as she attempts to rediscover herself after a divorce and failed relationship. The book soared to the bestseller lists as women all over the world saw it as an inspiration and devoured it (read our Eat, Pray, Love book review to learn more). Then, in 2010, the movie came out with the always popular Julia Roberts in the lead role. It brought to life the beautiful pictures of Italian food, the colors of India and the luscious landscapes of Bali that Gilbert described in her book…but it did fail to capture all of the emotions and life lessons captured in the book (see our Eat, Pray, Love movie review). Both the book and the movie have a lot to talk about, though, so it’s one we recommend for book and/or movie clubs–we have a whole list of discussion questions and other ideas for Eat, Pray, Love.

Into the Wild (2007)

Into the Wild is another travel book classic–in it, journalist Jon Krakauer known for researching and writing about adventure-related topics, documents the story of Christopher McCandless, a well-off young man from Virginia who adapted a new name and went on a journey West after graduating college. He disappeared into the Alaskan bush in April 1992 and his body was found six months later in an abandoned bus. The movie was a pet project for director Sean Penn and debuted in 2007 starring Emile Hirsch and was nominated for several awards. It’s a fascinating story with some really interesting themes–and you can’t deny the stunning and thrilling Alaskan wilderness. (Both the book and the movie were included on our list of books and movies about Personal Change and Discovery.)

Out of Africa (1985)

First published in 1937, Out of Africa is a memoir by Danish author Karen Blixen, who lived in Kenya (then called British East Africa) for seventeen years. She tells stories of establishing a farm, working with locals, and hosting visitors. The movie, which came out in 1985, won several awards including the Academy Award for Best Picture. Starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford, the movie is much more focused on her romance with Denys Finch Hatton, an English game hunter, then on her experiences on the farm, but much of it was filmed in Kenya. (The effect Karen Blixen had on the area is big–the area is called Karen and her home, Mbagathi, is now the Karen Blixen Museum and is a fun to place to visit for anyone who has read the book and/or seen the movie. Full disclosure: reading this book and watching this movie for my trip to Kenya in 2009 might have been the first time I intentionally prepared for a trip by reading a book and watching a movie.)

The Leisure Seeker (2017)

The Leisure Seeker isn’t as well known as many of the others included on this list, but it’s the sweet story of a couple in their 80s, dealing with cancer and Alzheimer’s, who sneak off on one last adventure in an RV they affectionately call The Leisure Seeker. You’ll laugh and cry at both the book and the movie, which stars Donald Sutherland and Helen Mirren–and a trigger warning might be needed since aging can be a difficult topic to face. In the book, the couple travel from Detroit to Disney World and in the book they travel from Boston to Key West, but either way it’s a charming story about love and life.

These Foolish Things/The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012)

In 2004, Debborach Moggach published a book, These Foolish Things, about a group of elderly people moving to India. It caught the attention of two producers and was released as a film called The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel in 2012. Both are ensemble pieces that focus on the characters as they adjust to not only aging, but aging in a foreign country. And while the basic premise and some of the characters are the same, this is another case where I found the book and the movie to be quite different. (Check out our The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel book review and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel movie review for our thoughts.) Both the book and the movie are great choices for a Travel Book Club, Travel Movie Club, or make it a special meeting and where you discuss the book and then watch the movie together–check out our guide!

Tracks (2013)

In 1977, Robyn Davidson left Alice Springs with a dog and four camels, committed to walking 1,700 miles to the West Coast of Australia. She eventually documented her trip in an honest memoir about the struggles and frustrations she faced as she took on this adventure. Her story includes the people she meets along the way, her relationship with her animals, and the discovery of courage she didn’t know she had. It became a movie in 2013, starring Mia Wasikowska, and was nominated for several awards. (We also included this one on our list of Travel Books and Movies about Self Discovery and Personal Change.)

Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)

Under the Tuscan Sun: At Home in Italy, the memoir by Frances Mayes, is a journey into small town life in Tuscany–visits to the local market for fresh produce and wine recommendations, struggles with Italian bureaucracy, and the physical work required to rebuild an old Tuscan villa. Under the Tuscan Sun, the movie starring Diane Lane, is a journey of self-discovery and change for Frances as she discovers her husband is having an affair, so she sets off to start a new life in Tuscany. This is another case where the book and the movie are very different from each other, but both are enjoyable. The book is an interesting description of the efforts it takes to rebuild a villa in Tuscany (with some delicious descriptions of Italian food and wine and the Tuscan countryside) and the movie is a light feel-good movie about a middle-aged woman rediscovering herself and love. This is another travel classic, so Travel Books and Movies has a book review, movie review, and Book Club/Movie Club Discussion Guide for Under the Tuscan Sun…and the movie was included in the personal change list.

Wild (2014)

I know. Another one about someone walking, another one about personal change, and another book with a Book Club/Movie Club Discussion from Travel Books and Movies. What can I say–they’re popular themes for travel books and movies! Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, a memoir by Cheryl Strayed, debuted in 2012 and quickly became a #1 New York Times Bestseller–being selected by Oprah’s Book Club often helps. (We have a book review for Wild if you want to see more about what we thought.) Before the book was even officially published, Reese Witherspoon’s production company had purchased the movie rights to Wild and just two years later, in 2014, the movie (starring Reese Witherspoon as Cheryl) debuted. (We liked the movie, too–check out our Wild movie review.) Both the book and the movie are great for those who love adventure and nature, inspiration to go on a journey, and those looking for healing.

Honorable Mentions:

• A Good Year by Peter Mayle (Movie premiered in 2006)
• Breakfast at TIffany’s by Truman Capote (Movie premiered in 1961)
• Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan (Movie premiered in 2018)
• Seven Years in Tibet by Heinrich Harrer (Movie premiered in 1997)
• The Beach by Alex Garland (Movie premiered in 2000)

Bonus Children’s Travel Books turned into Movies:

• Madeline by Ludwig Bemelamans (Movie premiered in 1998)
• Paddington by Michael Bond (Movie premiered in 2014)
• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (Movie premiered in 2013)
• The Call of the Wild by Jack London (Movie premiered in 2020)