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Lonely Planet Journey Books
Great Journeys: Travel the World's Most Spectacular Routes
Explore the World
Have you ever dreamed of a travel experience where the journey is as much a part of the pleasure as the destination itself?
This book presents more than 70 of the greatest journeys you could undertake, from ancient trails, like Machu Picchu, through to modern classics, like Route 66.
Let Lonely Planet tell you what it feels like to take the trip and give you the information you need to start bringing your dreams to life.
Have you ever dreamed of a travel experience where the journey is as much a part of the pleasure as the destination itself?
This book presents more than 70 of the greatest journeys you could undertake, from ancient trails, like Machu Picchu, through to modern classics, like Route 66.
Let Lonely Planet tell you what it feels like to take the trip and give you the information you need to start bringing your dreams to life.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
16 people are currently reading
244 people want to read
About the author
Lonely Planet
3,719 books892 followersOUR STORY
A beat-up old car, a few dollars in the pocket and a sense of adventure. In 1972 that’s all Tony and Maureen Wheeler needed for the trip of a lifetime – across Europe and Asia overland to Australia. It took several months, and at the end – broke but inspired – they sat at their kitchen table writing and stapling together their first travel guide, Across Asia on the Cheap. Within a week they’d sold 1500 copies and Lonely Planet was born. One hundred million guidebooks later, Lonely Planet is the world’s leading travel guide publisher with content to almost every destination on the planet.
A beat-up old car, a few dollars in the pocket and a sense of adventure. In 1972 that’s all Tony and Maureen Wheeler needed for the trip of a lifetime – across Europe and Asia overland to Australia. It took several months, and at the end – broke but inspired – they sat at their kitchen table writing and stapling together their first travel guide, Across Asia on the Cheap. Within a week they’d sold 1500 copies and Lonely Planet was born. One hundred million guidebooks later, Lonely Planet is the world’s leading travel guide publisher with content to almost every destination on the planet.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 23, 2011
I have just finished reviewing this book for a UK book retailer.
I'm in two minds about this book. I think the journeys in it are really interesting - a combination of really imaginative and some quite predictable, such as the length of the Nile. The photography is beautiful, as is always the case with Lonely Planet books. These alone are enough to inspire you to go on many of these journeys.
However, for me there was a level of description missing from this book which I really wanted. I felt that at the end of a number of the journeys, I didnt really know anything about the route. There were some routes I know have absolutely beautiful sights along the way which weren't mentioned. I really wanted to know more about what could be expected on the journeys as there are many of these journeys that you will never actually take, and so it would have been nice to know a little more about it.
I think a few less journeys, carefully picking those to be included and adding more descriptions about these would improve these book and really add to the coffee table feel that this is supposed to be. I have though been inspired to look into some of these journeys and so I suppose it does what it intends and inspires the traveller in you!
I'm in two minds about this book. I think the journeys in it are really interesting - a combination of really imaginative and some quite predictable, such as the length of the Nile. The photography is beautiful, as is always the case with Lonely Planet books. These alone are enough to inspire you to go on many of these journeys.
However, for me there was a level of description missing from this book which I really wanted. I felt that at the end of a number of the journeys, I didnt really know anything about the route. There were some routes I know have absolutely beautiful sights along the way which weren't mentioned. I really wanted to know more about what could be expected on the journeys as there are many of these journeys that you will never actually take, and so it would have been nice to know a little more about it.
I think a few less journeys, carefully picking those to be included and adding more descriptions about these would improve these book and really add to the coffee table feel that this is supposed to be. I have though been inspired to look into some of these journeys and so I suppose it does what it intends and inspires the traveller in you!
July 14, 2021
Probably the most inspiring travel book I’ve come across, striking the perfect balance between not overburdening the reader with too much information but giving enough to get the reader really engaged and wanting to know more (completely different from the simple laundry lists of travel destinations accompanied by nice pictures, which i find incredibly shallow). Have followed a few suggested routes and loved them all, can’t wait to be able to follow many others!
July 25, 2021
This was a stunning coffee-table book that will definitely inspire anybody willing to take that first step of getting out of the house. If you are planning on buying a gift to an intrepid traveller who also happens to be your friend or relative, this would make a nice gift.
January 8, 2019
Plusses: A beautifully illustrated volume of mostly fantasy travels, but with plenty of accessible, real life opportunities as well. It covers lots of countries and terrains, everything from tiny out of the way spots to well-worn highways. And it's huge, so the pictures are correspondingly magnificent.
Minuses: The routes featured vary from 43 to 47000 km long, making the standard 4-page spread for each journey feel wildly uneven.
The route local to me happens to be quite familiar, and I found its description lacking both vitality and accuracy. I suspect the same is true for the others, like the text was written by a corporate committee.
Minuses: The routes featured vary from 43 to 47000 km long, making the standard 4-page spread for each journey feel wildly uneven.
The route local to me happens to be quite familiar, and I found its description lacking both vitality and accuracy. I suspect the same is true for the others, like the text was written by a corporate committee.
September 22, 2019
It's a nice book to read a couple of journeys at a time. I got several really nice ideas. The text is ok, however the illustrations could have been better.
August 18, 2021
Clear, concise, and vivid descriptions of the routes all over the world.
Worth the read.
Worth the read.
January 2, 2013
Huge, spectacular book of spectacular Journeys!
Gorgeous photos from around the world.
Journeys are categorized--Overland (Khyber Pass), Rail (Orient Express), Rivers (Yangtze, Rio Grande!), Literary (Homer's Odyssey), Road (Route 66!), and Walks (Inca Trail).
Although I have seen many of these places, after seeing the visual beauty of this book, I want to visit the Yangtze, Great Wall, Amazon, Nile, and ride the California Zephyr and Copper Canyon Railways.
How about Around the World in 80 Days? What a trip!
Gorgeous photos from around the world.
Journeys are categorized--Overland (Khyber Pass), Rail (Orient Express), Rivers (Yangtze, Rio Grande!), Literary (Homer's Odyssey), Road (Route 66!), and Walks (Inca Trail).
Although I have seen many of these places, after seeing the visual beauty of this book, I want to visit the Yangtze, Great Wall, Amazon, Nile, and ride the California Zephyr and Copper Canyon Railways.
How about Around the World in 80 Days? What a trip!
October 21, 2012
The only downside to this book is the disappointment that you're not able to go now, right at this very second.
December 27, 2013
Interesting selection of adventurous journeys. Great pictures let down by frothy text and some factual inaccuracies.
January 23, 2014
Great book for inspiration and travelling ideas! Full of great pictures and just the right amount of information to entice you to travel and learn more about the places!
August 3, 2014
If you need to feed your wanderlust with a coffee-table type book that can be enjoyed in short visits, this book what you're looking for.
January 17, 2012
Gorgeous book filled with great tips for fantastic trips. Love reading this with my kids.
April 27, 2017
Good staring point for travel ideas. I liked how it has different sections (e.g., "Rail," "Rivers and Seas," "Road"), and how it only gives you an overview of what the journey would entail and the best times to do it. Not every journey is for everyone: some are way more complicated (and more expensive) than they're made out to be, so I would encourage customizing the suggestions to your budget/interests.
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March 15, 2018beautiful photography and trips are grouped accdg to travel method and historical or literary significance.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews