Let’s face it: a good travel show is a thing of beauty. It gives us a vicarious thrill and the feeling of being far away from home while still on the couch, even for just an hour or two. We’re aware it will never be the same as getting deep into planning, traveling, and exploring a new place with your own eyes, but one can always dream of remote islands and backpacking through less touristy countries, right?
Due to their popularity, there are more options than ever before — so many that choosing one can feel impossible, especially if you’re a newbie fan of the genre. But don’t worry! We’ve got you covered. We chose the best of the best when it comes to travel shows: Our picks are fun, exciting, and most importantly — they’ll make you want to book a flight ASAP.
Here are tons of recommendations, carefully hand-picked by us, for some of the best travel shows you can watch on television or enjoy from your favorite streaming platforms.
#1 Long Way Round
2004 | 1 season
This travel series is a classic, and it’s easy to see why. Long Way Round documents Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman’s journey as they travel from Europe to New York — on motorcycles! Starting from London, their trip takes them eastwards through Europe, Asia, and North America. Rest assured, there’s plenty of entertainment if you’re in need of a good dose of adventure!
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#2 Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown
2013 | 12 seasons
If you’re a fan of traveling shows, chances are you’ve seen at least one episode of Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown. And if you haven’t, we’re sorry to report that your life is incomplete until you do. Late chef Anthony Bourdain is like a culinary Indiana Jones, searching out lesser-known locations and introducing us to their culture and local cuisine.
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#3 Long Way Down
2007 | 1 season
Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman are back with another adventure on two wheels! This time their journey takes them from John o’ Groats in Scotland to Cape Town in South Africa, through a total of eighteen countries. The episodes are filled with challenges, mishaps, and some incredible scenery. You’ll enjoy every second of it!
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#4 Rick Steves’ Travel Series
There’s a lot to learn from Rick Steves’ traveling shows. His philosophy? Encouraging people to visit less touristy destinations and immerse themselves in the local lifestyle. He’s the creator and host of Rick Steves’ Europe, a travel show where he documents his experiences through Europe, the continent with which he totally fell in love.
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#5 Departures
2008 | 3 seasons
Have you ever dreamed of traveling the world with your dearest friends? You’re not the only one! Departures is a Canadian travel TV show starring high school best friends Scott Wilson and Justin Lukach, who are looking to add that pinch of excitement to their lives. Through the course of three seasons, they visit every continent in the world, even some less explored countries like North Korea and Antarctica! Ready to jump in?
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#6 Michael Palin’s (Various Adventures Around The World)
Michael Palin is undoubtedly a veteran when it comes to showing millions of people how many remarkable places there are to see on our planet. He’s written and presented travel documentaries since 1980, and guess what? He never stopped! His journeys have taken him to some of the most unexplored locations on Earth, from the North and South Poles to the Himalayas and North Korea.
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#7 Simon Reeve Travel Series
Few can make you fall in love with a place with such intensity as Simon Reeve. This British adventurer and reporter is not only renowned for his contribution to documenting international terrorism: Since 2003, he has given people the chance to explore the world with new eyes through dozens of travel documentaries, like the Holidays In The Danger Zone series, Tropic of Cancer, and Equator.
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#8 An Idiot Abroad
2010 | 3 seasons
Just from the title, you know this one is gonna be hilarious. An Idiot Abroad is a travel comedy series created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. The premise is simple: we follow Karl Pilkington, who never really explored anywhere too different from his native Manchester, as he travels to faraway destinations to broaden his horizons, while the two creators follow his progress from home.
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#9 Top Gear
2002 | 32 seasons
Not exactly a travel TV show, Top Gear is one of the leading series for all the car lovers out there and a staple in British popular culture. Each episode follows the hosts as they examine and review motor vehicles while also taking viewers down some crazy on-the-road adventures. Some of the special edition episodes released over the years follow the crew around the world to places including Botswana, Vietnam, Patagonia and the Middle East.
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#10 Travel Man With Richard Ayoade
2015 | 10 seasons
Travel Man is a travel show hosted by actor and comedian Richard Ayoade. In each episode, he and his crew travel to a popular destination in the world accompanied by a celebrity guest and explore its culture, food, people, and history. The program aims to provide viewers with a potential itinerary for a two-day trip for tourists who might be visiting soon.
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#11 Dark Tourist
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#12 Conan Without Borders
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#13 Street Food
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#14 Jack Whitehall: Travels With My Father
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#15 Tales By Light
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#16 Joanna Lumley’s Travel Shows
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#17 The Kindness Diaries
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#18 Ugly Delicious
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#19 Passport To Europe With Samantha Brown
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#20 The National Parks: America’s Best Idea
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#21 Planet Earth
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#22 The Grand Tour
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#23 Expedition Unknown
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#24 House Hunters International
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#25 Down To Earth With Zac Efron
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#26 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible
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#27 Magical Andes
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#28 Our Planet
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#29 My Greek Odyssey
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#30 Pole To Pole
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#31 The Hairy Bikers
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#32 Billy Connolly: Journey To The Edge Of The World
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#33 Gordon Ramsay’s Uncharted
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#34 Survivorman
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#35 Earth’s Sacred Wonders
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#36 Lost Cities With Albert Lin
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#37 By Any Means
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#38 Bradley Walsh & Son: Breaking Dad
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#39 Race Across The World
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#40 James May: Our Man In Japan
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#41 You vs. Wild
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#42 Miriam Margolyes: Almost Australian
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#43 The Amazing Race
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#44 Stephen Fry In America
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#45 Running Wild With Bear Grylls
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#46 Gordon Ramsay’s Great Escape
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#47 The Misadventures Of Romesh Ranganathan
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#48 Great Railway Journeys
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#49 Gordon, Gino And Fred’s Road Trip
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#50 Men In Kilts
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