1. Murder on the Orient Express
Murder on the Orient Express is set in the glamorous world of inter-war train travel. In the book, Poirot sets off from Istanbul destined for London. On the way, the train is stopped by heavy snowfall and it’s then that a murder is discovered.
Over the years, the route of the Orient Express has varied. These days, the train only runs between Paris and Vienna. If you want to complete the full journey, you’ll need to find yourself a European train timetable and make your own, less glamorous, way to Istanbul.
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Istanbul, eastern terminus of the Orient Express
2. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
One of the classic journeys of American literature, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn sees the eponymous hero take to the waters of the Mississippi. Together with Jim, a runaway slave, ‘Huck’ rafts down the river, getting into various scrapes on the way.
As well as being a great adventure story, Huckleberry Finn discusses a number of the most important issues of the time, particularly slavery. Recreate Huck’s trip by hiring a boat on the Mississippi or taking a Mark Twain-themed river cruise. Alternatively, if you really want to get into the spirit of things, make yourself a raft and see where the current takes you.
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Exploring the great Mississippi River
3. Dark Star Safari
The only non-fiction book on our list, Dark Star Safari features a classic literary excursion. In the book, author Paul Theroux travels from Cairo to Cape Town overland. The route takes him through the Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi and Zimbabwe, with Theroux travelling by train, car, bus and even armed convoy on the way.
Crossing Africa from north to south remains one of the ultimate overland routes and, if you’re a seasoned traveller, it’s probably already on your bucket list. While not always easy, the journey will take you through breath taking scenery and into the heart of this fascinating continent.
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Cairo, starting point for the Dark Star Safari
4. On the Road
In On the Road, Jack Kerouac criss-crosses the US from New York to San Francisco, and even takes a detour to Mexico City. Along the way, narrator Sal visits New Orleans, Laredo, Denver, Tucson, LA, Detroit and Chicago.
If you’re currently planning the ultimate US road trip, following the route laid out in On the Road is a great place to start. These days, it’s probably easier to hire a car rather than rely on hitchhiking. As well as being faster, having your own wheels gives you the freedom to really explore the sites and cities on route.
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Empty highways and wide vistas make the US the perfect place for a road trip
5. The Odyssey
The Odyssey is such an epic journey that it’s become a by-word for a long, arduous expedition. In the book, Odysseus is attempting to return from Troy where he spent 10 years laying siege to the city. On his way home, Odysseus angers the god Poseidon who then works to prevent the hero returning to Ithaca.
The route takes in North Africa, Sicily, France, mainland Greece and the country’s islands. So if you want to follow in Odysseus’ footsteps, you’ll probably need to hire a boat, or at the very least get an up-to-date ferry timetable and a sturdy pair of sea legs.
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Ithaca, the ultimate destination for Odysseus in his Odyssey
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Find out more about Mark Twain, author of Huckleberry Finn, here
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