Best Adventure Travel Books of 2024: Jólabókaflóð & Our Ultimate Travel Reads

Celebrate Iceland’s Unique Book Tradition: Jólabókaflóð & Our Ultimate Travel Reads

Iceland’s love affair with books runs deep. With more books published per person than any other country, Iceland is a true haven for readers. Remarkably, more than half of Icelanders read at least eight books a year, showing their devotion to storytelling and literature. It’s no surprise, then, that one of Iceland’s most cherished Christmas traditions revolves around books. Known as Jólabókaflóð—or the “Christmas Book Flood”—this holiday custom involves exchanging books on Christmas Eve, then settling in for a cozy night of reading. Imagine a winter evening with loved ones, each person lost in the pages of a new book.

If you’re inspired to try Jólabókaflóð this season, why not start with books that transport you to new places? Here’s a handpicked selection of travel-themed reads from MT Sobek staff that will satisfy your wanderlust and bring the spirit of Iceland’s holiday book tradition into your home

Here are our Staff Picks on Best Adventure Travel Books of 2024!

Overview

1. The Geography of Bliss
2. Notes from a Small Island
3. The Salt Path
4. Nomadland
5. A Mountaineer’s Life
6. A Time of Gifts by Patrick Leigh Fermor
7. A Year in Provence
8. The Ascent of Rum Doodle
9. Annapurna
10. Eiger Dreams: Ventures Among Men and Mountains
11. Sobek: The Cutting Edge of Adventure
12. Into the Unknown: High Adventure and Hard Lessons Exploring the World’s Great, Lost Wilderness Rivers
13. The River’s Daughter

Best Adventure Travel Books for Inspiration

1. The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner (2008)

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Weiner takes readers on a global journey to find the world’s happiest places. From Iceland itself to Thailand, Moldova, and beyond, he explores how different cultures define happiness. This book is as much about self-discovery as it is about world discovery—an insightful, humorous companion for anyone yearning to explore. – Amy B. MT Sobek Custom Trip Operations Specialist

2. Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson (2001)

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Bryson’s love letter to Britain is filled with wit, humor, and keen observations on British quirks. He captures the character of cities and villages, the idiosyncrasies of people, and the magic of exploring new and familiar landscapes. A perfect reminder that travel adventures are often closer than we think. – Anne W. MT Sobek Senior Director of Trip Development & Operations

3. The Salt Path by Raynor Winn (2019)

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This powerful memoir recounts the true story of Raynor Winn and her husband, who, after losing everything, set out to walk the 630-mile South West Coast Path in England. Full of grit and beauty, The Salt Path speaks to the healing power of nature and the courage to keep moving forward. – Heather H. MT Sobek Director of Marketing

4. Nomadland by Jessica Bruder (2018)

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In Nomadland, Bruder tells the stories of Americans who, after losing jobs or homes, live on the road in vans, RVs, and converted trucks. This intimate and eye-opening book shines a light on a hidden world of modern nomads and will inspire readers to consider what it means to seek freedom in unconventional ways. – Jen K. MT Sobek Custom Trip Operations Specialist

5. A Mountaineer’s Life by Allen Steck (2017)

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Steck’s memoir recounts his lifetime of adventure as a pioneering mountaineer. From ascents in Alaska to the Himalayas, he shares his experiences of breathtaking landscapes and near-death encounters. It’s an essential read for anyone fascinated by mountaineering and the allure of high peaks. – Julie W. MT Sobek Trip Consultant

6. A Time of Gifts by Patrick Leigh Fermor (2005)

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A classic of travel literature, A Time of Gifts recounts the young Fermor’s journey on foot from the Netherlands to Constantinople. His observations of the landscapes, cultures, and history of pre-war Europe are a pleasure to savor. Fermor’s prose is elegant and thoughtful, making it a perfect pick for a quiet Christmas evening. – Leah R. MT Sobek Program Director for Europe, North Africa & Middle East

7. A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle (1991)

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A charming tale of Mayle’s experience moving to Provence, this book is filled with local flavor, from market days to wine tastings to mishaps with French bureaucracy. It’s a warm, inviting story that will transport you to the French countryside, perfect for when you need a mental vacation. – Patty P. MT Sobek Adventure Coordinator

8. The Ascent of Rum Doodle by W.E. Bowman (2010)

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This fictional satire is a delight for mountaineering enthusiasts and fans of quirky humor. The book follows a group of hapless climbers attempting to summit the fictional Rum Doodle, poking fun at the era’s classic mountaineering tales. A hilarious read that will have you chuckling with every page. – Richard B. MT Sobek Co-Founder

9. Annapurna by Maurice Herzog (2010)

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A harrowing account of the first successful ascent of Annapurna in the Himalayas, Herzog’s story is one of extreme physical and mental endurance. A true tale of exploration and human spirit, this book is a perfect tribute to adventure and resilience, ideal for readers drawn to stories of triumph in the face of nature’s extremes. – Sam G. MT Sobek Trip Consultant

10. Eiger Dreams: Ventures Among Men and Mountains by Jon Krakauer (2019)

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Krakauer’s essays delve into his various adventures in the mountains, whether climbing in Alaska or trying to ascend the infamous Eiger in the Swiss Alps. His writing brings the challenges and beauty of mountaineering to life and is a thrilling escape for readers captivated by the lure of high altitudes. – Tara B. MT Sobek Trip Consultant

11. Sobek: The Cutting Edge of Adventure (2024)

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More than a century after Major Powell completed the first descent of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, a great many of the world’s rivers had still never been run. The guides of Sobek set out to change that, and did more than 100 first descents of rivers around the world, many of which became classic commercial trips, including the Omo (Ethiopia), Tatshenshini/Alsek (Canada/Alaska), Watut (Papua New Guinea), Bio Bio (Chile), Coruh (Turkey), and Zambezi (Zambia/Zimbabwe).

Meet the guides and hear their stories from the cutting edge of adventure.

– Richard B. MT Sobek Co-Founder

12. Into the Unknown: High Adventure and Hard Lessons Exploring the World’s Great, Lost Wilderness Rivers (2024)

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Veteran wilderness guide Michael P. Ghiglieri takes you into the unknown–among white-water rapids, crocodiles, hippos, gorillas, lions, and impossible waterfalls. His riveting memoir not only serves up true high adventure, it also presents the ecology, natural history, conservation (or the lack of it), and exploration history of nine far-flung wilderness regions across the globe.

This insider memoir recounts ten sagas of extreme expeditions into Earth’s most amazing wilderness regions to illustrate their realities, science, allure, history, risks to life and limb, and ultimate fates. Many of these regions have now vanished to “progress.” Others are imperiled. Only a few are protected. But all are, or were, places where exotic beauty and danger are inseparable.

– Richard B. MT Sobek Co-Founder

13. The River’s Daughter (2025)

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Recalling memoirs like Wild and Educated, an internationally renowned whitewater rafting guide offers a gripping and inspiring memoir about overcoming hardship and coming into her own through her relationship with the rivers she has known.

In this propulsive story of finding hope and belonging in a life outdoors, Bridget Crocker not only takes us on exhilarating, and at times terrifying, adventures on the water but opens up a new way of experiencing the world—through its rivers, which can guide us, just as we can navigate them—and introduces a bold and vibrant new voice in adventure writing.

– Richard B. MT Sobek Co-Founder

Start the Jólabókaflóð tradition in your home

This holiday season, why not try out the Icelandic way and bring a little Jólabókaflóð magic into your life? With a stack of these travel-themed books, you’ll be ready to explore the world without leaving your home. So light a candle, grab a cozy blanket, and let the journey begin—there’s a world of adventure waiting in these pages.

Want further inspiration? Our 2025 adventure travel catalog is here! Request your FREE catalog here and start planning your next adventure.

Further reads…

• MT Sobek’s Ten Popular Trips for Solo Adventurers
• Best Adventure Travel Destinations for 2025
• A 73-Year-Old’s Unstoppable Journey with MT Sobek