Travel Book Gifts

This collection brings together books on travel and exploration, chosen as gifts for anyone who'd rather read about a journey than watch one on a screen. What's here ranges from genuine expedition accounts to travel writing set closer to home, so there's a fit whether the person you're buying for dreams of distant places or wants to revisit somewhere they've already been. If you'd like to see everything we currently hold, browse our full Travel & Exploration Books collection.

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A travel book gift, for someone who'd rather read the journey than watch it

“I travel not to go anywhere, but to go.”

— Robert Louis Stevenson, Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes (1879)

Most of what's here comes from people who actually made the journey and wrote about it afterwards, rather than guidebooks or armchair accounts written at a distance. That's what makes a travel book worth giving: it's someone's real experience, told by the person who lived it.

A good number of these also touch on Scotland, since so much of our travel-writing stock passes through Highland journeys and island accounts; if that connection matters more to the person you're buying for, our Scottish Book Gifts collection is worth a look too. Beyond that, the range takes in European place-guides, accounts from the colonial era, and travel writing that shades into literature in its own right.

As with every book we sell, condition is described individually rather than left to a general note. This is a curated, gift-focused selection rather than everything we hold on travel and exploration, so visit our full Travel & Exploration Books collection to see the complete range.

Frequently Asked Questions

How wide a range of travel writing is covered in this collection?

This collection ranges from genuine expedition accounts and colonial-era travel writing to European place-guides and travel writing that reads as literature in its own right. If you'd like to see our complete stock on the subject rather than this gift-picked selection, our full Travel & Exploration Books collection includes everything we hold.

I'm not sure what kind of travel writing they're into. What should I do?

If you're not sure exactly what would appeal to them, a JWB Books gift card lets them choose a title themselves. You're also welcome to message us with anything you do know, such as a place, period or type of journey, and we're happy to suggest a title.

How is the condition of each book described?

As with every book we sell, condition is described individually for each title, covering the dust jacket, binding and pages rather than a general note applied across the collection. You can check the listing for the exact condition before you buy.

How is this different from your Travel & Exploration Books collection?

Travel & Exploration Books is our complete stock on the subject, while this is a smaller, gift-focused selection pulled from within it. Browse the full collection if you'd like to see everything we currently hold.

Would this make a good birthday gift?

Yes, travel books make a natural birthday gift, especially for someone marking a milestone birthday or already planning their next trip. Pairing it with a card mentioning the destination or year adds a personal touch.

Does the person need to have already travelled to enjoy these books?

Not at all. Most of what's here is written by people describing journeys most of us will never take ourselves, so a genuine love of reading matters far more than any travel history of their own.

Are these books meant to be read, or displayed?

Both work well. Many of these titles are handsome enough to display, but every one is a genuine reading copy first, so there's no need to choose between the two.

Do you ship worldwide?

Yes, we ship worldwide from the UK, with tracked delivery available on most orders.

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