Looking for some good travel adventure books as gifts for others or for you to read? We have recently completed reading three books that are very different but all share the common theme of authentic travel.
Full disclosure for the recommendations below: We provide the links for convenience and we do receive a small commission if you follow the links listed and make a purchase.
The first book, called Blood River: The Terrifying Journey Through The World’s Most Dangerous Country, tells the story of a British journalist’s six-week odyssey through the Democratic Republic of the Congo, retracing Stanley’s journey of more than 100 years ago. It provides a great sense of what it is like in a country that few people visit today but is an important part of Africa.
Another river, this time in South America, is the title of the second travel-related book, The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt’s Darkest Journey. After Theodore Roosevelt left the presidency in 1908 and subsequent to his famous African safari trip, he took a lesser known exploration journey to an unexplored Brazilian tributary of the Amazon. He and a team of American and Brazilian nationals became the first group to navigate the River of Doubt, later renamed Rio Roosevelt in his honor. However, this trip was not without its hardships, including the death of several members, with Roosevelt barely surviving.
The final book, a much lighter read than the previous two, is called Off the Tourist Trail: 1,000 Unexpected Travel Alternatives. Great for the armchair traveler or for those planning their next trip, it compares a hundred over-touristed and highly rated sights and provides great alternatives that are lesser known but just as awesome. Along with great photos and descriptions, it provides even the most seasoned traveler with some great future trip alternatives.