These classic adventure books shaped the way I saw travel, freedom, and the idea of leaving everything behind to explore the world.
As a kid, I used to explore the world virtually long before I could actually travel through it. I spent hours online talking with people from different countries, curious about lives that felt impossibly far from mine.
Growing up in a French-speaking culture, I learned English as early as I could because I wanted to communicate with the world beyond my small corner of it. These classic adventure books shaped the way I imagined travel long before I experienced it myself.
These books capture that same restless pull: the desire to go further, see more, disappear for a while, or become someone slightly different on the road back home. Most of them revolve around travel, freedom, self-discovery, and the kinds of experiences that quietly reshape you long after the journey ends.
Some of these books crossed my path while travelling. Others simply stayed in my mind during certain periods of my life. This list will probably keep growing over time, but these are a few of the stories that immediately came to mind.
If you’ve ever felt the urge to leave everything behind, even just for a little while, this list is for you.
Table of Contents
The Call of the Wild by Jack London
This one makes me attached to my country. The difficulties of the north and the cold. The love for an animal. All the emotions that come with this kind of journey. This is a real literary ruby. It’s also pretty short and easy to read. If you haven’t read that one yet, I’d highly suggest it!
About the story:
A raw and powerful classic about survival, instinct, and freedom. Jack London’s writing captures the brutality and beauty of the wild in a way that still feels incredibly modern. A perfect read if you love nature, dogs, adventure, and stories that explore what lies beneath civilization.
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
Whether it’s the book or the film, this story will move even the most stoic person in this world. If not, something is wrong! I read this the first time on a short escape in the States, and it was just perfect. I really love when the book fits with the setting!
About the story:
A haunting true story about Christopher McCandless, who left everything behind to seek meaning in the Alaskan wilderness. This book isn’t just about survival. It’s about idealism, solitude, rebellion, and the dangerous beauty of absolute freedom. It stays with you long after you close it.
On the Road by Jack Kerouac
I named my first van after this French Canadian native author. I also read this book before I started travelling and later downloaded the audiobook while driving across the United States. There’s something special about reading a story that matches the surrounding landscape.
About the story:
A restless, jazz-infused journey across America. Kerouac captures youth, movement, spontaneity, and the hunger for experience in a way that still feels electric. It’s not just a road trip novel. It’s about searching for something unnamed, somewhere between cities.
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
I know, I know. Including this book on a travel list almost feels predictable. This one is almost cliché at this point. Too much of ”of course, this one is on this list”. But let’s be honest, this book is just the greatest adventure mixed with a beautiful more.
About the story:
A timeless international classic about destiny, intuition, and the courage to follow your own path. Through Santiago’s journey across the desert, Coelho explores purpose, fear, and the quiet language of the universe. It’s a simple story on the surface, yet it lingers like a whisper long after you finish it. I re-read it at the beginning of my solo travels, when I was trying to disconnect from a “previous life,” and its message about listening to your own calling felt almost prophetic.
Hippie by Paulo Coelho
I found this one in a hostel in Japan or Taiwan. I loved the adventures that came with it and also the author.
About the story:
A nostalgic, introspective novel inspired by Paulo Coelho’s own travels during the hippie trail era. Crossing Europe and Asia aboard the legendary Magic Bus, the story explores freedom, spirituality, human connection, and the search for meaning through movement. It feels quieter and more reflective than The Alchemist, but carries the same fascination with personal transformation through travel.
Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts
About the story:
An epic, semi-autobiographical novel set in the chaotic heart of Bombay (now Mumbai), India. An escaped convict, underground networks, love, philosophy, survival, and moral ambiguity collide in a story that feels both raw and strangely romantic. It’s about exile, redemption, and searching for meaning in a foreign land. A dense but immersive read for anyone fascinated by identity, freedom, and the complexity of human choices. It’s dense and intimidating at first, but incredibly immersive once you fall into it.
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
I found this book way too late in my life. I originally knew Mark Twain mostly through his quotes, and I loved when I used to stroll on Tumblr when I was younger. But when I found this book in a Walmart in Baja California, Mexico, I couldn’t resist and dived into it.
About the story:
A timeless coming-of-age adventure set along the Mississippi River. Tom Sawyer spends his days chasing freedom, getting into trouble, skipping school, exploring caves, and dreaming of pirate life. It’s playful, and full of the wild curiosity that makes childhood feel like its own kind of travel.
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Same Walmart in Mexico. I took both. I usually can’t buy just one book. Loved that one too!
About the story:
Often considered one of the great American novels, this story follows Huck Finn as he escapes society and floats down the Mississippi River on a raft with Jim, a runaway slave. Their journey becomes a powerful exploration of freedom, friendship, and the courage to question the rules of the world.
End Note
This list is far from complete and will probably keep growing. These are simply a few books that crossed my mind recently, whether because I read them while travelling, discovered them in a specific place, or connected them to certain moments of my life.
I’ll likely create more themed book lists in the future because there are still so many stories I’d love to talk about: strange literary fiction, books that feel like travelling, unsettling novels, Québec authors, and the kinds of stories that stay in your head for years.
For now, I hope at least one of these books makes you want to pack a bag, disappear into a train station, or simply look at the world a little differently.
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