8 Inspiring Books on Hiking and Trekking to Fuel Your Wanderlust

15.07.2024.

Conquering new trails will feel more cozy with the wonderful books on hiking having the great outdoors as your best company. With inspiring readings, you can feel like you’re already there and ready to hike.

As much as it is recharging to be in the mountains, surrounding yourself with inspiring books will be equally fantastic.

Some of them include challenging tasks, even more than you can imagine to win. Setting your spirit free for adventure bursts with the ongoing desire to reach new trails and goals.

All the hiking mistakes to avoid will become easier to unveil with this awesome collection of books. This post brings first-hand and personal suggestions to deepen your understanding of the stunning outdoors. Connecting with the hiking spirit evokes incredible wanderlust and a desire to sharpen your mountainous discoveries.

Polar Dream, Davor Rostuhar- contributed by myself

Polar Dream is a trekking expedition through the Antarctic by the popular Croatian traveller Davor Rostuhar. It’s a fantastic story that shows the immense support of his public and family.

Davor Rostuhar is among the rare people who crossed over 1000 km through the Antarctic all alone. During 47 days Davor Rostuhar succeeded in achieving his dream facing no one but himself while carrying the heavy sleigh. In this book, he unveils the secrets of putting our dreams on a throne.

Experiencing gratitude in solitude made me realize that dreams are the essence of life. Davor Rostuhar explains it minutely in this strange embrace of dreams and trekking adventure.

Davor flies to the Antarctic in the company of his future wife Anđela where he proposes to her. Contacting her through satellite from the Antarctic was immense proof of love and an introduction to their new journey.

About the author

After the Polar Dream Davor and Anđela embark on something less adventurous exploring Love around the world. This newest book follows a dozen others from his biking trip to Egypt to the ascent on Mont Blanc.

Working as a photographer and writer, Davor has a prominent journalistic experience, including National Geographic. Nowadays he leads his own Club for expeditions and culture.

Touching The Void, Joe Simpson- contributed by Joanna from Over Here

“Touching the Void” is a gripping tale that ranks among the best mountaineering stories ever written. It recounts a true story of Simpson’s near-death experience during a climb with Simon Yates on Siula Grande, a peak in the Peruvian Andes.

The story centers around a fall that leaves Simpson with a shattered leg. A rescue attempt fails, and Yates, believing Simpson dead, makes the agonizing decision to cut the rope to save himself.

Undeterred and unaware Yates thinks him gone, Simpson embarks on an incredible journey of self-preservation. For three days, he battles starvation, dehydration, and brutal terrain, crawling and hopping his way back to base camp over eight grueling kilometers.

Simpson’s survival is considered a mountaineering miracle and a testament to the human ability to push beyond limits. The book is a must-read for adventure lovers and anyone fascinated by human endurance and overcoming seemingly impossible odds.

About the author

Joe Simpson (born August 13, 1960, in Kuala Lumpur) is a British mountaineer and author. His most famous book Touching the Void has been adaptes as a documentary film and a stage play.

Wild, Cheryl Strayed- contributed by Dhwani from Trrips And Maps

Cheryl Strayed’s memoir, Wild, resonated with me deeply on matters of self-discovery. What I realized is that the transformation she experienced through her solo adventure on the Pacific Crest Trail had been within her all along. But sometimes it takes stepping away from the noise and distractions of daily life to tap into the transformative power within us.

For her, the solitude and challenges of the trail became the catalyst. For me, hiking the beautiful trails of the Pacific Northwest of the USA helps me find my balance. Strayed’s memoir has inspired me to prioritize these moments in nature, ever so often, to find my sense of ease.

About the author

Cheryl Strayed is an American author best known for her memoir Wild, which recounts her transformative 1,100-mile solo hike along the Pacific Crest Trail. This #1 New York Times bestseller was made into an Oscar-nominated film.

Into The Wood, Bill Bryson- contributed by Melinda from Mel On The Go

Every hiker was new to it once, and many were nervous. Most beginners start with a short hike or overnight camping trip. Bill Bryson did not do that, making his memoir Into The Woods humorous and perfect for newbies. Reading his book for the first time made me less nervous to attempt a hike on the Appalachian Trail.

Into the Woods is a great book to ease beginners’ fears about hiking. It’s a funny read about two unfit and unprepared men attempting to hike the entire Appalachian Trail. Bill Bryson, a non-fiction writer, hilariously details their mistakes. They did not complete the trail, yet they still enjoyed the journey.

Since reading that book, I’ve hiked many miles, most recently in New Zealand. Into the Woods taught me that hiking is for everyone, but preparation is key. It reminds us to enjoy every step, a good lesson in hiking, and life.

About the author

Bill Bryson is an American-British journalist and writer having the opus of the several non-fictional books. Known by the humorous columns for British newspapers, it represents his repatriation in the USA. Bryson’s most famous book A Short History of Nearly Everything is a scientific research with humorous aspects.

Epic Hikes Of Europe, Lonely Planet- contributed by Zoe from Together in Switzerland

One encouraging book that comes to mind when looking for hiking and trekking inspiration, is the Epic Hikes of Europe by Lonely Planet. It was published in May 2021 and has 320 pages, with plenty of inspiration for European hikes as the focus. 

This book, which was gifted to me by my colleagues, was chosen due to my love of getting outdoors and hiking new locations. The Epic Hikes of Europe book is perfect, with full-page images for inspiration and clear maps of the routes. It also shares the practical details such as the route difficulty, length and fitness level. The photography of the routes are very beautiful, that makes you want to book your trip to hike there instantly!

Why to love this book

What we love is that it shares not only one day hikes and walking routes but also multiple day treks. This gives us a good idea of what is possible in the country we want to hike in and explore best. A book like this is also great to have since it shares locations that you may not have even heard of before, which makes your travel bucket list even longer!

So far, we have used it to help plan some epic hikes in Switzerland. But we can’t wait to plan more in surrounding countries!

The Salt Path, Raynor Winn – contributed by Shandos Cleaver from Travelnuity: Dog-Friendly Travel

The Salt Path is an award-winning memoir published in 2018. It shares the story of Raynor Winn and her husband Moth walking the South West Coast Path in the UK. With no long-distance hiking experience, they choose to walk the 630-mile long path when they are inadvertently made homeless.

Many of their challenges on the walk arise from their lack of money and proper equipment. Not to mention Moth is suffering from a degenerative disease. But they still manage to complete the entire path over two summers.

An uplifting story, the book shows how long-distance hiking isn’t just the domain of the experienced and well-equipped. The book also makes you question your attitudes to homeless people. After all, Raynor and Moth never expected to be made homeless!

The Salt Path is also a wonderful introduction to the South West Coast Path and inspiration to explore southwestern England!

About the author

Raynor Winn is a long-distance walker and writer from the UK. The Salt Path was her first book; since then she has published two more books.

Into Thin Air, Jon Krakauer- contributed by Amber from Vegetarian in Paris

Into Thin Air is the incredible retelling of author Jon Krakauer’s experience climbing Mount Everest. He was a part of the 1996 Mount Everest Disaster, which claimed the lives of eight climbers. 

At its heart, Into Thin Air is both a tragedy and an adventure story. Krakauer writes vividly about disorienting effects of altitude, cold, and oxygen depletion. The book is a mixture of awe-inspiring descriptions of mountaineering and the brutal reality of its dangers. 

Reading Into Thin Air will certainly make you think twice about climbing Everest. However, the author’s love for Nepal, mountaineering, and the outdoors shines through. You may even be inspired to hike to Mount Everest Base Camp in Nepal after reading. 

About the author

Krakauer is an experienced mountaineer, journalist, and writer. He has written several best selling non-fiction books in addition to Into Thin Air, most of which are about the great outdoors.

Tracks, Robyn Davidson- contributed by Karen from Outdoor Adventure Sampler

The book Tracks by Robyn Davidson is a compelling account of the author’s 1700-mile journey across the Australian Outback. She undertakes the harrowing solo trek with 4 camels and her canine companion, Diggity. The book, published in 1980, captures the spirit of extreme adventure. It is a significant book as solo women’s adventures were not encouraged in those days. Therefore, Davidson’s writings serve as an inspiration to generations of female solo travelers.

Davidson dealt with extreme heat, unpredictable weather, and dangerous wildlife encounters on the trip. She also had moments of self-discovery and personal growth. Her interactions with Indigenous Australians she met in the desert were detailed with curiosity and respect.

The stunning beauty of the stark desert landscape is a highlight of the book. The author notes how impacts on the natural world have altered the environment.

In sum, Tracks is an inspiring memoir of a woman’s solitary adventure in one of the harshest environments in the world.

About the author

Robyn Davidson is an Australian-born author of Tracks.  In 1977, Davidson completed a 1,700-mile solo trek across the Australian desert from Alice Springs to the Indian Ocean. Her adventure was partly funded by National Geographic, who did the photography of the trip. She also wrote Desert Places which explores her travels in India and her meetings with nomadic tribes.

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