travel challenge book europe

Travel Challenge Book - Europe

Whether you're traveling right now or not, this ultimate travel bucket list book will inspire your journeys across Europe for decades to come. All the beautiful countries including France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Croatia, and the United Kingdom are waiting for you! More than 400 destinations you can check off your travel bucket list the second you visit them.

Travel Challenge Book is an interactive travel book for every passionate traveler . It's more than a blank travel journal. It's like a little travel guide, travel journal, and memory book in one.

In the book, you'll find the most popular travel destinations for every European country, as well as fun interactive features like a checkbox for each location so you can mark it off your list the second you visit each spot. Use it to plan your trips across Europe, take it with you as your constant travel companion, or use it as a journal and a memory book to record your adventures when you get home.

Here's what you'll find in the Travel Challenge Book - Europe:

• A blank European map so that you can color in the countries you've visited and see where you've never been
• A list of all European countries where you can record the date of your visits
• A checkbox for each location in the book so you can mark off where you've been
• Beautiful destinations in Europe that you don't want to miss
• Interesting facts about each country you've probably never heard before
• Space for you to write your own notes or stick photos from every country you've traveled to

Travel Challenge Book will bring you joy and happiness every time you open it, whether you're looking for new adventures or want to relive your beautiful memories. It's a great gift  for all travel lovers, dreamers, and adventurers.

Travel Edition

Ships from our warehouse in Poland.

🔥 30 brand new scratch off adventures ✈️ 🚂 🚗 Can be enjoyed on any trip 🥰 Keepsake for all your travels

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How it Works

Each adventure is designed to help you: Explore outside your travel habits, dive deeper into your relationship, and make meaningful memories.

Whether you’re going on a road trip or exploring an exotic destination—just pick a challenge, scratch it off, and see where the adventure takes you.

This book is more than a collection of challenges. It’s a travel companion and a curated place for you to keep memories you’ve shared.

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• Couples Edition
• Family Edition
• Friends Edition

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The Adventure Book Ultimate Traveler's Edition

In 2018, we set out to make a travel journal unlike any other, which you, the traveler, the dream-chaser, the memory collector, the adventurer welcomed with open arms, by the thousands. 

And now we'd love to introduce you to  The Adventure Book Ultimate Traveler’s Edition - expanded inside and out to collect all your favorite travel memories and more.

If you are new to our journals, welcome! Let’s catch you up to speed!

All 196 independent countries in the world have a spot in here for you to fill, now extended with 69 more territories - a whopping total of 265 countries and territories for you to explore! Discover new countries and territories, explore the world with more fun challenges, keep track of your travels with maps and extra checklists, feel inspired to wander in new ways, create memories you will cherish forever, and collect these unforgettable moments in your journal. 

The brand new luxurious natural linen hardcover makes sure this journal will last a lifetime. And just like you've asked for, this journal has almost doubled in size, giving you tons of real estate on each page for all your memories.    

Additional Information:

The journals you keep on coming back to. 

Collect them all. Travel the world. See every country. Do awesome stuff.

What's in it?

• All 196 independent countries in the world have a spot for you to fill, as well as 69 more territories (265 total). Among them are: England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Puerto Rico, and the UK and US Virgin Islands. View the country and territories checklist above with the product images for a complete list of all 265 places. 
• All 50 states of the USA have their own spot in here as well. Plus, Washington, D.C.
• Blank pages for those special places that need extra space
• Lots of challenges, fun things to do, memories to collect, experiences to tick off, bucket lists to complete, ideas of what to draw or paint about and lots of free journaling opportunities
• Maps of the world and continents you can color in to keep track of where you've been
• Fill out the journal the way you want to: write, draw, paint, paste photos, stickers, scraps, plants, stamps, or I don’t know… with tea bags
• The ultimate gift for travel lovers

Journal Specifications

• High quality hardcover for great durability 
• Luxe natural linen fabric cover with embossed details
• Large size: 205mm wide x 245mm high x 35mm thick [8" wide x 9.5" high x 1.5" thick]
• Weighs approximately 950grams
• 288 pages for all your memories and experiences
• 120gsm beautiful quality, kind-to-the-planet, off-white paper [FSC certified]
• Produced Co2 neutral
• Dutch design and made in The Netherlands, Europe
• Presented in a branded keepsake box

Unsure which Adventure Book is best for you? 

Click here   for a full comparison between the Original, Ultimate Traveler's Edition, Europe Edition, and North America Edition or watch this video . 

Awaited by thousands, the world over 

Get your travel journal inspiration!

Join our community and share your adventurous life! Tag #theadventurebook on Instagram.

10+ Travel Books That Take Your Heart to Europe

By: Author Mihaela Lica Butler

10 Travel Books that take your heart to Europe

Choosing the best travel books that take your heart to Europe is not an easy task. Some of the most inspiring manuscripts that capture the spirit of the old continent are not available in English. And yet, authors around the world write volumes about this part of our blue planet and their imagination is often the magic wand that inspires the journey. Here are 10 great travel books that take place in Europe and will inspire your next trip to the continent. 

The Road to Little Dribbling by Bill Bryson

The Road to Little Dribbling by Bill Bryson relates the tale of an American from Iowa who is both frustrated and fascinated by Lancashire, Yorkshire, and other alluring British destinations. From Cornish fishing villages to more touristy spots, the author relates his trips with flair and humor: here a country pub where everybody knows your name, there a sanatorium turned residential complex, and in-between a whole cast of heritage sites and countryside treasures.

The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway

The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway is one of those iconic travel books that take your heart to Europe – this time from Paris in France, to Pamplona in Spain, for the July fiesta, which culminates with a bull fight. It’s a literary gem in Hemingway’s iconic style, and it relates the travels and love story of U.S. journalist Jake Barnes and British Lady Brett Ashle y.

Watermark by Joseph Brodsky

Watermark by Joseph Brodsky is a poetic masterpiece that paints Venice with the brushes of a thousand poets. Suddenly, carnivals and postcard images become obsolete as you live and breathe the rhythm of a real, vibrant city, destroyed by the tourist hype. Brodsky’s Venice is at its best off-season when the peace of the streets reverberates the bang of the church bells like a symphony.

Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis

When it comes to “philoxenia” (love of strangers), there’s no place like Crete, the birthplace of Zeus. Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis contributed significantly to tourism growth after the 1960s, even more than the famous Cretan diet – which on Crete is frowned upon by many, because Cretans love meat more than they love veggies, fish, and legumes. Granted, I spent more than three months on the island, and I have never encountered a cow, but the goats are omnipresent: they lure from the branches of an olive tree, which stretches its shadow over a winding mountain road, they explore the shores of the Cretan Sea, or they appear out of nowhere when your drive against the clock, just to slow you down. They also show up as metaphors and witty literary license comparisons in Zorba the Greek.

A Year in Provence  by Peter Mayle

If you are anything like Peter Mayle, you will love spending A Year in Provence . This is one of the 10 travel books that take your heart to Europe I love the most because it is so close to home. Granted, I’d drive more than 8 hours to Lubéron, but Marseille , which is the capital of the Bouches-du-Rhône in Provence, is just a stone’s throw away from Mayle’s 200-year-old stone farmhouse that is the setting of this fascinating story. The area has not changed much since the novel had its first edition in 1989: goats still roam freely on the main streets of the village, and ladder snakes are right at home.

Postcards from Europe  by Rick Steves

Beyond the hype, Rick Steves’ Postcards from Europe takes you “from the Netherlands through Germany, Italy, and Switzerland, with a grand Parisian finale,” and it’s the perfect journey. Rick tends to write like a travel guide, but he has a way with words that inspires impromptu voyages: “But it’s the same Europe, as well. Dolphins playfully race Aegean ferries into the sunset. Oslo’s fjord weary fishermen still peddle tins of shrimp from their boats.” In Postcards from Europe, the author shares some of his favorite travel destinations and moments, but they soon become yours.

For a list of all Rick Steves’ Guide Books for your next adventure in Europe.

The Hidden Europe: What Eastern Europeans Can Teach Us  by Francis Tapon

Francis Tapon is an intriguing world explorer. His The Hidden Europe: What Eastern Europeans Can Teach Us is one of those rare books that challenge stereotypes albeit from a strongly biased perspective which doesn’t bother at all because the voice of the author is honest and the experience is genuine. This is Tapon’s personal journey and view, so take his tales with the necessary grain of salt.

Under the Tuscan Sun and Bella Tuscany by Frances Mayes

Seeking Sicily: A Cultural Journey Through Myth and Reality in the Heart of the Mediterranean by John Keahey’s

For a book that reveals the fascinating history and paths of Regione Siciliana, you can always count on John Keahey’s Seeking Sicily: A Cultural Journey Through Myth and Reality in the Heart of the Mediterranean .  From tourist spots like La Terra Trema’s trendy Aci Trezza resort to remote destinations, this is a tome that will inspire your thirst for knowledge and wanderlust.  

Travels with Epicurus: A Journey to a Greek Island in Search of a Fulfilled Life by Daniel Klein

Finally, Travels with Epicurus: A Journey to a Greek Island in Search of a Fulfilled Life by Daniel Klein is all about Greek lifestyle experiences. The title is self-explanatory, and the read meets the promise. In fact, “fulfilling” is an understatement for life on Hydra, which turns to be anything but the mythological serpentine water monster of Lerna.

Do you have any other favorite travel books that take your heart to Europe? Let us know in the comments!

Written by and photos by Mihaela Lica Butler  for EuropeUpClose.com

3 Beautiful Travel Books that Take You To France

Written by Jen Westmoreland Bouchard for EuropeUpClose.com

Best Travel Books that take place in Europe –  Pin for later:

Sunday 25th of June 2017

I'll check some of these out:) I have Under the Tuscan Sun and read a few books by Bryson but not the one you mention:)

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8 creative travel challenges to inspire your next trip

Do at least one thing you have never done before in your life – and you won ’ t be able to stop..

We’ve selected 8 creative and inspiring travel challenges that will turn your trips into personal adventures. Our source of inspiration is a book –  “203 Travel Challenges. Travel the world. Explore Your Inner Self” .

Traveling is something personal, so take the ingredients of the following challenges, stir them, move them and change them to create your own challenges to spice up your trips.

1 . Jump into a warm, open-air mineral pool while it’s snowing

There are plenty of warm, mineral pools in the open air around the world. However pleasant they may be in the summer, there is nothing like getting into one in the winter, when snowflakes are falling from the sky and you are soaking in warm, mineral water, not caring about tiny details like weather forecasts or an air temperature more suited to polar bears…

How to do it: Don ’ t forget to take a towel to dry yourself off as quickly as possible as you climb out of the pool. Also take your favorite warm drink in a thermos for pure bliss (coffee, cappuccino, tea and rum, etc.).

2 . Night Challenge

There are many attractions which stay open even when it ’ s dark outside. There are also events created to make your night more interesting. It ’ s a different world when you trade the light of the sun for the light of the moon and the stars.

A couple of ideas for night events: European Night of Museums (every year on a Saturday, around 18th May – the International Day of Museums), European Literature Night (in May – celebrities read excerpts from European works of art), European Theatre Night (in November). European Researchers ’ Night – research centers and museums open doors to show their achievements (every year in late September). Open-air cinema to enjoy a movie under the stars.

A couple of ideas for attractions open during the night: Every summer from May until October the Colosseum in Rome , Italy, is open until midnight on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays (reservation necessary). In New York the Brooklyn Museum has free admission until 11 p.m. the first Saturday of each month (except September); the Top of the Rock observation deck at Rockefeller Center offers 70th floor views of Manhattan until midnight (last elevator up is at 11 p.m.), and the Empire State Building ’ s observation deck is open until 2 a.m. In Bangkok , Thailand, every district has its own night market where you can find all kinds of food, goods and fun activities, at the same time immersing yourself the best way possible into local life. Try the biggest market , Rot Fai, or the bohemian JJ Green Night Market.

For seasoned travelers: Take a night walk through the mountains. Under the only light of the moon or a headlamp – with an experienced guide or along trails you know like the back of your hand. Night walks are an experience that is hard to forget.

3 . Go out of range for 24 hours

Go out of range, see the sunrise, read a book, talk to people. 

You are constantly online. You follow the events on the social networks and sometimes it’s as if the real world has disappeared. We challenge you to go for at least 24 hours to a place where electronic devices are out of range. We challenge you to feel that you are here and you are here now, instead of drifting through virtual space.

For seasoned travelers: Deliberately turn off all your devices for a day. Get out of range for a week.

4 . See a shooting star and make a wish come true

Seeing a shooting star to make a wish may seem to you like pure chance. The truth is, you can help chance come your way by being in the right place at the right time. Every year, around 12 August, the sky night fills with hundreds of shooting stars (or meteorites to be exact). The reason is the annual meteor stream called Perseids .

Fun fact… The meteors are called Perseids because when we look at the sky it seems like they come from the constellation Perseus.  In fact, the shooting stars we see in the sky are part of the comet Swift-Tuttle.

How to do it: The Perseids peak around 12 August (look up the date for the year) when hundreds of meteorites can be seen every hour.

A couple more ideas: There are other meteor streams throughout the year (Geminids in mid-December, Lyrids in mid-April, Quadrantids in late December – early January) when you can see a shooting star.

5. Bathe in a waterfall

Enjoy a free shower from nature. If you try to find pictures of the waterfalls listed below, without a shadow of a doubt you will want to shower there next time.

A couple of ideas:

Skogafoss (Iceland), Havasu (Grand Canyon, USA + more ideas for waterfalls you can bathe in the USA ), Ouzoud (Morocco), Skradinski buk (Croatia), Kempty (India). Or just visit the nearest waterfall to you.

6.  Celebrate the International Picnic Day

On International Picnic Day (every year on 18 June), enjoy one of the best ways to be close to nature. The importance of picnics dates back to the Victorian Age when young men and women could spend time together in the open. Back in the day, they would bring fancy meals, sandwiches, sweets and crackers. Nowadays picnics require far less effort, but they can be a good reason finally to go somewhere you ’ ve been meaning to, but haven ’ t had the chance.

How to make it more interesting: You can give the picnic a theme – everyone to wear red, to bring only Italian cuisine, tea and board games, a candlelit picnic, etc. To make it more fun, you can throw in a kite, slackline, hacky sack, badminton or a frisbee.

Fun fact… According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the biggest picnic in the world was organized in Lisbon, Portugal, on 20 June 2009 with more than 20 000 participants.

7. See a shipwreck – without going underwater

It ’ s human nature – we are drawn to tragedy and decay. We roam around abandoned villages, enter buildings carrying legends of ghosts and dive to reach sunken ships. If diving is not your passion, we challenge you to visit one of the most famous shipwrecks in the world … without having to dive.

Zakynthos, Greece – At Navagio Beach, you will see the remains of a vessel washed ashore. You can take a peek from the high rocks or reach it by boat.

Muynak, Uzbekistan – Outside the town of Muynak (or Moynaq) in Uzbekistan, in the direction of the Aral Sea, you will witness a sinister view along the road – the skeletons of ships and fishing boats abandoned long ago in the desert. Up until about 30 years ago Muynak was a sea harbor, but today it is in the middle of the desert, 50 km (30 miles) from the coast, after the rivers were diverted for irrigation purposes, and so the road leading to the Aral Sea turned into a ship graveyard.

Sydney, Australia – Homebush Bay in Sydney has become the final resting place of no longer operating ships. Some of them were swallowed by mangroves, growing over the rusty decks.

8. You want a raise? Take a holiday!

It is a proven fact that employees who use more of their vacation days achieve better results at work and have a higher chance of being promoted. Many people don ’ t use all of their vacation days as they fear that their long absence might show their bosses that the work can be managed without them. A study, however, shows that employees, who take all of their vacation days, show better results at work. Statistics in the USA and Canada reveal that for every 10 days off from work, the employee ’ s results improve by an average of 8%.

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World Travel Challenge – 50 Countries to Travel All Over the World

Would you like to see 50 new countries? That’s our current world travel challenge . We’ve been lucky to travel to some great places and now after raising kids, we’ve decided to hit the road again and expand our world view.

We set a goal of 50 countries to visit in our 50s . It’s not 50 countries before 50, it’s 50 new countries in our 50s.

Here’s the real question – do you have a travel goal of your own? Do you dream of seeing the 7 Wonders of the World or traveling to all 50 States?

If you’re looking for interesting countries to travel all over the world, or just some grand adventures, then read on.

This site uses affiliate links, meaning if you make a purchase through our links, we may earn a commission. You can read our full disclosure policy  here .

How it Started – The 50 States Travel Challenge

When a friend made a comment about visiting all 50 States, it really struck me. I had never thought about it, which is funny because it’s on a lot of bucket lists.

I went home to see how many states Guy and I had visited – around 40. Of course, my little motivated self now needed to go to all 50.

We set up 3 trips to see the last 10 states. The first trip was a midwest loop – drop the kid off at college in Wisconsin then Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri.

We had some great experiences like Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que in a gas station with a line out the door because it’s really that good.

Seeing a Royals game the year they ended up going to the World Series – apparently we are good luck charms. And finding out that downtown Omaha is so charming.

The final trip being 10 days in Alaska . It definitely pushed us to take the trip we had been putting off (Alaska) and find interesting sights in places we had never considered trip worthy.

All of these experiences cemented the idea that if you push outside of the usual travel destinations, you can find some amazing experiences that you would have never found had you not done the challenge.

Our World Travel Challenge – 50 Countries in Our 50s

When we started the challenge, there were so many people living as world travel digital nomads , doing things like 100 countries before they’re 30 or going to all 195 countries.

We want our challenge to be a framework but truly want to experience the places we visit. And we only want to go to places that are safe!

50 new countries over a span of 10 years is doable and exciting. It’s small enough to get to know the destinations and it’s big enough to be a challenge.

What Counts as a Country?

This may sounds like a silly question but there are many sources that vary on what is actually a country. The United Nations has 193 member countries and 2 observer countries, Holy See (the Vatican) and Palestine.

So what is not a country? A territory of another country like Puerto Rico, Cayman Islands or Aruba. Also countries like Scotland and Wales that are governed within the United Kingdom.

We counted Scotland and Wales as countries for our world challenge, since they are in fact countries, but not in our overall total.

Countries Visited

Guy and I have now been to 69 countries each. The 38 countries listed below are the ones we visited since the challenge started.

• Bosnia Herzokovina
• Czech Republic
• North Macedonia
• Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

We will travel to 12 more countries over the next 5 years, which will bring the world total to 81. Traveling as flashpackers helped us catch up after we lost time in 2020-2021.

This countries visited map is where I’ve been so far. Guy has been to the same number of countries but more in Asia.

Some Travel Challenge Ideas

• All 195 Countries or a certain amount of countries
• 7 Continents
• 7 Wonders of the World – Great Wall of China, Christ the Redeemer in Brazil, Machu Piccu in Peru, Chichen Itza in Mexico, The Colosseum in Rome, Taj Mahal in India, Petra in Jordan
• The Seven Summits – a climbing challenge around the world
• 50 states, 50 states by a certain age, 50 Marathons in 50 states
• Interesting hotel types – Finland Glass Igloos , the best Marrakech Riads , glamping at Morocco Desert Luxury Camps or Wadi Rum Bubble Hotels , cave hotels in Cappadocia or Matera, Italy or a historic Trulli Hotel or Masserie in Puglia .

Executing a Travel Challenge

Planning – A travel challenge that has you going all over the world is most rewarding if it is well planned. Some things to consider:

• Time – Depending on when and for how long you can take a vacation, time is a huge consideration. For some, taking a longer trip and visiting multiple countries in a region will work better. For others, it might be multiple trips around school vacations.
• Money – Some people can spend whatever they want and others are on a strict budget. Do you want to go places in the shoulder season for lower costs and less crowds? Are you open to capsule hotels or lower price accommodations?
• Festivals and Events – In addition to making a list of countries I want to visit, I also made a list of the time of year I might like to be there. For instance, the Lantern Festival in Chang Mai is in November. The lavender in Provence is at it’s peak in July. I’ve already been to Thailand and France but I will probably visit countries near there during those times.
• Carbon Footprint – For me it’s important to take into account the impact of my activities on the world. I don’t want to fly somewhere, come home and go back to that same vicinity later. We do our best plan out travel to minimize the amount of flying.

Helpful Tools for World Travel Ideas

Books & Maps

• Where to go When tells you the best places in the world to travel by month.
• Destinations of a Lifetime is a beautiful book of world travel inspiration.
• 50 States 5,000 Ideas is perfect if you are doing a U.S. state challenge.
• Here’s a great list of books about travel and self discovery that will definitely give you some inspiration.
• World Travel Maps – to chart your progress Scratch Off Travel Map  or Where I’ve Been App .

List Challenges

I love this addictive website with lots of lists is listchallenges.com . Use it to figure out where you have been around the world and where you want to travel to next.

I have a love/hate thing with Instagram. I recently clicked on a before and after makeup reel and even though I rarely wear makeup, I now have a whole feed of makeup tutorials.

So I had to control myself and only click on beautiful destinations (and a few puppies because I can’t help it). Now l get tons of ideas that leads me to pages with tons of ideas.

I set up folders in my Instagram saved file and I categorize them by area. When we are going somewhere like Spain, I open the Spain folder and voilà!

If I’m being super honest, I took a big old Instagram break and I looked at my Spain folder AFTER we went to Spain and I missed something I would have loved to see. Costa Brava – we’ll be back!

Pinterest is a great place to find images to pin into your own travel folders. Search by location and click through the images to find helpful travel websites that reach every corner of the world.

I’m on Pinterest regularly and it’s a great place to reach for itineraries, travel tips and travel inspiration.

FAQs About Our 50 Countries World Travel Challenge

Why are you doing it?

First, we love travel and have a serious case of wanderlust. Second, we never know how long we’ll be on the planet or how long we’ll be healthy enough to travel. Read our story to know why.

How do you afford to travel so much?

In 2012, I mastered travel hacking, earning miles to travel from credit cards . It allowed us to start doing a lot of international travel since we were getting flights and hotels for almost free.

Now as full-time digital nomads , we consider our hotel expense like most people think of their rent or mortgage. We still have an income because we work but we don’t have a housing expense.

We rotate between vacation rentals, boutique hotels and modest hotels when we can find a great one. That allows us to feel better about splurging for a great hotel here and there.

Have you had any problems traveling?

I would be lying if I said travel is all roses. Let’s face it, we’re talking about airplanes, airports, crowds, weather and all kinds of things that give everyone trouble.

I’ve gotten food poisoning in Cuba , missed a few flights, and was actually bitten by a panda in China. But…there’s almost nothing I’d rather do than travel so I take it in stride.

Do you take all your trips together?

We travel on most trips together now but I used to stay longer when Guy had to go back to an office for work. Now that we’re both full-time digital nomads , it’s so much better.

Do you miss home?

We definitely miss home, however, we talk to our kids and our parents at least every other day. You know when you see something and think, I wish so and so was here right now, well, we call them on FaceTime and share it.

It helps having a Portugal phone number that we can use throughout the EU. If we travel outside our coverage area, we get an E-SIM online and our phones work instantly wherever we travel.

We catch up with the rest of our family and friends as much as possible but being on different time zones makes it much harder. It’s one of the major downsides to full time travel.

How far are you in the journey? Will you make your goal?

We thought we would finish the 50 countries faster than 10 years but the lack of travel from 2020-2022 impacted the goal.

We did get a lot of time for slow travel in the USA in California , Oregon , Utah , and Arizona though.

Thankfully moving to Portugal , put us much closer to many countries on our list. We only have 12 left and 4.5 years to complete it.

We never put this goal above seeing the places we really want to visit. We have road tripped all over Spain , France , Italy and Portugal seeing almost every major destination and lots of little hidden gems.

Even though we’ve been to Nice and Barcelona , we went for Carnival and the Menton Lemon Festival . We revisited Seville for 3 Kings Day and had a blast.

But the icing on the cake of return visits was the Lyon Fête des Lumières . Put this early December event on your Europe Bucket List right now!

If this post inspires you to go somewhere great, we’re thrilled. If you have any questions about how to set up a travel challenge, let us know in the comments below. We also love hearing great ideas. Happy travels!

Save this World Travel Challenge Post for later? Pin it!

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37 comments.

great to read

love that you have addressed carbon footprint consideration in your plan,

Thank you. I think it’s so important to consider our impact on the world 😊

I’m loving all your travel photos Jen. What a great challenge to set yourself! Looking forward to seeing where you go next.

Thanks Lisa! You’re so sweet!

Would love to take on this challenge though I have to consider my little children. Most importantly a travel buddy would be ideal who has the same passion to wander around. I also don’t like repeating the same destination because I think there is still a lot to explore.

When you have little kids, the challenge needs to be nearby or involve them. When my kids were little I got a book with 101 things to do in Los Angeles and did those. A friend of mine did a road trip through all 50 states with her kids. I never could have done that 🤣 Thanks for reading and commenting!

I’m not so interested in counting countries but there are a lot of places I’d love to visit, like Thailand (I just read your other post). This year, we’re leaving NYC and we’ll be traveling through Latin America, looking for a place we’d like to live.

Everyone has different goals and different travel plans and that’s wonderful. It’s all about what works for you and what you want to do! Latin America sounds amazing, there’s so much to see. I’m so excited for you guys and I can’t wait to see a post about it in the future!

Ziba Lennox

I love this post Jenifer! I love seeing your pictures on Instagram but it’s so awesome to read about the process and BTS here! xo Ziba

Thank you so much, I’m so glad you liked them! I hope the information was helpful.

This is superb dear! I’d love to take on this challenge, so much adventure out there! Jessica

Thank you Jessica! You definitely have amazing trips that are so inspirational!

Kelsey Bang

what a fun post! I love traveling around the globe!

Thanks Kelsey! Glad you liked it!

Wow. You already went to so many countries. This challenge is really exciting tho ! Can’t wait to see your adventures. xx Margot

Thanks for reading Margot!

This is the kind of challenge I like to do 🙂

That’s so great Alyssa! Always fun to have a challenge to plan and do!

You are really organized when it comes to planning trips! Visiting 50 countries sounds so exciting and that’s great that you already have where you want to go planned out. My travel goal is to visit all 50 states, so thank you so much for the book recommendation! I hope you have the best time traveling and I can’t wait to see all the places you go to!

Thanks Kara! I like to plan my travel so I don’t miss things but I also like to leave room for unexpected experiences (usually the best part). 50 states is such a great thing to do! Mixing it up with big trips like Alaska to road trips that hit a bunch of spots makes it all so much fun. Enjoy!!

I never considered visiting so many countries, but now I am inspired to set some goals. It’s truly a wonderful thing to visit different parts of the world and learn about all different people, and cool to learn about their customs, traditions, and beliefs! Which has been one of your favorite countries to travel to? I would love to know! Also, thanks for sharing all these helpful tips!

Seeing different countries and cultures is so exciting. It’s hard to pick favorites because I loved so many but… Peru and Macchu was incredible. It’s gorgeous, the food is great and the way of life is so different from ours. Morocco was a trip of a lifetime. We rode camels into the Saraha desert, slept in tents and riads, sand boarded down 200 foot dunes, and saw the coolest cities like Marrakesh! Iceland had the most amazing waterfalls and landscapes I’ve ever seen. Bali is a place I could absolutely move to. The people, the laid back lifestyle and the gorgeous beaches were the best! This could be a blog post of an answer, so maybe I’ll actually write one. Thanks for reading and asking! Hope you get to travel to lots of terrific places. xx Jenifer

Barbara Eskowitz

I love this world travel challenge and goal you have set – visiting 50 countries in your 50s and taking us on the journey with you! Sounds amazing and exciting all at the same time. You go girl! xx

Thank you so much Barbara!

All I can say is that you are lucky you’ve been to so many places already. What an experience it must be. I love traveling and if time and money was not a problem, I would travel all over the world. I still try to travel every summer and see at least one new country. Happy Wednesday dear. xx

I completely agree Nina. It’s hard to find the time and money to travel, especially to far away destinations. One new country a year is amazing. It allows you to really enjoy the experience without it breaking the bank. Now that my kids are grown, I’m getting the opportunity to indulge my wanderlust spirit.Thanks for reading!

Dessy Markova

This idea is great! So happy to see you travel so much. Bring so much value to a person. Wish you even more travels in 2019 and keep it up Jen xoxo

Thanks Dessy. I love how travel expands us as humans. I’m really looking forward to all the new experiences. Thanks for reading!

Kathrine Eldridge

You are a travel queen! I would love to visit even 10 countries. I applaud you for wanting to explore. I hope to someday do a challenge like this too!

Thank you Kathrine! The great thing about travel challenges is they can be whatever you want, even going on all the hikes around you or visiting all the museums in an area. It’s just a framework to get you doing something you might not have done otherwise. Thanks so much for reading.

Such a fun idea! I did more than 30 countries by age 30 but haven’t thought about my next travel challenge yet!

Thank you, I’m glad you liked it. Your challenge is so cute, I really like it. I’m looking forward to seeing what you do next!

I absolutely love your world travel challenge. And I can’t wait to follow along with you when you go to all these fabulous countries!

Thank you! I’m so excited for it. Love all the possibilities that come along with journey!

What fun ideas! 36 countries is pretty impressive! Also like your comment on traveling and reducing carbon footprint too! 😊

Thank you Kelly! I have the most massive case of wanderlust but it’s so important to me to be a respectful traveler.

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Read Around the World: Travel Reading Challenge 2023

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Welcome to our second year of the travel reading challenge. Want to travel the world from your favorite reading chair? Let’s go travel through the pages of a book with this read-around-the-world challenge!

I spent last year reading my way around the world, tackling my first travel reading challenge , and traveling the globe through literature. After an overwhelming response, many readers even joined me in this challenge too!

And so, after having several requests for an updated one for 2023, I now present to you the new and updated read around the world challenge so I can continue my travels through books and literature this year.

This list includes 12 prompts for the 12 months that will allow you to read your way around the globe. The prompts are all new from last year, including a mix across continents, and cover those requested by you!

Below you will find each month’s prompts, as well as book suggestions. You’ll also find links below to lists of books to help you find the right book for you!

I hope you’ll find something here to inspire your reading or travels, or perhaps you’re simply looking for a reading goal that isn’t too difficult to complete.

Wishing you a wonderful year of adventures and stories ahead!

Bookmark this post so you can revisit it throughout the year and have easy access to all the book lists.

January: A book set in a Bookshop

January may be cold, but bookstores are inviting, and as readers, we spend a lot of time inside bookstores when we can! Kick off the first month of the Read Around the World Challenge with a book set in a bookshop.

Book Suggestions:

• The Little Paris Bookshop By Nina George
• The Bookshop On The Corner By Jenny Colgan
• Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore By Robin Sloan

More Book Suggestions: Best Books Set in Bookshops

February: A Book Set in India

Moving on to February, the next stop on the Read Around the World Challenge takes us to India.

Book Suggestions: 

• The Henna Artist  By Alka Joshi
• Murder In Old Bombay  By Nev March

Reading Suggestions: Best Books Set in India

March: A Book set on an island

In March, we travel to an island through the pages.

• A Small Place by Jamaica Kincaid (Antigua)
• Simmer Down By Sarah Smith (Maui)
• The Unhoneymooners  By Christina Lauren (Hawaii)

April: A Book Set In Canada

Canada’s beautiful landscape and years of history have inspired novels and nonfiction by authors from around the world.

• Lives Of Girls And Women By Alice Munro
• The Call Of The Wild By Jack London

Reading Suggestions:  Must-Read Books Set In Canada

May: A book set on a train

Next up is a book set aboard a train! If you love to travel by train, you won’t want to miss these train thrillers, mysteries, and train novels.

• Strangers On A Train By Patricia Highsmith
• 4:50 From Paddington By Agatha Christie

Reading Suggestions:  Best Books Set On Trains

June: A book set In Bangkok

Moving on and visiting Bangkok, the capital of Thailand!

• The Blind Earthworm In The Labyrinth By Veeraporn Nitiprapha
• Many Lives By Kukrit Pramoj
• Bangkok Wakes To Rain By Pitchaya Sudbanthad

Reading Suggestions:  Best Books Set in Bangkok

July: A book with a destination in the title

Find a book with a destination in the title, perhaps even somewhere you would like to visit.

• The Last Watchman Of Old Cairo By Michael David Lukas
• Round Ireland with a Fridge by Tony Hawks

August: A Book Set in Scotland

August takes us to Scotland. Known for its stunning natural landscapes ranging from mountains and highlands to lochs and rugged coastlines.

• Outlander By Diana Gabaldon
• To The Lighthouse By Virginia Woolf
• Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine By Gail Honeyman

Reading Suggestions:  Best Books Set in Scotland

September: A book set at the beach

In September, the goal is to read a book set at the beach.

• The Beach by Alex Garland
• Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman

October: A Fantasy book set in another world

Fantasy is a fun genre to escape into. Last year we covered fantasy based on real places but this year read a fantasy that takes place in another world.

• We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal
• The Last Watch by J. S. Dewes

November: A book that has been Made Into A Series Or Movie

• Crazy Rich Asians  by Kevin Kwan
• Pride and Prejudice   by Jane Austen

December: A book with a season in the title

On to the last month of the year. Finally, for the month of December, your goal is to read a book with a season in the title, and you choose which season you like.

• Winter in Sokcho by Elisa Shua Dusapin
• Spring Fever by Mary Kay Andrews

Travel Reading Challenge

That’s all for the Read Around the World Challenge prompts! Let me know in the comments below if you’re going to participate and which month you’re most anticipating.

And please do just jump into the current month if you found this challenge after the start of the new year, don’t wait until next year to start.

Happy reading!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can i choose my own book.

Yes! Choose any book that meets the challenge prompt for that month. In fact, if you really enjoy a book, we’d love to hear about it.

Can I recommend a book for a future month?

We always love book recommendations! If there’s a book you think we should know about for one of the upcoming months, tell us about it. But please only recommend books that you’ve read.

Can I join the Challenge after January?

You can join our year-long reading challenge at any time. Simply jump into the current month, or start at the beginning. How you choose to participate is up to you, any month is a great time to start!

• Pingback: My Book and Blog Goals for 2023 – The Book Stop

These prompts sound great, I will be joining this challenge for the first time! I think I can get to all of them though I may not get to it in the right month. I’m really looking to read more books set in other countries this year.

Please keep us updated on how you get on. We would love to know what books you choose.

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50 exciting traveling challenges to do before you turn 50

Sometimes it seems that time passes by so fast and this is, unfortunately, the cruel reality. But when the time is well spent, then instead of feeling sad about aging you can always go back to the good memories and the great experiences you’ve had.

For most people, these good experiences come mainly with new adventures and with traveling. And of course, this is mainly how people learn something new, discover and explore and collect new episodes of their movie called life.

Exciting traveling challenges to do

So what we have here are some challenges to do to spice up your travel life a bit. They can lead you to new experiences and new feelings you haven’t encountered before and, as traveling works, they can leave you speechless and then turn you into a storyteller. Well, here you have it – a list of traveling challenges we recommend. Some of them may inspire you to go on a trip immediately, while some you might have already done, so check out how creative you are while you’re on the road.

• Try hitchhiking with your friends in a foreign country.
• Go camping on a deserted beach with your new lover.
• Run along the Chinese wall with your selfie stick up in the air.
• Watch the stunning Northern lights while having a glass of excellent wine.
• Skinny deep late at night in the waters of the Mediterranean Sea.
• Take a selfie with a llama on Machu Picchu.
• Try to avoid social media during a trip – can you do it?
• Find the funniest looking person at the bus station and buy a ticket for a day trip to the destination he/she is going.
• Go on a Zipline anywhere you can in the world, but if you want an actual challenge then choose to do a zip line in Nepal.
• Try out tandem paragliding above a lovely surface such as a famous national park or a spectacular blue sea.
• Make a photo album (a real one, not on social media) about every trip you’ve had and keep it in a good place for eternal memory.
• Send postcards from places you visit your friends and the people you’ve met along the trips.
• Visit Disneyworld no matter how old you think you are (and you are never too old for Disneyland).
• Visit some of the most popular music festivals organized throughout the world.
• Pick a destination that is on the other side of the world from the point where you live.
• Don’t be scared to fall in love with whoever you find amusing and is nice to you along the way.
• Taste some traditional Asian food that includes insects and other stuff you might not feel like trying out at all.
• Take a ride on a train that goes through the most beautiful railways in Austria, Switzerland, and Italy.
• Go on a cruise that lasts for more than a week and stops at exotic places.
• Learn a few interesting phrases in as many languages as you can.
• Visit a new city without a map, nor any knowledge of the city, just ask the people along the way for which places to visit, where to go and what to do.
• Use your money to travel more instead of buying unnecessary things for your home.
• Visit at least three continents.
• Have fun while you pretend that you’re a famous TV star visiting a foreign country.
• Sing your heart out with the street musicians you meet in a new city.
• Go on a camel ride through some of the deserts in Egypt.
• Visit the seven wonders of the world.
• Book a ticket to Bali, Indonesia and spend a few days relaxing at a spiritual retreat .
• Travel to China to hold baby pandas at panda research bases.
• Go snorkeling in Seychelles and get inspired by the most beautiful and colorful underwater world.
• Drive a motorbike and enjoy the scenic view from the Great Ocean Road in Australia .
• Watch the craziest soccer game on Earth called Superclasico played in Buenos Aires.
• Attend one of the most exciting and diverse street carnivals .
• Travel to China to be amazed by the Lantern Festival that is organized every year.
• Leave your problems behind whenever you go on a road trip .
• If you have kids , try to travel as much as you can with them and create memories together.
• Taste the local beverages and dessert specialties .
• Go on a bike tour whenever you visit a new city to feel the heartbeat of the town and not just its main attractions.
• Listen to some local music and learn traditional dances in a foreign country.
• Always take the seat next to the window whenever you fly with a plane and try to explore the world from above as much as you can.
• Take an enjoying bath in some of the hot springs in Iceland .
• Change at least four cities of living.
• Visit some of the tribes on this planet and spend a few days learning their habits and rituals.
• Swim under a big waterfall .
• Visit places you like no matter what people say they have experienced there.
• Collect things from places you have visited that will remind you of your lovely experience there.
• Attend a color run in a big city.
• Visit museums you like even though you may think that the price of the ticket is high.
• Create a traveling bucket list for the following ten years.
• Enjoy life to the fullest and make every traveling adventure worth.

So, what do you think of these challenges to do? Are you thinking of trying out some of these traveling challenges? Or maybe you have done the same things that are mentioned on this list? Let us know what your thoughts and feelings about this “kooky” traveling list are and share some of your adventurous traveling memories with us.

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