Aspiring travel writers often look first to their travels —for distant lands, for discovery, for experience — but some of the most valuable discoveries lie in the pages of those who’ve gone before us.
Legendary travel writers have left more than just stories; they’ve left blueprints on how to tell your travel stories. Here’s what we can learn from some of the most iconic voices in travel writing—and how to apply their lessons to your own work.
1. Pico Iyer – The Value of Stillness and Inner Journeys
Notable Works: The Art of Stillness, Video Night in Kathmandu
Travel isn’t always about the external. Great travel writing connects with the inner journey as well. Pico Iyer reminds us that travel isn’t always about motion. His writing explores those internal landscapes just as much as physical ones and his thoughtful, meditative prose often contrasts the chaos of the outside world with calm inner reflection.
His writing teaches us to slow down. Reflect. Your observations and emotional responses are as important as the place itself.
Apply It: Try ending your next travel piece not with a summary of events, but with a question or insight you discovered about yourself.
2. Paul Theroux – The Importance of Honest Observation
Notable Works: The Great Railway Bazaar, Dark Star Safari
Theroux’s travelogues are famously unvarnished. He writes what he sees—even when it’s uncomfortable, awkward, or politically incorrect. His work underscores that not all places are paradises, and not all interactions are positive.
Tell the truth, even when it’s messy. Travel isn’t a highlights reel.
Apply It: Write a scene that didn’t go well—an encounter, a miscommunication, a moment of vulnerability—and put yourself in the role of observer.
3. Freya Stark – Curiosity as a Compass
Notable Works: The Valley of the Assassins, The Southern Gates of Arabia
One of the earliest female travel writers to venture alone into the Middle East, Stark’s strength lay in her curiosity and cultural empathy. Driven by deep listening, she was able to connect to others, observe sharply and connect the dots between stories.
Curiosity—not adrenaline—leads to richer stories.
Apply It: Before your next trip, read up on the history, culture, and local customs. Ask questions that go beyond surface impressions.
4. Bill Bryson – Humour and Humanity Go a Long Way
Notable Works: Neither Here Nor There, A Walk in the Woods
Bryson blends detailed research with self-deprecating humour, transforming even mundane experiences into page-turners. He shows that you don’t have to be profound to be meaningful.
Be relatable. Humour makes your voice accessible and your stories enjoyable.
Apply It: Write about a moment when you misunderstood something and laughed at yourself. It builds trust with readers.
5. Rolf Potts – Travel as a Philosophy, Not a Checklist
Notable Works: Vagabonding
Potts advocates for long-term, minimalist travel focused on deep cultural engagement. He rejects superficial tourism in favour of life-altering experience.
Travel writing should be about meaning, not mileage.
Apply It: Instead of covering everything you did in a destination, zoom in on one person, place, or meal. Explore it in depth.
6. Joan Didion – Voice as Precision
Notable Works: Slouching Towards Bethlehem, The White Album
While not a traditional travel writer, her essays include strong travel themes. Didion’s genius lies in her precise language and clear-eyed tone. She observes both herself and others with startling honesty and clarity.
Be precise. Say exactly what you mean. Don’t overwrite.
Apply It: Edit a paragraph of your writing and strip away all unnecessary adjectives and adverbs. What’s left is likely closer to the truth.
Find Your Own Approach
The great travel writers didn’t follow a formula—they created their own. The common thread is that they approached the world with open eyes, honest voices, and a deep desire to understand. That’s where great travel writing begins.
Suggested Reading List:
The Great Railway Bazaar – Paul Theroux
The Art of Stillness – Pico Iyer
The Valley of the Assassins – Freya Stark
Vagabonding – Rolf Potts
Neither Here Nor There – Bill Bryson
The White Album – Joan Didion