Travel Advice
6 big-name travel books to look out for this winter
New books from big hitters Michael Palin and Levison Wood catch the eye, as Stanfords’ experts pick their top winter travel reads
Michael Palin in Venezuela
by Michael Palin
Long-time Wanderlust favourite Michael Palin turns his wry eye on Venezuela, delving into life in one of South America’s most culturally rich yet troubled nations. As usual, it ties in with his latest TV series, but it also fleshes out the stories in a way that only Palin can, illuminated with his trademark honesty, warmth and humour.
Read next: Michael Palin in Venezuela airs on Channel 5
The Finest Hotel in Kabul
by Lyse Doucet
Back in 1969, the luxury Hotel Inter-Continental Kabul opened in the Afghan capital. At the time, it signified a new desire to modernise and connect with the wider world. Since then, it has witnessed war, struggle and invasion, and yet it still stands. Doucet tells the story of the country through the lives of the people who have worked in the hotel, from a septuagenarian housekeeper to the first female chef after the fall of the Taliban. Through their tales, we gain a unique glimpse into the wider history of a country that is forever torn between destruction and hope.
Upon a White Horse
by Peter Ross
This journey through Britain and Ireland’s ancient past sees the author flit from midwinter at Stonehenge to midsummer at Sycamore Gap. Along the way, he encounters bog bodies in Dublin, a wooden goddess in Edinburgh and meets the volunteers who look after the Uffington White Horse (a prehistoric hill figure). In unravelling the histories of these sites and the motivations of those who care for them, he finds that they still have a role to play – even in our modern world.
Wild Wonders
by Julia Cook
Photographer Julia Cook turns her lens on 67 different creatures in Yellowstone National Park. It’s a remarkable collection, and also something of a spotter’s guide, offering tips on where and when to find them, from rutting bighorn sheep to the wolf packs of Hayden and Lamar Valley.
Walking the Camino de Santiago
by various authors
In 2024, around half a million people arrived in the city of Santiago de Compostela as pilgrims. But not everyone follows the same route. There are myriad different starting points and trails, many of them lost to time. This book shines a light on eight of the Camino de Santiago’s main pilgrim paths, looking at their history and attractions along the way. There are also practical tips and breakdowns of each stage, proving that there is, literally, always another way.
The Great Tree Story
by Levison Wood
Wood takes a break from his usual epic wanderings to tell a rather more complex tale: the influence that forests have had on our planet and the development of human life. It’s a huge subject, divided into sections that encompass the impact of the Industrial Revolution and colonisation, as well as the cultural significance of trees. It also comes with a message that’s easy to get behind: namely, where the responsibility for preserving these ecosystems squarely lies. The answer: with us.
