filipa.figueira21Are you looking for inspiration for your next travel? Do you want to travel without leaving your sofa? Then this list is for you!
For me travelling is way more than getting on a plane and flying to a new country! In my opinion, there are many ways of travelling and all of them are important. After all, how many of us can constantly be travelling to new countries and destinations nonstop?
Going to a restaurant in your city which makes food you never tried, meeting a foreigner in your hometown from a country you don’t know anything about, going to that museum in your hometown, etc. All of these are some ways of travelling and having new experiences!
I chose my favourite travel movies so you can travel and be inspired. Bring the popcorn, sit down comfortably on your couch and get inspired for your next trip!
Movies about Arabia and the Desert
Queen of the desert
This movie is about the life of Gertrude Bell, a British traveller, writer, archaeologist, explorer, cartographer and political officer. She helped to establish modern Iraq. Bell spoke 8 languages, being fluent in Arabic, Persian, french and german! Very impressive!
I first learned about Gertrude Bell in a book I have about 100 women that made history.
Where will it take you: England, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia
Lawrence of Arabia
I only saw this movie recently. This is quite an old movie from 1962. The story of T.E. Lawrence, the English officer who successfully united and led the diverse, often warring, Arab tribes during World War I in order to fight the Turks.
Where will it take you: England, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Syria
Tracks
I really enjoyed this movie! It is about the story of Robyn Davidson, that in 1977 crossed the 2700 km of the Australian desert to reach the Indic ocean with a dog and 4 camels.
What I liked the most was the determination, bravery and sacrifice of Robyn.
Where will it take you: Australia
Arab blues
A Parisian psychotherapist who returns to her hometown of Tunis to open up a practice on the roof of her extended family’s apartment building.
Where will it take you: Tunisia
Movies that will take you to India
Slumdog Millionaire
This very touching movie will transport you to India, showing you some harsh realities.
Where will it take you: India
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel takes us on a journey to India with an eclectic group of British retirees as they embark on a new life. The luxury residence is far from the opulence they were promised, but as their lives begin to intertwine, they are charmed in unexpected and life-changing ways.
What I liked the most: Discovering more about Indian culture, the soundtrack, and the spirit of helping each other
Where will it take you: India
Darjeeling Limited
The Darjeeling Limited follows three brothers named Francis, Peter, and Jack portrayed by Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, and Jason Schwartzman, respectively, as they embark on a journey of spiritual growth and familial reconnection in India.
Where will it take you: India
Movies that will take you to Asia
7 years in Tibet
The famous Austrian climber Heinrich Harrer sets out in search of the impossible: to climb one of the highest peaks in the Himalayas, Nanga Parbat.
Captured by the British, he became a prisoner in the middle of World War II, but managed to escape and his difficult adventure through the Himalayas allowed him a maximum encounter with the young Dalai Lama. This conviviality changes his life, awakening the generosity that is in him.
What I liked the most: differences between Western and Eastern culture.
Where will it take you: Austria, Tibet, China
The Climb
The Climb (French: L’Ascension) is a 2017 French adventure comedy film directed by Ludovic Bernard which tells the real-life story of Nadir Dendoune.
Where will it take you: Himalayas
The Beach
The Beach is an adventure drama movie directed by Danny Boyle and stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Virginie Ledoyen, Tilda Swinton, Guillaume Canet and Robert Carlyle. A man travelling to Thailand gets an old map of an island rumoured to be a paradise. He sets out to find the island with his friends to find out.
Where will it take you: Thailand
Thi Mai
Along with her two friends, a determined woman travels to Vietnam to bring home the young girl her recently deceased daughter had planned to adopt. This is a very chill movie you can find on Netflix.
Where will it take you: Vietnam
Lost in Translation
“Shot entirely on location in Japan, Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation is a valentine to the nature of close friendships and to the city of Tokyo. Ms. Coppola’s film, from her original screenplay, contemplates the unexpected connections we make that might not last – yet stay with us forever.”
Where will it take you: Japan
Movies about going on an adventure
Into the Wild
I believe this is one of the most watched movies about travelling. It is based on the travels of Christopher McCandless through North America and Alasca at the beginning of the 1990 decade.
What I liked the most: adventure, courage, abstracting from the World
“If you want something in life reach out and grab it.”
Where will it take you: USA
The motorcycle diaries
In January 1952, Ernesto, a 23-year-old medical student, and Alberto, a biochemist, set out on an old motorbike, a Norton 500 known as ‘Poderosa’, on an eight-month journey that will take them from Buenos Aires to their final destination, the peninsula from Guajira, Venezuela. What starts out as an adventure changes shape little by little. The confrontation with the social and political reality of Latin America changes the perception that the two travellers have of the world, awakening new vocations, associated with the desire for social justice. Diaries of Che Guevara is an engaging work, awaited by all who have always admired the life of this controversial revolutionary, and who will now be able to know a little of his life, before becoming the legendary Che Guevara.
What I liked the most: knowing more about Che Guevara, discovering South America
Where will it take you: Argentina, Chile, Peru, Cuba, Colombia, Venezuela
Eat pray and love
The pleasure of eating in Italy, finding yourself in India and love in Bali.
Where will it take you: New York, Italy, India, Indonesia (Bali)
The secret life of Walter Mitty
Walter Mitty is responsible for the archiving and photo development department at Life magazine. Upon receiving a package of negatives from prominent photographer Sean O’Connell, he realizes that a photo is missing. The problem is that it is precisely the photo chosen to be the cover of the last issue of the magazine. That’s when Walter, with Cheryl’s support, is forced to embark on a true adventure.
What I liked the most: It’s never too late to go on an adventure
Where will it take you: Iceland, Greenland, Canada, Nepal, Afeganistan, USA
Wild
There’s a sunrise and a sunset every day, and you can choose to be there for it.
Where will it take you: USA
The Spanish Inn (L’Auberge Espagnole)
O filme conta a história de Xavier (estudante francês) que vai morar para um apartamento na baixa de Barcelona no âmbito do programa Erasmus, que partilha com mais sete estudantes oriundos de vários países europeus.
O que mais gostei: multiculturalidade.
Where will it take you: Spain
Have you seen these movies? Which one is your favourite?
Planning a trip soon?
Looking for Travel Inspiration?
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- Morocco, a country to come back to
- Cyprus, the island of Aphrodite
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