Travel & Travel Writing

This book will transport you to the most stunning places in the world. Discover one-of-a-kind natural paradises and awesome manmade structures around the globe, from Africa to Asia and Oceania, from Europe to North and South America.

Visiting New Zealand? Embarking on a road trip? Want to know where to send the visiting rellies? This 2nd edition of 1001 Best Things To See and Do in New Zealand should be your travel bible. It includes both the obvious places to visit - Sky Tower, Whakarewarewa, Te Papa, Larnach's Castle - and the quirky and not-so-well-known things to see and do - the world's largest totara tree, Wairoa Maori...

The AA ran the high-profile 101 Must-do Weekends campaign all through 2008, with several feature articles in NZ Woman's Weekly, Directions magazine and The New Zealand Herald. This book is a fresh take on the campaign, with 101 great suggested weekends away in different parts of the country, divided into 10 broad themes. Whether you're into history and culture, or prefer to concentrate on food...

We've all dreamt of escaping to a House Somewhere. In this collection some of the finest names in contemporary travel writing reveal the perils and pleasures of exchanging the familiar for the foreign. Edited by Don George & Anthony Sattin Includes original contributions by Isabel Allende, Jan Morris and Simon Winchester. 

The Guide to the World's Greatest Happenings "A Year of Festivals" takes you around the world in pursuit of festivals in all their flamboyant color and variety. Discover music, camel races, feats of endurance, manic street parties and monumental food fights! From the sublime (Venice's Carnevale or India's Krishna Janmastami) to the absurd (Finland's Wife-Carrying Championships or Australia's Beer...

One Sunday afternoon in a secluded valley in Normandy, Robert Dessaix chanced upon the castle where the famous French writer Andre Gide spent his childhood. Recalling the excitement Robert felt when he first read Gide as a teenager, he set off to recapture what it was that once drew him so strongly to this enigmatic figure. On a magic carpet ride from Lisbon to the edge of the Sahara, from Paris...

'The pace of this kind of travel has not much changed since Fogg set out in 1872. Trains may be a little faster, but there are certainly no high-speed rail links yet across India, China or the USA. Passenger services have practically disappeared from the world's shipping lanes ...Recourse to air travel, even as a convenient means of escape, was not allowed.' Following the route taken by Phileas...

"The mere mention of 'Bali' evokes thoughts of a paradise. It's more than a place; it's a mood, an aspiration, a tropical state of mind." - Ryan Ver Berkmoes, Lonely Planet Writer Our Promise You can trust our travel information because Lonely Planet authors visit the places we write about, each and every edition. We never accept freebies for positive coverage, and you can rely on us...

Robert Hughes has been a regular visitor to Barcelona since the 1960s and published a book about the city in 1992 that was quickly hailed as a classic. In "Barcelona the Great Enchantress," Hughes crafts a more personal tale of his nearly forty-year love affair with the Spanish metropolis, one of the most vibrant and fascinating cities in Europe. Beginning with a vivid description of his wedding...

Since 1998, Lonely Planet has been publishing our favorite travel stories. The disasters of "Lonely Planet Unpacked, " the romances of "Brief Encounters," the random acts of generosity in "Kindness of Strangers," the out-there adventures of "Tales from Nowhere" - these stories, and many others, explored the reasons why we travel, and what we find when we get there. Now we've selected the best of...

If you don't pack your sense of humour with your sunscreen, sooner or later you'll get burned! Lonely Planet knows that some of the funniest experiences happen on the road. This collection presents 31 globe-girdling tales that run the gamut from close-encounter safaris to loss-of-face follies, hair raising rides to culture-leaping brides and wrong roads taken to agreements mistaken.

Lonely Planet knows Central America. Whether you want to explore ancient Maya ruins, zip through rainforest canopies or search out the best surf breaks, this 7th edition is your key to adventure. This is all about big trips on small budgets. Coverage includes: Mexico’s Yucatán & Chiapas, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama Full color highlights chapter...

"Clean Breaks" unearths 500 unique experiences and new ways to travel that make a real difference to the lives of local people and the planet. It lets you discover a wealth of new adventures from sleeping in houseboats in Kerala and witnessing the zebra migration in Botswana to taking the train-hotel from Paris to Madrid. Whether you fancy living like a local in a tipi with Native...

Day walks are one of the most popular recreational activities in New Zealand, enjoyed by both New Zealanders and overseas visitors alike. In 2006 nearly half a million tourists completed either a half-day bush walk or a full day of trekking or tramping. This is not surprising given New Zealand hosts a highly accessible network of conservation and reserve areas, offering everything from leisurely...

A trip planner to Australia which takes you to the best of the region, and shows you how to make the most of your time. It covers such regions as: Sydney, New South Wales, Melbourne & Victoria, Brisbane & Queensland, Central Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania.

Includes Paris & Daytrips - Paris, Versailles, Chartres, Champagne the Northeast, Brittany & Normandy, The Loire & Central France. This guide also includes: Burgundy, Lyon & French Alps; French Alps/Jura, Lyon & Rhone Valley, The South of France; Provence & Cote d'Azur, Western France & Pyrenees; and, Basque Ctry.

A trip planner to Great Britain which takes you to the best of the region, and shows you how to make the most of your time.

Experience the best of the country. This full-colour guide does the work for you - Lonely Planet's trademark expertise cuts straight to the must-see highlights of the country so no matter what your time frame or budget, you won't miss the best bits. This guide has all you need to experience the best of New Zealand. From the Upper North Island with Rotorua’s geysers and Maori culture, Waitomo’s...

A trip planner to Thailand which takes you to the best of the region, and shows you how to make the most of your time. It coves such regions as: Bangkok, Cent. Thailand, N Thailand, NE Thailand, Chiang Mai (Province), SW Thailand, Gulf Coast, and Andaman Coast.

This beautifully written, heartfelt memoir touched a nerve among both readers and reviewers. Elizabeth Gilbert tells how she made the difficult choice to leave behind all the trappings of modern American success (marriage, house in the country, career) and find, instead, what she truly wanted from life. Setting out for a year to study three different aspects of her nature amid three different...

"Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, Manchester United, The Beatles. England does icons like no other place on earth, and travel here is a fascinating mix of famous names and hidden gems." - David Else, Lonely Planet writer Our Promise You can trust our travel information because Lonely Planet authors visit the places we write about, each and every edition. We never accept freebies for...

For 20 years Lonely Planet has been the Europe expert. Whether you're soaking up history in Britain or sun in Spain, crossing the Arctic Circle or cruising the Bosphorus, our 6th edition helps you uncover the continent. This guide covers: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia & Hercegovina, Britain, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France,...

Imagine tucking into grasshoppers as you wander the Mercado Benito market in Oaxaca, Mexico, or chowing down on juicy witchetty grubs on your travels through Central Australia - such meals can be the perfect entree to a culture. In this book you'll find over 50 delicacies that creep, crawl, sizzle and spit, where they originated from and wher eyou can experience them. You may not salivate over...

For almost a year, Michael Palin travelled through 18 countries on the perimeter of the world's largest ocean, in a spectacular journey of contrasts, drama and beauty. From head-hunters in Borneo to a meal of maggots in Mexico, his route takes him to some of the most politically volatile and physically demanding places on Earth. Whether climbing the Exalted Mountains in China, dodging icebergs in...

Having risen to the challenge of seas, poles, dhows and deserts, the highest mountains in the world were a natural target for Michael Palin. In a journey rarely, if ever, attempted before, in 6 months of hard travelling Palin takes on the full length of the Himalaya including the Khyber Pass, the hidden valleys of the Hindu Kush, ancient cities like Peshawar and Lahore, the mighty peaks of K2,...

Many of us dream of escaping from everyday life, tossing a few possessions in a backpack and travelling light in far-off lands. Andrew Stevenson did more than dream: he packed his rucksack and went. Andrews destination was New Zealand..

Want to know where to discover a spectacular tropical paradise? How about journeying to the world's greatest natural wonders, or taking the road trip of a lifetime? 1000 Ultimate Experiences brings together 1000 ideas, places and activities sure to inspire and entertain. Make your own list, hit the road, and start ticking off places you've always wanted to see and things you've always wanted to...

Lonely Planet's Best In Travel 2010 The best places to go and things to do all around the world right now! Drawing on the knowledge, passion and miles traveled by Lonely Planet's staff and authors, you've got a year's worth of travel inspiration to take you out of the ordinary and into some unforgettable experiences. Highlights Lonely Planet presents the top 10 countries, regions and cities to...

Until the early 1990s, when the Berlin Wall came tumbling down, travelling behind the iron curtain was never easy. In undertaking his new journey through Eastern Europe, breathing in its rich history, and exquisite sights and talking to its diverse peoples, Michael fills what has been a void in his own experience and that of very many others. NEW EUROPE is very much a voyage of discovery, from...

Discover New Zealand Glimpse Mitre Peak through the mist on majestic Milford Sound Hold your nose and dip your toes in a Rotorua thermal pool Shelter from windy Wellington with the arts crowd in a low-lit lounge bar Enjoy a "hangi" - but stop short of getting a "moko" - on a Maori cultural tour In This Guide: Food & Drink chapter by Lauraine Jacobs, editor of award-winning "Cuisine" magazine You...

Lonely Planet's team of authors has island hopped the Bay of Islands, immersed themselves in Rotorua's proud Maori culture, kayaked Abel Tasman's pristine bays and cruised the magnificent Milford Sound - as well as exploring everything in between. With all that research and more, Lonely Planet New Zealand is your key to the best possible Kiwi experience. Lonely Planet guides are written by...

Nobody knows New Zealand like Lonely Planet, and our 1st edition to its show-stopping South Island brings you the best of the Kiwi adventure. Whether that's tramping in Fiordland, washing down oysters with wine in Marlborough, skiing the slopes around Queenstown, or taking a city break in Christchurch - you decide. Lonely Planet guides are written by experts who get to the heart of every...

Immerse yourself in Maori culture or in a steamy, bubbling mud pool; surf in the sunshine or raft in cave darkness under a glow-worm Milky Way. New Zealand’s North Island has something for everyone! Full coverage of hidden secrets plus all the don't-miss attractionsActivities of every kind - from abseiling to zorbingGreen index to help make your travel as ecofriendly as you wish95 Detailed and...

Let us help you discover the South’s most breathtaking mountain roads, quietest off-the-beaten-track escapes and best city experiences. If immersing yourself in New Zealand's Maori culture or cruising the Milford Sound is not enough, you may as well throw yourself off a bridge! Rubber band attached, of course. Full coverage of hidden secrets plus all the don't-miss attractionsActivities of every...

A Buddhist monk takes up arms to resist the Chinese invasion of Tibet - then spends the rest of his life trying to atone for the violence by hand printing the best prayer flags in India. A Jain nun tests her powers of detachment as she watches her best friend ritually starve to death. A woman leaves her middle-class family in Calcutta, and her job in a jute factory, only to find unexpected love...

This mini edition of the highly acclaimed One People provides an accessible and user friendly format in which to browse an incredible and moving selection of images.

'The cracked and fissured ice-pack offers no comfortable reassurance - no glimmer of any reward to the traveller who has made his way to the top of the world. The Arctic Ocean, known to the Victorians as the Sea of Ancient Ice, stares balefully back as we descend towards it, reflecting nothing but the question: Why?' Michael Palin's adventure begins when he is enrolled in the Royal and Ancient...

Stripping away the mystique of independent travel, Roam is inspiring, funny and incredibly useful. In a celebration of the artistry of travel - the capricious mix of strange, new cultures and mind-numbingly boring delays - Roam breaks it down into a series of laugh-out-loud stories. From riding back to front in a camel race to removing lice from one's nether regions, Dean Starnes shows how to...

Tired of the endless tarmac and Little Chefs, and keen to see more on his travels than the tail-lights of the car in front of him, Robbie Coltrane has set himself quite a challenge. Instead of scaling the Himalayas, trekking across the Antarctic or hacking through the Brazilian rainforest, he has decided to explore strange and exotic areas that are somewhat closer to home. Armed only with a map,...

Michael Palin's epic voyages have seen him circumnavigate the globe, travel from the North to the South Pole and circle the countries of the Pacific Ocean, but this was perhaps the greatest challenge yet: to cross the vast and merciless Sahara desert. As the journey unfolds, the Sahara reveals not the emptiness of endless sand dunes, but a huge and diverse range of cultures and landscapes and a...

What sort of person offers up their couch to complete strangers? And how can said strangers be sure that the owner of that couch is not an axe-wielding psychopath? Intrigued by this fast-growing phenomenon, Brian Thacker set out on a couch-surfing tour of the globe to discover how and why dossing on someone's lounge room floor has become the latest, hippest way to travel. Join Brian as he travels...

For 30 years, Lonely Planet has been the backpackers' bible for South America. Whether you're trekking the Andes, gliding through the Amazon or joining a wild festival, our unbeatable 11th edition is your key to adventure. This multi-country guide covers: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela More maps than...

For 35 years Lonely Planet's "Southeast Asia on a Shoestring" has been the backpacker's bible. Discover Cambodia's ancient temples, Thailand's island paradises and the best "pho" in Vietnam. We help you stay longer and spend less. Lonely Planet guides are written by experts who get to the heart of every destination they visit. This fully updated edition is packed with...

As anyone who's ever read Mark Dapin's column and features in Good Weekend knows, he's an immensely funny, acute and vivid observer of Australian life. In Strange Country, he takes us on a journey through a very different Australia - a country that's eccentric, puzzling, big-hearted, small-minded, nostalgic and sometimes just plain mad. From the last travelling boxing tent to feral urban sewer...

Since the first screening of "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" in 2001, New Zealand has become the embodiment of Middle-earth to millions of moviegoers and Tolkien readers the world over. This definitive full-colour guidebook, completely updated and expanded since it was first published as a New Zealand exclusive edition for Christmas 2002, showcases the principal movie set...

Cities represent civilization and human achievement: they are bubbling microcosms of virtues and vices, vanguards of technology and creative pursuits, incubators of traditions and melting pots of diversity. More than half the world's population now lives in cities, and for travelers they hold an endless fascination. Every city has its own personality, in the form of its streets and buildings and...

Gorgeously repackaged--the international bestseller with more than 500,000 copies sold! Join Paulo Coelho as he journeys to Santiago to discover personal power, wisdom, and a miraculous sword.

The Travel Book Mini is a diminutive, square re-packaging of the same award winning formula found in the original The Travel Book. Still the complete travel inspiration book, with every country on the planet captured in photographs and evocative text both updated for this re-incarnation. User-friendly A-to-Z coverage created by Lonely Planet's expert staff and authors. Breathtaking photographs...

One of the youngest members of Scott's team, Apsley Cherry-Garrard was later part of the rescue party that eventually found the frozen bodies of Scott and three men who had accompanied him on the final push to the Pole. This is his account of an expedition that had gone disastrously wrong.

Tramping in New Zealand is a highly innovative new tramping guide, that has been developed around the latest generation of 'bird's eye' computer-generated maps. These completely accurate panoramic overviews are constructed from map data, but because they can recreate a view of the landscape from any angle or height they provide a remarkably readable and clear way of understanding the lie of the...