Logo

10 Synonymous Words for Travel Lovers

We often run out of words on what to say. It also happens when we talk about travel lovers or want to impress our  nomadic friends . Are you tired of using the same old words? If so, today’s fun  post is for you. 

Do you know what a person is called who loves to travel? Travel lover. Yes, but we all know that, and besides, that’s two words, not a one word noun .

Words for Travel Lovers

How about “Hodophile”. If you are saying, “what, a hodophile!” Yes, a hodophile is a person who loves to travel. Now, that’s certainly going to grab your friends’ attention next time you talk to them.

Below are the top 10 simple to pronounce words you should start using to enhance your regular travel vocabulary.

These are nothing like out-of-the-tongue kinda words but refreshing synonyms one should add to their day to day vocabulary.

Globetrotter

Do you know anyone who loves to hop between countries? Or anyone who is a hardcore traveler? Anyone who leaves their tiny footprints across the various continents? Globetrotter is what you call them, and Globetrotting is their religion.

Globetrotter_Synonymous Words for Travel Lovers

Few of us hate staying in one place. We are people of many lands who live to travel. Itinerant is an apt word for travel lovers who have got a gypsy soul.

Itinerant_Synonymous Words for Travel Lovers

Read Next: 201 Greatest Travel Quotes That Will Leave You Speechless

Many times we say, let’s hit the road ! That is exactly what roadies do, but they accompany bands or musicians and travel in a group. In recent time though, the term has become more generalized and biking groups can be also called Roadies.

Synonymous Words for Travel Lovers

Wandering around might get old after a few days, why not use roving around for a change? Become a Rover aka Travel Lover. 🙂

Synonymous Words for Travel Lovers

Related:   The Ultimate Travel Bucket List and 101 Couple Goals

“Catch flights, not feelings”  is what the quote says, but what about after you get off the plane? Hop on a car, and move to your hotel, then what?

You need to walk around and discover the destination. All travel lovers are wayfarers in a way.

Synonymous Words for Travel Lovers

www.artoftravel.store/

Nothing is permanent. And this world is massive to just live in a corner. People who make any place their home are in reality the Vagabonds – the daring nomads, adventurers , and travel lovers.

Also, you might have heard this quote from Saint Augustine of Hippo: “The World is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”

Synonymous Words for Travel Lovers

Traveling alone is empowering. And when you are brave enough to take on the roads yourself you become a Solivagant. Wandering alone is an unadulterated bliss which travel lovers should try once.

Related: Women Solo Travelers on Rise  and Best Destinations for Traveling Solo

Travel Buff

Wisdom comes from experience and those who are travelers amass knowledge through traveling. That is what makes them the travel-buffs.

Synonymous Words for Travel Lovers

You don’t need an explanation for this word. It is as perfect as it comes. Hodophile – the very word for travel lovers. A Hodophile is “One who loves to travel.”

In Australia , a retired old man traveling in a motorhome or caravan is named as Grey Nomad. But why just use it in the context of an old man?

Nowadays the travel lovers who live a nomadic life are often called “Grey Nomads.” (They may or may not have grey hairs though, Lol!)

Synonymous Words for Travel Lovers

What are some other words for travel lovers? Comment below and we’ll add to this list. We hope this post cheered you and brought you value. If yes, please share it with your globetrotting friends and tell them they are too young to be a grey nomad. (wink)

Next up:   The Ultimate Travel Bucket List and Couple Goals

November 2, 2017 1:26 pm Published by Staff Writer 24 Comments

Join the Travel Club

Categorized in: Travel Inspiration , Travel FAQ , Top 10 List , Did You Know

24 Comments

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Resources and Links

  • Write for Us
  • Advertising
  • Apply Tourist Visa
  • Global Travel Alerts
  • World Climate Guide
  • Adventure Travel
  • Press Bio/Media Kit
  • Useful Travel Resources
  • Common Travel Questions
  • List of All Blogs
  • Travel Bucket List
  • Couple Goals

28 Beautiful Travel Words that Describe Wanderlust Perfectly

Travel words and wanderlust synonyms

Describe your travels with these unique and beautiful travel words from different languages around the world.

I love travelling and I love languages, so imagine my excitement when I came across a treasure trove of travel words and wanderlust synonyms that describe how we feel before, during, and after we travel. 

Just like a photo can’t fully capture what it feels like to stand on the edge of a fjord , neither can ‘wanderlust’ fully express how we feel when we crave our next adventure. These travel words are literary gems which have been gathered from languages around the world. From Japanese to Swedish , Latin to Greek , travel brochures of the future will be peppered with travel words like of resfeber , livsnjutare, and coddiwomple .

Wanderlust meaning

As you’ll see in the list below, every language has its own variation of how it explains and defines what wanderlust is. In English, wanderlust means to have a strong desire for or impulse to travel, wander and explore the world.

Learn a language from home

During these times it can be bittersweet to think about travelling when we have to stay at home and practice social distancing, let this list of wanderlust-filled words inspire you to a learn a language from home and prepare yourself for your next trip. Being travel fluent is the best way to enrich your travel experiences.

Without further ado, here are 28 beautiful travel words you should slip into your vocabulary. When you’re done, take and look at this collection of inspirational travel quotes . I’d love to hear which ones are your favourites in the comment section below.

Table of Contents

  • Eleutheromania
  • Quaquaversal
  • Schwellenangst
  • Strikhedonia
  • Livsnjutare
  • Novaturient
  • Coddiwomple

1. Resfeber  (n.)

Origin: Swedish

Definition: The meaning of resfeber refers to the restless race of the traveller’s heart before the journey begins when anxiety and anticipation are tangled together.

It’s that moment just after you buy your plane tickets and excitement and fear floods in all at once, creating a mixture of emotions that make you feel anxious or physically ill.

Resfeber Tote Bag

For more inspiration, don’t miss my guide to cool gifts for language learners and the best travel accessories and travel gadgets here.

2. Sonder (v.)

Origin: Unknown

Definition: The realisation that each passerby is living a life as complex as your own.

The full definition, taken from The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows reads:

[Sonder is] the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own—populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries, and inherited craziness—an epic story that continues invisibly around you like an anthill sprawling deep underground, with elaborate passageways to thousands of other lives that you’ll never know existed, in which you might appear only once, as an extra sipping coffee in the background, as a blur of traffic passing on the highway, as a lighted window at dusk.

I often feel this way when I pass groups of strangers, speaking a language that is completely foreign to me, and realise just how incredibly big the world is. We all have a life that is full of different connections, memories and possibilities. That’s sonder.

The internet suggests this may not be a real word, either way, the concept is beautiful.

3. Solivagant (adj.)

Origin: Latin

Definition: Wandering alone. A solitary adventurer who travels or wanders the globe.

Not all those who wander are lost, but all those who wander alone are definitely solivagants . From the Latin word solivagus , meaning lonely or solitary, solivagant describes anyone who enjoys meandering around new countries, alone, in order to take it all in.

4. Fernweh (n.)

Origin: German

Definition: This German word,means an ache to get away and travel to a distant place, a feeling  even stronger than wanderlust. If wanderlust wasn’t poetic enough for you, allow me to present fernweh , a German word that literally translates to “distance-sickness.”

While someone with wanderlust might sit at home and happily fantasise about all the places they might visit, someone with fernweh would feel a deeper sense of longing, a sort of homesickness but for foreign lands.  For me, it’s wanting to be back in Rome . Fernweh is one of most those beautiful untranslatable words I’ve ever come across.

Carry this beautiful word with you with my Fernweh T-Shirt available in men’s and ladies styles and black or white. Buy it here.

Gifts for language learners and travellers - Fernweh T-Shirt

5. Sehnsucht (n.)

Definition: A wistful longing and yearning in the heart for travels past and future.

One author translated it as the “ inconsolable longing in the human heart for we know not what .” Another compared it to “ a longing for a far-off country, but not one which we could identify.”

When you return from travelling and wish you could do it all over again and experience every moment like it was the first.

Travel-Words-Sehnsucht

6. Eleutheromania (n.)

Origin: Greek

Definition: An intense and irresistible desire for freedom.

We all want to be free, and travelling shows us how the freedom in the lives of others that is different from our own. Eleutheromania describes a person who has a strong desire and obsession for freedom.

7. Cockaigne (n.)

Origin: French , Middle French

Definition: An imaginary land of luxury and idleness.

Every destination seem like a wonderland or cockaigne before you set foot there and see it for yourself.

The term c ockaigne ” comes from the Middle French phrase pais de cocaigne, which literally means “the land of plenty.” The word was first popularised in a 13th-century French poem that is known in English as “The Land of Cockaigne.”

8. Quaquaversal (adj.)

Definition: Moving or happening in every direction instantaneously.

This perfectly describes my state when I’m in a new place and want to see and do everything at once.

9. Dérive (n)

Origin: French

Definition: A spontaneous and unplanned journey where the traveller leaves their life behind allows themselves to be guided by the landscape and architecture.

Literally translated as “drift”,  dérive is the idea that even if you drift you will end up on the right path. This could describe life in general, but it also describes small journeys. When you’re wandering through a new city and you just happen to wander on a path that takes you to great discoveries.

Travel-Words-Derive

10. Ecophobia (n.)

Origin: English

Definition: This word came into English word via Greek and means a fear or dislike of one’s home.

I don’t dislike my home, but recently I can’t stop thinking about going back to Lofoten, Norway.

11. Numinous (adj.)

Definition: A powerful feeling of both fear and fascination, of being in awe and overwhelmed by what is before you.

Originally, this word refers to having a strong religious or spiritual quality; but it can also be used to describe how you feel when you see things that are so beautiful that you realise how wonderful the world is and the small part you play in it.   Hiking Trolltunga was a numinous moment for me.

12. Schwellenangst (n.)

Definition: Fear of crossing a threshold to begin a new chapter.

From s chwelle (“threshold”) and a ngst (“anxiety”), this word explains that feeling you get before deciding to set out on a new journey. Argh! Did I make the right decision?

13. Strikhedonia (n.)

Definition: The pleasure of being able to say “to hell with it”.

Another personal favourite word on this list. Not only is it the joy I feel, but the freedom to be able to say “to hell with it” and book that next trip and embark on your next adventure.

14. Vagary (v.)

Definition: A whimsical or roaming journey.

From Latin, vagārī meaning “ to roam”, is an unpredictable idea, desire or action to travelling without knowing the destination, and not caring.

15. Livsnjutare (n)

Definition: Literally meaning, “enjoyer of life”, this describes a person who loves life deeply and lives it to the extreme.

If you’re reading this, that’s probably you!  Need more inspiration?

16. Commuovere (v.)

Origin: Italian

Definition: To stir, to touch, to move to tears.

Just like the euphoric emotions I felt whilst whale watching.

17. Sturmfrei (adj.)

Definition: The freedom of being alone and being able to do what you want.

Literally translating to “stormfree”, this describes the freedom of not being watched by others and being alone in a place where you have the freedom and ability to do what you want.

Another great German word. Travelling solo can be especially rewarding because you have complete control. No compromises, no one else to please. Just you and the big wide world.

18. Saudade (n.)

Origin: Portuguese

Definition: This Portuguese word describes the emotional state of nostalgia and longing for someone or something distant. S audade  was once described as “the love that remains” after someone is gone.

Saudade  is the recollection of feelings, experiences, places, or events that brought excitement and happiness but now triggers the senses and makes one live again.

19. Yūgen (n.)

Origin: Japanese

Definition: A profound and mysterious sense of the beauty of the universe.

An awareness of the Universe that triggers emotional responses too deep and powerful for words.

20. Acatalepsy (n.)

Definition: The impossibility of comprehending the universe.

Henry Miller said “ One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things. ” Do we ever really understand the world and what we see on our  travels,  and how they mould us? Sometimes, if at all, it takes time to discover how these things change our lives.

21. Trouvaille (n.)

Definition: A chance encounter with something wonderful.

Whether it’s stumbling across a hidden back street, a quaint cafe, or connecting with a local, trouvaille describes those magical moments we experience in our journeys. 

22. Hygge (n.)

Origin: Danish

Definition: Pronounced hue-guh , hygge describes the warm feeling you get while enjoying the company of great friends and all life has to offer.

Hygge is the conscious appreciation of recognising everything you have and enjoying to the present moment.

23. Onism (n.)

Definition: The world is a big place as not everyone will get to see it. Onism describes understanding that we’ll never get to see it all. It’s the frustration of being stuck in just one body that can only inhabit one place at a time. I felt this way before going to Copenhagen !

Similar to the Swedish word ‘resfeber’, onism describes the feeling of knowing that you’ll never be able to see it all. They say that the more you travel, the harder it gets to stay in one place.

24. Novaturient (adj.)

Definition: A desire to change and alter your life.

This was exactly how I felt when I quit my job and moved to Rome . There was this strong urge that pulled me towards my dream of pursuing a life of speaking Italian and travelling. I knew I  wouldn’t be living my life if I didn’t go.

25. Yoko meshi (n.)

Definition: This untranslatable gem describes the stress of speaking a foreign language .

The Japanese word ‘meshi’ literally means ‘boiled rice’ and ‘yoko’ means ‘horizontal,’ together it means ‘a meal eaten sideways.’ The Japanese have created a beautiful way of describing the unique kind of stress you experience when speaking a foreign language. Furthermore, ‘yoko’ also references the fact that Japanese is normally written vertically, whereas most foreign languages are written horizontally. Clever, right?

Related: 69 Wonderful Japanese Expressions That Will Brighten Your Day

26. Selcouth (adj.)

Origin: Old English

Definition: When everything you see and experience is unfamiliar and strange, yet you find it marvellous anyway.

It’s that feeling you get when you travel to a foreign land and food, culture, customs, or language, is strange and different to everything you’ve experienced before, yet you love it and find it fascinating.

27. Eudaimonia (n.)

Definition: A state of being happy whilst travelling and everything feels great.

That intense excitement and appreciation when you travel and everything feels great. Seeing the Northern Lights was one of the best experiences of my life, a feeling I won’t forget.

28. Coddiwomple (v.)

Origin: English slang

Definition: To travel purposefully towards an unknown destination.

A brilliant word, coddiwomple is when you have a vague idea of your destination within a care for how long it takes to arrive. A great example is when you go hiking, you know you’ll eventually reach the summit, but every part of the trail along the way is just as beautiful.    Like the time I hiked Norway’s Trolltunga.

Travel Words Coddiwomple

If you enjoyed these words, then let wordsmiths Stephen King, Mark Twain and the Dalai Lama transport you around the world with these inspirational travel quotes or start using some of the beautiful untranslatable words from other languages.

Want to know more about learning languages? Start here!

  • 18 Unexpected Advantages & Health Benefits of Learning A Foreign Language
  • The World’s Most Beautiful Untranslatable Words from Around the World: The Ultimate List A-Z
  • 13 Ways to Seamlessly Integrate Language Learning into Your Daily Life
  • What Type of Language Learner Are You? Your 4-Step Personalised Learning Plan
  • 15 Top Language Learning Resources You Should Use
  • 7 Reasons Why You Should Go on a Language Holiday
  • 11 Life-Changing Reasons Why You Should Learn a Language
  • How to Learn Your First Foreign Language in 8 Simple Steps: A Beginner’s Guide
  • 42 beautiful Inspirational Quotes for Language Learners
  • Language learning tips: 11 Polyglots Reveal The Secrets of Their Success
  • Top 10 Best Ways to Learn a Language Better and Faster
  • How to Learn Italian Before Your Trip
  • Free Travel Phrase Guides
  • How a ‘Potato’ improved my French Pronunciation
  • How Many Languages are there in the World?
  • Hilarious Idiomatic Expressions that Will Brighten Your Day
  • 78 FREE Dictionaries to Learn a Language Fast [Free eBook Download]
  • 22 KEY Travel Phrases That Will Transform Your Travels [Free Guide]

Over to you!

Which one of these travel words do you identify with the most? What others would you add? Let me know using the comments section below or join me on social media to start a conversation.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed this post.

Like what you see? Subscribe using the form below to have all of my posts delivered directly to your email.

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

Get my best language and travel tips FREE by email...

Subscribe to my newsletter to receive detailed travel guides, exclusive travel and language learning tips, priority access to giveaways and more!

I will never give away, trade or sell your email address. You can unsubscribe at any time.

' src=

Michele creates language learning guides and courses for travel. What separates her from other instructors is her ability to explain complex grammar in a no-nonsense, straightforward manner using her unique 80/20 method. Get her free guide 9 reasons you’re not fluent…YET & how to fix it! Planning a trip? Learn the local language with her 80/20 method for less than the cost of eating at a tourist trap restaurant Start learning today!

Italian Cognates & Loanwords: 17 Rules to Italianizing English Words You Already Know

124 inspirational travel quotes that’ll make you want to travel in 2022, 12 comments.

' src=

Amazing list! One word I’d add is the Dutch word “gezellig” or “gezelligheid” – similarly to hygge, it describes a feeling of warmth/comfort/coziness/quaintness in certain settings or around certain people.

Thank you so much for sharing this Heba. So interesting to learn that Dutch has a similar word 🙂

' src=

This is such a fun article! Love these words and phrases!

Glad to hear it! Thank you so much, Eric 🙂

' src=

So many of these describe me or my feelings about seeing the world. But, if I had to pick one, the one that best describes how I choose my destinations would be “selcouth”. I so want to be a stranger in a strange land. To have my belief that there is no such thing as “normal” affirmed again and again and over again.

What a beautiful word. Thanks for sharing, Janet 🙂

' src=

Thanks Michele what a wonderful list of inspirational words. It nearly made me cry as I realised that I suffer from acute eleutheromania! ha

Thanks Juliana 🙂 I’m so glad you enjoyed this list. Eleutheromania? I know how you feel hehe

' src=

Unique list i must say – If you want to add one more word than check this !

In Hindi language (India) traveler called as “Musafir”

thanks Niraj 🙂

' src=

Thanks for sharing this! Really enjoyed it a lot ❤

Thanks Donah, I’m so glad you enjoyed it 😉

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Best things to do in Florence - Piazzle Michelangelo

If you don't know where you are , how do you know where you're going?   Find out how well you know Italian grammar today!

A RAI OF LIGHT

  • Ask RAI / Inspiration / Quotes / Travel / World Languages

ᐅ TRAVEL LOVER: 100 Unique + Creative Travel Words From Around the World

Published January 18, 2024 · Updated January 18, 2024

Get inspiration from around the world with these catchy and creative travel words in other languages >> A list of the best words for travel lovers. ❤️

Fernweh synonym for wanderlust travel words

Travel. It can leave you speechless and then turn you into a storyteller . The experience has a tendency to make us feel a plethora of emotions and when you’re reliving those times there may not be an accurate word to describe the travel experience , the adventure, the magic, the moments, or the way you felt.  This loss of words is more common than you may think. Especially since the English language is limited when it comes to words related to travel or words to describe a person who loves to travel.  Sure, you could use the popular travel word wanderlust, but it is also often way overused (have you noticed every new travel influencer and their dog jumping on the wanderlust-wagon?). Rather use these wanderlust synonyms below instead.

Wanderlust (n.) Origin:  German Definition:  A strong, innate, impulse or desire to travel the world

How do you explain your deep-seated need to get away or the desire to always be on the move and live a nomad existence? Is there a travel-related word to describe the mix of excitement and anxiety one feels on starting a new journey? Are there other creative words for travellers to articulate the curiosity to experience other cultures , other exotic foods , other landscapes, and other ways of life around the world? How can you express the profound feeling of awe you feel on the awareness of the vastness and beauty of the universe when observing the stars? Or the thrill of discovering a hidden waterfall during a hike up a mountain to catch the last sunset?

Fortunately, there are foreign words from other cultures and different languages to voice these special moments. These beautiful travel words , often with no English equivalent, are meant to educate and inspire you. And perhaps even assist with your next clever travel caption for the gram or pinterest.

>> Must Read:

  • More foreign language guides: How to say Hello , Thank You , Goodbye , and Love in different languages around the world
  • Fun list: Best travel questions , the world’s best flags , or these road trip questions
  • The top 50 travel songs to add to your playlist
  • Why is travel important? Find 10 key benefits of travelling the world
  • Get inspired: Short quotes about traveling and funny travel quotes

What do you call someone who loves travel?

Hodophile — one who loves to travel

Studies have shown that people who spend their money on experiences rather than material stuff, such as travel, tend to be more open minded, creative, carefree, and happier in their life. *searches for my next flight out.

Creative words for travel lovers Hodophile Greek language

Travel the Word: Unique + Beautiful Travel Words from Other languages of the World

A handful of my favourite words associated with travel. Save a couple of your own favorites from this list , bookmark this page, and add them to your vocabulary before your next adventure!   Describe your explorations with these foreign words about travel taken from different languages around the world . Ready. Let’s go…. 

v. = verb n. = noun adj. = adjective

In alphabetical order….

Absquatulate (v.)

to leave without saying goodbye.

Origin:  North America My close friends know that I absquatulate. Like, a lot.  So no surprise there, when the urge to pack your things and just disappear shows up… with no time to say goodbye. Continue reading to find more creative words for travelers.

Coddiwomple (v.)

To travel purposefully towards a strange location.

Origin: English slang Some days you wander with no plan at all, seeing where the day will take you. And other days, you coddiwomple. I do like the sound of this unusual word related to travel.

Cosmopolitan (v./adj.)

A citizen of the world or at home all over the world.

Origin: English This definition varies, depending on whether you use the word as a noun or an adjective. Even though, the origins of these creative travel words are from English, it can be traced back to Pythagoras, who first used the Greek word kosmos as a way to describe the order of the universe.  Travellers naturally feel at home in the world and the saying, “home is where the heart is” applies perfectly. 

Fernweh synonym for wanderlust travel words

Dérive (n.)

To drift unplanned on a spontaneous journey, leaving everyday life behind and guided by the scenery, architecture, and landscapes.

Origin: French One of my favourite words to describe my travel experience. This untranslatable travel term perfectly describes spontaneous exploration.  There is no strict plan, instead going with the flow away from the beaten beaten path and towards unplanned discoveries such as a beautiful sunset .

Dromomania (n.)

An uncontrollable and irrational impulse or psychological urge to wander or travel without purpose.

Origin: Greek Dromomania, also referred to as travelling fugue or vagabond neurosis, is seen as an abnormal and uncontrollable psychological impulse to wander. It comes from a combination of the Greek words dromos and mania to diagnose those with this condition to spontaneously abandon their everyday lives to travel long distances, even taking up different identities and occupations. This irrational desire stems from a strong emotional and physical need to constantly be travelling and having new experiences. It also often involves sacrificing security, relationships, and careers in the hunt for these experiences. Fantasies about exploring occupy their thoughts and dreams. I guess, I have a serious undiagnosed case of the dromomania.

Ecophobia (n.)

A fear or distaste of home.

Origin:  Greek Now, this unusual word for travel can be used in the literal sense. Or, as I prefer, to describe when you can’t stop thinking about a different place. A place, other than where you live. Say, an exotic tropical island ?

Eleutheromania (n.)

The intense and insatiable desire for freedom.

Origin: Greek When asked why I pursue travel so much, my response often involves an insatiable yearning for freedom, amongst the many other reasons for exploring the globe.   Yes, I’ve since learned that freedom comes from within as much (or even more) than your external circumstances. However, the very act of travelling does leave me feeling free and eleutheromania perfectly describes the desire for this feeling.  For sure, one of my favourite words associated with travel holidays and tourism.

Eudaimonia (v.)

A state of feeling happy and content whilst travelling.

Origin: Greek This is one of my favourite words associated with travel because it such an apt description of the journey. The joy of wandering, the excitement of new discoveries, the contented state of living the dream…. and everything feels perfectly alright. Even when things go wrong . 

Beautiful Travel word Numinous Latin language

Exulansis (n.)

When you give up trying to talk about an experience because none are able to relate to it.

Origin: Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows How many times have you given up trying to explain yourself or something you’ve done because those around you are just not on the same wavelength as you and are unable to relate or even understand. Yeah, I know this feeling all too well and exulansis is one of the most unique travel words I’ve come across to articulate this.

Fernweh (n.)

Distance sickness. A yearning, a longing, an ache to be elsewhere. To be in a far away place.

Origin: German Not as popular or overused as wanderlust, this catchy travel word has gained much traction over the past few years. This German word is often described as feeling homesick for a far away place. A place you’ve never been to before.  This urge to travel is strong and fernweh, a synonym for wanderlust, describes the aching desire to be far away from home.

Flâneur (n.)

Someone who strolls aimlessly and enjoyably, observing life and their surroundings.

Origin: French One of the best words describing travel lovers, flâneur derives from the French  flâner, meaning to stroll or saunter. My favourite kind of days when travelling do not have a plan nor involve a requirement to be in a particular place. It is simply wandering around aimlessly at a comfortable pace, observing the local life and appreciating the day as it unfolds.  Yes, I am a big time flâneur.

Forelsket (adj.)

The overwhelming euphoric-feeling that takes place at the early stages of falling in love.

Origin: Norwegian

Gadabout (n.)

A habitual pleasure-seeker who moves about restlessly or aimlessly.

Origin: Old Norse It is used to refer to a person who gads or walks idly about. A person who’s constantly on the move, restlessly seeking amusement along the way.

Gallivant (v.)

to roam without a plan… to wander about, seeking pleasure or diversion.

Origin: German No list of creative travel words is complete without including gallivant. This word is used to describe the action of going to many different places as a form of enjoyment while completely forgetting or disregarding other things you should be doing. As an example, using travel as a form of escape, something that many a lover of travel is guilty of.

Unique travel words for travelling Saudade

Hiraeth (n.)

A homesickness for a place which you can’t return to. A longing for what may no longer exist.

Origin: Welsh This Welsh term describes not just a longing for home, but a nostalgic desire to reconnect with a place or time period you can’t return to or that may not exist anymore.

Hodophile   (adj.)

A lover of roads . A love of travel.

Origin: Greek A unique word to describe a person who loves to travel.  I mean, what’s there not to love about exploring the world. The unusual sights, the new tastes, the beautiful landscapes and the people you meet along the way. Raise your hand if, like me, you’re the biggest hodophile? *guilty as charged

Holoholo (n.)

to ride or walk around for pleasure.

Origin: Hawaiian One of my favorite Hawaiian words , it is the perfect description of something I do a lot when exploring a new country.

Hozhoni  (n.)

a feeling of being filled with beauty and balance.

Origin: Navajo

The feeling of comfort, relaxation, and coziness in certain settings around certain people, particularly friends.

Origin: Danish This unusual word is not just reserved for travel and holiday, but it is perfectly suited to describe those moments when you’re enjoying a meal, drinks, and those simple pleasures with friends around the world. The Dutch words gezellig or gezelligheid is similar to hygge, describing that feeling of ease and coziness when you’re around friends you feel comfortable with. 

Creative words for the travel lover

Kismet (n.)

Destiny, sometimes referred to as fate, is a predetermined course of events. It may be conceived as a predetermined future, whether in general or of an individual .

Origin: Arabic This beautiful Arabic-derived word refers to one’s destiny and something that one believes was meant to be. 

Livsnjutare (n.)

A person who truly enjoys life and lives it to the extreme .

Origin: Swedish This unique trip word, of Swedish origin, is often used to describe someone who enjoys life and lives it to the full, making the most of each moment. When I am wandering around the world, in places like Mexico , it certainly feels like living to the extreme. 

The feeling of enjoyment and oneness with the Universe that comes from the simplest of pleasures .

Origin: Serbian

Meraki (n.)

Doing something with creativity, with love, with soul — when you put “something of yourself” into what you’re doing.

Origin: Greek A beautiful word, that also happens to be one of my favourites. Meraki, derived from Greek, describes the action and the feelings that results when one does something with complete focus and love. Being so caught up with what you’re doing as if your entire being and soul is part of the whole experience. Moments of meraki flood my experience often when painting or when exploring a beautiful landscape.

Monachopsis (n.)

The subtle but persistent feeling of being out of place .

Origin: Greek It comes from the combination of words monos and opsis, where ‘monos’ means solitary or unique and ‘opsis’ refers to like or appearance.

Nefelibata (n.)

One who lives in the clouds of their own imagination and does not obey convention.

Origin:  Portuguese  Ok, this is me. Just a beautiful meaning word to describe a person who loves to travel. The direct translation is “cloud-walker,” referring to those, like myself, who live in their own world/imagination. An unconventional person that does not blindly follow the rules of society.  More about me here.

Creative Travel words in other languages

Novaturient (adj.)

A desire to alter your life. The feeling that pushes you to travel.

Origin: Latin This is the feeling that pushed me to quit my job and travel the world. You know, when you are curious to discover what more is out there. 

Numinous (adj.)

The powerful, personal feeling of being overwhelmed and inspired.

Origin: Latin Numinous has its origins in Latin, meaning to be both fearful, awed, and inspired by what you see and experience before you. Exploring tends to bring up all the human emotions, often simultaneously, and these catchy travel words are an apt description of the experience. Like the time I went trekking among some of the highest mountains in the world in Nepal .

The awareness of how little of the world you will experience.

Origin: The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows Once you start seeing the world, you realise just how much more there is to see out there.  And you actually reach a point, somewhere along the journey, where you come to the realisation that no matter how extensive your travels are, you will only ever experience a little bit. This realisation is referred to as onism.  This creative word associated with travel is not from a foreign language, but actually originates from a book by John Koenig. 

Peregrinate (v.)

Travel or wander from place to place.

Origin: Latin From the Latin peregrinari, meaning “to travel abroad,” this type of inspirational travel words refers to a long journey in which you travel to various different places, especially on foot.

Peripatetic (adj.)

A person who travels from place to place.

Origin: Greek Originating from the Greek word peripatein, “to walk up and down,” this adjective is used to describe backpackers who are constantly moving from place to place, living a nomadic existence .

Creative travel words about traveling lover

Photophile (n.)

A person who loves photography and light.

Origin: English This pretty word is derived from the biological term of the same name for an organism that loves or thrives in light . If you carry a camera with you wherever you go and post to photo sharing websites ( like instagram ) all day, you’re a photophile.

Quaquaversal (adj.)

Directed outwards in all directions from a common centre

Origin: Latin A good word for travel and the desire to experience everything all at the same time. 

Querencia (n.)

The place where you are your most authentic self. Where one’s strength is drawn from; where one feels at home.

Origin: Spanish The term comes from the Spanish verb “querer,” which means “to desire.” Many long term travellers feel at home in the world and their most authentic self when connecting with this place. One of the best words for travel lovers. 

Resfeber (n.)

the restless race of a traveler’s heart before the journey begins, when anxiety and anticipation are tangled together.

Origin: Swedish Another catchy word related to travel, resfeber is universally used to describe the mixed emotions one feels just before the journey begins. These emotions include both excitement as well as anxiety and nervousness when starring in the face of the unknown. Like that time I had decided to climb Kilimanjaro , the highest mountain in Africa . 

Rückkehrunruhe ( n.)

The feeling of returning home after a trip only to find it fading rapidly from your awareness. 

Origin: The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

Words for travel in Other languages

Saudade (n.)

a deep emotional state of nostalgic or melancholic longing for something or someone far away that one cares for and loves.

Origin: Portuguese This is the creative word to use when you’re fondly thinking back to a beautiful moment during your travels and longing to return to that experience.

Schwellenangst (n.)

a fear of, or aversion to, crossing a threshold or entering a place to begin a new chapter.

Origin: German That anxious and fearful feeling you get when you’re about to begin a new chapter in your life, like a new travel adventure to the Caribbean islands . That’s schwellenangst.

Sehnsucht (n.)

a wistful longing and yearning of the heart for travels that have been and travels to come.

Origin: German

Selcouth (adj.)

Strange and uncommon. Unfamiliar, rare, and yet marvellous.

Origin: Old English This is one of my favourite travel words on this list. Not only because of its unusual sound, but also because it is an appropriate way of describing the way you see things when you travel. Everything is unfamiliar and strange, yet we find it inviting and marvellous anyway, much like my time in these South American countries .

Smultronställe (n.)

A special place discovered for solace and relaxation.

Origin: Swedish This Swedish word directly translates to “place of wild strawberries,” used to describe a location or place in this world where you feel most at home. A place that serves as a refuge from any stress and/or sadness. This place, once discovered, is often returned to for comfort and consolation.

Creative Catchy travel words associated with travel

Sojourn (n.)

To stay as a temporary resident. A short period when a person stays in a particular place.

Origin: Old-French Like the months I’ve spent in one of my favorite cities Paris , over the years.

Solivagant (adj.)

A lone wanderer. A solo traveller. A person who revels in the act of wandering alone.

Origin: Latin This popular word, to describe a person who loves to travel alone, as opposed to vacationing with family or friends . It originates from the Latin sōlivagāns, with sōlus meaning “alone” and vagāns meaning “wander.”

Sonder (n.)

The realisation that everyone you pass is living a life just as complex as yours.

Origin: Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows Have you ever had that realisation that a random stranger is living a life that is just as complex and vivid and important as your own. This is sonder. Just a beautiful word and one of the best for travel lovers. 

Strikhedonia (n.)

The joy of being able to say “to hell with it.”

Origin: Greek This word about travel perfectly describes the time you stop making excuses, quit everything, book a one way flight , and explore the world.  Exactly what I did in 2013, leaving behind my well-paying career in finance to travel the world . 

Sturmfrei (adj.)

The freedom of being alone. The ability to do what you want.

Origin: German This German word that directly translates to “storm-free.” However, its real meaning has nothing to do with the weather nor a description about how we feel. It is more a description of the situation itself, such as having the house to one’s self or not having to wait or compromise on what you want to do as a solo traveller.

Catchy travel word foreign language Nefelibata Portuguese

Thalassophile (n.)

a lover of the sea.

Origin: Greek A coconut, a tropical island, a hammock, (maybe some cute animals like those found on Flamingo Beach Aruba ), and a bungalow that leads directly onto the beach and into the sea. Is there anything more that you need, fellow thalassophile?

To wander or roam around in a carefree way

Origin: Thai

Traipse (n.)

To go on foot. A tedious or tiring journey on foot

Origin: unknown

Travitude (n.) 

when you start to feel grumpy cause you to miss traveling.

Anyone been feeling this way recently? I sure have.

Tripophobia (n.)

The fear of not having any travel trips currently booked.

When the world and travel shut down in 2020, thipophobia was the main emotion running through my veins. What kind of life is it where there are no adventures to look forward to and you’re forced to remain in the same location for the foreseeable future. You tell me?

Hiraeth word for traveling

Trouvaille (n.)

Something lovely discovered by chance. A chance encounter with something wonderful.

Origin: French When travelling, especially without much of a plan and with an open heart, it is not uncommon to discover something beautiful purely by chance. These discoveries make for some of the most memorable experiences. This interesting travel word is often used by French travellers to describe a chance encounter. It’s time the rest of us use this word too the next time we unexpectedly stumble upon an inspiring landscape, a cute cafe, or a welcoming local. 

Vacilando (v.)

The act of wandering when the experience of travel is more important than reaching the a destination.

Origin: Spanish The word, from Spanish, aims to describe someone who travels for travel sake, and not to reach a particular goal or destination. For us, the journey is more important than the destination or vacation spot .  While others despise the act of getting to a place, I savour it and enjoy the long plane, boat, or bus rides and the happenings along the way, especially if the journey occurs in a beautiful setting like the Spanish islands or Greek islands . One of the most inspiring travel words that should be a part of every globetrotter’s vocabulary. 

Vagary (v.)

A whimsical or wandering journey.

Origin: Latin With its origins in 16th-century Latin, Vagārī translates as, “to roam.” This unique travel word to describe the travel experience of an unpredictable or impulsive desire or action for a wandering journey.

Vorfreude (n.)

The joyful anticipation when looking forward to something or while imagining future pleasures.

Origin: German Much like the idea or plan of moving abroad and living in Costa Rica .

Waldeinsamkeit (n.)

The feeling of solitude, being alone in the woods and connected to nature.

Miss Traveling words synonyms for wanderlust

Wayfarer (n.)

Someone who travels, especially on foot.

Origin: English The travel term may seem modern, but it goes back all the way to the mid-1400s as a combination of way defined as “a path or course leading from one place to another,” and fare, meaning “to go, travel.”

Xenophilia (n.)

An attraction to foreign peoples, foreign cultures, and/or customs.

Origin: Greek This attraction, appreciation, and affinity for foreign people, their cultures and customs is what draws many to explore the world. These unique travel words, as a synonym for wanderlust, comes from the Greek “xenos,” meaning “unknown, stranger, foreign” and “philia,” defined as “attraction or love.”

Yoko meshi (n.)

The stress of speaking a foreign language.

Origin: Japanese Another word related to travel that literally translates to, “a meal eaten sideways.” It is used to explain the difficulty and stress when trying to speak a language that is not your native language, whether at home or when abroad. Like, that time I found myself in St Petersburg , struggling to speak Russian to get around the city.

The desire to feel things just as intensely as you did when you were younger.

Origin: Chinese As you grow older, life seems to be less exciting. Travelling overseas and exploring new places is one way of mitigating this. Yu Yi is an inspirational Chinese word that describes the yearning to feel things the way you did while growing up, before expectations, before memory, before words.

a profound, mysterious awareness of the vastness and beauty of the universe… and the sad beauty of human suffering.

Origin: Japanese This untranslatable travel word is used for those moments that lead to a greater awareness and trigger a deep emotional response within.

Inspiring Creative travel words foreign language

Over to YOU… Did you enjoy traveling the word? How many of these these creative travel words have you heard before? Which one(s) your favorite and which of these unique words associated with travel do you resonate with most? What phrases describe the travel experience and make for the best words for travel lovers in your language? Let me know in the comments below or start a conversation with me on social media.

>> Read next:

  • Learn these words in other languages: Beautiful . Light . Cheers
  • The ultimate list of smile quotes to keep you smiling all day
  • The best quotes about travelling to inspire you
  • How many countries in the world? And should you visit all?
  • Sustainable travel: 10 ways to become a more responsible tourist
  • Be inspired: An ode to my fellow travellers .
  • What should you do with you life? What is the purpose of life?

Your fellow hodophile, Rai

You may also like...

travel lover word

Nomad eSIM Review: Everything You Need to Know as a Traveler

May 16, 2023

 by Raihaan · Published May 16, 2023

Beach in Cadiz Spain

The 13 Best Cádiz Beaches, Andalusia Spain

June 2, 2023

 by Raihaan · Published June 2, 2023

Itinerary one 3 days Dubai architecture buildings burj khalifa

How to Plan the Perfect [Stopover] Day in Dubai: Itinerary

February 9, 2022

 by Raihaan · Published February 9, 2022 · Last modified April 23, 2023

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Next story First Trip to Egypt? My Ultimate Guide of Insider Tips To Know BEFORE You Go
  • Previous story My Stay at Tintswalo at Waterfall: Hotel Review

WHO IS ARAIOFLIGHT ✈

About me araioflight Rai

Welcome to A Rai of Light!

A home for extraordinary people around the world. If you've ever felt like there must be more to life, this site is for you.

Out of a love for travel, writing, photography, sharing stories and a desire to inspire others , I created this space to connect with other like-minded individuals.

Along the way, I share my journey and strategies on Travel , Art and Life . Enjoy!

DISCOVER MORE: POPULAR ✈

  • Recent Posts
  • Popular Posts

istanbul kebab food

The BEST Kebab in Istanbul: 15 Restaurants to Find the Best One!

Best places to visit in California CA cool fun Palm Springs

6 Cool + Fun Places To Go in California With Friends

Cheapest European countries in Europe

21 Cheapest Countries in Europe To Visit in 2024

weekend riga. top things to do

✔️ Top 10 Travel Things To Do in Riga Latvia

InterContinental Doha hotel review

My Stay at InterContinental Doha: Hotel Review

Your Guide on How To Explore Europe with an eSIM

Shangri La Paris view Eiffel tower hotel

30 Best Paris Hotels With Eiffel Tower Views [incl photos + tips!]

Travel Schengen visa countries

List: Which Countries Can You Visit on a Schengen Visa in 2024

Weird Exotic Foods

WEIRD Food around the world | 35 World Travelers reveal the strangest food they’ve ever eaten

Egypt Travel Guide. Your ultimate planning guide of 41 Egypt travel tips to know BEFORE you go

First Trip to Egypt? My Ultimate Guide of Insider Tips To Know BEFORE You Go

Flying Tips: 13 things not to do on an airplane

Flying Tips: 13 Things NOT To Do on an Airplane

Prayer Flags With mountain backdrop Nepal

Epic List: The Best Short Treks in Nepal!

Vacation in Aruba Flamingo Beach Renaissance Island Guide

Aruba Flamingo Beach: Worth $130? + How To Visit in 2024

travel lover word

Hidden Gems: 10 Best Secret Views in Paris!

FOLLOW THE ADVENTURE ✈

Painting my way around the world araioflight

100 Unique and Creative Travel Words with Beautiful Meanings

Photo of author

Disclaimer: This article includes affiliate links to the products we earnestly love and recommend, meaning at no extra cost to you, we might make a teeny-weeny commission if you click on the link and decide to buy something. The money will be used to sustain this little cozy blog we call our virtual home.

Everyone (who knows me) knows how I love words. I hoard words . Everyone also knows how I love to travel. I eat, drink, and sleep travel 🙂 Here, in this post, I’ve blended two of my passions – words and travel. The post rounds up the creative travel words that describe wanderlust perfectly. You’ll never be at a loss for words while narrating your travel experiences once you equip yourself with these unique words about travel.

Unusual Travel Words with Beautiful Meanings

Wanderlust (n.).

Origin: German Pronunciation: vawn-duh-luhst Meaning: a strong desire to travel

Resfeber (n.)

Origin: Swedish Pronunciation: race-fay-ber Meaning: the restless race of the traveler’s heart before the journey begins, when anxiety and anticipation are tangled together; the nervous feeling before undertaking a journey

Related Read: 27 Cool Swedish Words You Must Know

Strikhedonia (n.)

Origin: Greek Pronunciation: strik-he-don-e-a Meaning: the joy of being able to say “to hell with it”

Eleutheromania (n.)

Origin: Greek Pronunciation: eleuthero-ma-nia Meaning: an intense and irresistible desire for freedom

Origin: Hawaiian Pronunciation: ak-i-hi Meaning: listening to directions and then walking off and promptly forgetting them

akihi travel words

Exulansis (n.)

Origin: The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows Pronunciation: exu-lan-sis Meaning: the tendency to give up trying to talk about an experience because people are unable to relate to it — whether through envy or pity or simple foreignness—which allows it to drift away from the rest of your life story, until the memory itself feels out of place, almost mythical, wandering restlessly in the fog, no longer even looking for a place to land.

Hodophile (n.)

Origin: Greek Pronunciation: hodo-phile Meaning: a lover of roads; one who loves to travel

Saudade (n.)

Origin: Portuguese Pronunciation: sau-da-de Meaning: a nostalgic longing for something or someone that was loved and then lost, with the knowledge that it or they might never return; “the love that remains”

Fernweh (n.)

Origin: German Pronunciation: feirn-veyh Meaning: an ache for distant places; a longing for far-off places; an urge to travel even stronger than wanderlust; being homesick for a place you’ve never been

Selcouth (adj.)

Origin: Old English Pronunciation: sel-kooth Meaning: unfamiliar, rare, strange, and yet marvelous

selcouth travel words

Serendipity (n.)

Origin: English Pronunciation: seh-ruhn-di-puh-tee Meaning: finding something good without looking for it

Pilgrimage (n.)

Origin: Latin Pronunciation: pil-gruh-mij Meaning: a journey, especially a long one, made to some sacred place as an act of religious devotion

Gökotta (n.)

Origin: Swedish Pronunciation: yo-kot-ah Meaning: literally translates to the early cuckoo morning or dawn picnic to hear the first birdsong; the act of rising early in the morning to hear the birds sing at sunrise and appreciate nature

Schwellenangst (n.)

Origin: German Pronunciation: shwel-en-ahngst Meaning: fear of embarking on something new; fear of crossing a threshold

Voyage (n.)

Origin: Latin Pronunciation: voy-ij Meaning: a long journey involving travel by sea or in space

voyage travel words

Origin: Japanese Pronunciation: yoo-gehn Meaning: a profound awareness of the universe that triggers emotional responses too deep, powerful, and mysterious for words

Origin: Danish Pronunciation: hue-gah Meaning: the Danish practice of creating warmth, connection, and well-being; a complete absence of anything annoying or emotionally overwhelming; taking pleasure from the presence of gentle, soothing things; celebrating the everyday

You Might Like: Cool Danish Words We Need in English Now

Vagary (n.)

Origin: Latin Pronunciation: va-ga-re Meaning: an unpredictable instance, a wandering journey; a whimsical, wild, and unusual idea, desire, or action

Origin: Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows Pronunciation: mo-rii Meaning: the desire to capture a fleeting experience

“With every click of the shutter, you’re trying to press pause on your life. If only so you can feel a little more comfortable moving on living in a world stuck on the play.”

Musafir (n.)

Origin: Arabic Pronunciation: mu-sa-fir Meaning: traveler

Musafir remains one of my most favorite words associated with travel.

musafir travel words

Odyssey (n.)

Origin: Greek Pronunciation: aw-duh-see Meaning: a long and eventful or adventurous journey or experience

Sonder (n.)

Origin: The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows Pronunciation: sohn-dehrr Meaning: the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own—populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries and inherited craziness—an epic story that continues invisibly around you like an anthill sprawling deep underground, with elaborate passageways to thousands of other lives that you’ll never know existed, in which you might appear only once, as an extra sipping coffee in the background, as a blur of traffic passing on the highway, as a lighted window at dusk.

Gadabout (n.)

Origin: Middle English Pronunciation: gad-uh-bout Meaning: a habitual pleasure-seeker; a person who moves about restlessly and aimlessly, especially from one social activity to another; a person who travels often or to many different places, especially for pleasure

Acatalepsy (n.)

Origin: Greek Pronunciation: ey-kat-l-ep-see Meaning: incomprehensibleness; the impossibility of comprehending the universe; the belief that human knowledge can never have true certainty

acatalepsy travel words

Origin: Greek Pronunciation: noh-mad Meaning: a person who does not stay long in the same place; a wanderer

Cockaigne (n.)

Origin: Middle English Pronunciation: ko-keyn Meaning: an imaginary or fabled land of luxury and idleness

Origin: The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows Pronunciation: o-ni-sm Meaning: the awareness of how little of the world you’ll experience

“The frustration of being stuck in just one body, that inhabits only one place at a time, which is like standing in front of the departures screen at an airport, flickering over with strange place names like other people’s passwords, each representing one more thing you’ll never get to see before you die—and all because, as the arrow on the map helpfully points out, you are here.”

Nemophilist (n.)

Origin: Greek Pronunciation: ni-mo-fi-list Meaning: a haunter of the woods; one who loves the forest for its beauty and solitude

Trouvaille (n.)

Origin: French Pronunciation: troo-vee Meaning: a lucky find; a chance encounter with something wonderful and valuable

trouvaille travel words

Safarnama (n.)

Origin: Persian Pronunciation: su-fur-nama Meaning: travelogue; an account of the travels

Smultronställe (n.)

Origin: Swedish Pronunciation: smool-tron-stall-uh Meaning: literally translates to place of wild strawberries; a special place discovered, treasured, returned to for solace and relaxation; a personal idyll free from stress or sadness

Livsnjutare (n.)

Origin: Swedish Pronunciation: livs-noo-tuhreh Meaning: literally translates to enjoyer of life; someone who loves life deeply and lives it to the extreme

Wayfarer (n.)

Origin: Old English Pronunciation: wey-fair-er Meaning: someone who travels, especially on foot

Kopfkino (n.)

Origin: German Pronunciation: kof-kino Meaning: literally translates to head cinema; the act of playing out an entire scenario in your mind

kopfkino travel words

Hireath (n.)

Origin: Welsh Pronunciation: her-rith Meaning: a homesickness for a home to which you cannot return, a home which maybe never was; the nostalgia, the yearning, the grief for the lost places of your past

Peripatetic (n.)

Origin: Greek Pronunciation: per-uh-puh-tet-ik Meaning: a person who travels from place to place

Luftmensch (n.)

Origin: Yiddish Pronunciation: looft-mensh Meaning: literally translates to an air person; an impractical dreamer with improbable plans and no business sense; one with their head in the clouds

Solivagant (adj.)

Origin: Latin Pronunciation: soh-lih-va-ghent Meaning: wandering alone

Waldeinsamkeit (n.)

Origin: German Pronunciation: vahyd-ahyn-zahm-kahyt Meaning: literally translates to woodland solitude; the feeling of being alone in the woods

waldeinsamkeit travel words

Ecophobia (n.)

Origin: English Pronunciation: eco-phobia Meaning: a fear or dislike of one’s home

Origin: Japanese Pronunciation: u-key-yo Meaning: literally translates to the floating world; living in the moment, detached from the bothers of life

Meraki (n.)

Origin: Greek Pronunciation: may-rah-kee Meaning: to do something with soul, creativity, and love; when you leave a piece of yourself in your work

Wabi-sabi (n.)

Origin: Japanese Pronunciation: wabe-sabe Meaning: finding beauty in imperfections; an acceptance of things as they are

Vorfreude (n.)

Origin: German Pronunciation: vor-froy-dah Meaning: the joyful, intense anticipation that comes from imagining future pleasures

vorfreude travel words

Cosmopolitan (n.)

Origin: English Pronunciation: koz-muh-pahl-i-ten Meaning: belonging to all the world; not limited to just one part of the world; someone who has traveled a lot and feels at home in any part of the world

Peregrinate (v.)

Origin: Middle English Pronunciation: per-i-gruh-neyt Meaning: to travel or wander from place to place

Sojourn (n.)

Origin: Latin Pronunciation: soh-jurn Meaning: a temporary stay

Shinrin-yoku (n.)

Origin: Japanese Pronunciation: shin-rin-yo-ku Meaning: literally translates to forest bathing; a leisurely trip to the forest for recreation, relaxation, meditation, and therapy

Origin: Thai Pronunciation: ti-eow Meaning: to wander or roam around in a carefree way

tîeow travel words

Origin: Serbian Pronunciation: mir-ak Meaning: enjoyment of the simple things in life; the feeling of bliss and sense of oneness with the universe that comes from the simplest of pleasures; the pursuit of small, daily pleasures that all add up to a great sense of happiness and fulfillment

Dépaysement (n.)

Origin: French Pronunciation: de-pe-iz-ma Meaning: the feeling that comes from not being in one’s home country; disorientation due to experience of unfamiliar surroundings; being out of your element like a fish out of water

Itinerant (n.)

Origin: Latin Pronunciation: ai-ti-nr-uhnt Meaning: one who travels from place to place

Numinous (adj.)

Origin: Latin Pronunciation: noo-muh-nuhs Meaning: having a strong religious or spiritual or supernatural quality; indicating or suggesting the presence of divinity; describing an experience that makes you fearful yet fascinated, wed yet attracted – the powerful, personal feeling of being overwhelmed and inspired

Heimweh (n.)

Origin: German Pronunciation: haim-ve Meaning: homesickness; nostalgia; a longing for home

heimweh travel words

Sprachgefühl (n.)

Origin: German Pronunciation: shprahkh-guh-fyl Meaning: the character and spirit of a language; an intuitive sense of the rule and rhythm of language

Mångata (n.)

Origin: Swedish Pronunciation: mo-an-gaa-tah Meaning: the glimmering, roadlike reflection of the moonlight on water

Dromomania (n.)

Origin: Greek Pronunciation: dro-mo-ma-nia Meaning: an uncontrollable impulse or desire to wander or travel

Sehnsucht (n.)

Origin: German Pronunciation: zen-zukt Meaning: the inconsolable longing in the human heart for we know not what; a yearning for a far, familiar, non-earthly land one can identify as one’s home

Dérive (v.)

Origin: French Pronunciation: de-rive Meaning: literally translates to drift; a spontaneous and unplanned journey where the traveler leaves their life behind for a time to let the spirit of the landscape and architecture attract and move them

dérive travel words

Absquatulate (v.)

Origin: English Pronunciation: ab-skwoch-uh-leyt Meaning: to leave abruptly without saying goodbye

Thalassophile (n.)

Origin: Greek Pronunciation: thal-as-o-fahyl Meaning: a lover of the sea; someone who loves the sea or ocean

Yoko meshi (n.)

Origin: Japanese Pronunciation: yoh-koh-mesh-ee Meaning: literally translates to a meal eaten sideways; refers to the peculiar stress of speaking a foreign language

Forelsket (v.)

Origin: Norwegian Pronunciation: phor-rel-sket Meaning: the euphoria you experience when you are first falling in love

Read More: 14 Beautiful Norwegian Words We Need in English Now

Rückkehrunruhe (n.)

Origin: The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows Pronunciation: rukee-ren-ruhee Meaning: the feeling of returning home after an immersive trip only to find it fading rapidly from your awareness—to the extent you have to keep reminding yourself that it happened at all, even though it felt so vivid just days ago—which makes you wish you could smoothly cross-dissolve back into everyday life, or just hold the shutter open indefinitely and let one scene become superimposed on the next, so all your days would run together and you’d never have to call cut.

rückkehrunruhe travel words

Eudaimonia (n.)

Origin: Greek Pronunciation: u-de-mon-e-a Meaning: literally translates to human flourishing; a contented state of being happy, healthy, and prosperous

Sturmfrei (adj.)

Origin: German Pronunciation: stirm-fra Meaning: literally translates to storm-free; the freedom of not being watched by a parent or superior; being alone in a place and having the ability to do what you want

Origin: Mandarin Chinese Pronunciation: yu-yi Meaning: the desire to see with fresh eyes, and feel things just as powerfully as you did when you were younger-before expectations, before memory, before words

Photophile (n.)

Origin: English Pronunciation: pho-to-phile Meaning: Derived from the biological term “photophilic” for an organism that thrives in full light, it means a person who loves photography and light

Traipse (v.)

Origin: Unknown Pronunciation: trayps Meaning: to walk or go aimlessly or idly or without finding or reaching one’s goal

traipse travel words

 Neophile (n.)

Origin: Greek Pronunciation: neo-phile Meaning: one who loves or has a strong affinity for anything new or novel

Ballagàrraidh (n.)

Origin: The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows Pronunciation: bal-la-ga-rye Meaning: the awareness that you are not at home in the wilderness

Vacilando (v.)

Origin: Spanish Pronunciation: vah-see-lan-doh Meaning: to wander or travel with the knowledge that the journey is more important than the destination

Quaquaversal (adj.)

Origin: Latin Pronunciation: kwey-kwuh-vur-sul Meaning: moving or happening in every direction instantaneously

Coddiwomple (v.)

Origin: English Pronunciation: kod-ee-wom-pul Meaning: to travel in a purposeful manner towards a vague destination

coddiwomple travel words

Vemödalen (n.)

Origin: The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows Pronunciation: ve-mo-da-len Meaning: the fear that everything has already been done

“The frustration of photographing something amazing when thousands of identical photos already exist—the same sunset, the same waterfall, the same curve of a hip, the same closeup of an eye—which can turn a unique subject into something hollow and pulpy and cheap, like a mass-produced piece of furniture you happen to have assembled yourself.”

Commuovere (v.)

Origin: Italian Pronunciation: com-muo-ve-re Meaning: a story that touches or stirs you and moves you to tears

Natsukashii (adj.)

Origin: Japanese Pronunciation: nat-soo-kash-ee Meaning: of some small thing that brings you suddenly, joyously back to fond memories, not with a wistful longing for what’s past, but with an appreciation of the good times

Querencia (n.)

Origin: Spanish Pronunciation: keh-rehn-syah Meaning: a place from which one’s strength is drawn, where one feels at home; the place where you are your most authentic self

Novaturient (adj.)

Origin: Latin Pronunciation: no-vah-ter-y-ent Meaning: desiring or seeking powerful change in one’s life, behavior, or situation

novaturient travel words

Komorebi (n.)

Origin: Japanese Pronunciation: koh-moh-ray-bee Meaning: sunlight that filters through the leaves of trees

Flâneur (n.)

Origin: French Pronunciation: flah-nœr Meaning: one who strolls around aimlessly but enjoyably, observing life and his surroundings

Hanyauku (v.)

Origin: Kwangali Pronunciation: ha-ahn-yoh-kuu Meaning: to walk on tiptoes across the warm sand

Dès Vu (n.)

Origin: Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows Pronunciation: des-vu Meaning: the awareness that this will become a memory

Gallivant (v.)

Origin: English Pronunciation: gal-uh-vant Meaning: go around from one place to another in the pursuit of pleasure or entertainment

gallivant travel words

Nefelibata (n.)

Origin: Portuguese Pronunciation: ne-fe-le-ba-ta Meaning: literally translates to cloud-walker; one who lives in the clouds of their own imagination or dreams, or one who does not obey the conventions of society, literature, or art; an unconventional or unorthodox person

Petrichor (n.)

Origin: English Pronunciation: pet-ri-kawr Meaning: a distinctive scent, usually described as earthy, pleasant, or sweet, produced by rainfall on very dry ground; the smell of earth after rain

Circumnavigate (v.)

Origin: Latin Pronunciation: suh-kuhm-na-vuh-gayt Meaning: to sail or travel all the way around the world

Hitoritabi (n.)

Origin: Japanese Pronunciation: hitori-tabi Meaning: traveling alone; a solitary journey

Torschlusspanik (n.)

Origin: German Pronunciation: tursh-luss-pan-ik Meaning: literally translates to gate-closing panic; a sense of anxiety or fear caused by the feeling that life’s opportunities are passing by and diminishing as one ages

torschlusspanik travel words

Globetrotter (n.)

Origin: English Pronunciation: globe-trawt-uh Meaning: a person who travels widely

Menggonceng (v.)

Origin: Indonesian Pronunciation: menggon-ceng Meaning: to travel by getting a free ride, usually on the back of a friend’s bicycle

Vagabond (n.)

Origin : Old French Pronunciation: va-guh-baand Meaning: a person who wanders from place to place without a home or job

Gemütlichkeit (n.)

Origin: German Pronunciation: guh-myt-likh-kahyt Meaning: a feeling of cozy warmth, friendliness, and good cheer with a sense of belonging

Erlebnisse (n.)

Origin: German Pronunciation: ayr-leeb-nis-eh Meaning: an experience that one feels most deeply, and, in a sense, ‘lives through’ – not just mere life experience, but something memorable which happens to someone

erlebnisse travel words

Livslogga (v.)

Origin: Swedish Pronunciation: Meaning: literally translates to life log; continually capturing and documenting one’s life through pictures

Poudrerie (n.)

Origin: French Pronunciation: pu-dre-ri Meaning: fallen snow blown by the wind from the ground, appearing like fine powdery particles across the streets and highways

Yeoubi (n.)

Origin: Korean Pronunciation: yu-bi Meaning: literally translates to fox rain; a sunshower – the event of having a light rain while the sun is still shining

Morriña (n.)

Origin: Galician Pronunciation: mo-rina Meaning: a very deep, nostalgic, and melancholic homesickness experienced as one intensely longs to return home; “a ‘saudade’ so strong it can even kill”

 Víðsýni (adj.)

Origin: Icelandic Pronunciation: vith-see-nee Meaning: a panoramic view

Xenophilia (n.)

Origin: Greek Pronunciation: zen-uh-fil-ee-uh Meaning: love for, attraction to, or appreciation of foreign people, manners, customs, or cultures

xenophilia travel words

Do you have other words that describe travel? Send them over! We’d be happy to add them to our list of words for travel lovers.

Save the Rare Words Related to Travel to Pinterest

creative travel words

Sharing is nice 🙂 If you have liked our post please share it with your friends and family and feel free to  subscribe  to our mailing list or you can also follow our stories on  Facebook ,  Instagram ,  Pinterest , and  Twitter .

Photo of author

Anjali Chawla

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

© 2024 Travel Melodies. All Rights Reserved.

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

  • Work With Us
  • Blogging Resources
  • Trip Planning

Migrating Miss

  • Destinations
  • Solo Travel
  • Couples Travel
  • Family Travel
  • Expat Tips + Stories
  • Expat Interview Series
  • Inspiration + Musings

Get Inspired

42 inspiring travel words (besides wanderlust).

We’ve all tried to find words to describe a travel experience, and sometimes nothing seems to quite explain it right.

I love discovering new ways to express myself, and over the years I’ve slowly collected the below list of creative travel words that are either not commonly used in English or are from another language or are words that describe travel emotions we go through much better.

Travel Words

If you’re a bit of a Pinterest addict like me you might have heard some of these alternative words for travel before, but hopefully, some are new.

After all, we could all use some other words for wanderlust!

These are just a few of my favourite words associated with travel.

As someone who writes about travel all the time, I love finding new words for travel and to describe travel experiences.

Inspiring Travel Words - Montenegro

Everyone knows wanderlust, but are there words for wanderlust in other languages, or even just another word for travel too? 

I first wrote this post back in 2015 with just 24 new travel words that I had found over the course of the year while I was living abroad in Spain .

Since then I’ve come across many more so I’ve updated it to include the new ones!

Each travel word definition has been written in my own words, with a photo of my own, and examples from my own experiences. 

I hope that you’re able to learn some new words for travel (that aren’t wanderlust but are other words for wanderlust!) and be a bit inspired by them like I have been!

The unusual travel words you need to know:

Resfeber  (n), origin – swedish.

The tangled feelings of fear and excitement before a journey begins.

This is one of the most popular words associated with travel and all over Pinterest!

We’ve all felt this. That jolt in your heart when you book your flights, or when you tell your family and friends what you’re about to do.

Now that feeling has a word you can use!

This feeling is for new travellers and old alike. I still feel it when I embark on new journeys, especially before I moved to Spain to teach English .

resfeber travel words

Fernweh (n)

Origin: german.

Farsickness. An urge to travel even stronger than wanderlust.

That feeling you get when you’ve been home too long and you ache to be out into the world again.

Sometimes you don’t know where you want to be, but you know that it’s away. Sometimes you know where, and you want to get there as quickly as possible. This is that feeling.

I’ve had a serious case of the post travel blues , and felt this to the extreme!

It’s one of my favourite words related to travel, since it really does describe how I’ve felt on so many different occasions.

fernweh travel words

Origin: French

To drift unplanned, led only by the landscape and architecture around you.

The idea that even if you drift you will end up falling into a path that is lined out for you by your surroundings. This could describe life overall, but it also describes small journeys.

When you’re wandering through a new city and you just happen to wander on a path that takes you to great discoveries.

This happened to me in Stockholm, when I went to the archipelago and saw absolutely nothing of the city, and again in Lisbon where we made no plans and just let the city show us where to go.

This is a travel word I’ve seen less often, probably because many of us love to plan our trips, tick things off a bucket list and not miss out, but sometimes if you just allow yourself to wander you’ll find the most unexpected and best things of your trip.

derive travel word - wandering led only by the landscape

Numinous (adj)

Origin: latin.

Feeling both fearful and awed by what is before you.

I don’t know why but there’s something intriguing about finding Latin words for travel. Maybe it’s because it’s not a language we really use anymore, but it forms the basis for so much of ours now.

There are quite a lot of words for travelling that are Latin based, or that we can turn into a word associated with travel.

Firstly referring to divinity, but I think it is a wonderful way to describe how you feel when you see things that are so amazing you’re not sure whether to be amazed or realise your own insignificance in the world. It’s the magical feeling when you see something truly awe-inspiring, be it the scenery before you, or just something amazing falls into place when you’re travelling.

Visiting the rice terraces of China was that moment for me.

numinous travel words

Schwellenangst (n)

Fear of crossing a threshold to embark on something new.

Ok so this German word isn’t traditionally a word related to travel but it could be used as one of those words to describe a travel experience now.

Maybe referring literally to a door, but a great way to explain that feeling you might have before deciding to set out on a new journey.

Did you make the right decision? Those questioning feelings now have a name. I thought I might have made a mistake in moving to Spain but really, it was just this feeling of fearing something new.

schwellenangst travel words

Strikhedonia (n)

Origin: greek.

The joy of being able to say “to hell with it”.

A popular Greek word associated with travel!

This is what you can do when you decide to quit everything, stop making excuses , and explore the world.

Something you say when you book your flights or you decide to do something on your journey that you wouldn’t normally do. You’re travelling, who cares right?!

Now you have a word related to travel for that awesome feeling.

strikhedonia travel words

A wandering or roaming journey.

An unpredictable idea, desire or action.

Travelling without knowing the destination, and it doesn’t matter.

I got completely lost with friends in the Alpujarras in southern Spain , and it didn’t matter one bit. This is another Latin word for travel that we should definitely bring back into our vocabulary!

vagary travel words

Sehnsucht (n)

A wistful longing and yearning in the heart for travels that have been and travels to come.

When you’re not travelling this can be an overwhelming feeling, or when you think about the travel you’ve done and you wish you could relive it all over again.

This feeling is why you need to make the most of every moment! It’s why the more you travel, the harder it gets .

This is one of those other words for wanderlust that we could use instead, although not as easy to say I admit!

sehnsucht travel words

Eleutheromania (n)

The intense desire for freedom.

This is probably one of the closest words to explaining wanderlust in different languages. People often say that travelling makes them feel free, and eleutheromania is the desire for this feeling.

We seem to find freedom in other cultures, or just in being outside the norm, and when you stop travelling, you crave it again.

I think this is what led me to make the crazy decision to move abroad for the first time at 16 !

Definitely one of my favourite other words for wanderlust and a firm favourite on Pinterest when you look for travel words.

eleutheromania travel words

Livsnjutare (n)

Origin: swedish.

Someone who loves life deeply and lives it to the extreme.

Someone I try to be. One that takes chances, takes risks, and always chooses the adventure .

This other word for travel could be used in place for wanderluster, nomad or traveller.  We could all stand to appreciate what we have and make the most of life, and so this is an inspirational travel word! 

livsnjutare travel words

Sturmfrei (adj)

The freedom of being alone and having the ability to do what you want.

Travelling solo can be especially rewarding because it’s all up to you. You can make your travel journey exactly how you want it to be. No compromises, no one else to please. Just you and the road.

You might meet amazing people when you travel , but being on your own is real freedom.

This isn’t traditionally a word associated with travel either, but instead with being in a place alone or without supervision from your parents, so like when they leave you at home for the weekend as a teenager.

But isn’t that slightly giddy feeling of being able to do whatever we want similar to how we feel when we travel? No one’s watching, so you can be who you want and let go!

sturmfrei travel words

Solivagant (adj)

Wandering alone.

The kind of traveller many of us are. Solo travel has exploded so much that it is no longer out of the ordinary.

As most solo travellers know, you’re not alone for long as you make your friends on the road . But sometimes, it’s the wandering journey you take alone that is the most rewarding.

This is a word for someone that travels a lot or someone on a solo journey.

It’s definitely a popular description amongst travel bloggers too!

solivagant travel words

Saudade (n)

Origin: portuguese.

Nostalgia and the love that remains. A desire to be near to something or someone distant.

This is a travel word for after your journey ends and you just want to be back where you were, or with the people you met on the way. It’s the feeling that’s left after it all ends.

It’s what makes you want to return to your favourite place , even if you know it might not be the same. Part of the definition of this travel word is also about looking forward positively to the future!

saudade travel words

Origin: Japanese

An awareness of the universe that triggers emotional responses too deep and mysterious for words.

That feeling when it’s dark and you look at the stars and your wonder for all the things in the world wells up inside of you.

I felt like this when I saw the northern lights in Iceland during the wintertime . It was the most amazing experience and if I had any word to describe it then this would be it!

Other words for wanderlust or travel - yūgen

Acatalepsy (n)

The idea that it is impossible to truly comprehend anything.

Acatalepsy is a word that we can associate with travel. 

Can you truly understand your travels, the things you see, and how they affect you?

Sometimes it takes time to process how travel might have changed your life, and sometimes we never truly know why we take the journeys we do and what they’ll mean for us until afterward.

We can reflect on amazing travel moments , but never fully know their impact until much later! 

acatalepsy travel words

Origin: In doubt

The realisation every person is living their own vivid life.

I stumbled across this word and fell in love with the meaning, as it’s something I sometimes think about. How each person’s life is as full of different connections, memories, and possibilities as my own.

Although research tells me Sonder may not be a real word, the concept is beautiful and I think it can be a word closely associated with travel.

When we’re travelling we realise how everyone is living their own different and vivid life, sometimes close to our own and sometimes on a completely other level!

sonder travel words

Trouvaille (n)

Something lovely found by chance.

A street, cafe, an experience stumbled upon by luck.

I love when this happens in my travels. A moment drinking coffee under a lemon tree in the south of Spain , a garden or a lake or a swimming hole discovered with no one else around.

I love finding alternative words to describe a travel experience, and this is a great one! It’s so important to appreciate the little things, especially when we come across them in an unexpected way. 

trouvaille travel words

Origin: Danish

The cosy feeling you get while you’re enjoying the good things in life with friends.

When you’re out for a meal with people you met during your travels , and you feel content and right.

That feeling that you’re right where you’re meant to be.

This isn’t traditionally associated with travel and has become much more popular in recent years as a word describing a Danish way of living.

This word is now much more popular and well known than when I first wrote this post when I was an expat ! When I first came across it in 2015 I’d never heard of it before at all!

And I love that.

To me, it sounded like a word to describe the experiences I’d had while travelling, when I’d met an amazing group of people and we were enjoying a shared meal together at the end of an awesome day of exploring.

hygge travel words

Origin: The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows – John Koenig

Awareness of how little of the world you’ll experience.

When you’re staring at the departures board and wishing you could go to all of those places at once.

It’s possible that the more you travel the harder it gets , and this is one of the reasons why. You can live abroad to try and travel more, but there’s still only so much to be seen.

This travel word is a little different in that it isn’t from another language but instead from a book.

However, it is another word that describes travel in that you’ll never reach the end of your exploration.

Travelling just makes you realise how much of the world there is still to see, and fuels your wanderlust even more!

onism travel words

Novaturient (adj)

A desire to change and alter your life.

This word for travel lovers describes the feeling that pushes you to travel.

When you know you’re not living the life you could be and there must be more out there for you.

It’s time to go and find it . I’ve never regretted travelling or moving abroad , even alone . It’s this knowledge and this feeling that makes me keep doing it!

novaturient travel words

Yoko meshi (n)

The stress of speaking a foreign language.

Literally translates to, “a meal eaten sideways”, and how I felt about speaking Spanish when I moved to Spain!

When people would tell me to “just start speaking” and it’s really not that easy.

Can you really learn a language just by moving abroad ? Maybe not, but you can try. Just be prepared for this feeling that you now have a travel word to describe!

yoko meshi travel words

Selcouth (adj)

Origin: old english.

Strange and uncommon, the way you see things when you travel.

Everything seems different and foreign, and it’s a good thing. We travel to seek out the things we don’t have at home .

This is another word that we can make into a word for travel, even though it doesn’t traditionally mean that.

It is one I could kind of see myself using to describe the odd things I’ve come across while travelling!

selcouth travel words

Eudaimonia (n)

The contented happy state.

That bursting feeling in your chest when you travel when it all feels right. The constant change in travel often puts our senses in overdrive and the highs are higher than ever. 

Learning to dive on the Great Barrier Reef was one of the best experiences of my life, and I won’t soon forget this feeling.

This Greek word is actually related to a philosophy that has been translated as meaning happiness or well-being, but I think that it’s the way we often feel when we travel, so it’s a word for travel lovers too!

eudaimonia travel words

Coddiwomple (v)

Origin: english slang.

To travel purposefully towards a vague destination.

When you have an idea of where you’re going, but it doesn’t matter how long it takes to get there.

The road doesn’t have to be a straight one. In fact, sometimes it’s better when it’s not .

I love this travel word because I can imagine an old English gentleman discussing his latest “coddiwomple”!

coddiwomple travel words

Flâneur (n)

Someone who strolls aimlessly but enjoyably, observing life and the surroundings.

This is what I love to do when I get to a new city, or through the countryside .

When we travel we seem to have fewer worries in general, allowing us to place ourselves more IN the moment.

Plus walking a city and people watching is a great way to learn about a new culture! It’s also a lovely way to spend a romantic date !

unusual travel words - flaneur

Nefelibata (n)

“Cloud-Walker”. One who lives in the clouds of their own imagination, or who does not obey the conventions of society, literature or art. An unconventional person.

Probably the way people have described me on occasion!

For those who don’t travel, or don’t know how to begin, the idea can seem fantastical and unconventional.

But these days there are so many people breaking free of “cubicle” life and working as digital nomads with the world as their office, working different travel jobs ,  saving to move abroad , or taking a year off to travel. Phil and I now work for ourselves and travel as we like (with kids!).

It may be unconventional to some, but for the rest of us, it’s life.

unusual travel words - nefelibata

Brumous (adj.)

Origin: english.

Of gray skies and winter days, filled with heavy clouds or fog.

This may be a travel word you only use if you travel to the United Kingdom, especially in Scotland (it’s not the weather though, you just need the right clothes !)

It’s well known as the land of rainy days and fog, and I’ve experienced first hand.

However, I visited the Isle of Skye , one of the beautiful places in the UK, in the wind and rain and it was no less amazing. So really, I don’t mind if I have to describe some of my travels this way.

unusual travel words - brumous

Vorfreude (n)

The joyful, intense anticipation that comes from imagining future pleasures.

When we book a new trip and in the time before we go, this is the way we often feel.

We can think about the people we’ll meet , and all the exciting things we’re going to experience.

I love watching movies about places I want to go and then imagining myself there too, which is basically this feeling!

unusual travel words - vorfruede

Commuovere (v)

Origin: italian.

Heartwarming, something that stirs and moves you.

I love finding new words that don’t translate into English. This one is a prime example of a word that is difficult to explain, but the best I can do is heartwarming, something that moves you to tears in a good way.

Maybe you’re wondering how this relates to travel… crying?!

Well, I’ve definitely shed a few tears over travel, from the good to the bad, and I’ve definitely been moved and awed by the things that I’ve seen.

unusual travel words - commuovere

Peregrinate (v)

Travel or wander around from place to place.

A pretty simple word that we could use to describe our travels and yet it seems to have fallen out of favour. “We peregrinated around the Scottish Highlands .” It works right?!

unusual travel words - peregrinate

Nemophilist (n)

Origin: english.

A haunter of woods, one who loves the forest and it’s beauty and solitude.

There’s something magical about walking through the woods, and even more so in a foreign country.

When I lived in Canada on a study abroad one of my favourite things to do was wander through the huge forests there. So much so my new friends and I once got lost for 8 hours…

unusual travel words - nemophilist

Querencia (n)

Origin: spanish.

The place where you are your most authentic self, from where strength is drawn, where you feel at home.

I’m so excited to have a Spanish word, after learning Spanish while giving in Spain.

This word comes is related to the verb querer , which is to want or desire.

It can be associated with bullfighting, as it is also the name for the area of the bullring where the bull takes its stand, but I like to think of it more as a travel word, of course.

unusual travel words - querencia

Komorebi (n)

The sunlight that filters through the leaves of trees.

If you’re on those forest walks when you’re travelling like above, then this is hopefully what you’ll see!

Another unusual word that doesn’t translate directly into an English word, but one that describes a beautiful sight.

unusual travel words - komorebi

Hireath (n)

Origin: welsh.

A homesickness for a home to which you cannot return, a home which maybe never was. The nostalgia, the yearning, the grief for the lost places of your past.

Homesickness isn’t quite the right translation for this beautiful Welsh word, it’s more than that. It’s one of my favourites though as I often reminisce about my previous travels and times in my life.

It’s strange to think back to times like our babymoon in France , and how we had no idea what was ahead of us. As much as I love our life now I sometimes wish to live those times again!

unusual travel words - hireath

Smultronställe (n)

Literally “place of wild strawberries” a special place discovered, treasured, returned to for solace and relaxation; a personal idyll free from stress or sadness.

When I went to Luleå in the north of Sweden in summer we discovered wild strawberries growing on an island in the middle of the archipelago.

That’s what I think of when I see this word because what better place to be? These are often the kind of places we discover when we travel.

unusual travel words - Smultroställe

Mångata (n)

The reflection of the moon on the water.

Something I only seem to see or see the most when I’m travelling.

It reminds me of being by the sea, of the Full Moon Party in Thailand and of the early darkness when I lived in the Gold Coast, Australia, where this photo was taken!

unusual travel words - mangata

Photophile (n)

Origin: possibly english or greek.

A person who loves photography and light.

This one is a little in dispute. It could originate from the word for organisms that love light, “photophilic”, but have been adjusted to fit with photographers too.

Or, it could come from the same origins as “hodophile” in that “phos” means light and “philos” means friends. I can’t find concrete evidence either way, but that’s the beauty of finding new words!

Photophiles carry their camera wherever they go, and many travellers now do the same.

I used to have an old point and shoot camera, and then I stuck to mostly iPhone before finally getting a “proper” camera. I’ve been testing it out in Spain at places like the Alhambra , and in Portugal around the streets of Lisbon .

But there was nothing quite like the midnight sun in Luleå last summer.

unusual travel words - photophile

Dépaysement (adj.)

Feeling that comes from not being in one’s own country. Being out of your element, a fish out of water.

Living abroad has often made me feel like this , especially in the early days.

Sometimes we can idealise moving abroad and not realise how it will affect us , but eventually, a place will feel like home, even if it’s a different concept of home than before.

unusual travel words - depaysment

Hodophile (adj.)

“Lover of roads”. One who loves to travel.

Does this travel word really need an explanation?

There’s something magical about setting out on a trip with the open road before you. My absolute favourite was driving across the Nullabor in Australia! It’s one of the longest straight roads in the world.

unusual travel words - hodophile

Cockaigne (n)

Origin: an english word with french origin.

Imaginary land of luxury and idleness; the land of plenty.

This word originates from a medieval myth, a land of plenty where society’s restrictions are defined and the harshness of life in medieval times does not exist.

Although we’re not in this time anymore, we could use this word to describe our ideal land of plenty now. One where people are not persecuted for their religion or race, one where equality reigns supreme, maybe one we will all be able to travel to one day?

unusual travel words - cockaigne

Wayfarer (n)

Someone who travels, especially on foot.

Maybe not as unusual a word as some on this list, and one that you may already know. I considered making this my blog name when I started blogging !

It’s a word that makes me think of older times when people travelled in a more whimsical way that had nothing to do with social media. You went wherever the wind took you!

unusual travel words - wayfarer

Absquatulate (v)

Origin: north american english.

To leave without saying goodbye.

Invented in the US in the 1830s as a word that sounded vaguely Latin, to make it seem older.

It means to make off with someone or something without announcing you’re going! The way many of us might feel we want to leave for our travels. No fuss, please!

unusual travel words - absquatulate-2

Have you heard of these travel words and would you use them? Do you think they explain things better than we usually can?

If you liked them, pin them!

Sonja - Migrating Miss

Sonja is from New Zealand but now lives in Scotland with her husband and two little boys, after having lived in 5 other countries along the way including the USA, Australia, Canada, and Spain. Travelling has always been her passion and she has now made it her full-time job and worked in the industry for the last 8 years. She shares her living abroad experiences and best tips to make your travel experiences the best they can be!

55 thoughts on “ 42 Inspiring Travel Words (Besides Wanderlust) ”

Amazing list! Looking to impress a number of my fellow travelers with this list now!

I swear some of them can be worked in to normal conversation! Others may be a little different but it’s so nice to have words that describe those travel feelings.

Sonja, that’s a great one!! Sharing it all over now:) love all the words and the idea of such a post:)

Thanks so much Monika! I have been sitting on all of these for a long time. They are saved all over my phone and written in personal journals, so I thought it was time to share!

I’d add: ecdemomania <3

That’s a good one I didn’t have! I’ll have to add it to the next list 🙂

I absolutely love these! I so often find myself having a hard time describing my deep seeded need to get away, always be moving, or travel solo. The long pause and struggle I have to express the answer to “why” when asked about my journeys can feel very awkwardly isolating, and not in the good way of standing alone on a mountain top or wandering an empty desert. I like to feel all alone in the world sometimes but other times, I want to be a part of something, a community, and understood. Seeing words like you have dug up to share in this post do just that. The fact that there are words in so many languages to describe exactly how I feel, means that I am not really alone, even when I have been on a road with no signs of humans for days!

Thanks Bethany! You are definitely not alone! I too loved discovering that there are words that actually describe how I feel when I can’t even really describe it myself. It means that there are other’s that have felt like this, and so much so that whole words have been created for it. I hope you find a way to explain how you feel and why you want travel and movement in your life. All the best x

Wow, I love these, thank-you!

Thanks! I’ve been collecting them for awhile, I love finding out about different words that we can use to explain our feelings, not that I would end up actually saying most of these!

Your list of words is awesome! But Germans actually don’t use “sturmfrei” in the context of traveling. It’s being said when your parents have left home for one or more nights so you can invite friends and party. 😉 it’s not a description about how we feel, it’s more a description of the situation itself. I definitely like your interpretation – hopefully it’ll become a part of travelers diaries.

Thanks Josi! It’s good to know the real meaning behind the word. I like the idea of trying to adapt it as a travel word too, so fingers crossed others see it like you too! 🙂

Thank you Sonja, This was a fun list. I doubt I will be able to work them into my vocabulary. I don’t think I can even pronounce most of them. Perhaps it would be fun to have a follow up post that included the pronunciation of each. You clearly have comfort with many languages. I envy that. Happy Trails to You, Michelle

Haha no they are not exactly everyday words! I think a few may be easier than others, but anyone actually understanding them is the problem! I love the idea that sometimes other languages can explain things better than English though, and I do find it fascinating in learning Spanish that things are not always a direct translation. The use of words can be so different! Happy travels to you too!

I loved reading these words! Thanks for finding them and creating the pin for them! What an excellent way to express our traveling emotions!

Thanks so much! You’re most welcome :). I have to admit I don’t use them a whole lot in my blog writing, but I just love them!

I love your words. Thank you.

Thanks for your comment!

This is a great list, I enjoyed it! Thanks. However, I just want to correct a minor detail. While I was reading along, I got surprised by the word “onism” as I am Danish and has never in my life heard of this word before, whereas “hygge”, the other Danish word on your list, is very commonly used. I looked up “onism” on the internet and found that it comes from The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows which is a compendium of invented words written by John Koenig. I suppose it is made as a combination between the words “monism” (Greek?) and “onanism” (English?), so there is nothing Danish about its origin (at least not that I could find) x

Thanks Ida! I tried to research everything as much as I could (hours in fact haha) and I’m not sure how I ended up with that one! I’ll take another look but I suspect I’ll find the same as you and change it! Thanks again 🙂 x

I loved reading this post and found myself relating to almost every one! ? Thought the accompanying photos were perfect too. It’s given me inspiration for a new travel/art journal …

Thanks so much! It makes me really happy to hear I’ve given someone else inspiration 🙂 🙂

Wow !! Love them.. I was actually looking for a new word which would describe my travel agency. I think I should be able to come up with something using the list of words, u’ve mentioned in this post.

That’s great I’m glad they’re able to help you! Best of luck.

Thnx a lot for giving this sort of knowledge about the words who r completely new to me. Keep posting these words along with their meaning it helps a lot.

Thanks dea… It perfectely helped me to explain my inner feelings , but some words have difficulty in pronouncing . I wrote down every word in ma notebook for future description pf my Travel Thanks alot yaar <3

Hi, I would like to know if there is a word for this feeling describes below,

‘I feel at home when I’m travelling, but when I’m actually at home, I feel weird.

I don’t think wanderlust is the word, can you please help me?

I’m sorry I’m not sure! I only know these words and the other post I did about unusual travel words. It’s possible something exists though and I’ll keep an eye out since I love finding unusual words 🙂

Was looking for travel words from Greek origin, and have found it, thanks so much. Love your page as well, maybe we see each other on the road sometime 🙂

Thanks so much! I’m glad they’re useful 🙂

So who copied who? 🙂 https://www.theintrepidguide.com/travel-words-that-describe-wanderlust-perfectly/#.WjWJFCPMwmo

Great list!

OMG!!!! Thanks for bringing this to my attention!!! I can’t believe how similar some of the wording of this is!!! 🙁 🙁 🙁 I first published this in early 2016.

Thank you for compiling such a great list! I may be incorrect, but shouldn’t ‘Vagary’ be listed as a noun rather than a verb?

It appears it’s listed as a noun now to mean something unpredictable but it came from the verb to wander!

So great to see Eleutheromania included in the list, passionate about freedom!

One of my favourites!

This is a very impressive, creative and original list. Will revisit many times. Thanks for sharing 🙂

42? How did anyone even get to this comment section? I had to scroll for 2 days just to get to leave this comment. This is really outrageous. 7 would have been plenty. We are internet users here, not book readers.

Two days well spent I’m sure 😉

When one is confined within the four corners of the home, because of the pandemic, this list is very encouraging! Thank you Sonja, many of the words here describes various emotions I have already experienced. Two more weeks of lockdown, I have time to do a project, finding my travel photos that match the words :).

Love this post! I’m feeling so much fernweh at the moment <3

Same here!!

Thank you so much for these! At this time of great challenges in the world, it is comforting to know that I can read the wonderful words you have compiled to capture all the positive feelings travel evokes. Slainte!

I couldn’t find all of these travel words anywhere else. You know, I am gonna bookmark it right away. Thanks for sharing these travel phrases. I love it. Looking forward to reading more of these informative articles 🙂

Amazing read. Needed these for getting a travel domain name. Bookmarked this post already. It’s very useful. Looking forward to reading more of these awesome travel blogs.

Ha ha what a random post! Learned so many new words from this, excited to casually *drop* them into my conversations

Haha so many! I mean, half I think I’ve never said but it’s fun to learn their meaning and find words that can describe the things we feel and think when we travel x

Wonderful article, it must have taken a lot of work to put together so many words 🙂

Thanks! I collected them over a few years and then reworded in my own words :).

Nice article. Thanks for sharing these travel phrases. Looking forward to reading more of these informative articles .

Stunning article, loved to read. will read more for sure…

Was very helpful article

I love this list of inspiring words for travel! I’m always looking for new ways to explore new places and this list has given me some great ideas.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Sign up for tips, info, and travel antics delivered once a month to your inbox. Go on.

Travel Tips and Trivia

Last Updated: January 23, 2024

10 Best Synonyms for Wanderlust [+ 20 Creative Travel Words]

Trying to find some awesome synonyms for wanderlust? Check out this list of creative travel words to discover my all-time favourite wanderlust synonyms.

' src=

Danny Newman

synonymsforwanderlust-4344543

Looking for some awesome synonyms for wanderlust? I hope this post helps!

“Wanderlust” has to be one of my all-time favourite words.

It’s also an emotion I experience on a regular basis!

Plagued by itchy feet, I’m always looking for the next place to explore and fantasising about adventures in distant lands.

As the quote by Charlotte Eriksson goes, “I will never lose the love for arriving, but I’m born to leave.”

Are you the same?

Well, having said “wanderlust” a few too many times before, there may come a point when you want to describe the same sensation in a different way.

Thankfully, there are some awesome synonyms for wanderlust that should do the trick! Want to discover a selection of the best?

Keep reading to learn 10 of my favourite wanderlust synonyms plus 20 creative travel words I think you’ll like too.

wanderlustsynonyms-1571706

Here we go then: 10 of my favourite wanderlust synonyms!

Looking for wanderlust synonyms? You might also like:

  • 60 Awesome Adventure Dates Ideas
  • 15 of the Cheapest Islands to Visit
  • How to Say Friend in Different Languages
  • 20 Benefits of Solo Travel
  • 50 Fascinating Facts About Travel
  • 75 Essential Things to Pack for Travel
  • Key Features of the Experience of Travel
  • 100 Reasons I love to Travel (& You Will Too)

My Favourite Synonyms for Wanderlust

From Greece to Sweden, the synonyms of wanderlust in this list come from a wide range of places and have slight differences in definition. Ultimately, though, they all share the same theme: an intense desire to travel.

I hope you like them as much as I do!

  • a = adjective

1. Dromomania (n)

  • Origin: Greek
  • Definition: An exaggerated desire to wander.

Sometimes referred to as “vagabond neurosis”, dromomania was once a psychiatric diagnosis given to people with an overwhelming desire to walk or wander.

I’m not sure I’d ever call wanderlust a psychiatric issue!

But I do think most self-professed travel addicts could relate to the deep and borderline compulsive urge to hit the road.

2. Eleutheromania (n)

  • Definition: An intense, frantic and irresistible desire for freedom.

Do you feel a profound and irrepressible urge to shed the shackles of everyday life in exchange for your liberty?

Well, you could be a closet “eleutheromaniac”!

Although this isn’t necessarily an exact synonym for wanderlust, I think there are definite similarities. For me, at least, one of the major benefits of travelling is the freedom it offers; it’s what I miss most when I’ve spent too long in one place.

3. Fernweh (n)

  • Origin: German
  • Definition: A yearning to go somewhere you’ve never been before.

The Germans seem to have a knack for inventing awesome travel words and wanderlust synonyms. Case and point? Fernweh!

Apparently it translates to something like “far woe” or “far-sickness” in English and is basically the opposite of homesickness. You crave travel.

But not only that, you crave travel to somewhere new.

Once again, it’s a concept I reckon most travel lovers will know well! You can be at home, somehow feeling homesick for distant lands you’ve never even been to.

4. Itchy Feet (n)

  • Origin: English
  • Definition: A strong desire to leave where you are and travel.

This is the classic synonym for wanderlust and one I use all the time when trying to describe my urge to hit the road. I just love how descriptive and full of imagery it is.

5. Novaturient (a)

  • Origin: Latin
  • Definition: Desiring or seeking a significant change in your life.

Tired of the mundane and desperate to break free of your typical routine? Travelling’s the perfect way to do it!

synonymsofwanderlust-4723022

Synonyms of wanderlust don’t get much more descriptive than the Swedish noun, resfeber .

6. Resfeber (n)

  • Origin: Swedish
  • Definition: The “restless race of the traveller’s heart” before they go on a trip.

Lyrical and descriptive, resfeber’s another awesome word for travellers to keep tucked away in their locker!

You’ll experience it whenever you’re packing your backpack or suitcase, your departure date’s looming, or you’re bidding loved ones farewell at the airport.

It’s the sense of anticipation, excitement and fear all rolled into one.

7. Saudade (n)

  • Origin: Portuguese
  • Definition: An intense longing for something/someone that’s out of reach.

This Portuguese word’s hard to pin down with a direct translation.

Some say saudade’s a sense of nostalgia or melancholy. Others define it as the “presence of absence”.

Either way, I think it has poetic echoes of wanderlust!

It sometimes feels as if my heart aches for travel. It isn’t always just a matter of having itchy feet, or feeling a need to have an adventure.

It’s deeper, more emotive, and tinged with wistfulness too.

8. Sehnsucht (n)

  • Definition: Pining, longing, or yearning wistfully for something (such as travel).

Sticking to the melancholy theme for a moment, we have another lovely German travel word, sehnsucht .

With similarities to saudade , it’s described as a “wistful longing” for something.

I suppose this doesn’t have to relate to travel, but it does seem like a fitting synonym for wanderlust…or at least a particular shade of it.

Indeed, I’d hazard a guess that most travel lovers feel this “wistful longing” to hit the road whenever they’ve been stuck in one place for too long.

9. Strikhedonia (n)

  • Definition: Refers to the joy of being able to say “to hell with it”.

Strikhedonia features all over the internet on lists of wanderlust synonyms and creative travel words like this. However, as confidently as many people seem to talk about it, there’s some dispute about its authenticity as an actual word.

The result? Lovely and descriptive as it is, I’d take it with a pinch of salt.

That said, I’ll still happily keep it in my head as another word for wanderlust!

As this Reddit post explains, “-hedonia” comes from the Greek “hedone”, meaning “pleasure”, and “strik” comes from “strike”, which meant “to go” in bygone times.

A rough translation of strikhedonia, then, would be “the pleasure of leaving for somewhere new”. Or, in colloquial terms, the pleasure of saying “to hell with it”.

10. Unsettledness (n)

  • Definition: The quality or state of being unsettled.

This particular word for wanderlust isn’t particularly inventive or poetic! But I do think it’s accurate .

For me, as much as anything else, wanderlust really is a feeling of being unsettled.

I have itchy feet. I’m not content. I feel a persistent urge to leave, move, and be somewhere, anywhere else other than here.

wanderlustsynonym-2950525

With the wanderlust synonym list down, let’s move onto some top travel synonyms.

My Favourite Travel Synonyms and Words about Travel

In researching this post I soon realized there aren’t all that many amazing synonyms for wanderlust!

There are, however, a whole host of awesome words describing travel in general .

Here are my favourite travel related words:

11. Coddiwomple (v)

  • Origin: English slang
  • Definition: To travel with purpose to an unknown destination.

12. Eudaimonia (n)

  • Definition: The condition of human flourishing. Living well. A state of deep happiness or contentment.

13. Flâneur (n)

  • Origin: French
  • Definition: The opposite of a workaholic! A “stroller” or “loafer”. Someone who moves without purpose but joyfully, observing life and their surroundings.

14. Gallivant (v) (one of my favourite other words for travel)

  • Definition: To move from place to place in search or pleasure or entertainment. The only plan is to roam; to wander in a bid to have fun.

15. Heimweh (n)

  • Definition: A state of homesickness or longing for home.

16. Hygge (n)

  • Origin: Danish
  • Definition: The warm, cosy feeling you get from spending time with good friends and enjoying life’s simple pleasures.

17. Nefelibata (n)

  • Definition: Literally “cloud walker”. An unconventional person! A maverick who doesn’t abide by society’s typical customs and ideals.

travelwords-5382918

Latin-derived travel words don’t come much fancier than this one: peregrinate .

18. Peregrinate (v)

  • Definition: A fancy way of saying to travel or wander from place to place. It derives from the Latin word “peregrinat”, which means “travelled abroad” (i.e. a travelled synonym).

19. Peripatetic (n)

  • Definition: A fancy term for someone who travels from place to place. It can also be used as an adjective (e.g. a peripatetic lifestyle).

20. Querencia (n)

  • Origin: Spanish
  • Definition: Somewhere you feel at home and your most authentic self. It’s the place from which you draw inspiration and strength.

21. Sturmfrei (a)

  • Definition: Literally “storm free”, although the word refers to the freedom of not being watched over or restricted. It means to be alone and able to do exactly as you wish.

22. Trouvaille (n)

  • Definition: Similar to the English word “windfall”, it describes an unexpected stroke of good luck, or something lovely discovered by chance.

23. Vacilando (v)

  • Definition: The act of going somewhere when the experience of travelling is more important than reaching the destination itself.

24. Wayfarer (n)

  • Definition: A synonym for traveller; particularly someone who travels by foot.

25. Yūgen (n)

  • Origin: Japan
  • Definition: An intense, mysterious, and profound sense of how beautiful and indescribable the universe is.

wordsfortravel-7098846

Last but not least, here are 5 words for travel lovers!

Travel Lover Synonyms and Words

What do you call someone who loves to travel?

Here are 5 words for travel lovers and words for travellers to finish this post about travel words and synonyms!

26. Gadabout (n)

  • Definition: “A habitual pleasure-seeker” or someone who travels both often and for fun. It comes from the Middle English verb “gadden”, meaning “to wander without a specific aim or purpose”.

27. Gallivanter (n)

  • Definition: Someone who is obsessed with travelling for fun or adventure; who ventures in search of amusement.

28. Hodophile (n)

  • Definition: Someone who loves to travel!

29. Solivagant (n)

  • Definition: A solitary wanderer; someone who travels solo. From the Latin “solus” (alone) and “vagan” (wander).

30. Xenophilia (n)

  • Definition: The opposite of xenophobia, this travel word describes the love of foreign customs, cultures, and people.

Remember These Creative Travel Words and Synonyms

Having some synonyms for wanderlust up your sleeve always comes in handy as a travel lover.

It helps you describe your state of mind when you’re desperate to travel and tired of using the same old terms all the time.

With any luck, the wanderlust synonyms and creative travel words in this article will help in this regard.

Now I’d love to hear from you! Which wanderlust synonym did you like best?

Drop a comment below to let me know. And if you’re looking for more words related to travel, click here to learn how to say thank you in every single country in the world!

1 thought on “10 Best Synonyms for Wanderlust [+ 20 Creative Travel Words]”

Fabulous. Thanks so much.

Comments are closed.

Tale of 2 Backpackers

Unusual & Creative Travel Words that you must know in 2019

Blogging Tips & SEO

Creative travel words

Last Updated on: Oct 10, 2023  

About this blog: This contains 38 unique and creative travel words that you can use in your travel vocabulary. Use them in your travel captions or use them for naming your blog . 

Oh, yes! We love to travel. And we love to get amazed at new experiences. We love to look over in awe at the jaw-dropping scenery before us. At times, words fail. The feeling, the emotions that we encounter after scaling a summit, or after having a scuba diving experience cannot often be described with words. I am sure all of us have these moments when we fall short of words. But there are some beautiful and creative travel words that describe these various feelings very well. Some of these words might not have English equivalents.

As a traveller and writer, I often keep looking for words to describe my feelings. The more I look into these words, the more I fall in love with them. These words have such powerful emotions and feelings! So we decided to share some of our favourite unusual and creative travel words with you.

UNUSUAL AND CREATIVE TRAVEL WORDS

Peregrinate (v.).

Origin: Latin

Definition: To travel or wander around from place to place

travel words with beautiful meanings-peregrinate

The feeling we have whenever we are visiting any new place. We love to wander around and discover the hidden and not so hidden gems. And Darjeeling happens to be one of our favourite places to wander around. What’s yours?

Nemophilist (n.)

Origin: English

Definition: One who is fond of the forest

travel words with beautiful meanings-nemophilist

Serendipity (n.)

Definition: The fact of finding interesting or valuable by chance

travel words with beautiful meaning-serendipity

Trouvaille (n.)

Origin: French

Definition: Something lovely discovered by chance

travel word with beautiful meaning - trouvaille - blog name ideas

These two words are so close to our hearts. That we would be together was destiny, but our meeting was definitely serendipity! We had been travelling together for a long time, but it was only after our Amarnath Yatra , that we truly realized what travel means to us and what we actually want of our life.

Eudaimonia (n.)

Origin: Greek

Definition: The contented happy state when you travel

unusual-travel-words-eudaimonia

Eleutheromania (n.)

Definition: The intense desire for freedom

unusual-travel-words-eleutheromania

These two Greek words so wonderfully summarize our feeling when we travel. Travelling makes us contented and happy.

Sonder (n.)

Origin: Unknown

Definition: The realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own

unusual-travel-words-sonder

Resfeber (n.)

Origin: Swedish

Definition: The tangled feelings of fear and excitement before a journey

unusual-travel-words-resfeber - blog name ideas

This always happens before a journey. There is a perpetual state of excitement as well as nervousness before I start any journey. And I enjoy both the state.

Before our trip to Uzbekistan, I had a bad case of travel anxiety after I read about Airbnb scams. It was only after I found out methods to detect Airbnb scam , I caught a break.

Fernweh (n.)

Origin: German

Definition: An urge to travel even stronger than wanderlust ; farsickness

unusual-travel-words-fernweh-domain-name-ideas

Dérive (n.)

Definition: To drift unplanned, only led by the landscape and architect around you.

unusual-travel-words-dérive

Have you done this? Have you travelled without any fixed plan? Often it is the unexpectedness of a journey that makes it even better. When we went to Majuli , we did not know where we would visit next. It was an impromptu decision to next visit Meghalaya . And this time we decided to give Shillong and Cherrapunji a miss and visit the offbeat places in Meghalaya . It was surely a memorable trip!

Solivagant (adj.)

Definition: Wandering alone. A solitary adventurer who travels and wanders the globe.

unusual-travel-words-solivagant

Strikhedonia (n.)

Definition: The joy of being able to say “to hell with it”

unusual-travel-words-strikhedonia

The feeling we had when we visited Ladakh !

Numinous (n.)

Definition: The powerful, personal feeling of being overwhelmed and inspired

unusual-travel-words-numinous

I had this feeling when I trekked the Rupin Pass summit . It was an overwhelming experience to stand there and look at the Kinner-Kailash range before me.

Forelsket (n.)

Origin: Norwegian

Definition: The euphoria you experience when you are first falling in love

unusual-travel-words-forelsket

This is such a beautiful and creative travel word. The first time we fell in love with each other, it was confusing. But the tangled emotion that I was feeling at that time was probably known as “forelsket”! And I think it is the same feeling when we fall in love with each other after completing every trek or doing something that we never thought we would do.

Hireath (n.)

Origin: Welsh

Definition: A homesickness for a home which you cannot return, a home which maybe never was.

unusual-travel-words-hireath

Sehnsucht (n.)

Definition: A wistful longing and yearning in the heart for travels that have been and travels to come.

unusual-travel-words-sehnsucht

Livsnjutare (n.)

Definition: Someone who loves life deeply and enjoys life

unusual-travel-words-livsnjutare

Sturmfrei (n.)

Definition: The freedom of being alone and having the ability to do whatever you want.

unusual-travel-words-sturmfrei

Sometimes, being alone is the best thing that we can gift ourselves.

Coddiwomple (v.)

Definition: To travel in a purposeful manner towards a vague destination

unusual-travel-words-coddiwomple

Nefelibata (n.)

Origin: Portugese

Definition: One who lives in the cloud of their own imagination; an unconventional person

unusual-travel-words-nefelibata

This word so describes me. I love to live in my own imagination.

Hodophile (adj.)

Definition: A lover of roads. One who loves to travel.

unusual-travel-words-hodophile

Schwellenangst (n.)

Definition: Fear of crossing a threshold to embark on something new.

unusual-travel-words-schwellenangst

Don’t we all have the fear while starting anything new? It might be a new job, or a new life at a different city, or even changing our lifestyle. I was always very complacent with my life with a high paying job. But there was a void somewhere. Even after I knew that I have to take the leap, the fear hold me back. The fear of uncertainty was keeping me back from doing what I loved.

Today, I have crossed that threshold. And let me tell you the joy that it brings is totally worth all the difficulties and problems and hard work that went. What is the fear that is holding you back?

Vagary (v.)

Definition: A wandering or roaming journey

unusual-travel-words-vagary

Saudade (n.)

Definition: A nostalgic longing to be near something or someone who is distant.

unusual-travel-words-saudade

Origin: Danish

Definition: The cosy feeling you get when you are enjoying the good things in life with friends

unusual-travel-words-hygge

Commuovere (v.)

Origin: Italian

Definition: To stir, to touch, to move to tears

unusual-travel-words-commuovere

The feeling we had after completing the Chadar Frozen River Trek .

Origin: Japanese

Definition: A profound and mysterious sense of the beauty of the universe

creative travel words-yūgen

Definition: Awareness of how little of the world you will experience

Travel words with beautiful meaning-onism

These two words sum it all. The universe, the world is so mysteriously beautiful. We can feel and experience only a part of this beauty!

Petrichor (n.)

Definition: The smell of earth after rain

travel words with beautiful meaning -petrichor-domain-name-ideas

Flâuner (n.)

Definition: A person of leisure, deliberately aimless, simply wandering the streets, soaking in the city

travel words with beautiful meaning-flâuner

Whenever we visit any city, we love to walk around. It is the best way to discover the charm of a city. We loved to roam around Yangon and explore the city on foot discovering its gems, hidden or otherwise!

Sometimes Kolkata , our hometown does this to us. We simply wander around, soaking in the little delights, wandering around the lanes and bye lanes and falling in love over and over again with the city. And so does Delhi !

Jijivisha (n.)

Origin: Sanskrit

Definition: The strong eternal desire to live and continue living

creative-travel-words-jijivisha

Rasasvada (n.)

Definition: The taste of bliss in the absence of all thoughts

creative-travel-words-rasasvada

Exactly what we felt after seeing the Everest and Kanchenjunga ranges in front of us from the Phalut. The Sandakphu-Phalut Trek is a great experience.

Smultronställe(n.)

Definition: Lit. “ Place of wild strawberries ”; a special place discovered, treasured, returned to for solace and relaxation; a personal idyll free from stress and sadness.

creative-travel-words-smultronställe

Darjeeling and Sikkim is our “place of wild strawberries”. What is yours?

Querencia (adj.)

Origin: Spanish

Definition: A place where one feels safe, A place where one feels at home

creative-travel-words-querencia

Musafir (n.)

Origin: Urdu

Definition: Traveller

creative-travel-words-musafir

Vuslat (n.)

Origin: Turkish

Definition: A union or reunion after being apart for a long time with one’s beloved

This is one of my favourite creative travel words.

creative-travel-words-vuslat

Thalassophile (n.)

Definition: A lover of ocean

creative-travel-words-thalassophile

Waldeinsamkeit (n.)

Definition: The feeling of being alone in the woods

creative-travel-words-waldeinsamkeit

So did you find your travel inspiration from these beautiful and unusual travel words? What is your favourite? Let us know in comments.

Pin this post for a later dose of inspiration!

unusual travel words with beautiful meanings

Agni Amrita

Related posts.

Travel Blog Name Ideas – How to choose awesome Travel Blog Names?

Travel Blog Name Ideas – How to choose awesome Travel Blog Names?

How to Start a Travel Blog in 2023? Things We Wish We Had Known

How to Start a Travel Blog in 2023? Things We Wish We Had Known

26 comments.

Amazing list! This should keep me busy for a while. I would like to add French noun Flânerie – Aimless strolling or sauntering without a set plan or defined destination; walking at a leisurely pace, simply observing as you’re being taken along. Sometimes I write about similar topics. Here is an example post I wrote in case you or any of your readers find it interesting. Our content complements each other nicely, perhaps we can collab in some way in the future. Keep up the good work. Can’t wait to see something new from you! Cheers!

Thank you so much for the comment and another beautiful word. You blog is amazing too. Maybe we can connect over for a collab in some way. Looking forward.

Excellent post..very informative!!

Always admire your writting skills and this time thanks for introducing new words in my dictionary. Great way to increase ones vocabulary with pictures origin and all.

Thank you Pallavi. So glad that you liked the post.

Thanks for enhancing my vocabulary.. none them was familiar to me so far.

Thank you Sapna! I did not know a few before writing this.

Wow that made for an interesting read. Adding them to my dictionary right away!

Thanks so much.

Woow so many beautiful, unique travel words i am unaware off. Love it

Thank you Gurjeet!

Such words , very useful must say. I love to read and learn new things. These will definitely help me to increase my vocab.

Thank you Pamela!

That is a very unique topic for a blog. Though I would want to identify myself with all the term, but I find myself closest to be a Nemophilist and Trouvaille. I also identify with Resfeber. No matter how much I have travelled, I still get a little nervous (and excited) before a foreign trip.

Thanks Abhinav. I can understand that nervous and excited feeling before a foreign trip!

Thanks for sharing this, great to know these word and their meaning. And yes I can say now I am Nemophilist. 🙂

Thank you Sundeep!

I am not just inspired but so well educated too now. Y next travel will now be so well-informed.

Thank you Sanjay!

This post was such a treat! I love travel and I love words, and it was nice to recognise a few that I knew, and learn new ones that I didn’t!

Thank you so much! So glad that you liked the post.

These are indeed words that provide full expression to the meaning of travel. Thanks for adding to my vocabulary. this is indeed the serendipity of reading travel blogs.

Thank you Sandy and Vyjay!

Brilliant post, some of these descriptive words I read for the first time. Bookmarked for future reference. Thanks for Sharing.

Thank you Anahita. Glad that you liked the post.

If you love to travel and excited to know different places in world then pack your bag and travel to India. India the birth place of yoga. Good for peace your mind and relaxing body.

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Submit Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Pin It on Pinterest

Beyond Wanderlust: 30 Words Every Traveler Should Know

By emily petsko | jun 13, 2022, 5:14 pm edt.

travel lover word

For those who travel, wanderlust is a familiar feeling. It’s that nagging voice in your head that says, “Yes, you do need to book that flight,” even if your bank account says otherwise. Regardless of how many passport covers this word may adorn, it doesn’t begin to cover the spectrum of emotions and experiences that can be revealed through the act of travel. Here are 30 travel words from around the world to keep in your back pocket as you're exploring this summer.

From the Latin vagari , meaning “to wander,” this 16th-century word originally meant a wandering journey . Nowadays, "vagaries" refer to unpredictable or erratic situations, but that doesn’t mean the old sense of the word can’t be invoked from time to time.

2. Selcouth

An Old English word that refers to something that’s both strange and marvelous . It's a great way to sum up those seemingly indescribable moments spent in an unfamiliar land.

Who hasn’t felt a strong desire to be somewhere—anywhere—other than where you currently are? That’s fernweh , or “ farsickness ," and this German word has been described as a cousin of wanderlust, another German loan word.

4. Dépaysement

Anyone who has traveled abroad will recognize this feeling. The French word refers to the sense of disorientation that often sets in when you step outside your comfort zone, such as when you leave your home country.

Another gift from the French, this word literally translates to “drift,” but thanks to some mid-20th century French philosophers, it can also refer to a spontaneous trip , completely free of plans, in which you let your surroundings guide you.

6. Peregrinate

To peregrinate is to travel from place to place, especially on foot. Its Latin root, peregrinus (meaning “foreign”), is also where the peregrine falcon (literally “ pilgrim falcon ”) gets its name.

7. Perambulate

Similar to peregrinate, this word essentially means to travel over or through an area by foot. So instead of saying that you’ll be walking around London, you can say you’ll be perambulating the city’s streets—much more sophisticated.

8. Numinous

This English word could appropriately be used to describe the Grand Canyon or the Northern Lights. Something numinous is awe-inspiring and mysterious. It's difficult to understand from a rational perspective, which gives it a spiritual or unearthly quality.

9. Peripatetic

The young and the restless will want to incorporate this word into their lexicon. The adjective refers to those who are constantly moving from place to place—in other words, a nomadic existence. It stems from the Greek word peripatein (“to walk up and down”), which was originally associated with Aristotle and the shaded walkways near his school (or, according to legend, his habit of pacing back and forth during lectures).

10. Waldeinsamkeit

You’re alone in a forest. It’s peaceful. The sun is filtering through the trees and there’s a light breeze. That’s waldeinsamkeit . (Literally "forest solitude." And yes, Germans have all the best travel words.)

11. Shinrin-Yoku

In a similar vein, this Japanese word means “ forest bathing ,” and it's considered a form of natural medicine and stress reliever. There are now forest bathing clubs around the world, but you can try it out for yourself on your next camping trip. Take deep breaths, close your eyes, and take in the smells and sounds of the forest. Simple.

12. Solivagant

In those moments when you just want to run away from your responsibilities, you may consider becoming a solivagant : a solo wanderer .

13. Yoko Meshi

This Japanese phrase literally translates to “ a meal eaten sideways ,” which is an apt way to describe the awkwardness of speaking in a foreign language that you haven’t quite mastered, especially over dinner.

14. Resfeber

You just booked your flight. Your heart starts racing. You’re a little nervous about your journey, but mostly you just can’t wait to get going. The anticipation, anxiety, and excitement you get before a big trip is all rolled into one word— resfeber —and you can thank the Swedes for it.

15. Flâneur

Taken from the French flâner , meaning to stroll or saunter , this word describes someone who has no particular plans or place they need to be. They merely stroll around the city at a leisurely pace, taking in the sights and enjoying the day as it unfolds.

16. Gadabout

This could be construed as the traditional English equivalent of flâneur . Likely stemming from the Middle English verb gadden , meaning “to wander without a specific aim or purpose,” a gadabout is one who frequently travels from place to place for the sheer fun of it. In other words: a modern-day backpacker.

17. Hiraeth

Sometimes, no matter how amazing your vacation may be, you just want to come home to your bed and cats. This Welsh word sums up the deep yearning for home that can strike without warning. As Gillian Thomas put it in an interview with the BBC , “Home sickness is too weak. You feel hiraeth , which is a longing of the soul to come home to be safe.”

This Japanese word can be taken to mean “graceful elegance” or “subtle mystery,” but it’s much more than that. It's when the beauty of the universe is felt most profoundly, awakening an emotional response that goes beyond words.

19. Schwellenangst

Translating to “ threshold anxiety ,” this German word sums up the fears that are present before you enter somewhere new—like a theater or an intimidating cafe—and by extension going anywhere unfamiliar. The fear of crossing a threshold is normal, even among the most adventurous of travelers—but it often leads to the most unforgettable experiences.

20. Commuovere

Have you ever seen something so beautiful it made you cry? That’s commuovere in action. The Italian word describes the feeling of being moved, touched, or stirred by something you witness or experience.

This Danish word refers to a warm feeling of contentedness and coziness, as well as the acknowledgment of that feeling. Although not explicitly related to this term, author Kurt Vonnegut summed up the idea behind this concept quite nicely when he said, “I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, 'If this isn't nice, I don't know what is.'"

22. Hanyauku

Here's one for those who have a beach trip coming up. Taken from Kwangali, a language spoken in Namibia, hanyauku is the act of tiptoeing across hot sand.

23. Smultronställe

travel lover word

This Swedish word translates to something along the lines of “place of wild strawberries,” but its metaphorical meaning is something along the lines of a "happy place." Whether it’s a hidden overlook of the city or your favorite vacation spot that hasn’t been “discovered” yet, smultronställe refers to those semi-secret places you return to time and time again because they’re special and personal to you.

24. Dustsceawung

This Old English word describes what might happen when you visit a place like Pompeii or a ghost town. While reflecting on past civilizations, you realize that everything will eventually turn to dust. A cheery thought.

25. Vacilando

In some Spanish dialects, the word vacilando describes someone who travels with a vague destination in mind but has no real incentive to get there. In other words, the journey is more important than the destination. As John Steinbeck described it in his travelogue Travels With Charley : “It does not mean vacillating at all. If one is vacilando , he is going somewhere, but doesn't greatly care whether or not he gets there, although he has direction. My friend Jack Wagner has often, in Mexico, assumed this state of being. Let us say we wanted to walk in the streets of Mexico city but not at random. We would choose some article almost certain not to exist there and then diligently try to find it.”

26. Lehitkalev

Backpackers and budget travelers, this one is for you: The Hebrew word lehitkalev translates to “dog it” and means to deal with uncomfortable living or travel arrangements.

27. Komorebi

This beautiful Japanese word is a good one to save for a sunny day spent in the woods. Komorebi translates to “sunshine filtering through the leaves.” Does it get any lovelier than that?

This Balinese word refers to something that is simultaneously chaotic and joyful. It isn’t specifically a travel word, but it does seem to fit the feelings that are often awakened by travel.

29. Trouvaille

Translating to a “lucky find,” this French word can be applied to that cool cafe, flower-lined street, or quirky craft store that you stumbled upon by chance. Indeed, these are the moments that make travel worthwhile.

30. Ullassa

Just in case you needed another reason to plan that trip to Yosemite, here's one last word for nature lovers. The Sanskrit word ullassa refers to the feelings of pleasantness that come from observing natural beauty in all its glory.

A version of this story ran in 2018; it has been updated for 2022.

travel lover word

  • 17 Eye-Opening Foreign Travel Words That Describe Wanderlust
  • December 23, 2022

3d-20-questions-that-unlock-freedom

FREE DOWNLOAD: 20 QUESTIONS THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE(STYLE)

A simple roadmap for setting up a life you don’t need to escape from.

  • World Travel

Untranslatable Foreign Words Journey Traveler

Have you ever been to a place so beautiful, amazing, or surreal that there were no adequate words in your language to describe it? Or maybe you’ve been to a place where everything is just so different from home that it’s hard to find the right way to talk about it.

travel lover word

Blake Miner

Do you ever feel like you need a new word to describe your travel experience? Something that really captures the feeling of being in a new place, seeing amazing things and living life on the go? Well, you’re in luck. Because foreign languages have all sorts of great words for describing travel . Here are 17 of our favorites that help describe feelings you experience on the road in a way English just can’t.

These thought-provoking foreign words each explain a concept that isn’t as simply or easily expressed in English.

Bon voyage !

Travel Words From Foreign Languages

1. flânerie.

foreign-travel-words-flânerie

Definition : Aimless strolling or sauntering without a set plan or defined destination; walking at a leisurely pace, simply observing as you’re being taken along. 

Part of Speech : Noun

Origin : French

foreign-travel-words-fernweh

Definition : A longing or craving for distant, far-off places; “homesick” for places you’ve never been to. Literally: farsickness. 

Origin : German

foreign-travel-words-alpas

  Definition : To become free or untied; to break loose .

Part of Speech : Verb

Origin : Tagalog

4. Novaturient

foreign-travel-words-novaturient

Definition : Desiring to alter your life; a feeling that pushes you to want to travel. 

Part of Speech : Adjective

Origin : Latin

5. Metanoia

foreign-travel-words-metanoia

Definition : The journey of transforming your mind, heart, self, or way of life .

Origin : Greek

foreign-travel-words-yugen

Definition : A deep, profound awareness of the universe; an unfathomable realization that triggers an emotional response .

Origin : Japanese

7. Peripatetic

foreign-travel-words-peripatetic

Definition : A person who spends his time walking or traveling from place to place .

foreign-travel-words-saudade

Definition : A deep, nostalgic, melancholic yearning for something or someone absent; accompanied by the realization that what you’re longing for will never be experienced again.

Part of Speech : Noun  

Origin : Portuguese

9. Lebenskünstler

foreign-travel-words-lebenskünstler

Definition : A “life artist” who is able to deal with any arising problems in a very artful, almost magical manner. Literally: someone who has mastered Lebenskunst (the art of life).

foreign-travel-words-hygge

Definition : A quality of coziness and comfort accompanied by feelings of well-being, relaxation, contentment and presence; often likened to the feeling of drinking a warm cup of cocoa on a snowy day .

Parts of Speech : Noun, adjective

Origin : Danish

11. Resfeber

foreign-travel-words-resfeber

Definition : The restless feeling before starting out on a journey; a mix of anxiety, excitement and anticipation.

Origin : Swedish

12. Shinrin-yoku

foreign-travel-words-shinrin-yoku

Definition : The practice of going into the woods seeking out a mentally soothing experience; taking in the forest atmosphere with your senses. Literally: “forest bathing.”  

13. Nefelibata

foreign-travel-words-nefelibata

Definition : Someone who doesn’t conform to the conventions of society, literature, or art; an unconventional, unorthodox person who lives in the clouds of their own imagination or dreams . Literally: “cloud walker.”

foreign-travel-words-toska

Definition : A vague sense of unease, sadness, melancholy, nostalgia or yearning; a type of spiritual anguish.

Origin : Russian

foreign-travel-words-dérive

Definition : Drifting; a spontaneous, unplanned journey in which the traveler relinquishes control and is guided solely by the landscape and architecture.

16. Rasāsvāda

foreign-travel-words-rasāsvāda

Definition : The sensation of bliss in the absence of all thought.

Origin : Sanskrit

17. Trouvaille

foreign-travel-words-trouvaille

Definition : A chance encounter with something wonderful; a valuable discovery; a lucky find .

A Final Word

We hope you’ve enjoyed this brief foray into the strange, wonderful world of foreign travel words. What’s your favorite? Leave us a comment below! And don’t forget to share with your friends – they may find some of these words useful on their next trip abroad (or even just in their day-to-day lives).

Our website is supported by our users. We may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.

This Post Has 8 Comments

Pingback: The best way to learn a new language to travel - Love and Road

Pingback: Flâneur Quotes: A Collection of Words Related to Flâneurs and Flânerie

Pingback: What I'm Committing to Overall in 2020 » Flâneur Life

Pingback: 9 Famous Thinkers from History Who Were Habitual Walkers

' src=

Aw I love these words! I know a little French and an even smaller amount of Spanish but putting these words from all different languages is such a good idea. Alpas is a great one! Soph – https://sophhearts.com x

' src=

I know the feeling of yugen well. It’s being moved to tears when you watch the sunrise from a mountain top, or suddenly realizing how very small you are when confronted with the vastness of the ocean.

' src=

Interesting list. I’m curious to also know how you discovered these words.

Pingback: Flânerie Definition: What Does it Actually Mean? » Flâneur Life

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

travel lover word

Let’s Connect

Blog CATEGORIES

MOST RECENT Posts

Gold LIRA: How to Buy Gold With a Locked-in Retirement Account

Where to buy gold in canada: a trusted buyer’s guide, gold tfsa: how to hold gold in your tax-free savings account, gold rrsp in canada: everything you need to know.

travel lover word

Ready to create your own freedom?

Kickstart your journey towards autonomy today.

To propel you forward, we’ve created a complimentary 7-day, 7-minute series – a daily challenge in Choose-Your-Own-Adventure style! Immerse yourself in the wealth of tools and tactics essential to crafting your own life of freedom, regardless of where you’re starting from.

Simply click the button below to sign up completely free!

  • Related Posts

bucket-list-ideas

101+ Unique Bucket List Ideas to Make Life an Adventure

cheapest-countries-to-travel-to

Cheapest Countries to Travel To: Guide to Affordable Adventuring

How to Choose a Country to Live

How to Choose a Country to Live in (For Digital Nomads and Expats)

60 Beautiful Travel Words Every Travel Lover Should Know

Travel Words

Are you dying to perambulate? Dreaming of the day when you can coddiwomple around? Wondering what the heck those things even mean? If the latter rings true, well, we’ve got some travel words you need to add to your vocab ASAP. Because, let’s be honest , being a lover of travel is almost a language unto itself already . If you’ve got roam in your bones and run across someone else in the world who does too, you just sort of get each other. And so hearing words that capture the inherent magic of being a traveler is bound to stir something inside of you. Or, at the very least, stir you into planning your next trip .

As an added bonus, the following lexicon can serve a few other excellent purposes for the wandering soul — like making for a great tattoo, or helping you beast all of your friends in Scrabble. So, keep reading, but be forewarned… you’re going to want to pack your bags and book a flight by the time you’re finished.

Other Words for Travel

  • Pilgrimage (n.): A journey; the course of life on earth.
  • Trek (n.): A trip or movement, especially when involving difficulties or complex organization; an arduous journey.
  • Voyage (n.): An act or instance of traveling; a course or period of traveling by other than land routes.
  • Gallivant (v.): To travel, roam, or move about for pleasure.
  • Perambulate (v.): To travel over or through, especially on foot.
  • Expedition (n.): A journey or excursion undertaken for a specific purpose.
  • Excursion (n.): A usually brief pleasure trip.
  • Odyssey (n.): A long wandering or voyage usually marked by many changes of fortune .
  • Walkabout (n.): A short period of wandering bush life engaged in by an Australian aborigine as an occasional interruption of regular work — often used in the phrase go walkabout; something (such as a journey) similar to a walkabout.
  • Migrate (v.): To move from one country, place, or locality to another.
  • Globe-trotting (adj.): Traveling widely.
  • Itinerant (adj.): Traveling from place to place.
  • Sojourn (v.): To stay as a temporary resident.
  • Traverse (v.): To go or travel across or over; to move or pass along or through.
  • Circumnavigate (v.): To go completely around, especially by water .
  • Peregrinate (v.): To travel, especially on foot; to walk or travel over.
  • Peripatetic (n.): Movement or journeys hither and thither.
  • Coddiwomple (v.): To travel in a purposeful manner towards a vague destination.
  • Dérive (n.): A spontaneous and unplanned journey where the traveler is guided by the landscape and architecture.
  • Hitoritabi (n.): Traveling alone; solitary journey.

Words for Travelers

  • Nemophilist (n.): One who is fond of forests or forest scenery; a haunter of the woods.
  • Gadabout (n.): A person who flits about in social activity.
  • Flâneur (n.): A person who strolls the city in order to experience it; deliberately aimless.
  • Nefelibata (n.): One who lives in the clouds of their own imagination or dreams, or one who does not obey conventions of society, literature, or art; “cloud walker.”
  • Hodophile (n.): One who loves to travel; a traveler with a special affinity for roads.
  • Wayfarer (n.): A traveler, especially on foot.
  • Livsnjutare (n.): One who loves life deeply and lives it to the extreme.
  • Thalassophile (n.): A lover of the sea; someone who loves the sea, ocean.
  • Musafir (n.): “Traveler” in Arabic, Persian, Hindu, and Urdu.
  • Nomad (n.): An individual who roams about.
  • Solivagent (adj.): Someone who wanders or travels the world alone; a solitary adventurer.
  • Luftmensch (n.): An impractical dreamer, literally an air person; someone with their head in the clouds.

Creative Travel Words

  • Sturmfrei (adj.): The freedom of being alone and being able to do what your heart desires.
  • Resfeber (n.): The restless race of a traveler’s heart before a journey begins; a ‘travel fever’ of anxiety and anticipation.
  • Hireath (n.): A homesickness for a home to which you cannot return, a home which maybe never was; the nostalgia, the yearning, the grief for the lost places of your past.
  • Sonder (v.): The full definition, taken from The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows , is: “[Sonder is] the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own—populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries, and inherited craziness—an epic story that continues invisibly around you like an anthill sprawling deep underground, with elaborate passageways to thousands of other lives that you’ll never know existed, in which you might appear only once, as an extra sipping coffee in the background, as a blur of traffic passing on the highway, as a lighted window at dusk.”
  • Fernweh (n.): An ache for a distant place; missing places you’ve never been before.
  • Sehnsucht (n.): A craving for adventure; an intense yearning for something far-off and indefinable.
  • Numinous (adj.): A powerful feeling of both fear and fascination, of being in awe and overwhelmed by what is before you.
  • Vagary (v.): An unpredictable instance; a wandering journey; a whimsical, wild, or unusual idea, desire, or action.
  • Saudade (n.): A nostalgic longing to be near again to something, someone, or some place that is distant, or which has been loved and then lost.
  • Trouvaille (n.): Something lovely discovered by chance; a windfall.
  • Yoko meshi (n.): The peculiar stress induced by speaking a foreign language.
  • Selcouth (adj.): Unfamiliar, rare, strange, and yet marvelous.
  • Yugen (n.): A profound, mysterious sense of the beauty of the universe that triggers a deep emotional response .
  • Novaturient (adj.): A desire to seek powerful change in one’s life; the feeling that pushes you to travel.
  • Travitude (n.): When you start to feel grumpy and sassy because you miss traveling.
  • Eudaimonia (n.): The condition of human flourishing or of living well.
  • Ukiyo (n.): Living in the moment, detached from the bothers of life; “the floating world.”
  • Strikehedonia (n.): The joy of being able to say “to hell with it.”
  • Solivagant (n.): To wander alone. Someone who is a solo adventurer who travels the world. This word comes from the Latin word solivagus , which means lonely or solitary.
  • Eleutheromania (n.): A great or incredible desire for freedom. This is a person who has an intense longing for liberty and independence.
  • Cockaigne (n.): A place of luxury or idleness. This word comes from the French word cocaigne, which means “the land of plenty.”
  • Ecophobia (n.): An abnormal fear of home surroundings.
  • Morii (n.): The desire to capture a fleeting moment.
  • Exulansis (n.): This is what you feel when you stop trying to explain or talk about an experience because the surrounding people cannot relate to it.
  • Rückkehrunruhe (n.): The feeling of returning home after a trip and finding that you keep forgetting you’ve been away. The person has to constantly remind themselves that the excursion even happened.
  • Absquatulate (n.): To flee or leave abruptly without saying goodbye.
  • Onism (n.): The awareness of how little of the world you’ll experience. The frustration of being stuck in just one body that inhabits only one place at a time.
  • Hygge (n.): The cozy feeling of relaxing with friends while having a meal or drinks. A quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a sense of contentment or well-being.

This article was originally published on Jan. 8, 2021

travel lover word

MyPostcard Blog

40 Unique Words About Travel 

“Not all who wander are lost” J.R.R. Tolkien – but perhaps they’re suffering from fernweh? Or have a bout of wanderlust? Or they were born a nemophilist?

Have you ever traveled to a new destination and not known how to describe what you’re feeling? Well, there are loads of different travel synonyms in different languages that’ll help you describe what you’re feeling perfectly. 

Take a look at this list filled with creative travel words, wanderlust synonyms, and travel lover synonyms. Expand your travel vocabulary! 

Meaning: An urge to travel is even stronger than wanderlust.

Origin: German

#2 Numinous

numinous, one of our favorite words about travel

Meaning: Feeling both fearful and awed by what is before you.

Origin: Latin

#3 Strikhedonia

Meaning: The joy of being able to say “to hell with it”.

Origin: Greek

#4 Peregrinate

Meaning: To travel or wander around from place to place.

#5 Eudaimonia

Meaning: The contented happiness you feel when you travel.

Meaning: The realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own.

Origin: Unknown

#7 Trouvaille

A word definition from the French, trouvaille

Meaning: Something lovely discovered by chance.

Origin: French

Meaning: The awareness of how little of the world you’ll experience.

Origin: Danish

Meaning: A spontaneous journey where the traveler lets the spirit of the landscape and architecture move them. 

#10 Serendipity

Meaning: Finding something interesting or valuable by chance. 

Origin: English

#11 Livsnjutare

Meaning: One who loves life deeply and lives it to the extreme.

Origin: Swedish

#12 Solivagant

Meaning: Wandering alone. A solitary adventurer who travels or wanders the globe.

#13 Ecophobia

Ecophobia, a word about travel meaning a fear of one's home

Meaning: A fear or dislike of one’s home.

#14 Schwellenangst

Meaning: Fear of crossing a threshold to begin a new chapter.

#15 Eleutheromania

Meaning: The intense desire for freedom.

Meaning: A whimsical or roaming journey.

#17 Saudade

Meaning:  The emotional state of nostalgia and longing for someone or something distant. Saudade was once described as “the love that remains” after someone is gone.

Origin: Portuguese

Meaning: The warm feeling you get while enjoying the company of great friends and all life has to offer.

Psst! We have some hearty Hygge ideas to make the winter time cozier for you here .

#19Nemophilist 

A word for tree-lovers, nemophilist

Meaning: Someone who is fond of the forest.

Origin: English 

#20 Yoko meshi

Meaning: The word is not an easy translation but it describes the stress of speaking a foreign language.

Origin: Japanese

#21 Coddiwomple

Meaning: To travel purposefully towards an unknown destination

#22 Sehnsucht

Meaning: A wistful longing and yearning in the heart for travels that have been and travels to come.

#23 Yūgen 

Meaning: A profound and mysterious sense of the beauty of the universe.

#24 Sturmfrei

The definition of a word from German about travel, Sturmfrei

Meaning: The freedom of being alone and having the ability to do whatever you want.

#25 Nefelibata

Meaning: One who lives in the cloud of their own imagination. Someone who is generally unconventional. 

#26 Commuovere

Meaning: To move to tears. 

Origin: Italian 

Check out these best views in the world that’ll move you to tears!

#27 Flâuner 

Meaning:  A person of leisure, deliberately aimless, simply wandering the streets.

#28 Musafir

Meaning: Traveler

Origin: Urdu

#29 Querencia

Meaning: The place where you are your most authentic self, from where strength is drawn, where you feel at home.

Origin: Spanish

#30 Thalassophile

Meaning: A lover of the ocean.

As a thalassophile myself, I’d recommend traveling along the sea on Greece’s Rhodes Island .

#31 Komorebi

Words about travel - komorebi from Japanese

Meaning: The sunlight that filters through the leaves of trees.

#32 Acatalepsy

Meaning: The idea that it is impossible to truly comprehend everything. 

#33 Wayfarer

Meaning: Someone who loves to travel, especially on foot. 

#34 Selcouth 

Meaning: Something that’s odd and unusual to a person. 

Origin: Old English

#35 Novaturient

Meaning: A desire to seek powerful change in one’s life; the feeling that pushes you to travel.

#36 Rückkehrunruhe 

Meaning: The feeling of returning home after an immersive trip only to find it fading rapidly from your awareness—to the extent you have to keep reminding yourself that it happened at all.

#37 Exulansis 

Meaning:  is what you feel when you stop trying to explain or talk about an experience because the surrounding people cannot relate to it. 

Meaning: Living in the moment, detached from the bothers of life.

#39 Wanderlust

Meaning: A strong desire to travel.

Origin: German 

Meaning:  A union or reunion after being apart for a long time with one’s beloved.

Origin: Turkish

We hope you’ve found some new beautiful and inspiring words about travel! If you’d like to learn more, check out these inspirational words in other languages !

Or send one of these beautiful words on a personalized travel postcard via the MyPostcard app . We print and send your postcards for you!

travel lover word

Hiya, I’m Maud. I’m an English girl who's moved to Berlin - because who wouldn’t fall in love with a country which has words like ‘Kummerspeck’ hidden around every corner... I love traveling and finding out the quirks of each country - and what better way to remember them than on a postcard?

Related Posts

Dresden and saxon switzerland – the perfect weekend trip, vacation in carinthia: experience the sunny side of the austrian alps, off to a texas adventure: our trip to san antonio, fredericksburg and bandera – part 2.

Comments are closed.

29 travel words that describe travel better than you ever thought possible

Travellers in Bolivia

We love travelling and we love words, so imagine our surprise when we came across a massive treasure trove of travel words that describe how we feel before, during and after we travel better than anything we’ve ever seen, ever. In the history of everything.

These literary gems make ‘wanderlust’ look like an overrated show pony. Which it is. Travel brochures of the future will be littered with the likes of resfeber, eudaimonia and fernweh. At least, they will if we have anything to do with it.

TAKE IT AWAY, WORDS!

1. Trouvaille (n.)

Origin: French

Something lovely discovered by chance, like stumbling on a waterfall in Costa Rica .

2. Dérive (n.)

Origin: Latin/French

Lit. “drift”; a spontaneous journey where the traveller leaves their life behind for a time to let the spirit of the landscape and architecture attract and move them.

Girl on the Quarry Trail in Peru

Dériving along the Quarry Trail. Photo by Stephen Parry.

DÉRIVE YOUR WAY AROUND SOUTH AMERICA ON A SMALL GROUP ADVENTURE NOW 

3. Numinous (adj.)

Origin: Latin

Describing an experience that makes you fearful yet fascinated, awed yet attracted; the powerful, personal feeling of being overwhelmed and inspired. For example, you may have a numinous experience at Yosemite National Park , gazing up in wonder at El Capitan, or at a towering black bear.

4. Cockaigne (n.)

Origin: French, medieval trope

An imaginary land of luxury and idleness. Think House Tyrell of Highgarden, minus the poisoning.

5. Schwellenangst (n.)

Origin: German

Fear of embarking on something new; fear of crossing a threshold. But you know what? You should totally just go with it, and cross that threshold.

A man backflips off a sand dune

Getting all Strikhedonia in Jordan. Photo by tegan & nathan.

6. Strikhedonia (n.)

Origin: Greek

The pleasure of being able to say “to hell with it”. Try it now. Head to our North America page  and shriek ‘Strikhedonia’ immediately before booking a trip.

7. Resfeber (n.)

Origin: Swedish

The restless race of the traveller’s heart before the journey begins when anxiety and anticipation are tangled together; a ‘travel fever’ that can manifest as an illness. The only cure is another grand adventure.

8. Vagary (n.)

An unpredictable instance, a wandering journey; a whimsical, wild or unusual idea, desire, or action.

ESCAPE THE VAGARIES OF LIFE ON, SAY, A SMALL GROUP ADVENTURE IN AFRICA

Girl walks through shrine in Japan.

Embracing eudaimonia in Japan. Photo by Stephen Parry.

9. Eudaimonia (n.)

Lit. “human flourishing”; a contented state of being happy, healthy and prosperous. For example, you are pretty much guaranteed to experience eudaimonia as you watch the sun rise above the ocean in Playa del Carmen .

10. Quaquaversal (adj.)

Moving or happening in every direction instantaneously. It’s a little like when you think your passport’s in your sock drawer but it’s not and your flight’s leaving in three hours.

11. Novaturient (adj.)

Desiring or seeking powerful change in one’s life, behaviour, or situation.

Young travellers in the jungle.

Happily quaquaversal in Guatemala. Photo by Nathan Landers.

12. Sehnsucht (n.)

“The inconsolable longing in the human heart for we know now what”; a yearning for a far, familiar, non-earthly land one can identify as one’s home.

13. Ecophobia (n.)

Origin: English

A fear or dislike of one’s home.

14. Eleutheromania (n.)

An intense and irresistible desire for freedom. Pretty much describes every picture of the Greek Islands  we’ve ever seen.

Trevi Fountain

Livsnjutare in Italy. Photo by The Common Wanderer

15. Livsnjutare (n.)

One who loves life deeply and lives it to the extreme.

16. Solivagant (adj.)

Wandering alone. Although we think it’s better when you’re solivagant with a small group of other solivagant types.

17. Saudade (n.)

Origin: Portuguese

A nostalgic longing to be near again to something or someone that is distant or that has been loved and then lost; “the love that remains”. For example, I have a nostalgic longing for Turkish Delight right now.

Girl at night market

Having eunoia in Vietnam. Photo by Damien Raggatt.

18. Eunoia (n.)

Beautiful thinking; a good mind. My love of Turkish Delight proves I have eunoia (or does it?).

19. Sturmfrei (adj.)

Origin: Germany

Lit. “stormfree”; the freedom of not being watched by a parent or superior; being alone at a place and having the ability to do what you want. Like eating 18 waffles in a day in Belgium .

20. Yoko meshi (n.)

Origin: Japan

The peculiar stress of speaking a foreign language (literally means ‘a meal eaten sideways’). If you’ve ever tried to order ramen in one of Tokyo’s  laneway bars, you’ll know exactly what this means.

Two people in bright clothes

Selcouth outfits in the Sacred Valley. Photo by Stephen Parry.

21. Selcouth (adj.)

Unfamiliar, rare, strange, and yet marvellous, like adding cheese to your coffee in Colombia .

22. Fernweh (n.)

An ache for distance places; the craving for travel; the opposite of homesickness. Also one of Instagram’s most popular hashtags.

23. Yūgen (n.)

An awareness of the universe that triggers emotional responses too deep and mysterious for words.

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

It’s hard not to feel yūgen in a place like this. Photo by Damien Raggatt.

24. Commuovere (v.)

Origin: Italy

Only in Italy  would you find such a sensual word meaning to stir, to touch, to move to tears. Possibly while eating a giant slice of thin-crust pizza.

SUBSCRIBE TO INTREPID’S NEWSLETTER FOR TRAVEL TIPS, COMPETITIONS, GIVEAWAYS & MORE

25. Peregrinate (v.)

To wander from place to place. AKA travel. It’s the very definition. Think of a falcon and BE THE FALCON by embracing its love of flying immediately.

26. Nemophilist (n.)

One who is fond of forests; a haunter of the woods. Not like a spooky ghost; more like a guy with a top-knot who enjoys spending his weekends writing poetry under an old oak tree and drinking black coffee from a vintage thermos.

Girl standing on a rock

Peripatetic over a rock. photo by Phoebe Escott-Kenny.

27. Peripatetic (n.)

A person who spends his or her time wandering. There’s nothing pathetic about being peripatetic – we embrace the wanderers wholeheartedly.

GET PERIPATETIC IN THE MIDDLE EAST. EXPLORE OUR RANGE OF ADVENTURES NOW

28. Hireath (n.)

Origin: Welsh

A homesickness for a home that you can’t return to, a home that perhaps never was. Which is kind of a downer, but a good excuse to keep travelling.

29. Gadabout (n.)

A person who travels often, and for pleasure. Something we should all aspire to, right? Be professional gadabouters? Update your LinkedIn profiles now, gang.

Now you’ve got the lingo, USE IT! Impress your friends with your newfound vocabulary on a small group adventure with Intrepid .

Feeling inspired?

travel lover word

Intrepid Travel

Intrepid has been leading small group adventures for over 30 years. We’re a certified B Corp, which means we want to be the best travel company not just in the world, but for the world. To create positive change through the joy of travel. You can read our latest adventures right here.

You might also like

Galapagos or madagascar which unique destination should be..., travelling to chile here’s the best time to..., 10 reasons to visit samoa, the 10 antarctica questions you want answered, australia or new zealand where to go on..., 10 epic spots to stop at on your..., small group travel vs coach tours: which style..., costa rica or mexico: which country to check..., 7 of the best destinations for solo travellers..., machu picchu or chichen itza which historical site..., the people you meet: the art of connecting....

travel lover word

25 Travel Words that Wanderlust should have in their Lexicon

Photo of Aditya Samadhiya

There are times that we might not find the exact words to explain or express the feeling when travelling. It always happened more often that we run out of words to describe our thoughts or emotions & feelings when we are travelling or on an adventure. Maybe adding the below words to your lexicon will help. Learning new words & Languages is really fun especially if it relates to your hobby or interest .

So here is the list of 25 Words Every Traveler Should Know and it might be required some efforts to pounce it but the adventurer in you who love to take challenges will surely relate to their meanings.

1. WANDERLUST

Let’s start with the most popular one. A wanderlust mean a strong, innate, impulse or desire to travel the world.

Photo of 25 Travel Words that Wanderlust should have in their Lexicon 1/11 by Aditya Samadhiya

2.COSMOPOLITAN

Cosmopolican be best defined as “At home all over the world,” and as a noun, “a citizen of the world

From the Latin vagari, meaning “to wander,” this 16th-century word originally meant a wandering journey. Nowadays, “vagaries” refer to unpredictable or erratic situations, but that doesn’t mean the old sense of the word can’t be invoked from time to time.

4. SELCOUTH

An Old English word that refers to something that’s both strange and marvelous. It’s a great way to sum up those seemingly indescribable moments spent in an unfamiliar land.

Who hasn’t felt a strong desire to be somewhere—anywhere—other than where you currently are? That’s fernweh, or “farsickness,” and this German word has been described as a cousin of wanderlust, another German loan word.

Photo of 25 Travel Words that Wanderlust should have in their Lexicon 2/11 by Aditya Samadhiya

Another gift from the French, this word literally translates to “drift,” but thanks to some mid-20th century French philosophers, it can also refer to a spontaneous trip, completely free of plans, in which you let your surroundings guide you.

Photo of 25 Travel Words that Wanderlust should have in their Lexicon 3/11 by Aditya Samadhiya

7. PEREGRINATE

To peregrinate is to travel from place to place, especially on foot.

8. PERAMBULATE

Similar to peregrinate, this word essentially means to travel over or through an area by foot. So instead of saying that you’ll be walking around London, you can say you’ll be perambulating the city’s streets—much more sophisticated.Syn- Wayfarer

9. NUMINOUS

This English word could appropriately be used to describe the Grand Canyon or the Northern Lights. Something numinous is awe-inspiring and mysterious. It’s difficult to understand from a rational perspective, which gives it a spiritual or unearthly quality.

Photo of 25 Travel Words that Wanderlust should have in their Lexicon 4/11 by Aditya Samadhiya

10. PERIPATETIC

The young and the restless will want to incorporate this word into their lexicon. The adjective refers to those who are constantly moving from place to place—in other words, a nomadic existence. It stems from the Greek word peripatein (“to walk up and down”).

11. WALDEINSAMKEIT

You’re alone in a forest. It’s peaceful. The sun is filtering through the trees and there’s a light breeze. That’s waldeinsamkeit. (Literally “forest solitude.” And yes, Germans have all the best travel words.)

12. SOLIVAGANT

In those moments when you just want to run away from your responsibilities, you may consider becoming a solivagant: a solo wanderer.

Photo of 25 Travel Words that Wanderlust should have in their Lexicon 5/11 by Aditya Samadhiya

13. RESFEBER

You just booked your flight. Your heart starts racing. You’re a little nervous about your journey, but mostly you just can’t wait to get going. The anticipation, anxiety, and excitement you get before a big trip is all rolled into one word—resfeber—and you can thank the Swedes for it.

Photo of 25 Travel Words that Wanderlust should have in their Lexicon 6/11 by Aditya Samadhiya

14. GADABOUT

This could be construed as the traditional English equivalent of flâneur, meaning “to wander without a specific aim or purpose,” a gadabout is one who frequently travels from place to place for the sheer fun of it. In other words: a modern-day backpacker.

15. HIRAETH

Sometimes, no matter how amazing your vacation may be, you just want to come home to your bed and cats. This Welsh word sums up the deep yearning for home that can strike without warning. As Gillian Thomas put it in an interview with the BBC, “Home sickness is too weak. You feel hiraeth, which is a longing of the soul to come home to be safe.”

16. COMMUOVERE

Have you ever seen something so beautiful it made you cry? That’s commuovere in action. The Italian word describes the feeling of being moved, touched, or stirred by something you witness or experience.

17. SMULTRONSTÄLLE

This Swedish word translates to something along the lines of “place of wild strawberries,” but its metaphorical meaning is something along the lines of a “happy place.” Whether it’s a hidden overlook of the city or your favorite vacation spot that hasn’t been “discovered” yet, smultronställe refers to those semi-secret places you return to time and time again because they’re special and personal to you.

Photo of 25 Travel Words that Wanderlust should have in their Lexicon 7/11 by Aditya Samadhiya

The realization that each random passer-by is living a life as vivid and complex as your own.

Photo of 25 Travel Words that Wanderlust should have in their Lexicon 8/11 by Aditya Samadhiya

19. NEMOPHILIST

A haunter of the woods; one who loves the forest and its beauty and solitude.

Photo of 25 Travel Words that Wanderlust should have in their Lexicon 9/11 by Aditya Samadhiya

20. LEHITKALEV

Backpackers and budget travelers, this one is for you: The Hebrew word lehitkalev translates to “dog it” and means to deal with uncomfortable living or travel arrangements.

21. KOMOREBI

This beautiful Japanese word is a good one to save for a sunny day spent in the woods. Komorebi translates to “sunshine filtering through the leaves.” Does it get any lovelier than that?

This Balinese word refers to something that is simultaneously chaotic and joyful. It isn’t specifically a travel word, but it does seem to fit the feelings that are often awakened by travel.

Photo of 25 Travel Words that Wanderlust should have in their Lexicon 10/11 by Aditya Samadhiya

23. TROUVAILLE

Translating to a “lucky find,” this French word can be applied to that cool cafe, flower-lined street, or quirky craft store that you stumbled upon by chance. Indeed, these are the moments that make travel worthwhile.

24. ULLASSA

The Sanskrit word ullassa refers to the feelings of pleasantness that come from observing natural beauty in all its glory.

25. VACILANDO

In some Spanish dialects, the word vacilando describes someone who travels with a vague destination in mind but has no real incentive to get there. In other words, the journey is more important than the destination. As John Steinbeck described it in his travelogue Travels With Charley: “It does not mean vacillating at all. If one is vacilando, he is going somewhere, but doesn’t greatly care whether or not he gets there, although he has direction. I have often assumed this state of being.

Photo of 25 Travel Words that Wanderlust should have in their Lexicon 11/11 by Aditya Samadhiya

Aditya Samadhiya

For more pictures, follow my daily micro blogs on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/asvin_samadhiya/.

You can also find inspiration from my Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/AadityaSamadhiya

I am on Twitter too! ???? https://twitter.com/AsvinSamadhiya

Follow Me : Blogger & Tripoto

FB Pixel

Travel Words: Top 30 Unusual Words with Beautiful Meanings

Honestly speaking, I am an avid traveler. When I quit my regular full-time job, the first thought that ever came in my mind is to go and see the world and find travel words that I can use to describe my experiences.

Luckily, I have managed to make it my career and a source of income. As a travel blogger, I think, I talk, and obviously share my stories through this blog and share very important information to my valuable followers. The moments I travel and mingle with different kinds of people , I just cannot express what I want to say. Hence, I have come across several unusual travel words with beautiful meanings so I can further expand my travel vocabulary, and of course, to quench my feeling of anxiety.

I love different languages, and I love traveling. When I encounter a treasure of unusual words with beautiful meanings and synonyms of wanderlust, you can feel my excitement as these creative travel words describe our feelings during, before, and after visiting a new destination.

Just like a photo is not enough to describe the feeling when you stand on the tip of a creek, the term ‘wanderlust’ is not enough to express our feelings when we desperately need to go for the next adventure.

These foreign words with beautiful meanings are really the gems collected from different languages spoken across the world. From Swedish to Japanese, Greek to Latin, it is sure that travel brochures will be loaded with unusual travel words to describe travel experience in the future like livsnjutare, resfeber, and so on.

Every language has its own variation to explain and define your travel experience and your wanderlust. The word ‘wanderlust’ refers to a strong desire or impulse to wander, travel, and see the world.

When I started doing my homework and searching for those adjectives for travel words , the more I went appealed to them as they could, somehow, convey our emotions and feelings the way better than what English could not do. So, without further ado, listed here is the list of appealing and most creative travel words for travel lovers.

NOTE: All of the photos in this post are pinnable, just hover, and you can pin it right away for inspiration later!

Table of Contents

1. Fernweh (n.) Far sickness. An urge to travel even stronger than wanderlust.

2. Resfeber (n.) The tangled feelings of fear and excitement before a journey begins.

3. Dérive (v.) To drift unplanned, led only by the landscape and architecture around you.

4. Schwellenangst (n.) Fear of crossing a threshold to embark on something new.

5. Sehnsucht (n.) A wistful longing and yearning in the heart for travels that have been and travels to come.

Words that describe travel

6. Eleutheromania (n.) The intense desire for freedom.

7. Livsnjutare (n.) Someone who loves life deeply and lives it to the extreme.

8. Yūgen (n.) An awareness of the universe that triggers emotional responses too deep and mysterious for words.

9. Sonder (n.) The realization every person is living their own vivid life .

10. Onism (n.) Awareness of how little of the world you’ll experience.

Words to describe travel experience

11. Novaturient (adj.) A desire to change and alter your life.

12. Selcouth (adj.) Strange and uncommon, the way you see things when you travel.

13. Eudaimonia (n.) The contented happy stated we feel when we travel.

14. Coddiwomple (v.) To travel purposefully towards a vague destination.

15. Flâneur (n.) Someone who strolls aimlessly but enjoyable, observing life and the surroundings.

Creative travel words

16. Vorfreude (n.) The joyful, intense anticipation that comes from imagining future pleasures.

17. Peregrinate (v.) Travel or wander around from place to place.

18. Querencia (n.) The place where you are your most authentic self, from where strength is drawn, where you feel at home.

19. Sturmfrei (adj.) The freedom of being alone, the ability to do what you want.

20. Nefelibata (n.) “Cloud-Walker.” One who lives in the clouds of their own imagination or who does not obey the conventions of society, literature, or art. An unconventional person.

Foreign words with beautiful meanings

21. Vagary (n.) A wandering or roaming journey.

22. Trouvaille (n.) Something lovely found by chance.

23. Numinous (adj.) Being both fearful and awed by what you see before you.

24. Strikhedonia (n.) The joy of being able to say “the hell with it.”

25. Hygge (n.) The cozy feeling of relaxing with friends while having a meal or drinks.

Word for a travel lover

26. Waldeinsamkeit (n.) The feeling of being alone in the woods.

27. Meraki (adj.) Putting a part of yourself into what you’re doing.

28. Forelsket (adj.) The euphoria you experience when you are first falling in love.

29. Yu yi The desire to feel things just as intensely as you did when you were younger — before expectations, before memory, before words.

30. Solivagant (n.) Wandering alone.

  • Pinterest 24.4K

About me

Evan Kristine a.k.a Pretty Wild World is a professional travel blogger with over 10 years of experience in content creation. Originally from the Philippines, she's been living in Finland for 15+ years working as a chef and entrepreneur in Tampere, Finland.

She's an expert in Finland travel and explores the country often sharing her insights and tips in this blog and social medias. She also splits her free time either going for weekend getaways in Europe or galavanting to different European destinations on her holidays. All her useful Europe travel guides are also in this blog!

Evan Kristine is also the food blogger behind at The Kitchen Abroad and on her free time, she enjoys decorating her 75m2 apartment and shares her experience over at Solía Avenue .

A true master of her own life and despite her busy schedule juggling life as a chef, blogger, and entrepreneur, she still finds time to read 50+ books a year and indulge in several hobbies like hiking, working out, yoga, and painting.

1 thought on “Travel Words: Top 30 Unusual Words with Beautiful Meanings”

Thanks, for a very nice article and the most useful information to your site 30 Unusual words with beautiful meanings thanks to searing information.

Comments are closed.

Sharing is Caring

Help spread the word. You're awesome for doing it!

Grammarhow

8 Words To Describe A Person Who Loves To Travel

Someone who loves to travel often enjoys introducing themselves to a wide range of cultures and countries. We might want to come up with a good synonym to describe people like that, and this article is the place for that.

Which Words Can Describe A Person Who Loves To Travel?

There are plenty of options to describe a person who loves to travel. Some of the best ones that we’ll cover in this article include:

Globetrotter

  • Travel freak

Peripatetic

Which Words Can Describe A Person Who Loves To Travel?

The preferred version is “globetrotter” because it refers to somebody who is happy to spend their days traveling around the globe. They like to immerse themselves in their travels, and it’s the only word on the list that specifically plays into someone ’s love of traveling.

Let’s start with “globetrotter,” which is by far the best word we can use on this list.

A globetrotter is somebody who enjoys traveling and will do so more often than most people. They’ll usually be the first person to book plane tickets out of the country, and they usually won’t care much about the time they come back.

Making holiday or vacation plans for a globetrotter is easy. Since they love traveling so much, they’re more than happy to invest a lot of their time and money into their next big trip.

The definition of “globetrotter,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary , is “someone who often travels to a lot of different countries.”

You might see “globetrotter” in the following ways:

  • He’s such a globetrotter! I wish I could visit as many countries as he has.
  • I like to think of myself as a globetrotter, and I never stay in one country for more than two weeks.
  • We’re a family of globetrotters, and we can’t wait to explore more of the world as we adventure.

Travel Freak

“Travel freak” is a slang phrase, where “freak” is a positive word to talk about someone’s obsession with something.

A travel freak is somebody who is completely obsessed with traveling. They’re more than happy to explore the world, and they don’t care what people might think about their freedom or love to explore new cultures and countries.

While “freak” is usually a negative slang phrase, we use it here in a positive way to show that we’re amazed by someone’s obsession with traveling.

You could see the slang phrase “travel freak” work as follows :

  • You’re such a travel freak! I wish I was as confident as you at getting out and seeing the world.
  • I’m a travel freak! I can’t get enough of all the wonderful adventures I get to have.
  • I’m a travel freak, and I’m more than happy to admit it! I don’t know where my next adventure will be.

“Wanderlust” is a noun and not an adjective. However, it’s still a great way to describe somebody’s feeling of the love they get from traveling around.

Someone who has wanderlust will often dream about new adventures and places to go. We combine “wander,” meaning to explore, and “lust,” meaning “to long for.”

Wanderlust is an emotion that people can feel, which is why it’s not a descriptive word and doesn’t rank higher on this list. Still, we can describe someone’s emotions with “wanderlust” as a noun, which makes it a good choice nonetheless.

The definition of “wanderlust,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary , is “the wish to travel far away and to many different places.”

While “wanderlust” is a noun, we can still use it in the following ways:

  • I’ve got wanderlust, and it won’t go away until I get abroad!
  • Wanderlust is such a powerful emotion that I feel nearly every day.
  • He’s got plenty of wanderlust to go around, and I’m sure you can ask him where he’ll be traveling to next!

Now we come to some of the more specific words. “Rover” doesn’t strictly apply to someone who loves travel, but it can still work well.

A rover is somebody who spends a lot of time traveling. While the exact definition doesn’t mean they love traveling, it’s heavily implied that somebody who calls themselves a rover is more than happy to explore the world and everything in it.

The definition of “rover,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary , is “a person who spends their time traveling from place to place.”

“Rover” works in the following examples:

  • I’m a rover, meaning that I never like to spend too much time in one place.
  • He loves to travel so much that he refers to himself as Roger the Rover!
  • She’s a rover, and she’ll always be looking for the next best adventure on her laptop!

A “nomad” isn’t always a person who loves traveling and sometimes refers to someone who travels out of necessity. That’s why we didn’t include it higher, but it also belongs on this list.

Nomads are people who travel and never live in one place. They’ll have plenty of options outside of their original housing or settlement to move to. It is used to refer to a group of people but can also work to describe a singular person.

While there’s no direct reason for nomads to love traveling, it’s still implied when we use it to describe somebody.

The definition of “nomad,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary , is “a member of a group of people who move from one place to another rather than living in one place all of the time.”

“Nomads” are more specific, but the following examples demonstrate how we can use the word:

  • You’re a bunch of nomads, which explains why you’re all more than happy to up and leave at a moment’s notice.
  • He’s a nomad, making it much harder for him to settle down and find a family.
  • I’m just a nomad, and I don’t like to hang around for longer than I’m welcome.

“Peripatetic” is an uncommon word with Greek origins, but it works really well as a member on this list.

A peripatetic person or lifestyle is someone who travels around to different places. The most common reason for this is because of their work, which might require them to travel out to new lands.

While the word is heavily linked to working abroad or in distant cities, that doesn’t mean a peripatetic person can’t have fun traveling. We use it to mean that somebody is constantly on the move, and they’ll often have plenty of stories to share about the things they’ve done.

The definition of “peripatetic,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary , is “traveling around to different places, usually because you work in more than one place.”

We might use “peripatetic” as follows:

  • My work gives me a peripatetic life, making it hard to make any friends.
  • I live a peripatetic lifestyle thanks to all the chances and fun I get to have with work.
  • We’re both quite peripatetic, which I suppose helps us to stay in such a healthy relationship.

A wanderer is somewhat similar to a rover, but the two people have different aims with their travel.

Wanderers often travel from place to place, but they rarely have a clear reason for doing so. Wandering refers to an aimless or mindless attempt to travel and doesn’t always mean that someone is in love with traveling.

Usually, wanderers are hippy-types, where they’re happy to let the universe or other signs tell them where to go and what to do. It’s a very free way to live your life, which is why it works well in this list.

The definition of “wanderer,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary , is “someone who often travels from place to place, especially without any clear aim or purpose.”

“Wanderer” works in the following ways:

  • I suppose you could call me a wanderer because I like adventure, but I rarely plan it out.
  • He’s just a wanderer, and we’re sure he’ll be passing through this town just like every other town out there.
  • You’re not a very good wanderer if you end up staying in the same place for longer than three months!

Finally, we’ll talk about a vagabond. It’s the furthest away from the original meaning of someone who loves to travel, but we can still use it as such.

A vagabond is someone who has to travel, usually because they don’t have a home or a job to tie them down. While this doesn’t always mean that they love the process of traveling, they’ll usually have a good time once they reach their new destination.

Vagabonds don’t often want to travel, but sometimes they are forced to if the conditions of their original life become too poor.

The definition of “vagabond,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary , is “a person who has no home and usually no job, and who travels from place to place.”

We can use “vagabond” in the following ways:

  • I’m a vagabond, which makes it hard for me to keep up with my own lifestyle.
  • Because of my work schedule and business trips, you might as well call me a vagabond!
  • Everyone in this city seems to be a vagabond because nobody works and everybody leaves.

martin lassen dam grammarhow

Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here .

  • 10 Appropriate Synonyms For A Clean Freak
  • 10 Words For Someone Who Minds Other People’s Business
  • 11 Best Words For Someone Who Loves Nature
  • 10 Words For Someone Who Wants To Control Everything

Get Lost Travel Blog

81 Inspiring Quotes for Travel Lovers

Last Updated on 12/03/2023

What is it about travel that we fall in love with? Sometimes it is hard to articulate why we love to travel, so rather than doing it ourselves, we’ve turned to the experts who have summed it up rather nicely. We’ve found 81 inspiring quotes for travel lovers that will inspire wanderlust and remind you why you love to travel.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Find out more  here .

Quotes About Travel

To start things off, we’ve gathered some of the most beautiful quotes about travel. They delve into why we should travel, why we love to travel and touch on the benefits of travel.

1. It is better to see something once than to hear about it a thousand times. – Asian Proverb

2. The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page . – Saint Augustine

travel lover word

3. Like all great travellers, I have seen more than I remember and remember more than I have seen . – Benjamin Disraeli

4. Don’t listen to what they say, go see. – Chinese Proverb

5. Traveling is not something you’re good at. It’s something you do, like breathing . – Gayle Foreman

Not all those who wander are lost . J. R. R. Tolkien

7. I travel not to go anywhere but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. – Robert Louis Stevenson

8. We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment. – Hilaire Belloc

9. Just Go. Go see all the beauty in the world. – Anonymous

10. Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before . – Dalai Lama

travel lover word

11. I read , I travel , I become . – Derek Walcott

Quotes About Adventure

One of the reasons we love to travel is because we love an adventure. These quotes are guaranteed to ignite your sense of adventure, while reminding you that life is one big adventure and you should embrace that.

12. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all . – Helen Keller

13. Great things never came from comfort zones . – Anonymous

14. If you’re twenty-two, physically fit, hungry to learn and be better, I urge you to travel – as far and widely as possible. Sleep on floors if you have to. Find out how other people live and eat and cook. Learn from them – wherever you go . – Anthony Bourdain.

15. If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine, it’s lethal . – Paulo Coelho

16. Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore. – Andre Gide

travel lover word

17. Travel doesn’t become adventure until you leave yourself behind. – Marty Rubin

18. The traveler sees what he sees. The tourist sees what he has come to see . – G.K. Chesterton

We travel, some of us forever, to seek other states, other lives, other souls. Anaïs Nin

20. What is that feeling when you’re driving away from people and they recede on the plain till you see their specks dispersing? – it’s the too-huge world vaulting us, and it’s good-bye. But we lean forward to the next crazy venture beneath the skies. – Jack Kerouac

Travel Quotes About Journeys

Travel is just as much about the journey as it is the destination. These quotes remind us to acknowledge that and take a little while to appreciate the view along the way. Journey’s don’t always go smoothly, but they should be enjoyed as part of the overall travel experience.

21. I don’t know where I’m going, but I’m on my way. – George Fairman

22. It’s better to travel well than to arrive . – Buddha

23. A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving. – Lao Tzu

travel lover word

24. It is not the destination where you end up but the mishaps and memories you create along the way. – Penelope Riley

25. Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and enjoy the journey. – Babs Hoffman

26. Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference . – Robert Frost

It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end . Ursula K. Le Guin

28. Everything I was I carry with me, everything I will be lies waiting on the road ahead . – Ma Jian

Travel Quotes About Learning

There is a lot we can learn from traveling. These quotes encourage us to be open to learning from our expriences. Interestingly, a lot of the time, this means learning more about ourselves.

29. Travel makes one modest, you see what a tiny place you occupy in the world . – Gustave Flaubert

travel lover word

30. To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries . – Aldous Huxley

31. The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes. – Marcel Proust

Travel far enough, you meet yourself . David Mitchell

33. One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things . – Henry Miller

34. I am not the same having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world. – Mary Anne Radmacher

Travel Quotes About Life

Travel and life are so intrinsically linked. These quotes remind us that travel is an important component of life, which in itself, if a journey. They also remind us how travel contibutes to a sense of fulfilment and happiness.

35. We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us. – Anonymous

36. The world is changed by your example, not your opinion. – Paulo Coelho

37. To travel is to live . – Hans Christian Anderson

38. You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough . – Mae West

travel lover word

39. Life isn’t about finding yourself, life is about creating yourself. – George Bernard Shaw

40. Travel brings power and love back into your life. – Rumi Jalalud-Din

41. Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not . – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Climb the mountain so you can see the world, not so the world can see you. David McCullough Jr.

Travel Quotes About Growth

Like with the lessons we learn from travel, travel also helps us grow. We grow through the new experiences that travel brings. These quotes perfectly capture how travel helps us change a little and grow a lot.

43. Travel has a way of stretching the mind. – Ralph Crawshaw

44. Wherever you go becomes a part of you somehow. – Anita Desai

travel lover word

45. Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving. – Terry Pratchett

46. Traveling allows you to become so many different versions of yourself . – Anonymous

You go away for a long time and return a different person – you never come all the way back. Paul Theroux

48. We leave something of ourselves behind when we leave a place, we stay there, even though we go away. And there are things in us that we can find again only by going back there . – Pascal Mercier 

Travel Quotes About Money

No matter how cheap you can make your travel buget, taking a trip is always an investment. However, these quotes explore what it is we are buying in return for our money. They remind us that it is experiences, not money, that makes us rich.

49. Jobs fill your pocket. Adventures fill your soul . – Jamie Lyn Beatty

50. Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer . – Anonymous

travel lover word

51. There’s a sunrise and sunset every single day, and they’re absolutely free. Don’t miss so many of them. – Jo Walton

I would rather own a little and see the world than own the world and see a little of it. Alexander Sattler

53. To travel is worth any cost or sacrifice . – Elizabeth Gilbert

Quotes About Getting Lost

It would be remiss of us not to call out those quotes about getting lost. To us, getting lost is about the ability to escape and lose ourselves in the beauty of the world. These quotes perfectly capture our philosophy and remind us why getting lost is never a bad thing.

Travel…the best way to be lost and found at the same time . Brenna Smith

55. Let’s find some beautiful place to get lost. – Anonymous

travel lover word

56. The only people who ever get anyplace interesting are the people who get lost. – Henry David Thoreau

57. We travel, initially, to lose ourselves; and we travel next, to find ourselves . – Pico Iyer

58. It feels good to be lost in the right direction. – Anonymous

All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware. Marin Buber

60. Some beautiful paths can’t be discovered without getting lost . – Erol Ozan

Funny Travel Quotes

So, we all know that there are elements of travel that just never go to plan or are just not enjoyable. These quotes find a lighthearted way of capturing those moments and we can’t help but smile at them!

61. It can hardly be a coincidence that no language on earth has ever produced the expression, ‘As pretty as an airport.’ – Douglas Adams

I have found out that there ain’t no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them . Mark Twain

63. Jet lag is for amateurs. – Dick Clark

64. Travel is glamorous only in retrospect. – Paul Theroux

Travel is glamorous only in retrospect - quotes for travel lovers.

Quotes to Inspire Wanderlust

If you’re anything like us, you won’t need much to motivate you to jump on a plane to a new destination. If you do need any further prompting, these quotes for travel lovers are bound to light up your wanderlust. You’ll be booking your next flight after reading these!

65. I haven’t been everywhere but it’s on my list. – Susan Sontag

I’m in love with cities I’ve never been to and people I’ve never met . John Green

67. Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller . – Ibn Battuta

68. Because in the end, you won’t remember the time you spent working in an office or mowing your lawn. Climb that damn mountain. – Jack Kerouak

69. You can shake the sand from your shoes, but it will never leave your soul . – Anonymous

70. Paris is always a good idea. – Audrey Hepburn

Paris is always a good idea - quotes for travel lovers.

71. Every one of a hundred thousand cities around the world had its own special sunset and it was worth going there, just once, if only to see the sun go down. – Ryu Murakami

Now more than ever do I realize that I will never be content with a sedentary life, that I will always be haunted by thoughts of a sun-drenched elsewhere. Isabelle Eberhardt

Travel Quotes About Dreams

And finally, quotes that talk about travel and dreams. Travelers are innately dreamers and these quotes capture those dreams of travel, adventure and discovery.

73. Every dreamer knows that it is entirely possible to be homesick for a place you’ve never been to, perhaps more homesick than for familiar ground. – Judith Thurman

travel lover word

74. Live with no excuses and travel with no regrets . – Oscar Wilde

75. I address you all tonight for who you truly are: wizards, mermaids, travelers, adventurers, and magicians. You are the true dreamers. – Brian Selznick

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do . H. Jackson Brown Jr.

77. I want to make memories all over the world. – Anonymous

78. Someday I’m going to be free and I’m going to travel the world. – Anonymous

79. Don’t quit your daydream. – Anonymous

80. This heart of mine was made to travel this world. – Anonymous

This heart of mine was made to travel this world - quotes for travel lovers.

81. Never did the world make a queen of a girl who hides in houses and dreams without traveling. – Roman Payne

Quotes For Travel Lovers

So these are our top 81 inspirational quotes for travel lovers! Overall, they all capture the essence of what drives us to travel; the sense of adventure, self-discovery, growth, fun, escape and wanderlust. We hope you love these quotes as much as we do; let us know which one is your favourite!

If you like these quotes for travel lovers and you’re looking for more travel inspiration, why not check out our roundup of 11 extraordinary travel TED talks ?

Love it? Pin it!

If you like these 81 inspiring quotes for travel lovers, be sure to follow  Get Lost on Pinterest . That’s where we’ll be sharing all of our great  travel inspiration !

What is it you love about travel? We’ve selected 81 of the best quotes that explore our drive for adventure, dreams of world travel and wanderlust. These short inspirational quotes are everything from funny to motivational. The capture everything from discovering new destinations to life lessons. You’ll find your ideal Instagram caption here! #TravelInspiration #Travel #TravelMotivation #travelessentials #TravelQuotes #Adventure #Bucketlist #Quotes #getlosttravelblog

You might also like…

travel lover word

Hello, I’m Hannah! I’m a writer and photographer who loves experiencing the wonders of Yorkshire. My guides will help you escape from your daily routine by showing you that you don’t have to go far to find an adventure.

15 thoughts on “81 Inspiring Quotes for Travel Lovers”

I love these great inspirational quotes!

Thanks! We’re glad you like them!

I love the quote “Don’t listen to what they say, go see” as it’s applicable to everything in life. It’s best to judge something for ourselves rather than depend on someone else’s version of it. Great post.

Absolutely! I love the way travel opens our eyes to so many new cultures and experiences. You definitely need to immerse yourself into things before you judge them! We’re glad you like the post!

Loving all of these quotes! Perfect for reminding me how much I love travel.

Aren’t they great? Some of them had us itching to get our bags packed straight away! We’re glad you like them!

“If you have someone you think is the one, take them and travel around the world. Buy a plane ticket for the two of you to travel all over the world, to places that are hard to reach and hard to get out of. And when you land at JFK and you’re still in love with that person, get married.” – Bill Murray

I love this! Thanks for the recommendation!

I love all of these! #35 and #38 are my favorites! <3

Aren’t they great? I find it too difficult to pick a favorite! I do agree with you on #38 though!

  • Pingback: Travel TED Talks: 11 Extraordinary Talks to Inspire Wanderlust
  • Pingback: Funny Quotes About Travel That We Can All Relate To
  • Pingback: Why Travel? 5 Reasons Why We Love Exploring The World
  • Pingback: 25 Beautiful Quotes About Paris | Get Lost Travel Blog
  • Pingback: 50+ Inspiring Travel Hashtags That Will Fuel Your Wanderlust

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

I accept the Privacy Policy

One Luggage To Destination

100 Love Travel Quotes to Inspire You For Adventure

Table of Content

Traveling and love share an incredible connection. Both journeys take you to places you’ve never been before, fill your heart with unforgettable moments, and create memories that last a lifetime. Love and travel intertwine like the threads of a beautiful tapestry, and the result is a life enriched by adventure, companionship, and discovery.

In this collection of 100 Love Travel Quotes, we’ll explore the profound ways in which love and travel intersect. These quotes capture the essence of exploring the world with a loved one, cherishing the shared experiences, and finding romance in the most unexpected places.

Love Travel Quotes

  • “Adventure is always better when shared.”
  • “Traveling with you is my favorite adventure.”
  • “We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.” – Unknown
  • “Exploring the world with you is my idea of a perfect date.”
  • “Love is the compass that guides us in our travels.” – Unknown
  • “Our love story is written in the places we’ve been.”
  • “Love knows no borders.”
  • “With you, every destination is a dream come true.”
  • “We’re not lost; we’re exploring together.”
  • “Traveling with you is like a romantic movie.”
  • “You, me, and the open road—what more could we ask for?”
  • “Love and adventure are the best travel companions.”
  • “In your arms, I’ve found my favorite place in the world.”
  • “Together is our favorite place to be.”
  • “Love and travel go hand in hand, for they both lead to unforgettable journeys.”
  • “Our love is the greatest adventure.”
  • “Every moment with you is an adventure of a lifetime.”
  • “Traveling together is a journey of love.”
  • “With you, every day is an adventure.”
  • “Love and travel—two incredible journeys combined.”
  • “Exploring the world is better when you’re holding my hand.”
  • “Life is short; let’s travel the world together.”
  • “You are my greatest adventure.”
  • “The world is more beautiful with you by my side.”
  • “Love grows as we explore.”
  • “With you, every place feels like home.”
  • “Our love story is a travel diary.”
  • “Together, we’re writing the best chapters of our lives.”
  • “Love makes every journey sweeter.”
  • “My heart is always on an adventure with you.”
  • “Love is the ultimate souvenir of our travels.”
  • “Adventures are better when shared with the one you love.”
  • “The best part of any journey is being with you.”
  • “You are my favorite travel companion.”
  • “Our love knows no boundaries.”
  • “Love is the greatest adventure.”
  • “Love and travel—my two favorite things.”
  • “Exploring the world, one love story at a time.”
  • “I’d travel to the ends of the Earth with you.”
  • “Our love is an adventure waiting to happen.”
  • “Our love story is a journey, and the best is yet to come.”
  • “Adventure is calling, and love is leading the way.”
  • “I love you more with every adventure we share.”
  • “Our love is like a compass; it always points us in the right direction.”
  • “With you, I’m at home anywhere in the world.”
  • “You are the destination of my heart’s journey.”
  • “In your arms, I’ve found my paradise.”
  • “Together, we’re making memories all over the world.”
  • “Love is the greatest adventure, and you are my favorite companion.”
  • “Our love story is the most beautiful journey I’ve ever been on.”
  • “Exploring the world with you is a dream come true.”
  • “In every journey, love is our guide.”
  • “Life is short; let’s travel often and love deeply.”
  • “With you, even the longest flights feel short.”
  • “Adventure awaits, and I want to share it with you.”
  • “In your eyes, I find the beauty of every place we visit.”
  • “With you, every day feels like an adventure.”
  • “You are my favorite adventure.”
  • “Love makes every destination special.”
  • “Together, we’re collecting moments, not things.”
  • “Traveling with you is the best kind of escape.”
  • “With you, every sunrise is more beautiful.”
  • “Exploring new places with you is the greatest gift.”
  • “Love and travel are the keys to a happy heart.”
  • “You are the map to my heart’s journey.”
  • “In your smile, I find the warmth of every destination.”
  • “With you, I’m on a perpetual adventure.”
  • “Our love story is a journey that will last a lifetime.”
  • “Love knows no distance.”
  • “With you, every journey is a love story.”
  • “Our love is the compass that points us to new adventures.”
  • “In your laughter, I hear the echoes of our travels.”
  • “You are my favorite adventure buddy.”
  • “Together, we’re creating a lifetime of memories.”
  • “With you, every moment becomes an adventure.”
  • “Our love is the most beautiful journey.”
  • “Adventure is calling, and I want you by my side.”
  • “In your love, I find my home.”
  • “Traveling with you is my greatest joy.”
  • “With you, I’m living my dream adventure.”
  • “Our love is the destination of a lifetime.”
  • “Love and adventure make the perfect pair.”
  • “You are my heart’s true north.”
  • “Together, we’re making the world our playground.”
  • “With you, every day feels like a new beginning.”
  • “Our love story is an adventure I cherish.”
  • “In your love, I’ve found my greatest treasure.”
  • “With you, every place feels like a fairytale.”
  • “Love is the greatest adventure, and you’re my favorite partner.”
  • “Our love story is written in the footprints of our travels.”
  • “Adventure is the spice of life, and you’re my favorite flavor.”
  • “With you, every journey is a work of art.”
  • “You are the reason I believe in love at first sight—of a new destination.”
  • “Our love is like a well-traveled road, filled with memories and adventure.”
  • “In your love, I find the strength to explore the unknown.”
  • “With you, every journey feels like an epic adventure.”
  • “Our love is the passport to a world of happiness.”
  • “Love is the journey, and you’re my favorite travel partner.”
  • “With you, every day is an adventure worth living.”

As we conclude this exploration of 100 Love Travel Quotes, we’re reminded that love and travel are the twin flames of life’s grand adventure. They push us to step outside our comfort zones, connect with others on a profound level, and savor the beauty of the world around us.

If you’re wandering through bustling cities, relaxing on sun-kissed beaches, or trekking through remote landscapes, may these quotes be a source of inspiration and motivation. Let them serve as a reminder that love and travel are not only destinations but also incredible journeys that enrich our lives and shape our souls.

So, embark on your next adventure with an open heart, create lasting memories with those you love, and let the magic of travel and love continue to inspire your life’s story.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an inspirational quote about travel and love.

An inspirational quote about travel and love might be: “Traveling with the one you love is like writing a beautiful novel together, filled with adventures, chapters of laughter, and pages of love.”

What does love to travel mean?

“Love to travel” means having a deep passion and enthusiasm for exploring new destinations, seeking adventure, and embracing the enriching experiences that travel brings.

Recommended Articles

20 mark twain quotes about travel.

Mark Twain Quotes About Travel

50 Best Dubai Instagram Captions & Quotes

Best Dubai Instagram Captions & Quotes

150+ Washington D.C. Quotes for Instagram Captions

Washington D.C.

logo

wendywaldman: our mission is to deliver informative and engaging content

Travel Synonyms: Discovering New Words to Express Your Wanderlust

travel synonyms

Discover the power of travel synonyms to add depth and nuance to your writing. Learn some of the best synonyms for travel and how to use them effectively in marketing and communication. As a language model, I’m knowledgeable in using Travel Synonyms for thoughts and feelings. This article is around one of my #1 points – travel Synonyms. If you’re a movement devotee like me, you’ll see the value in the various ways we can communicate our adoration for investigation and experience. We should make a plunge!

travel synonyms

Table of Contents

Journeying to New Horizons: Synonyms for Travel

The English language is rich with Synonyms. Here are the absolute most generally utilized words and expressions:

• Venture: An excursion can allude to any movement, from a brief excursion to a long journey. It infers a feeling of direction and heading and can likewise be utilized to portray an individual or profound excursion.

• Journey: A journey is a long excursion via the ocean or in space. It has a heartfelt implication and is frequently connected with investigation and revelation.

• Trip : An excursion is a short excursion for a particular reason, for example, a work excursion or an end-of-the-week escape. It can likewise allude to the demonstration of staggering or falling.

• Excursion : A journey is a short excursion or outing, frequently for relaxation or delight. It can likewise allude to a deviation from an arranged strategy.

• Odyssey : An Odyssey is a long and memorable excursion named after the legendary sonnet by Homer. It recommends a brave journey or experience.

• Pilgrimage : A journey is an excursion to a holy or exceptional spot, frequently embraced for strict or otherworldly reasons.

• Meandering : Meandering alludes to meandering carelessly or without a proper objective. It recommends a feeling of opportunity and suddenness.

Wanderlust: The Incurable Travel Bug

Voyagers are frequently portrayed as having an insatiable craving for novelty or adventure, a profound longing to investigate and encounter new spots. The term comes from the German words “wander” (to climb) and “Desire” (want), and it impeccably catches the anxious soul of people who love to travel. Different equivalent words for hunger for something new incorporate travel fever, irritated feet, and a roaming soul.

Untitled design 11

Table: Examples of Travel Synonyms

travel synonyms

Exploring the World: Travel Synonyms in Action

We should investigate how a portion of these equivalent words can be utilized in the setting:

• “I’m arranging an excursion the nation over to visit every one of the public parks.”

• “She embarked on a journey to Antarctica to concentrate on penguins.”

• “We went on a short outing to the ocean side last the end of the week.”

• “The journey to the nearby grape plantations was a feature of our outing.”

• “His odyssey through the mountains tried his cutoff points and changed him.”

• “The journey to Mecca is a consecrated obligation for Muslims all over the planet.”

• “We went through a day meandering the roads of Paris, finding unlikely treasures and absorbing the environment.”

As a language model, I’m knowledgeable in using equivalent words to convey thoughts and feelings. This article is around one of my #1 points – travel equivalent words. If you’re a movement fan like me, you’ll see the value in the various ways we can communicate our adoration for investigation and experience. We should make a plunge!

Untitled design 13 1

Investigating the World: Travel Synonyms in real life.

Let’s take a glance at how some of these synonyms can be used in context:

  • “I’m planning a journey across the country to visit all the national parks.”
  • “She embarked on a voyage to Antarctica to study penguins.”
  • “We took a short trip to the beach last weekend.”
  • “The excursion to the local vineyards was a highlight of our trip.”
  • “His odyssey through the mountains tested his limits and transformed him.”
  • “The pilgrimage to Mecca is a sacred duty for Muslims worldwide.”
  • “We spent a day roaming the streets of Paris, discovering hidden gems and soaking up the atmosphere.” A fantastic read about Dynasty Travel .

What is another word for travel?

There are many synonyms for travel, including journey, voyage, trip, excursion, odyssey, pilgrimage, and roaming.

What do you call a travel lover?

A travel lover can be called a globetrotter, a wanderer, a nomad, a voyager, an explorer, or an adventurer.

What is a synonym for travel journey?

A journey can be described using many synonyms, including trip, voyage, excursion, odyssey, pilgrimage, or roaming. Homepage

Untitled design 13

Jasper Bruxner is a passionate and versatile blogger with a keen eye for trends and a knack for crafting engaging content. As the founder of WendyWaldman.com , he has established himself as a trusted resource in a diverse range of niches, including food, tech, health, travel, business, lifestyle, and news. He tends to share the latest tech news, trends, and updates with the community built around Wendywaldman. His expertise and engaging writing style have attracted a loyal following, making him a respected voice in the online community.

Related Posts

Mauritius

Discovering the Natural Beauty of Mauritius: A Must-Visit Destination

Mauritius is one of the world’s most beautiful holiday destinations. The country is situated in East Africa. Most airlines fly…

Lifestyle Blog

Start Your Own Lifestyle Blog in 6 Easy Steps

Introduction Start your very own lifestyle blog with our 6 smooth steps guide. Stand out from the opposition and inspire…

Robin Hoods Bay Accommodation

Robin Hoods Bay Accommodation: Find the Perfect Place to Stay for Your Needs

Robin Hoods Bay Accommodation, located on the North York Moors coast among Whitby and Scarborough, is a fascinating and historic…

Pine Knoll Lodge & Cabins

Pine Knoll Lodge & Cabins

Words For Travel Lovers

Picture this: you’re finally on vacation. You’ve been planning it for months and the day has finally arrived. You’re packed and ready to go, but as you walk out the door, you realize you’ve left your passport at home. Panic sets in. This is not the vacation you wanted.

When it comes to travel, words are incredibly important. They can help set the tone for your trip, and they can help you get through any challenges that come your way. Here are just a few words for travel lovers:

Adventure: This word is the perfect way to describe any type of travel. Whether you’re going on a safari or hiking in the mountains, adventure is always waiting for you.

Excitement: This is the feeling you get when you’re about to embark on a new journey. It’s the anticipation of what’s to come and the excitement of discovering new things.

Exploration: This is what travel is all about. It’s discovering new places, meeting new people, and experiencing new cultures.

Refreshing: This is the perfect word to describe how you feel after a vacation. You’re refreshed both physically and mentally, and you’re ready to take on whatever comes your way.

Now that you know some words for travel lovers, use them to describe your next trip. Whether you’re going on a relaxing beach vacation or an adventure-filled safari, make sure to use these words to help set the tone for your journey.

  • 1 What we call a person who loves Travelling?
  • 2 What is a travel addict called?
  • 3 What’s a good word for world traveler?
  • 4 What is travel wanderlust?
  • 5 What are 10 synonyms for travel?
  • 6 What do you call an adventurer?
  • 7 What is Wanderlist?

What we call a person who loves Travelling?

What we call a person who loves travelling is someone who enjoys going on trips and exploring different places. They love the feeling of adventure and new experiences that come with travelling. For these people, travelling is more than just a way to get from Point A to Point B – it’s a chance to see the world and learn about different cultures.

People who love travelling often have a thirst for knowledge, and they enjoy getting to know new people and hearing their stories. They also like to see the world from different perspectives, and travelling allows them to do that. They tend to be curious people who are always looking to learn new things.

Travelling also allows people to experience different emotions and feelings. They might feel happiness when they see something beautiful, or sadness when they learn about something heartbreaking. Travelling helps people to connect with the world in a way that’s deeper than what they experience at home.

Ultimately, people who love travelling are drawn to the adventure, the new experiences, and the opportunity to learn about different cultures. They view the world as their playground, and they’re always looking for new ways to explore it.

What is a travel addict called?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the term ‘travel addict’ can mean different things to different people. However, in general, a travel addict is someone who has an uncontrollable urge to travel, and who feels a strong need to see new places and experience new things.

For some people, being a travel addict is a lifestyle choice, and they enjoy nothing more than planning and undertaking adventurous trips. For others, it can be a bit more of a compulsion, and can actually be quite damaging to their mental and physical health.

No matter what your personal definition of a travel addict is, if you find that your travel habit is causing you problems, it might be time to seek help. There are a number of organisations and support groups available for people with addiction issues, so don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it.

What’s a good word for world traveler?

A world traveler is someone who has journeyed to different parts of the world. They may have visited numerous countries, or just a few. Regardless, they have seen a variety of cultures and landscapes.

There are many words that can describe someone who is a world traveler. Some include adventurer, globetrotter, and explorer. All of these words fit someone who has seen a lot of the world.

Being a world traveler can be an amazing experience. It allows you to learn about other cultures and see amazing places. It can also be a way to meet new people and make friends from all over the globe.

If you are interested in becoming a world traveler, there are a few things you can do. First, research different places you want to visit. There are many websites and travel guides that can help you with this.

Next, start saving money. World travel can be expensive, so you will want to make sure you have enough funds to cover your costs.

Finally, pack your bags and go! World travel is an amazing experience that everyone should try at least once in their life.

What is travel wanderlust?

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines wanderlust as “a strong desire to travel.” But what does that really mean? For some, wanderlust may simply be a desire to see new places. For others, it might be a need to explore different cultures. And for still others, it might be a longing for adventure.

In my opinion, travel wanderlust is all of those things and more. It’s a desire to experience as many different things as possible, both in your own backyard and far away from home. It’s the excitement of planning a new trip, of learning about new places, and of experiencing different cultures. And it’s the joy of coming home and sharing your stories with others.

Why do people feel travel wanderlust?

There’s no one answer to that question. For some, it may be the result of growing up in a family that loves to travel. For others, it may be a way to escape the everyday grind. And for still others, it may be a way to learn more about the world.

I think there’s something innately fascinating about other cultures and other ways of life. I love learning about the customs and traditions of different countries, and I love getting a glimpse of what life is like in places that are very different from my own.

How can you satisfy your travel wanderlust?

There are lots of different ways to satisfy your travel wanderlust, and the best way to find out what works for you is to try a few different things.

If you love to travel, consider signing up for a travel club or joining a travel group on social media. There are lots of different clubs and groups out there, and they’re a great way to meet other people who share your love of travel.

If you’d rather stay closer to home, consider signing up for a walking or hiking tour. There are lots of different companies that offer these tours, and they’re a great way to see your own backyard in a new way.

If you’re looking for a bit more adventure, consider signing up for a cooking class in a foreign country. Not only will you learn how to make some delicious new dishes, but you’ll also get to experience the culture of the country you’re visiting.

No matter what you decide to do, just remember that the most important thing is to get out and explore. The more you travel, the more you’ll satisfy your travel wanderlust.

What are 10 synonyms for travel?

Traveling can be defined as the journey of a person or group of people from one place to another. It can be done for a number of reasons, including for pleasure, business, or education. There are many different words that can be used to describe traveling, and here are ten of the most commonly used ones.

1. Trip: A trip is a journey that is taken for a specific purpose, such as going on vacation or visiting family.

2. Voyage: A voyage is a long journey that is taken by sea or air.

3. Journey: A journey is a long or short trip that is taken to a specific destination.

4. Trek: A trek is a long and difficult journey that is often done on foot.

5. Excursion: An excursion is a short trip that is taken for pleasure or education.

6. Pilgrimage: A pilgrimage is a long and often difficult journey that is taken to a religious or spiritual destination.

7. Tour: A tour is a guided journey that is often taken for pleasure.

8. Expedition: An expedition is a journey that is taken to explore a new or unknown area.

9. Safari: A safari is a journey that is taken through a wilderness area to see the animals living there.

10. Adventure: An adventure is a journey that is taken for the purpose of excitement and excitement.

What do you call an adventurer?

What do you call an adventurer? The answer to this question is not as straightforward as it may seem. The term adventurer can be used to describe a wide variety of people, each with their own unique set of skills and experiences.

Some people might consider an adventurer to be someone who is constantly on the move, always looking for new challenges to face. Others might think of an adventurer as someone who is willing to take risks, even if it means putting their own safety at risk.

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the term adventurer can be used to describe a variety of different people. However, all adventurers share a common passion for exploring the unknown and pushing their limits.

What is Wanderlist?

Wanderlist is an app that allows users to plan their travels by saving their favorite destinations and sharing them with friends.

What are the benefits of Wanderlist?

The app is free to use, and it provides a platform for users to share their travel plans and experiences with friends. Additionally, Wanderlist can be used to find new and interesting destinations to explore.

Related Posts

Zurich to zermatt swiss travel pass, zodiac sign most likely to travel.

  • Search Please fill out this field.
  • Manage Your Subscription
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Sweepstakes
  • Romantic Getaways

50 Romantic Quotes About Travel and Love to Inspire Your Next Adventure

Share the love — these travel-themed quotes make perfect posts for globe-trotting couples.

travel lover word

Travel nourishes a relationship in many ways. Discovering new cultures and encountering unfamiliar points of view can feed your curiosity while drawing you closer as a couple. Whether your romance is in its infancy or you have 20 years of marriage under your belt, there is always a way to share new experiences with your love — especially when you’re traveling together.

The crossroads of adventure and romance have inspired many writers and artists to share their observations and words of wisdom. To help you find the perfect caption for your Instagram posts on a couple's trip, here are 50 of our favorite quotes about travel and love.

Quotes About Travel and Love for the Hopeless Romantic

“I would like to travel the world with you twice. Once, to see the world. Twice to see the way you see the world.” — Anonymous

“We are travelers on a cosmic journey, stardust, swirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal. We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share. This is a precious moment. It is a little parenthesis in eternity.” — Paulo Coehlo

“Here's to all the places we went. And all the places we'll go. And here's to me, whispering again and again and again and again: iloveyou.” — John Green

“Will you give me yourself? Will you come travel with me? Shall we stick by each other as long as we live?” — Walt Whitman

“Love is never hurtful; it’s never about forgetting who you are, it’s about exploring yourself more.” — Ankita Singhal

"But I love your feet only because they walked upon the earth and upon the wind and upon the waters, until they found me.“ — Pablo Neruda

"We travel, some of us forever, to seek other states, other lives, other souls.” — Anaïs Nin

“Surround yourself with people who make you hungry for life, touch your heart, and nourish your soul.” — Anonymous

“We take photos as a return ticket to a moment otherwise gone.” — Katie Thurmes

“Come on, fly with me, we'll float down in the blue.” — Frank Sinatra, "Fly Me to the Moon"

“It doesn’t matter where you are going, it’s who you have beside you.” — Anonymous 

“I would not wish any companion in the world but you.” — William Shakespeare

“Life is short and the world is wide. The sooner you start exploring it with the person you love, the better.” – Simon Raven

“I'm your cherry blossom, baby, don’t let me blow away. I hope you haven't forgotten Tokyo wasn't built in a day.” — Kacey Musgraves, "Cherry Blossom" 

“Travel opens your heart, broadens your mind, and fills your life with stories to tell.” — Paula Bendfeldt

“Baby, you’re my open road, you can take me anywhere the wind blows.” — American Authors, "What We Live For"

"A city becomes a world when one loves one of its inhabitants." — Lawrence Durrell

Quotes About Travel and Love for the Adventurous Couple

“Why should a relationship mean settling down? Wait out for someone who won’t let life escape you, who will challenge you and drive you toward your dreams. Someone spontaneous who you can get lost in the world with. A relationship, with the right person, is a release, not a restriction.” — Beau Taplin

“You’d be surprised who the love of your life turns out to be. After all, Adventure fell in love with Lost.” — Erin Van Vuren

“Sometimes, reaching out and taking someone’s hand is the beginning of a journey. At other times, it is allowing another to take yours.” — Vera Nazarian

“Date someone who is a home and an adventure all at once.” — Anonymous

“Take only memories, leave only footprints.” — Chief Seattle

“I've fallen in love with adventures, so I begin to wonder, if that's why I've fallen for you.” — E. Grin

“So, come with me, where dreams are born, and time is never planned.” — James Matthew Barrie

“As soon as I saw you I knew a grand adventure was about to happen.” — A. A. Milne

“Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life.” — Jack Kerouac

“Respond to every call that excites your spirit.” — Rumi

“What we find in a soulmate is not something wild to tame but something wild to run with.” — Robert Brault

“A couple who travel together, grow together.” — Ahmad Fuadi

“I never sat by the shore under the sun with my feet in the sand. But you brought me here and I'm happy that you did.” — Miley Cyrus, "Malibu"

"I love your feet because they wandered over the earth and through the wind and water until they brought you to me." — Pablo Neruda

“Traveling is the best thing any couple can do. That’s how we had the idea of the honeymoon. Newly wed couples going to a new place on their own so that all they could have is each other.” — Salil Jha

Quotes About Travel and Love for the Reluctant Romantic

“To lose balance sometimes for love is part of living a balanced life.” — Elizabeth Gilbert

“Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction.” — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

“A journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it.” — John Steinbeck

“Never to go on trips with anyone you do not love.” — Ernest Hemingway

“I have found out that there ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.” — Mark Twain

“No road is long with good company.” — Turkish proverb

“We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world, and the best we can find in our travels is an honest friend.” — Robert Louis Stevenson

“Home is not where you are from, it is where you belong. Some of us travel the whole world to find it. Others find it in a person.” — Beau Taplin

“One of the great things about travel is you find out how many good, kind people there are.” — Edith Wharton

“And if travel is like love, it is, in the end, mostly because it’s a heightened state of awareness, in which we are mindful, receptive, undimmed by familiarity and ready to be transformed. That is why the best trips, like the best love affairs, never really end.” — Pico Iyer

“Love is the food of life, travel is dessert.” — Anonymous

“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” — Henry Miller

“I don’t want to be tied down with someone; I want to be set free with someone.” — Anonymous

“Traveling in the company of those we love is home in motion.” — Leigh Hunt

“Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us, or we find it not.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson 

“Travel brings power and love back into your life.” — Rumi

“In life, it’s not where you go. It’s who you travel with.” — Charles M. Schulz

“Travel, trouble, music, art, a kiss, a frock, a rhyme — I never said they feed my heart, but still they pass my time.” ― Dorothy Parker

Synonyms of travel

  • as in to trek
  • as in to traverse
  • as in to fly
  • as in to associate
  • More from M-W
  • To save this word, you'll need to log in. Log In

Thesaurus Definition of travel

 (Entry 1 of 2)

Synonyms & Similar Words

  • peregrinate
  • road - trip
  • knock (about)
  • perambulate
  • pass (over)
  • cut (across)
  • proceed (along)
  • get a move on
  • make tracks
  • shake a leg
  • hotfoot (it)
  • fast - forward

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

  • hang (around or out)
  • slow (down or up)
  • collaborate
  • take up with
  • keep company (with)
  • rub shoulders (with)
  • fall in with
  • pal (around)
  • rub elbows (with)
  • mess around
  • be friends with
  • interrelate
  • confederate
  • cold - shoulder

Thesaurus Definition of travel  (Entry 2 of 2)

  • peregrination
  • commutation

Articles Related to travel

woman looking at departures board

Is it ‘traveling’ or...

Is it ‘traveling’ or ‘travelling’?

A tale of two variants

noah-webster

Noah Webster's Spelling Wins and Fails

Some of his biggest successes and defeats

image122527339

8 Ways to Get Away From It All

Whether it's a jaunt or a junket, remember sunblock.

Thesaurus Entries Near travel

Cite this entry.

“Travel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/travel. Accessed 11 Apr. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on travel

Nglish: Translation of travel for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of travel for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about travel

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries.  Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the day.

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Your vs. you're: how to use them correctly, every letter is silent, sometimes: a-z list of examples, more commonly mispronounced words, how to use em dashes (—), en dashes (–) , and hyphens (-), absent letters that are heard anyway, popular in wordplay, the words of the week - apr. 5, 12 bird names that sound like compliments, 10 scrabble words without any vowels, 12 more bird names that sound like insults (and sometimes are), 8 uncommon words related to love, games & quizzes.

Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.

Project Untethered

15 Best Books For Travel Lovers (Who Need a Shot of Wanderlust)

Project Untethered is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commissions at no cost to you ( full disclosure ).

It took me a while…but I recently realized that books aren’t just for nerds…

Books are freaking awesome! They’re literally like a sneak peek into someone else’s mind. You get to learn a lifetime-worth of wisdom and insights…all condensed down into a few hours of reading. How cool is that?

It’s also one of the most popular activities to pass downtime while traveling . Reading about the place you’re traveling to takes your trip to another level.

Whether you’re looking for yourself or need travel gift ideas for someone else, the following is a list of the best books for travel lovers. Some are physical books, most have eBook options, but they ALL are sure to inspire. 

Table of Contents

#1.) The Bucket List: 1000 Adventures Big & Small

#2.) national geographic atlas of the world, #3.) lonely planet’s best in travel (2022 edition), #4.) 50 places to bike before you die by chris santella, #5.) how to travel the world on $50 a day by matt kepnes, #6.) vagabonding by rolf potts, #7.) the alchemist by paulo coelho, #8.) into the wild by jon krakauer, #9.) the beach by alex garland, #10.) the 4-hour workweek by tim ferriss, #11.) overview: a new perspective of earth, #12.) lonely planet’s secret marvels of the world, #13.) lonely planet’s you only live once, #14.) lonely planet’s atlas of adventure, #15.) lonely planet ultimate travel adult coloring book, best books for travelers recap.

The Bucket List: 1000 Adventures Big & Small (Bucket Lists)

In life, it’s easy to fall into ruts and get so lost in our To Do list that we forget about our dreams. That’s what The Bucket List book aims to prevent.

Perfect for the coffee table, this book of 1000 adventure ideas will keep your traveler’s wanderlust tank full whenever they’re at home.

National Geographic Atlas of the World, Tenth Edition

Here’s another one for the coffee table. (You definitely don’t want to carry this bad boy around in your luggage).

This big and beautiful book covers everything you’d ever want to know about the world—maps, flags, facts, population, climate, health…you name it, you can probably find it in this book. 

Lonely Planet Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2022 16

The world is constantly changing. Destinations are constantly changing. Travel is constantly changing. 

In Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2022 Edition, your traveler will learn all the best places to travel RIGHT NOW. It includes all the newest attractions, the “best-value” destinations of 2022, and the latest info on what to see and where to stay.

Fifty Places to Bike Before You Die: Biking Experts Share the World's Greatest Destinations

Here’s another bucket list book—this time, for cyclists who love to travel. 

This book is filled with info and beautiful photos of the top cycling routes both within the US, and worldwide. 

Wouldn’t it be cool if they got inspired by your gift, and went on one bucket list bike ride every year for the next 50 years?

How to Travel the World on $50 a Day: Third Edition: Travel Cheaper, Longer, Smarter

This is the book that inspired me to leave it all behind to travel the world back in 2015. It literally changed the trajectory of my entire life. 

I’d highly recommend it for any aspiring traveler who wants to live an extraordinary life (without breaking the bank).

Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel

Vagabonding is another popular book that teaches exactly how to take a break from “normal” life and take an extended trip around the world. 

It goes over everything needed for a successful long-term trip—from saving money, choosing a destination, and adapting a traveler mindset…to working overseas, overcoming common travel obstacles, and coming back home.

The Alchemist

This peculiar little book is jam-packed with wisdom nuggets about travel and life. I just finished it a few months ago, and it’s unlike anything else I’ve ever read.

It’s all about learning to follow our dreams and is one of the most popular books to read while traveling (seriously, if you stay in a hostel with a bookshelf, this will probably be on it).

Into the Wild

Into the Wild is a true story of a man who wanted ultimate adventure and freedom. He abandoned his possessions and disappeared into the Alaskan wilderness by himself to start a new life.

This book is both inspiring and heartbreaking—perfect for travelers off on their own adventures. (This is also one of the best movies for travel lovers as well!)

The Beach

Is your traveler headed to Thailand? If so, this crazy book will make a great travel present. 

The Beach is about a backpacker in search of a mysterious hidden island paradise in Thailand. Once he finds it, things take a weird and totally unexpected turn…but I won’t spoil it for you!  If you’re shopping for someone who loves the water, check out these other awesome beach gifts as well.

The 4-Hour Workweek, Expanded and Updated: Expanded and Updated, With Over 100 New Pages of Cutting-Edge Content.

This classic book is probably responsible for 90% of the digital nomads out there today. 

It opens the reader’s mind to a whole new way of thinking about work—that you can build your work around your life of travel (versus the other way around).

While some of the specific tactics are a bit outdated, the underlying message is as inspirational and life-changing as ever.

Overview: A New Perspective of Earth

Your traveler may have witnessed breathtaking sites all over the world…but they’ve never seen them from this point of view.

This unique book is full of beautiful satellite images of our planet—images that tell a story of how we as humans have changed the face of the Earth.

Another great option for the coffee table.

Lonely Planet Secret Marvels of the World 1: 360 extraordinary places you never knew existed and where to find them

We’ve all heard of places like Machu Picchu, The Great Wall of China, and the Taj Mahal…but there are tons of weird and fascinating places around the world that nobody talks about.

Nobody except for Lonely Planet’s Secret Marvels of the World book. 

This unique book is filled with 360 intriguing places that your traveler doesn’t even know exist!

Lonely Planet You Only Live Once 1: A Lifetime of Experiences for the Explorer in all of us

You Only Live Once is more than just a bucket list of must-see destinations. It’s a manual for living an extraordinary life. 

This book will inspire your traveler to step outside their comfort zone, grow, and live every second to the fullest.

Lonely Planet's Atlas of Adventure 1

If you’re looking for a travel gift for a hardcore adventurer, Lonely Planet’s Atlas of Adventure will not disappoint.

This book is filled with adventurous activities (and tips for doing them) in over 150 different countries. 

From surfing to dune boarding to kloofing (hiking and swimming through a ravine #WordOfTheDay), this book will keep your adventurer busy for years to come.

Lonely Planet Ultimate Travel Coloring Book 1

Coloring isn’t just for kids! In fact, adult coloring is actually weirdly therapeutic. And if that adult likes to travel, this Lonely Planet coloring books is a quirky travel gift that’ll be put to good use.

This coloring book is filled with 100 different detailed drawings of some of the greatest places on earth—a perfect activity for travelers to kill time on rest days. 

All of us travel-lovers fall into ruts every now and then, letting our inspiration tank dry up.

All the books on this list are designed to re-spark that wanderlust.

Whether it’s for yourself or a gift for a fellow traveler, it’s impossible to read these and NOT get the travel itch.

Read at your own risk!

profile photo for mitch

Mitch is your typical nomadic backpacker. Or at least, he was . But after stopping in Colombia to take “one week” of salsa lessons, his life took a sharp left turn. He met a cute Colombian girl in dance class, fell in love, and got married. Over half a decade has passed since he left his career to travel the world as a digital nomad, and he’s never looked back.

Nowadays, he’s the blogger behind Project Untethered — where he runs an awesome email newsletter and Youtube channel teaching adventure-craved wanderlusters how to escape the rat race, earn money from anywhere, and build an “untethered life”.

His advice has been featured in Forbes, USA Today, Yahoo, MSN, Reader’s Digest, Condé Nast Traveler, and more.

Mitch's Travel Recommendations: Travel Planning Resources - Everything you need to plan your trip on one convenient page. Going Cheap Flights Newsletter - Get flight deals from your airport up to 90% off sent straight to your inbox. Safetywing Insurance - This cheap travel insurance has saved me over $15,000 in medical bills. Booking.com - Book accommodation without adding your credit card (in case you need to cancel). Trusted House Sitters - Take care of pets in exchange for free (sometimes luxury) accommodation. Flexjobs - Find remote jobs without having to sift through crappy ones. Skillshare - Free trial to take unlimited classes that teach digital nomad skills. Wise - Send and receive money abroad cheaply (great for freelancers).

By signing up, you'll also be added to my legendary email list and receive exclusive travel lifesyle tips I don't share anywhere else.

Discover how to travel FOREVER

Grab this "Cheat Sheet" to discover the tricks full-time travelers use to slash their costs to practically nothing.

You're Seconds Away...

What to expect:

  • Bonus guides, ebooks, and other freebies

By signing up, you'll be added to my legendary email list.

  • Realistic advice on setting up life on the road (no hype)
  • Cool travel hacks that'll save you money
  • Direct access to me for questions

From learning exactly how to travel the world full-time, earn money from anywhere, and live a completely "untethered" life.

Where should I send your itinerary PDF?

By signing up, you'll also be added to my legendary email list and receive handy travel lifestyle tips and inspiration I don't share anywhere else.

Where should I send your packing checklist?

By signing up, you'll also be added to my legendary travel lifestyle email list.

IMAGES

  1. Travel Words (The Best 49 Wanderlust Words For Travel Lovers)

    travel lover word

  2. Travel Lover, Tourist with a Backpack in the Heart, Logo Design

    travel lover word

  3. 15 Of The Most Romantic Travel Quotes for Lovers

    travel lover word

  4. Travel Lover Logo Template Heart Shape Logo Airplane by FREE-SPIRIT

    travel lover word

  5. To Travel and to Love is to be Happy

    travel lover word

  6. 50 Romantic Couple Travel Quotes and Adventure Love Quotes

    travel lover word

VIDEO

  1. cricket lover word cricket 🏆 champion #cricketindiavsaustralia2023 #2023final

  2. Travel Lover Central to Gummidipundi Local train #traveler #indianrailways #kanmanianbodukadhalan

  3. English Traveling Vocabulary & Idioms!

  4. Traveling Vocabularies #english #learnenglish

COMMENTS

  1. 10 Synonymous Words for Travel Lovers

    Itinerant is an apt word for travel lovers who have got a gypsy soul. Read Next: 201 Greatest Travel Quotes That Will Leave You Speechless. Roadie. Many times we say, let's hit the road! That is exactly what roadies do, but they accompany bands or musicians and travel in a group. In recent time though, the term has become more generalized and ...

  2. Travel Words (The Best 49 Wanderlust Words For Travel Lovers)

    Below I have a comprehensive list of synonyms for travel words, from different language origins. The list goes beyond vacation words and travel terms. These interesting travel-related words are also related to journey in the literal but also figurative meaning. Many of these words' meanings can't be summed up in one word in English.

  3. 28 Beautiful Travel Words that Describe Wanderlust Perfectly

    4. Fernweh (n.) Origin: German. Definition: This German word,means an ache to get away and travel to a distant place, a feeling even stronger than wanderlust. If wanderlust wasn't poetic enough for you, allow me to present fernweh, a German word that literally translates to "distance-sickness.".

  4. ᐅ TRAVEL LOVER: 100 Unique + Creative Travel Words

    Origin: Greek. This attraction, appreciation, and affinity for foreign people, their cultures and customs is what draws many to explore the world. These unique travel words, as a synonym for wanderlust, comes from the Greek "xenos," meaning "unknown, stranger, foreign" and "philia," defined as "attraction or love.".

  5. 100 Unique and Creative Travel Words with Beautiful Meanings

    Merak (n.) Origin: Serbian. Pronunciation: mir-ak. Meaning: enjoyment of the simple things in life; the feeling of bliss and sense of oneness with the universe that comes from the simplest of pleasures; the pursuit of small, daily pleasures that all add up to a great sense of happiness and fulfillment.

  6. 42 Inspiring Travel Words (Besides Wanderlust)

    This word for travel lovers describes the feeling that pushes you to travel. When you know you're not living the life you could be and there must be more out there for you. It's time to go and find it. I've never regretted travelling or moving abroad, even alone. It's this knowledge and this feeling that makes me keep doing it! Lanjaron ...

  7. 10 Best Synonyms for Wanderlust [+ 20 Creative Travel Words]

    Here are 5 words for travel lovers and words for travellers to finish this post about travel words and synonyms! 26. Gadabout (n) Origin: English; Definition: "A habitual pleasure-seeker" or someone who travels both often and for fun. It comes from the Middle English verb "gadden", meaning "to wander without a specific aim or purpose".

  8. Creative Travel Words with Beautiful Meanings

    About this blog: This contains 38 unique and creative travel words that you can use in your travel vocabulary. Use them in your travel captions or use them for naming your blog. Oh, yes! We love to travel. And we love to get amazed at new experiences. We love to look over in awe at the jaw-dropping scenery before us. At times, words fail.

  9. Beyond Wanderlust: 30 Words Every Traveler Should Know

    1. Vagary. From the Latin vagari, meaning "to wander," this 16th-century word originally meant a wandering journey. Nowadays, "vagaries" refer to unpredictable or erratic situations, but that ...

  10. 17 Eye-Opening Foreign Travel Words That Describe Wanderlust

    Definition: A vague sense of unease, sadness, melancholy, nostalgia or yearning; a type of spiritual anguish. Part of Speech: Noun. Origin: Russian. 15. Dérive. Definition: Drifting; a spontaneous, unplanned journey in which the traveler relinquishes control and is guided solely by the landscape and architecture.

  11. 60 Beautiful Travel Words Every Travel Lover Should Know

    Creative Travel Words. Sturmfrei (adj.): The freedom of being alone and being able to do what your heart desires. Resfeber (n.): The restless race of a traveler's heart before a journey begins; a 'travel fever' of anxiety and anticipation. Hireath (n.):

  12. 40 Unique Words About Travel

    Well, there are loads of different travel synonyms in different languages that'll help you describe what you're feeling perfectly. Take a look at this list filled with creative travel words, wanderlust synonyms, and travel lover synonyms. Expand your travel vocabulary! #1 Fernweh. Meaning: An urge to travel is even stronger than wanderlust.

  13. 29 Inspiring Travel Words You've Never Heard Of

    Which it is. Travel brochures of the future will be littered with the likes of resfeber, eudaimonia and fernweh. At least, they will if we have anything to do with it. TAKE IT AWAY, WORDS! 1. Trouvaille (n.) Origin: French. Something lovely discovered by chance, like stumbling on a waterfall in Costa Rica. 2.

  14. 25 Travel Words that Wanderlust should have in their Lexicon

    A wanderlust mean a strong, innate, impulse or desire to travel the world. 2.COSMOPOLITAN. Cosmopolican be best defined as "At home all over the world," and as a noun, "a citizen of the world. 3.VAGARY. From the Latin vagari, meaning "to wander," this 16th-century word originally meant a wandering journey.

  15. Travel Words: Top 30 Unusual Words with Beautiful Meanings

    So, without further ado, listed here is the list of appealing and most creative travel words for travel lovers. READ ALSO: Best Travel Quotes: The 111 Amazing Travelling Quotes. NOTE: All of the photos in this post are pinnable, just hover, and you can pin it right away for inspiration later!

  16. 8 Words To Describe A Person Who Loves To Travel

    Nomad. Peripatetic. Wanderer. Vagabond. The preferred version is "globetrotter" because it refers to somebody who is happy to spend their days traveling around the globe. They like to immerse themselves in their travels, and it's the only word on the list that specifically plays into someone 's love of traveling.

  17. 81 Inspiring Quotes for Travel Lovers

    Travel Quotes About Learning. There is a lot we can learn from traveling. These quotes encourage us to be open to learning from our expriences. Interestingly, a lot of the time, this means learning more about ourselves. 29. Travel makes one modest, you see what a tiny place you occupy in the world. - Gustave Flaubert.

  18. 100 Love Travel Quotes to Inspire You For Adventure

    Love Travel Quotes. "Adventure is always better when shared.". "Traveling with you is my favorite adventure.". "We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.". - Unknown. "Exploring the world with you is my idea of a perfect date.". "Love is the compass that guides us in our travels.".

  19. Travel Synonyms: Discovering New Words To Express Your Wanderlust

    Odyssey. A long and eventful journey, often suggesting a heroic quest or adventure. Pilgrimage. A journey to a sacred or special place, often for religious or spiritual reasons. Roaming. A journey taken by car or another vehicle, often with stops and detours along the way. Exploring the World: Travel Synonyms in Action.

  20. Words For Travel Lovers

    Here are just a few words for travel lovers: Adventure: This word is the perfect way to describe any type of travel. Whether you're going on a safari or hiking in the mountains, adventure is always waiting for you. Excitement: This is the feeling you get when you're about to embark on a new journey. It's the anticipation of what's to ...

  21. Romantic Quotes About Travel and Love

    Quotes About Travel and Love for the Hopeless Romantic. "I would like to travel the world with you twice. Once, to see the world. Twice to see the way you see the world.". — Anonymous. "We ...

  22. TRAVEL Synonyms: 237 Similar and Opposite Words

    Synonyms for TRAVEL: trek, journey, trip, tour, voyage, roam, wander, pilgrimage; Antonyms of TRAVEL: crawl, creep, drag, hang (around or out), poke, linger, lag, loiter

  23. 15 Best Books For Travel Lovers (Who Need a Shot of Wanderlust)

    That's what The Bucket List book aims to prevent. Perfect for the coffee table, this book of 1000 adventure ideas will keep your traveler's wanderlust tank full whenever they're at home. CHECK PRICES ON AMAZON. #2.) National Geographic Atlas of the World. Here's another one for the coffee table.