homemade travel journal

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How to Make a Travel Journal

Last Updated: February 24, 2023 Approved

This article was co-authored by Archana Ramamoorthy, MS . Archana Ramamoorthy is the Chief Technology Officer, North America at Workday. In 2019, she went on a three-month sabbatical from her work and solo traveled throughout Southeast Asia. She is a product ninja, security advocate, and on a quest to enable more inclusion in the tech industry. Archana received her BS from SRM University and MS from Duke University and has been working in product management for over 8 years. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 83% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 138,679 times.

Travel is a time for growth, new experiences, and seeing more of the world. If you're taking a trip, you want to remember everything that you did for years to come. Keeping a travel journal will not only help preserve your memories of the experience, but can help enrich your trip in the moment as well. Check out this super useful list we’ve put together about travel journaling! We’ll start off with some tips on what to put in your travel journal, how to write entries, how to pick a journal type, and more.

Travel Journal Entry Template

Write about more than just activities to make entries interesting.

• For example, instead of just talking about a hike you went on, describe the meal you ate at the end of the day and how good it was after exerting yourself physically all day long.

Engage all senses to transport the reader to the time and place.

• For example, describe the scent of the flowers on the table in the cafe where you have lunch or the feel of the breeze when you're relaxing on the beach.

Find a theme for entries to help make them feel coherent.

• If you're having trouble identifying a theme for an entry, start by asking yourself a few basic questions, such as: “What made me smile today?”, “What surprised me today?”, or "What did I learn today?" Write down the answers, and you may see a theme start to emerge.

Write about people you meet to bring their characters to life.

• For example, you could describe how the old lady who sold you fresh produce at the market looked and acted to bring life into the story about your trip to the market that day. Or, you could talk about fellow travelers you’ve been hanging out with and what you like or admire about them.

Collect mementos to add visual interest to your journal.

• You don't necessarily have to glue or tape the mementos in your journal as you're traveling. Just set them aside in your folder, so you can add them when you return home. However, make sure to leave space among your written entries to add the materials that match up with them.
• If you’re making a digital journal, you can easily scan or take photos of mementos to add to it.

Take photos to bring your journal entries to life.

• If you’re journaling online, such as on a blog, upload a few relevant photos to go with each post and help bring your entry to life.
• You don’t have to print out photos on the road for a physical journal. Just save the ones you like and print and add them to your journal when you get home.

Add some sketches if you like to draw.

• It doesn't matter if you're not a great artist. You can sketch a simple map of the neighborhood that you're staying in or a pretty bunch of flowers that you saw. As long as the drawing helps you remember details of your trip later, it's worth it.
• You could even use watercolors or another type of paint to do some artwork on a separate piece of art paper, then put it in your journal once it’s dry.
• If you’re making a digital journal, you can use a drawing app on a tablet or smartphone to do sketches for it.

Make a physical journal if you’re a hands-on type person.

• A journal with acid-free paper is usually a good investment because it will ensure that your writing and sketches will hold up for years.
• If you want to get really decorative, purchase some additional art supplies like colored markers, gel pens, and pencils.
• Washi tape or a glue stick are handy for sticking postcards, pictures, and other mementos to pages.
• If you like to draw and sketch, take a set of drawing pencils with you to sketch sights you see along the way.
• A small pair of craft scissors can also be handy for cutting out images and things to stick in your journal. However, if you’re flying, make sure you can put them in a checked bag or you won’t be able to bring them with you.

Create a digital journal if you want to easily share it.

• Another advantage of digital journals is that you don’t have to bring much with you. You can use a laptop, a tablet, or even just a smartphone!
• If you want to find different apps for journaling, search wherever you get your apps from with a term like “travel diary” or “journal app.”
• Remember that there’s no right or wrong way to create a journal. Whatever gets your creative juices flowing and helps you cherish those memories forever is perfect!

Get a clear, expandable folder to collect journaling materials in.

• A folder is especially important if you don't want to compile your whole journal while you're actually traveling. You can just write in the journal as you go, and add the mementos after you've returned home because the folder will keep them all organized.

Use a map to track your travels if you’re going many places.

• If you want to find apps to track your travels on a map, just type “travel map app” into the search bar of wherever you get your apps.
• You don’t have to be travelling internationally to track your route on a map. For example, if you’re doing a cross-state road trip, you could print out a map of each state and mark your stops along your route in each state.
• You can also use a large world map to track multiple trips over the months and years to come.

Decide who you're writing for to help guide your journaling.

• If you plan to share your journal with others, consider the details that you plan to include. You may not think it's necessary to write down the address of a restaurant that you enjoyed to preserve the memory, but a friend may find the information helpful. On the other hand, there may be personal details of your trip that you don't want to share with family and friends, so it's best to omit them.

Start journaling before your trip to help plan and get excited.

• You could write about what you imagine certain places to be like, then go back and compare notes after you actually visit them for a fun comparison!
• You can put practical details in the beginning of your journal too, such as contact info for tour operators or directions to get to certain places.

Make entries as often as possible to fill your journal as you travel.

• It helps to set aside a specific time to write in your journal. For example, you might do your entries at breakfast or just before bed. If you're taking a plane, train, bus, or car to another location, the ride is a great time to work on journal entries.
• Remember to date each entry, so you can remember the timeline of your trip. You may want to include the time that you wrote each as well.
• If you're in a hurry, jot down notes about your day on a scrap of paper that you can copy into the journal when you have more time. You may forget some details if you don't write things down as you go, so a rough draft can come in handy.

Expert Q&A

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.nathab.com/blog/create-a-travel-journal-that-youll-read-again-and-again/
• ↑ http://www.wanderlust.co.uk/magazine/articles/advice/how-to-write-the-perfect-travel-journal
• ↑ http://solotravelerblog.com/9-tips-for-those-who-struggle-to-keep-a-travel-journal/
• ↑ http://www.globejotting.com/create-a-more-vivid-travel-journal/
• ↑ http://www.fodors.com/travel-photography/article-creating-a-travel-journal-84/
• ↑ http://www.gonomad.com/2288-tips-on-keeping-a-travel-journal
• ↑ https://www.windstarcruises.com/blog/how-to-make-a-travel-journal/
• ↑ https://penzu.com/travel-journal-guide

About This Article

To make a travel journal, write entries in a journal as you're traveling so you don't forget any important details. Try to engage all of your senses as you're writing by describing how your destination smells, sounds, looks, feels, and tastes, which will make your journal entries more vivid and interesting. Remember to take photos and collect mementos throughout your trip so you can glue them into your travel journal later on. You can also draw or paint different sights you see and include your own artwork in your journal. To learn how to get all the necessary supplies for a travel journal, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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12 DIY Whimsy And Cool Travel Journals

If you aren’t familiar with travel journals, these are notebooks that are great for keeping track of expenses, organize receipts, create shopping lists, write down new ideas. This is especially true for long-term travel adventures, where the extraordinary and exotic are daily occurrences and your brain can only easily remember the most remarkable. Keep all your memories and details up with a travel journal! I’ve prepared some cool DIYs to make one , they can be not only a great idea for your future trips but also a cool gift. Let’s start!

DIY travel journals in navy chevron and gold glitter (via 86lemons.com )

DIY colorful glam travel journal (via www.homecynhome.com )

DIY bright printed travel journals (via heiterundhurtig.de )

DIY modern laconic travel journals with city names (via www.nonarrativelines.com )

DIY colorful gradient beach travel journals (via www.craftsbycourtney.com )

DIY travel journals of burlap,cardboard and with colorful touches (via helloglow.co )

DIY watercolor-inspired travel journals with city names (via maritzalisa.com )

DIY Paris travel journal (via www.ialwayspickthethimble.com )

DIY colorful glam travel journal with zebras (via lovelyindeed.com )

How to keep your travel journal super creatively (via vagabondbaker.com )

stylish DIY pocket travel journal (via simpleasthatblog.com )

DIY leather travel journal with colorful floral lining (via stampedinhisimage.blogspot.com )

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What Is a Travel Journal + How to Make One with Examples

Traveling to new places and journaling about your exciting and enriching experiences is beyond rewarding. Whether you're exploring a bustling city, immersing yourself in nature's wonders, or embarking on a cultural adventure, capturing your travel experiences is a great way to preserve memories and reflect on your journey. One popular and creative way to document your travels is through a travel journal . In this article, we'll cover what a travel journal is, the benefits of keeping one, how to choose the best travel journal among different types, and provide you with tips and examples on how to make your own.

Ready to discover how to capture your travel experiences in different places, explore creative travel journal ideas and travel journal prompts, and more? Let the adventure begin!

What is a Travel Journal?

A travel journal is a personal diary that allows you to record your thoughts, feelings, and experiences during your travels. It serves as a visual and written account of your adventures, providing you with a tangible keepsake that you can cherish for years to come. Unlike a regular journal, a travel diary focuses specifically on your journeys, including details about the different places you visit, the people you meet, the food you try, and the sights you see.

Benefits of Keeping a Travel Journal

Keeping a travel journal offers numerous benefits beyond simply documenting your experiences. Here are some additional reasons why you should consider starting one:

1. Emotional and Mental Well-Being

Journaling has been shown to have positive effects on emotional and mental well-being . When you write about your travel experiences, you have the opportunity to process and reflect on your emotions, helping you gain a deeper understanding of yourself and your reactions to different situations via your journal entries. It can be a therapeutic outlet for releasing stress, anxiety, or even excitement, allowing you to better manage your emotions throughout your journey.

2. Enhanced Memory Retention

Writing about your travels helps improve memory retention. By actively engaging with your experiences and recording them in detail, you reinforce the neural connections related to those memories. This makes it easier to recall specific moments, sights, sounds, and even the feelings associated with them in the future. Your travel diary becomes a valuable tool for preserving and retrieving cherished memories.

3. Cultural Exploration and Appreciation

A travel journal encourages you to be more observant and attentive to the details of the places you visit. It prompts you to delve deeper into the local culture, traditions, and customs. By documenting your interactions with locals, sampling regional cuisine, and exploring hidden gems, you develop a greater appreciation for the unique aspects of each destination. Your journal becomes a testament to the richness and diversity of the world around you.

4. Personal Growth and Self-Reflection

Writing in a travel diary allows for introspection and personal growth. As you reflect on your experiences, you gain insights into your own values, beliefs, and perspectives. You may discover new passions or interests, challenge preconceived notions, or develop a greater sense of empathy and understanding for others. The process of self-reflection through journaling can lead to personal transformation and a deeper connection to the world.

5. Travel Planning and Preparation

Your travel journal can serve as a practical resource for future trips. By documenting your itineraries, accommodations, transportation details, and recommendations, you create a valuable reference guide that covers your experiences more fully. You can refer back to your journal to jog your memory or provide recommendations to fellow travelers. It becomes a repository of knowledge that can streamline the planning process for future adventures.

6. Connection with Loved Ones

Sharing your travel journal with friends, family, or future generations can be a meaningful way to connect and bond. Your journal becomes a storytelling tool, allowing others to experience your journey vicariously through your words, sketches, and photographs. It can spark conversations, ignite curiosity, and inspire others to embark on their own adventures.

7. Creative Expression

Engaging in the creative process of journaling stimulates your imagination and artistic abilities. Whether you're writing prose, sketching landscapes, creating collages, or experimenting with different art mediums, your travel diary becomes a canvas for self-expression. It encourages you to think outside the box, explore new artistic techniques, and develop your creative skills.

Keeping a travel journal goes beyond simply recording your experiences. It has profound benefits for your emotional well-being, memory retention, personal growth, and cultural appreciation. It serves as a tangible reminder of your adventures, a tool for planning future trips, a means of connecting with others, and a creative outlet for self-expression. So, grab a journal and embark on your journey of exploration and self-discovery through travel journaling.

Types of Travel Journals

There are different journals for just about any goal or activity you can think of – from travel journals to fitness journals , from gratitude journals to garden journals , and more. Similarly, there are various types of travel diaries to suit different preferences and styles. We cover the best travel journals below so you can find one perfect for you.

1. Guided Travel Journals

Guided journals provide travel journal prompts and structured sections to help you capture specific aspects of your journey. Guided journals often include questions, blank pages to fill in, and guided activities to guide your journaling process. Using a guided journal or planner , can ensure you cover all the essentials, without missing any crucial details you’ll want to revisit later.

2. Traditional Handwritten Journals

These are classic journals or notebooks with blank pages where you can freely write, draw, or glue mementos. Traditional journals offer the most flexibility in terms of customization for creative journal entries.

3. Photographic Travel Journals

For those who prefer visual storytelling, a photographic travel journal focuses on capturing moments through photographs. You can include pictures alongside brief descriptions or captions to narrate your journey visually.

4. Scrapbook Travel Journals

Scrapbook-style journals combine photographs, tickets, postcards, and other memorabilia with handwritten notes and decorative elements. They provide a visually appealing way to preserve your travel memories.

5. Sketchbook Travel Journals

If you have artistic inclinations, a sketchbook journal allows you to sketch and paint scenes, landmarks, and people you encounter during your travels. It's a great way to capture the essence of a place through your own artwork.

6. Digital Travel Journals

In the digital age, many people opt for digital travel journals, using apps or online platforms to document their adventures. Digital journals offer the convenience of easy editing, multimedia integration, and the ability to share your journey with others online.

7. Travel Bullet Journals

A popular trend in journaling, travel bullet journals combine organization and creativity. Based on the bullet journaling system, these journals use symbols, icons, and trackers to help you plan and record your travels. You can create sections for itineraries, packing lists, daily logs, and more, all while adding artistic touches and personalization.

You can also use a monthly planner with ample note pages and customize it as a travel calendar journal.

Whether you prefer the structure of guided journals, the freedom of traditional handwritten journals, the visual impact of photographic or scrapbook journals, the artistic expression of sketchbook journals, the convenience of digital journals, or the organization of travel bullet journals, there's a type of travel journal that will resonate with you and enhance your travel experiences. Choose the one that suits your style and embark on a journey of creativity and self-expression.

How to Make a Travel Journal

Now that you have an idea of the different types of travel journals, let's explore how to make your own.

1. Selecting the Right Journal

Consider the type of journaling experience you desire. If you prefer writing and sketching, a traditional blank-page journal or sketchbook might be ideal. If you want structure and guidance, opt for a guided travel journal. If you're tech-savvy, explore digital journaling options.

2. Gathering Essential Supplies

Depending on the type of journal you choose, gather supplies such as pens, pencils, markers, glue, scissors, washi tape, stickers, and any other decorative elements you'd like to incorporate. If you're going digital, ensure you have a suitable device and any necessary apps or software.

3. Planning Your Journal

Before your trip, plan how you want to organize your journal. Consider creating sections for different aspects like itineraries, accommodation, food, and sightseeing. This will help you stay organized and make it easier to find information later.

4. Documenting Your Journey

During your trip, actively engage in your journaling process with regular (yet not restrictive or rigid) journal entries. Write about your daily experiences, jot down interesting conversations, glue in ticket stubs or postcards, and take photographs to complement your entries. Let your creativity flow and capture the essence of each moment.

Travel Journal Page and Layout Examples

The layout and organization of your travel journal pages play a crucial role in bringing your travel experiences, from all the different places you’ve visited, to life. By incorporating various elements and sections, you can create a visually appealing and informative journal that captures the essence of your journey. From practical pages for itineraries and packing lists to creative spreads for reflections and bucket lists, here are some ideas to help you design engaging and meaningful pages for your travel diary.

1. Packing List and Pre-Trip Planning Pages

Dedicate a page or spread to jot down your packing list and pre-trip preparations. Include essential items, travel tips, and any special considerations for the destination. You can even add checkboxes or symbols to mark off items as you pack, ensuring you don't forget anything important.

You may also want to check out these helpful travel and packing tips .

2. A List of Local Words and Phrases

Learning a few basic words and phrases in the local language can greatly enhance your travel experience. Create a page dedicated to practicing and referring to these words and phrases. Include translations, pronunciation guides, and space to practice writing them. This page can be a helpful tool for connecting with locals and immersing yourself in the local culture.

3. Itinerary Pages

Design pages dedicated to your daily itineraries. Include the places you plan to visit, opening hours, transportation details, and any additional notes or reservations. You can add maps, photographs, or illustrations to make the page visually appealing and easy to navigate.

4. Accommodation and Restaurant Reviews

Reserve pages to review and rate the accommodations and restaurants you experience. Include details like the location, ambiance, service, and any standout dishes. You can even attach business cards, menus, or photographs to accompany your reviews. These pages will not only serve as a reference for future trips but also help fellow travelers discover hidden gems.

5. Post-Trip Reflection and Wrap-Up

Allocate space in your journal for post-trip reflections. Create pages to summarize your overall experience, highlight your favorite moments, and reflect on the lessons learned during your journey. Include photographs, sketches, or quotes that capture the essence of your adventure. These reflection pages will serve as a reminder of the growth and memories you gained from your travels.

6. Travel Bucket List

Create a dedicated page to list destinations, landmarks, or experiences you aspire to visit or accomplish in the future. You can divide the page into different categories like countries, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, or adrenaline-fueled activities. This page will serve as a source of inspiration and motivation for your future travels.

7. Travel Budget, Savings Goals, and Tracking

If budgeting is important to you, design pages to track your travel expenses, savings goals, and tips for saving money during your travels. Create tables or graphs to visually represent your budget and savings progress. These pages will help you stay accountable and ensure you're making the most of your financial resources.

Your travel diary is a personal and creative space to capture the memories, emotions, and experiences of your journeys. Through carefully designed pages and layouts, you can transform your journal into a visual and written narrative of your adventures. Whether you choose to incorporate practical elements like itineraries and packing lists or focus on creative expressions like reflections and bucket lists, the possibilities are endless. Let your imagination guide you as you create pages that reflect your unique travel style and personality. With each turn of the page, your travel diary will become a treasure trove of cherished memories and a gateway to relive your journeys again and again.

Creative Travel Journaling Ideas and Prompts

Stuck on what to write or include in your travel diary? Here are some creative travel journal ideas and travel journal prompts to get you started:

• Write a letter to your future self reflecting on your travel experiences and what you hope to remember.
• Describe the scents, sounds, and tastes that stand out in each place you visit.
• Create a "People You Meet" page, where you can jot down brief descriptions or draw portraits of interesting individuals you encounter during your journey.
• Write a short story or poem inspired by a specific location or experience.
• Make a to-do list of activities or experiences you want to accomplish at each destination. Challenge yourself to complete as many as possible and check them off as you go.
• Write a gratitude list, noting the things you're grateful for during your travels. It could be the stunning sunsets, the kindness of locals, or the serendipitous encounters.

A travel diary is a beautiful way to document and cherish your travel experiences. Whether you opt for a traditional handwritten journal, a photographic account, or a digital platform, the process of journaling will enhance your journey and provide a lasting memory of your adventures. Experiment with different styles, layouts, and prompts to make your travel journal uniquely yours. So, grab a journal and start capturing your travel memories today!

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Free printable travel journal template: One Question A Day Diary

Are you going on a trip soon and do you want to keep track of all your fun memories? Great news! In today’s post, I’m going to show you how to make a simple DIY travel journal. It’s really easy, low-key, and fun! Plus, if you’re not feeling crafty, you can even download my free printable travel journal template that I made just for you.

Like many travelers, I used to forget the small, fun details of my trips. So, I started keeping track of memories with this one-question-a-day journal.

The idea is simple.

You just answer one fun question every day for a week. And the week after, you’ll answer the same one. It’s not like those big, heavy journals that are hard to carry. And you won’t have to write a lot, just one interesting question each day. This way, you can remember all the neat things that even photos can’t show, without any effort.

So stick with me, and I’ll show you how this easy idea can make your trips even more memorable. Let’s start making your very own travel journal!

In This Post:

Save this free printable travel journal template

Don’t forget to save this template on Pinterest so you’ll know where to find your downloads for your next trip!

Why you should keep a travel journal

Alright, I know you are dying to get started with this DIY travel journal, but just before you grab your crafts and head off, allow me to share a few more reasons why journaling is a game-changer for your travels.  Trust me, after reading these reasons, “forgetting” to journal will be a thing of the past!

• Document memories: Revisiting your adventures through a journal is super fun. Those quirky anecdotes and hidden gems you discovered? They will all be in your journal waiting to be re-lived.
• Record thoughts and ideas that you might otherwise forget: Ever had a brilliant idea or a profound realization while traveling, only to forget it later? A travel journal ensures those thoughts are captured forever.
• Reflect and learn: Journaling allows you to ponder over your experiences, offering insights and learnings that can be transformative.
• Unleash creativity: It’s not just about writing; it’s about expressing your creativity. Doodle, paste ticket stubs, or write a poem – your journal, your rules!
• Enhance your journey : A journal adds depth to your travels. It encourages mindfulness and helps you appreciate the journey on a deeper level.

Ready to make your travels more memorable and meaningful? Let’s get started and make your own travel journal!

A question-a-day: How does it work?

If you’re unfamiliar with the one-question-a-day format, let me give you a quick rundown, so you can make the most out of our free template.

Traditionally, these journals are used for an entire year, containing 365 unique questions – one for each day. The idea is to keep the journal for five years, answering the same question on the same date each year. This way, you end up with a fascinating record of how your thoughts and experiences evolve over time.

What I love about this format is the ease and simplicity. Answering just one question a day is a breeze, making it effortless to maintain a consistent journaling habit – often the biggest challenge for many travelers who want to keep a travel journal.

I adapted this concept for travel. Instead of spanning years, it covers your trip’s duration, with the same set of questions repeated each week. This approach is perfect for travelers who start journaling with enthusiasm but find the task daunting as their journey progresses. With just a short question to answer daily, it’s easy, fun, and incredibly rewarding.

So now that you understand the concept, let’s find out how to make your own travel journal.

I will share two options below; A DIY version and a free printable one . Neither one is better, just pick whichever one suits you best!

Option1: DIY travel journal

The first option I’ll share is a true DIY travel journal. You start with an empty paper or notebook and craft your own.

If you are looking for the free printable, scroll down to the free printable travel journal template section.

Materials needed

• Paper (A4 that you fold in two to make a booklet or any type of notebook)
• Crafting materials (if you want to make it look nice, but this is not necessary)

How to make your own travel journal

Step 1: find a notebook.

Honestly, it doesn’t matter if you just fold A4 paper in half and use a stapling machine to bind it. If you buy a simple notebook, or if you go all the way and buy a beautifully designed travel notebook.

I’m a big bullet journal fan, so I just make a collection and dedicate a few pages of my daily bullet journal to this Question-a-day journal. That way it’s integrated with all my other work and travel notes.

But feel free to do whatever fits you. All that matters is that you actually start and that you enjoy working on it. If you need a beautiful design to feel inspired, then by all means go for it. But the design should not be a reason to not get started.

The size of the notebook doesn’t matter either. I usually prefer an A5 format, because it’s small and easily fits in my backpack. But really, anything works. Lined, dotted, squared, or blank paper, all is fine.

Step 2: Make the pages

At the top of each page write one of the questions below, followed by a prompt for the right date. So weeks 1, 2, 3, etc (depending on how long you’ll be traveling)

• What did you eat today?
• Who or what made you smile today?
• What did you do today?
• Did you learn something new today? What was it?
• What is the most beautiful thing you saw today?
• Did you come across any challenges today? What was it? How did you overcome it?
• What was your favorite moment of the past week?

Of course, there are many different variations of questions you could ask. I found these seven the most interesting ones. But check the section about other prompts below for more question ideas.

I usually don’t add the answer sections for each week yet (I only showed it in the example above to give you an idea), because I don’t know how much space I’ll be needing for my answers. But you could add those if you want to make sure everything fits on one page.

Step 3: Decorate your travel journal

Now, I’ll admit. I am not the most creative person out here.

I can’t draw and I have the handwriting of an 8-year-old. So when I get crafty with my journal without any template, stickers, stamps, or premade anything, it will look like a mess. And that’s why I go for simplicity,

But if you are nothing like me, this is where you can get crazy. Get out your markers, crayons, glitter, and whatnot to make this travel journal feel like you. You could even add more blank pages so you have more options for photos, doodles, and other fun keepsakes from your trip.

Step 4: Start answering the questions every day

Now that your journal is finished, all you need to do is answer one simple question a day. No endless essays, writer’s block, or not feeling inspired. You’ll know exactly what to write and it will only take a few seconds.

What I like even more, is that even if I forgot to journal one day. I can easily trace back and still answer that one question from yesterday.

Option 2: Free printable travel journal template

Alright, if you’re looking for a printable travel journal, then I’ve got you covered too. Find out how to make your own travel journal from my free printable PDF below!

• Paper (white A4 that you fold in two to make a booklet)
• Printer (that can print in a booklet, though most printers nowadays have this setting)
• A free printable cover
• Free printable questions

How to use the free printable travel journal pdf

Step 1: choose and download your cover.

For you to use this journal every day and make the most out of it, you need to be super enthusiastic about it. And one way to get you excited is to help you find a design that matches your personality. And that’s why I came up with five different covers so that you can pick one that matches your spirit best.

Choose your favorite down below, or head over to Canva and make your design, as long as you print it on the right side of the paper in landscape shape, it will work too.

Step 2: Print the cover

Print it on an A4 paper and fold it in two. I deliberately put it on landscape and on the right side of the paper, so you can fold it in two and use it as the cover.

Step 3: Print the questions

Now that we have your cover, it’s time for the questions, which you can download here .

They are in A4 PDF format, but you can easily print them as a booklet by using the right printer settings, I explained below.

Print instructions

• Click print once you’ve downloaded and opened the PDF on your computer
• Go to printer settings and select booklet
• Print double-sided

With these settings, your printer will automatically put them in the right order, so that when you fold it in two, you will have a book from question 1-7, and extra notes in the back.

The settings might look slightly different on your computer, but it works the same for every printer.

Feel free to add more blank paper so you’ll have more notes. Or simply print more of the last “notes” page.

DIY travel journal tips

There are a few things that can help you to make the most out of this travel journal.

• Make this journal your own: the more it feels like your own project, the more enthusiastic you will be to write every day
• Set a specific time or moment when you will answer the question
• Start each answer with your current location followed by “:” and the answer. As travelers we visit so many different places that sometimes just seeing the name of a city you were at helps you set the mood and remember the content when you’re reading your travel journal years from now

DIY travel journal variations

As you probably already noticed, there are about 1000 different ways in which you can style your travel journal.

I just shared five printable travel journal templates with you, as well as my super simple but effective handwritten method. But remember. This journal is about you. It should be a design that invites you to write every day and create a beautiful travel memoir for your future self.

So go wild and use which ever design you want.

Besides differences in designs, you can also add different questions that are important to you, or that you want to remember from your trip. I’ll share a few of my other questions below.

I use these when I make my monthly travel journal for longer trips (more about this monthly journal below).

• Who did you meet today?
• Did you travel with someone today? Who is it?
• What was the weather like today?
• When was the last time you did something kind for someone else?
• What surprised you today?
• When was the last time someone did something kind for you?
• Did you fall for any tourist traps this week?
• What was your favorite accommodation up until now?
• Did you do something that scared you this week?

The printable travel journal prompts I shared with you today are for a five-week trip, but of course, you can also use them for a two-week vacation or any other duration.

If you’re traveling longer than 8 weeks, I would advise you to make a journal with a question for each day of the month. That way you’ll have more variation in the types of questions asked and the things you will remember from your trip.

Just check out my list of questions above for more inspiration. And if you want more help, or if you’re not feeling creative, Shoot me a message and I will send the full list of monthly questions as well as a free monthly printable that I use as well!

More DIY travel ideas

Did this project release your inner Martha Stewart?

Then you’re in good luck! We’ve got more super DIY travel projects for you to try.

• The 45 best DIY travel projects
• Homemade voucher book for your loved ones staying behind

Save these free templates

Did you save these free printable travel journal templates on Pinterest yet?

Final notes about this simple DIY journal

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or a first-time explorer, I hope that this free printable travel journal template will make your adventures more memorable.

So, grab your pen and start capturing those precious travel moments, one question at a time!

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How To Make A Travel Journal

By: Author Tara Jacobsen

Posted on Last updated: March 5, 2021

Categories Adult Crafts

Tips and ideas for keeping a fun and creative travel notebook or diary. A travelers notebook is such a fun way to document your trips and remember all the neat things you did on your trip.

Have you ever gone on a vacation and once home, forgot the small details of the trip?  Or looked at pictures a month, year or more later and can’t remember what they were about or who was in them?  

It happens to the best of us and even if you’re sure you’ll remember everything about a vacation or trip, you won’t.  The solution is very simple: keep a travel journal.  

It will help you remember more about your trip, learn more about where you are going and reflect on your journey as you go.  All those things will later be a fantastic way to refresh your memory about each trip you take.

Making and keeping a travel journal is simple, really, and you can do it one of two ways; start it before you go and pre-populate your pages in the journal leaving space to write each day about your adventures; or you can keep notes as you go and then design your journal once the trip is over, much like a scrapbook.  

Keep one for each trip you take, short or long, or make one journal for all your travels.  It’s all up to you. I tend to make one journal (a travelers notebook style) and then add pictures and notes in there!

Picking Your Style Of Journal

There are a million different kinds of journals you can use for your travelers notebook! Here are some ideas to get your wheels turning:

Midori travelers notebooks – I use a Midori style travelers notebook! If you don't know about these, they are tall skinny books that you can hook into a cover with a rubber band that goes around it to hold it closed. (shown above)

Leather journal – If you are doing a once in a lifetime trip you might want to get a special leather journal! That leather cover will keep all of your memories safe and sound!

Leather notebooks – My Midori travelers journal has a cloth cover, but using a leather cover is a great way to have a keepsake that you can treasure forever!

Colorful illustrated journal – If looking at a big blank page freaks you out, a fun thing to do is get an old fashioned illustrated book or even a modern travel guide of the area you are visiting to use as the base for your journal!

What To Write In Your Travelers Notebook

As you make entries into your journal (or make notes for it later), write down everything.  The minutiae, the good stuff and the bad stuff.  Don’t self-censor!  

Not all entries have to be award winning, but be sure to capture it all as you go, at the end of each day before you go to bed.  

Ask yourself, what did I do?  Where did I go?  Who did I meet?  What did I eat?  What did it smell like or sound like?  What did I learn?  

I wanted to remember that my son thinks Caesar Salads are the height of fine dining so I made sure to note that by the picture I took of him!

How To Use Your Trip Ephemera

If you’re taking your actual journal with you, take a glue stick as well and put in things like ticket stubs, brochures, postcards… if you can draw, make sketches of things.  

I find that there are two kinds of ephemera for me, stuff I can glue in and stuff I want to keep for later.

For example, I can glue tickets in anywhere! I think I want them, but really don't care. Postcards on the other hand are fun for me, so I tend to clip them on with bulldog or paper clips or put them in a tuck spot so I don't have to worry they will get ruined by glueing them in!

Leave room on each page to add pictures you took that day later OR do like I did and get a Sprocket printer so you can print out your pictures as you go along! It is tiny and uses “no ink” paper so I can make my pages up as I go!

 Lastly, end each journal page with what about that day you are most grateful for, because remembering that the trip was a gift is most important.

Travel Journal Supplies

You can also start your journal before you go on your trip (more about that below), but to get started here is a list of suggested supplies:

• A travelers style notebook or other type of journal with blank pages. (fun addons… 5 Must Have Accessories for Your Travelers Notebook )
• Notebook refill books
• Glue sticks or mod podge
• Photos, tickets, brochures, stickers you got in particular places – whatever it is you collect on your trip
• Washi Tape (optional for decoration) – I make small cards of washi tape with short pieces so I don't have to take a bunch of different rolls! (check out 9 Creative Ways To Store Washi Tape to see it in action!)
• Scrapbook paper for interesting backgrounds

Preparing Your Travelers Journal Before You Go

Now you can set up your journal before you go and use it as a trip planning guide remembering that you are going to document your travels as you go!

Start off with the brochures you are using to plan the trip, your itinerary, and ask yourself the following to help you plan the best trip ever:

• What do I want to see on my trip?
• What do I want to do on my trip?
• Are there foods I want to try?
• Why am I going on this trip?
• What would I like to learn?
• What do I imagine it will be like on my trip?
• What are my expectations?

Now do your homework and figure out how to do the things you want to do.  Put in contact information for the site or people, tour information, etc.  That way you not only make your itinerary, but you have a central spot to find it later when you need it.

Taking Notes During Your Trip

If you want to just take notes during the trip, take a notebook and jot down things as you go.  

During the day, jot quick notes about thoughts, tidbits of information on things you learned, people’s names, sounds, smells, all your quick observations that are usually quickly lost.  

I tend to use sticky notes in the page I know I am going to use for that trip! I write down things we did and special events to remember. That way, when I am ready to do the page I have the notes, but they aren't “stuck” in a certain place!

At the end of the day, write out your experiences at length, including your notes, while it’s all fresh in your mind.  Ask yourself these questions as you write:

• Who did I meet today?
• Were the locals welcoming?
• Did you learn something new?
• What did I eat?
• Was it good?
• Did I get any new recipes for things I liked?
• What did I like most about today?
• What did I like least about today?
• What did I learn about me today?
• Did I do something challenging?
• How did it add to my life?
• Would I recommend what I did today to anyone and why?
• Was there something I wanted to do that didn’t happen?

Pro tip! If your handwriting is a little wonky, like mine, you might want to use a notebook with lined pages or a grid so you can follow that and make it look less messy!

Doing Your Travelers Notebook Later

If you are just collecting notes and ephemera as you go, when you get home you will want to start putting together pages for each part of your trip!

Set your travel journal up almost like a scrapbook.  Print out the photos you want to include and gather your stuff together, maps, travel magazines, scrapbook paper, tickets, business cards, etc. and organize them by city or country or by day or site visited.  

Now choose a background and add it to your page, if you want, and place the things to go with it and arrange them on the page, then paste them down.

Whether you set up your pages ahead of time and use the journal, or make notes each day as you go and transfer them to the journal (so you can decorate it so it’s more closely related to your actual trip), use the time making the pages to compare your expectations with what actually happened.  

Reflect on how that changed your trip for the better or not, and so on.  Then set the stage for your next adventure by ending with the place you want to go next!

How to make a super fun travel journal to keep track of all the details of your trip!

• Travel Journal or Travelers Notebook
• Notebook Refill
• Sticky Notes
• Bulldog Clips or Paper Clips
• Washi Tape or Stickers
• Sprocket No Ink  Printer (optional)
• Ephemera From Your Trip (ticket stubs, brochures, napkins, matchbooks)

Instructions

• Get all your supplies together in one place (I like to use a cute little bag I can throw into my pocket book)
• Start collecting fun ephemera from your trip
• Write down fun events and people you meet
• Use sticky notes to record what is happening (you can move them around later!)
• Print out pictures from your trip
• Start making pages of your travels!

It can seem like everyone else makes the most amazing travel journals, but when you start they will be a little wonky. Remember, it is just for you to remember your trips and they will get better over time!

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DIY To Try: Travel Journal

If you’re busy making travel plans and finalizing arrangements for your trip, it might be a good thing to keep a record of your travels. Here are five quick and simple DIY Pocket Travel Journals you can take with you on your next trip to fill with memories, write down notes and record you thoughts and activities!

From left to right: 1. Weather Resistant Travel Journal – Design Sponge 2. DIY Pocket Travel Journal Tutorial – Simple As That 3. DIY Travel Journal – Say Yes 4. Travel Journal Tutorial – American Crafts Studio 5. Vintage Map Travel Journal DIY – The Pin Junkie

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How to Make a Travel Journal? DIY Tips and Must-Have Supplies

Posted on Last updated: January 24, 2024

During my travels, I’ve always kept a travel journal – but they always have been different in style. If you ask me how to make a travel journal , I’d say that the only limit is your own imagination .

You can organise your journals by destination (country, or city), by itinerary or for by date, for example in weekly or daily logs, the possibilities are endless.

There are some tips and supplies that might help you get started on your first travel journal. Today I share them with you!

TIP: For a complete list of our favourite travel journals, have a look at the bottom of this article!

1. TRAVEL SKETCHBOOK

2. travel scrapbook, 3. travel notebook, 4. travel logbook, 5. friends travel journals, 6. themed travel journals, 7. local travel journals, 8. city travel journals, 9. travel photo album, journal sizes, binding types, paper thickness, extra journal features, what should a travel journal include, travel writing tips, prompts for travel journaling, travel journals with prompts, travel journal examples, how do you start a beginner travel journal, travel journaling supplies, travel without leaving home, want to be a travel blogger, which book to read, our favourite travel journals, our favourite travel notebook covers, travel journals for kids, discover unique travel gear & gifts.

HOW DO I MAKE A TRAVEL JOURNAL?

OUR TOP 6 TRAVEL JOURNALS The Adventure Book (prompts + scrapbook per country) Moleskine Passion Journal Travel (blank paper) Duncan & Stone Travel Journal (prompts + scrapbook) Promptly Journals X Kelli Murray (prompts + scrapbook) Clever Fox Travel Journal (prompts + stickers) Wayfaren Travel Journal (lined paper)

What is a Travel Journal?

Let’s start at the beginning and go over what makes a travel journal. There are just so many different types! It really depends on how you would like to use your own journal to decide the best one for you!

Perhaps you first think of a simple lined notebook where you write down your travel stories, but there are so many other ways to keep your memories from on the road.

Just to name a few:

You don’t have to be a master artist to have fun with a travel sketchbook . Just take a notebook with blank pages and start drawing (or painting!) what you see. You can use pen, pencil, markers, crayons, watercolours or other paint, whatever you like!

There are some great travel journals specifically made for making watercolour drawings, such as the Tumuarta journal and the Seawhite journal .

Here are some other journals with blank pages perfect for sketching: the Moleskine Passion Journal and this personalized monogrammed leather journal .

Bookishly sells cute A5 (6×8″/15x21cm) travel journals with vintage world map covers featuring an inspirational quote on Etsy. The books have 244 blank pages, you can choose gift wrap, they have free UK delivery AND even upgrade to a “Journal for Life”, where you can send them a photo of a full travel journal and they send you a new one free of charge!

You don’t always need to be physically on the road to enjoy the beauty of destinations from all around the world!

From vintage travel posters to beautifully displayed souvenirs and home decor items inspired by your favourite places and from travel journals and crafts to exploring world recipes, music and dance.

With our creative articles you’ll get some fresh ideas on how to bring the world closer to the comforts of your own home.

If you aren’t a fan of drawing or painting, then perhaps making collages in a travel scrapbook is more your thing.

Nothing calms me down faster than ripping inspiring images and words out of magazines and flyers, or collecting little scrapbook items such as ticket stubs, napkins, packaging, etc. Simply arrange them in a nice way, add some text or embellishments like washi tape and you’ve got a great page!

I love using Project Life as a scrapbook , this is a system by Becky Higgins where you slide cards and photos into plastic pockets. It’s not widely available anymore, but I still love it.

Another great book to use for scrapbooking is The Adventure Book , which comes in two sizes.

Ok, I kind of already mentioned it in the intro, but some traditional travel notebook ideas / travel diary examples couldn’t miss in this first roundup.

You can choose lined, dotted or blank paper and write down anything you want to remember from your trip.

Of course you can combine it with elements of the above, for example by adding little doodles, papers, perhaps flowers or feathers, or any other flat trinkets you collect.

The Robrasim refillable leather travelers notebook has a mix of different paper types (and also a handy pocket)

Wayfaren on Etsy sells Weekender travel journals , which measure 6×8.5″ (about 15×21.5cm) and feature 28 lined pages (56 front and back) with a pre-printed box for location and date. The covers come in ivory and navy.

My favourite dotted journal is the Leuchtturm1917 .

If you love to write, but don’t feel like you have the time or energy to fill entire pages with text whilst on the road, a travel logbook might be something for you.

Just write down short little things that stood out about your day, so you won’t forget them. Think about what you did and who you met, what the weather was like, what you saw, heard, smelled, felt or tasted. Use all your senses!

The Everywhere You Go journal by Compendium let’s you take a quick snapshot of a place.

The Trip Passport by Letterfolk is a small, 48-page pocket-sized journal. Each entry page is accompanied by a blank page and there is space to record the date, location, who you went with, first impressions, sights, wildlife and more! It measures 3.5×5.5″ (about 9x14cm), roughly the size of a travel passport.

There is a lot that goes into running a profitable blog and there’s so much that goes on behind the scenes than you might not realize at first.

I’ve been blogging since 2006 and have a ton of tips to share! From brainstorming ideas to creating content all year round and from posting on social media to maintaining your website, tracking what’s working, networking at events and eventually working with brands…

Another cool idea might be to start a friends journal . What is a travel journal for friends? Let me tell you!

I actually did this on my first solo world trip, where friends gifted me a journal to take with me. Instead of writing in it myself (I already kept up a digital journal in the form of a blog) – I let everyone that I met on the road write a message in the book for me!

That made the journal super unique and personalized. And it’s still amazing to read back and remember all these people.

I also own a road trip journal , which I think is also such a fun idea! Usually on a road trip, you don’t have much time to keep up an extensive diary, so this pre-printed book is an easy way to keep track of all everything along the way you would like to remember.

Here you can find Axel & Ash Life’s a Road Trip Journal >

The Brand Clever Fox has a few fun themed journals, such as the Camping Journal and the Bucket List Journal >

You can really add a personal touch by choosing a journal that has a relation to the kind of trip that you are taking.

For example, you can buy a travel journal locally (like I did with the albums below, that I bought in Nepal and India from the market).

On markets across the world, you can also find amazing leather bound journals that right away give a whole explorer-vibe to your journal. You can also turn them into a personalized journal by having your name or the date engraved in the cover.

Here is a beautiful refillable handmade leather travelers notebook by the brand Robrasim >

Some great customizable travel notebooks are these from bamboo by Ruben & Jule of CamperVanStore on Etsy, this beautiful leather travel diary with a compass monogram by TealsPrairie on Etsy and the leather notebook covers by family-run business Galen Leather (their journal covers are compatible with Moleskine , Leuchtturm1917 , Field Notes and Traveler’s Notebook – and they also sell refills )

I found these fun city journals by Moleskine that also make for a great travel journal if you’re visiting these specific places.

I haven’t found many of these, but here is one for London , Paris , Hong Kong and New York >

Moleskine also has a great general travel journal and traveller’s journal in collaboration with National Geographic >

Any finally, the good old photo album . When I grew up, the albums that could stack all the images from one film canister (*ugh*grandma*ugh*) were very popular – you would usually bring the album to parties for people to flip through! Nowadays, they come in all different shapes and sizes.

Here you can find all kinds of albums for those little Instax photos .

Did I already mention I’m a huge Project Life fan ?

How to choose a travel journal?

After choosing your type of journal, there are a few other things to consider when selecting your perfect paper trip companion, such as:

What size is a travel journal? Well, that depends on what you use it for! Personally, I am most happy with an A5 size when it comes to travel journals. The smaller ones I find hard to write in and don’t fit all my keepsakes, the bigger ones just take up too much space in my backpack .

Perhaps you only want to take quick notes, or want to travel real lightweight, then an A6 travel journal (with pockets) might be best for you. And if you only create your final travel notebook at home and want to go all-out, a bigger size, such as A4 , or even larger, makes you happiest!

If you’re only creating a photo album of your trip, then you could for example also look into 1:1 sized albums, like the typical scrapbooks that are 12″ (30,48 cm) x 12″ or the 1.33:1 albums, for example 6″ (15,24 cm) x 8″ (20,32 cm).

I love this A5 Bullet Journal , also perfect for travel.

Incredible A4 travel journal .

Here are some cute Field Notes books – National Parks-themed!

This leather cover fits a 6″ Field Notes notebook perfectly .

The type of binding of a notebook is the material that is used to make the upper (front) and lower (back) covers of the journal, also taking into consideration how the pages are attached to the covers/back of the notebook.

For example, a saddle-stitch bind is when paper is folded with a staple or thread through the fold. PUR binding uses a paperboard or heavy cover stock to attach pages to the spine with glue (like in a paperback book). With spiral binding , there is a loop wire going through holes in the cover and pages (Nick hates these, as he’s left-handed and somehow always finds the wire in his way when writing), and with section sewn binding or coptic stitch binding , you get a flexible spine so you can lay the pages flat to work on.

As for the cover, you can choose between a hardcover or a more flexible, soft cover .

There are so many more types of binding that the ones I’ve just mentioned. Which do you prefer?

I mentioned them already briefly: are you most comfortable to work on lined/ruled paper (and how close do you like the rules to be?), blank paper, dotted paper, or perhaps paper with a grid or pre-printed boxes or prompts to fill in?

What type of page type for a travel journal you choose all depends on how you’re going to use the notebook. Are you going to write in it with pen or perhaps print typed text? Would you like to use markers or paint? Make drawings? The possibilities are endless.

This is a great example of a travel journal with prompts .

The Promptly journals are filled with custom prompts and also have plenty of space for mementos & photos.

Super handy pre-printed pages in this Camping Notebook by Clever Fox. And they also do a cool Travel Bucket List journal that’s fun to fill out!

Paper thickness is measured in weight, which varies from country to country. In the United States for example, you have “ U.S. basis weight ” (in pounds), where they look at a 500-sheet stack of the paper at its original, uncut “basic” size. But this can be confusing as a consumer, because different paper grades have different basic sizes, so even when the weight in pounds is higher, it doesn’t automatically mean the paper is thicker, because the basis size can be different.

It probably makes more sense to look at GSM (“ grams per square meter “). The weight is now determined by one sheet of paper at a size of 1 meter by 1 meter, measured in grams. All different grades of paper are measured at the same size. So a higher GSM always means heavier paper.

For reference, the standard weight of most A4 copy paper for your printer is 20 lb. / 75 gsm.

If you don’t want your pens, markers or paint to bleed through the pages, the thickness of your paper definitely matters, so make sure to test this!

Are there any other features you need when choosing your perfect travel journal? For example, I love notebooks with little pockets to keep my receipts and tickets. Or when they have a bookmark or pocket for a pe n!

Tips for extra features in a travel journal could also be page numbers , dividers or dedicated room to write dates . What extra features can you think of that you might need?

TIP ! Unique is The Travelogue by Luckies . This 64 page notepad journal also has check lists, travel tips and 8 miniature scratch maps, each representing different regions of the world. You can simply scratch off where you’ve been!

I believe there should not be a hard rule on what a travel journal should include, as the beauty lies in the fact that you can so easily customize it to your specific taste and type of trip!

Besides the obvious elements such as date , location , some highlights of the day and perhaps additional information about the weather, people you’ve met, things you ate and activities you did, you can add anything to your travel journal or scrapbook that’s important to you.

If you are looking for some inspiring examples of things to add to your travel journal, make sure to check out our blog about creative travel journal ideas >

How do I write a travel journal that is worth reading?

Travel writing can quickly become repetitive if you just list things you did in chronological order. So what can you do to make a story more interesting?

In a separate blog, I’ll give you my best tips on how to write a travel journal .

For more writing tips, check out “ The Soul of Place: A Creative Writing Workbook ” by Linda Lappin, “ Lonely Planet Travel Writing ” by Don George and “ On Writing ” by Stephen King.

If you’re looking for a bit of travel journal inspiration, then check out this blog in which I’ve handpicked some fun travel journal prompts for you.

There are also several travel notebooks out there that already have printed prompts in them. You can find the best travel journals with prompts at the bottom of our blog about travel writing prompts.

Spoiler : Some of our favourites are “ The Adventure Book ” by Nicole Nagelgast, “ Life’s a Road Trip ” and “ Swept Away by Wanderlust ” journals by Axel & Ash and the “ Travel Journal “, “ Bucket List Journal ” and “ Camping Journal ” by Clever Fox.

Other travel journals with prompts we encourage you to check out is this one by Compendium , this one by Promptly , this one by Moleskine , this one by OneLineVoyage and this one by Duncan & Stone .

Perhaps you’re not so fond of writing – but you love to craft, draw or paint. That’s amazing! With the following inspirational accounts on Instagram, you’ll get plenty of travel journaling ideas that don’t involve writing:

• Here are some creative travel project life scrapbook pages >
• Writer & sketch artist Candace Rose Rardon makes amazing (travel-related) sketches >
• Same goes for artist Kathrin Jebsen-Marwedel a.k.a. ( Illustrated Journal ), Andrea Muñoz , Alicia Aradilla and Meera Krishnadas ( The Little Black Journal ) on Instagram >

So far, we’ve looked at: all the different types of travel journals (sketchbook, scrapbook, notebook, logbook, friends travel journal, themed journals, local journals, city journals and travel photo albums), how to choose a travel journal (by looking at size, binding types, page types, paper thickness and additional features such as pockets and bookmarks) and what to include in your travel journal .

I also shared writing tips , journalling prompts , and creative examples of travel journals without a strong focus on text.

Ideas enough, but how do you get started?

It depends a bit what type of travel journal you’re keeping, but my system for creating a (travel) scrapbook is as follows:

• I collect photos, notes and items while on the road (I keep them on a separate hard disk for the photos, my notes in a simple lined notebook or in my phone and the items in a plastic folder I can zip closed)
• At home, I organise my photos on my computer in folders by date and location, and I keep all loose items (brochures, ticket stubs, etc.) in a plastic folder in a box – for when I’m ready to start the scrapbook.
• Before I get started on the journal, I plan where all photos and notes are going to go in the album. If I’m working with project life , I already slide the loose items into the pockets they’re going to go and also write on little papers (that also slide into the pockets) which photos I want to put where – I keep these in a separate folder on my phone.
• When the planning is done, I print all the photos I want to use in the album.
• Then I write all the notes that go with the photos.
• If that’s all done, I collect all scrapbooking supplies (list follows below) and I cut, glue or write where necessary.
• And FINALLY – I embellish the pages with extra stickers , stamps or other decorations.

We’ve written an extensive article on all the travel journaling supplies we recommend, but here are a few that shouldn’t miss in your own travel journal kit:

• colouring pencils
• felt tip pens (love these from Stabilo and Paper Mate )
• pens (love this Fisher space pen , the PILOT Rolling Ball Gel Pens and the Stabilo sensor pens )
• highlighters
• sharpie markers and pens
• hole puncher
• cutting mat and ruler
• glue stick or glue roller
• project life album , pocket pages ( type 1 / type 2 ), lined cards and more items …

Travel Journal Decoration Ideas

If you’re wondering ‘how can I decorate my travel journal?’ then I’ve got a handy list for you with some ideas for travel journal embellishments:

• travel photos / vintage photos
• polaroids ( fujifilm instax mini camera, film and printer here )
• travel journal stickers (for example: travel sticker set , planner stickers , world landmark stickers , passport stamp stickers , US state stickers , travel around the world stickers , US national park stickers , outdoor stickers )
• stamps (big fan of these wooden travel stamps and silicone travel stamps )
• magnetic page markers
• some fun digital printables: travel stationary and country flags
• origami paper or scrapbook paper
• coins, sand, pressed flowers , pressed leaves or feathers
• paper ideas: drawings, rubbings, food / product packaging, food / product labels, menus, ticket stubs, postal stamps, receipts, maps, postcards, boarding passes, business cards , letters or notes from friends, written/printed local language, cuttings from (travel) magazines , brochures
• …what else can you come up with?

And there you have it! This is how I make a travel journal from scratch. I hope you found these DIY tips and inspiration helpful. For our favourite travel journals, please look below. And for a full list of travel scrapbooking supplies, check out this post !

The Travel Tester loves to review books that teach you something about yourself or the world around us.

From travel guides and stories to books about business and self-development and from cultural stories to cook books from kitchens around the world… if it looks interesting to us, we’ll test it!

No matter where you’re going, with our reviews you’ll know exactly what to read next!

• The Adventure Book – Original Edition (prompts + scrapbook per country)
• The Adventure Book – Europe Edition (prompts + scrapbook per country)
• The Adventure Book – Ultimate Traveler’s Edition (prompts + scrapbook per country)
• Moleskine Passion Journal Travel (blank paper)
• Moleskine National Geographic Traveller’s Journal (tabbed sections + prompts)
• Moleskine Journey City Notebook – London (pocket)
• Moleskine Journey City Notebook – Paris (pocket)
• Moleskine Journey City Notebook – New York (pocket)
• Moleskine Journey City Notebook – Hong Kong (pocket)
• Duncan & Stone Travel Journal (prompts + scrapbook)
• Everywhere You Go: Guided Travel Journal (prompts)
• Promptly Journals X Kelli Murray (prompts + scrapbook)
• Robrasim Refillable Leather Travelers Notebook (mixed papers + pockets)
• Clever Fox Bucket List Journal (prompts + stickers)
• Clever Fox Camping Journal (prompts + stickers)
• Clever Fox Travel Journal (prompts + stickers)
• Axel & Ash Life’s a Road Trip Journal (prompts)
• Axel & Ash Swept Away by Wanderlust (prompts)
• Field Notes: National Parks Series (pocket, graph paper)
• Bookishly Travel Journals (blank pages)
• Wayfaren Travel Journal (lined paper)
• Oakdene Designs Personalised Motorhome Travel Journal (prompts + scrapbook)
• Oakdene Designs Personalised Travel Journal (prompts + scrapbook)
• Oakdene Designs Personalised Caravan Travel Journal (prompts + scrapbook)
• Oakdene Designs Personalised Wooden Journal (lined pages)
• Oakdene Designs Personalised Hiking Journal (prompts + scrapbook)
• Oakdene Designs Personalised Road Bike Journal (prompts)
• Oakdene Designs Personalised Wooden Adventure Journal (prompts + scrapbook)
• Oakdene Designs Personalised Camping Journal (prompts + scrapbook)
• CamperVanStore Bamboo Travel Journal (lined paper + pen)
• Personalized Monogrammed Leather Travel Journal (blank pages)
• OneLineVoyage Faux Leather Travel Journal (prompts)
• Luckies Scratch Off Travelogue (prompts + scratch maps)
• Letterfolk Trip Passport (pocket + prompts)
• Galen Leather – Leuchtturm1917 Notebook Covers
• Galen Leather – Moleskine Covers
• Galen Leather – Field Notes Covers
• Galen Leather – Traveler’s Notebook Covers
• I Was Here: A Travel Journal for the Curious Minded
• Go!: A Kids’ Interactive Travel Diary and Journal – RED
• Go!: A Kids’ Interactive Travel Diary and Journal – BLUE
• Go!: A Kids’ Interactive Travel Diary and Journal – YELLOW
• Kids’ Travel Specialty Journal
• Lonely Planet Kids My Travel Journal
• Lonely Planet Kids The Travel Activity Book
• The Ultimate Travel Journal For Kids
• Road Trip Activities and Travel Journal for Kids
• Travel Journal for Kids
• Here I Go!: A Kid’s Travel Journal

MORE ABOUT TRAVEL JOURNALLING

• How to Make a Travel Journal ? Tips and Supplies
• How to Write a Travel Journal ? Best Writing Tips
• 65+ Travel Journal Prompts to inspire you
• 10+ Travel Bullet Journal Ideas you’ll love
• Best Bullet Journal Tips
• These Travel Journal Covers will amaze you
• Explorers’ Sketchbooks Review
• A Short History of Travel Writing
• 15 Signs you are born for Travel Writing
• Our Okinawa (Japan) Project Life Album
• Must-Have Travel Scrapbooking Supplies

In The Travel Tester shop, you will find our favourite travel products and original gift ideas.

Whether you’re looking for the best travel gear, gadgets, electronics, packing solutions, clothing, shoes, travel books, health- or beauty products… we’ve made a personal selection for you!

We’ve also included our favourite tech items used to create this blog, as well as material that can help you in your self-development, such as interesting books and courses.

Friday 21st of July 2023

Creating a travel journal is such a delightful and personal way to preserve the memories of our adventures. I love how the article emphasizes that there are no rules when it comes to making a travel journal, only the limits of our imagination. It's true; each travel journal can be as unique as the journey itself!

The tips and supplies shared here are truly helpful for anyone looking to start their first travel journal. I particularly resonate with the idea of incorporating various embellishments into the journal. Adding travel photos, stamps, and even pressed flowers can truly bring the memories to life and make the journal visually captivating.

Cheers, Femi.

This Pilgrim Life

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DIY Traveler’s Journal & Tips

Make your own traveler’s journal with this simple traveler’s journal tutorial, and find tips and resources for using your notebooks! 

The links below may be affiliate links, meaning I earn a small compensation at no extra cost to you.  See my full disclosure policy here . 

My traveler’s journal is my never-leave-home-without planner. It is literally my brain on paper and I use it constantly to keep track of so many areas of my life. After keeping a bullet journal for years, I was so happy to discover traveler’s journals that would allow me to keep different “subjects” in separate notebooks… all in one planner. 

I have four notebooks in my traveler’s journal– one for HOME & FAMILY, one for HOMESCHOOL & COMMUNITY, one for WORK, and one for PERSONAL & COMMONPLACE. I also have switched to a two-year calendar in my traveler’s journal, rather than always writing the calendar pages in my notebooks myself. (Though some especially busy months, I will still create my own calendar pages).

After shopping around for traveler’s journals online, I decided to make my own cover for two reasons–

• Most of the quality options I found were expensive or had a long wait to receive the product
• I wanted my traveler’s journal to include pockets for little papers and pens

I made my first traveler’s journal cover 2 years ago and loooooved it. After 2 years of wear, however, it was time for a new cover, so I made a new one this past week to start the new year fresh and shiny.

You can find a full, printable tutorial to make your own traveler’s journal in my Etsy shop . Only basic sewing skills are needed and the cost of materials is small, especially if you can pull from a fabric stash .

Why a Traveler’s Journal?

• It’s completely customizable . You can use it however you like, add whatever flair you like, embellish it with doodles or stickers or journaling supplies.
• It’s refillable so can be used year after year. The great thing about a traveler’s journal is that when a notebook is full or irrelevant, you can simply take it out and slip a new one in. This is great if you like to have a fresh start at the new year too (I definitely do!)
• It’s inexpensive. The cost of notebooks is small, and besides that all you really need is a pen. Making your own is very reasonable too.
• It fits individual preferences & needs . You can add three notebooks or five. Make one dedicated to drawing comics or nature journaling. Make a gratitude or memory journal. Or, like I have promised my kids, use them in homeschool for narrations, spelling, math, timelines, etc.
• It’s the perfect size to tuck in a bag and carry with you . My traveler’s journal comes with me everywhere. I love that it’s not full-size or fun-size. It fits in almost all of my purses/bags that I use on a regular basis.
• It can be filled with blank, ruled, or printed notebooks. I prefer blank notebooks over ruled, but you can use either one. You can also purchase notebooks for traveler’s journals that are printed and ready to go. (I like Juniper Grove for these).
• It’s perfect for people who want a little more organization/options for bullet journaling. Don’t want to put everything into one journal? That’s what the traveler’s journal is for. This helps not only to distinguish subjects between notebooks, but also means they will last longer.

DIY Traveler’s Journal

Recommended supplies for Traveler’s Journals ::

• Etsy Sewing Tutorial to make your own
• Moleskin cashier journals — lined
• Moleskin cashier journals — blank 
• Blank notebooks bulk
• Juniper Grove journal inserts (really great options here)
• Pilot G2 Gel Pen (Favorite pens!)
• Magnetic Bookmarks
• Post-It notes in all sizes
• Noted Post-Its  (these are so helpful)
• Leather journal cover  (I just figured I would add this one if you wanted to completely skip sewing and buy a cover. Ha!)

Filling the pages :: 

Putting the first marks on the pages can seem really overwhelming, so I have found that making a plan on loose paper or post-its helps me to figure out exactly what I want to use each notebook for, what specific pages I want in each notebook, and then of course, the order that they are included. 

After I get the page numbers in, I can use my notes to create a table of contents for each notebook.

In addition to writing in my own lists and charts and such, I also like to print off resources that I reference often at 50% and tape them into my notebooks. You can do this with any kind of checklist, printable, calendar, etc that you like to use. Here are some of my favorites that are available for free on my site: 

• Kitchen Essentials Checklist
• Freezer Inventory
• Seasonal Menus ( Fall & Winter , Summer Lunch , Summer Dinner )
• Everyday Menus ( Frugal Dinner Ideas , Adventure Day Menu , Lunch Tray Ideas )
• Best Kids’ Book Authors
• Treehouse Schoolhouse Nature Study Seasonal Calendars
• Reading Lists & Plans
• Seasonal Reset Questions

I hope this been helpful. Remember that even though there are some incredibly beautiful traveler’s journals and bullet journals online, ultimately the purpose is that your journal will add value to YOUR life. In other words, as long as it works for you and helps you, it doesn’t have to look any certain way.

Sharing is caring! Don’t forget to pin and share. Thank you!

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Reader interactions.

July 30, 2023 at 7:21 am

hey Lisa, thanks for sharing the vlog, I appreciate it

February 21, 2023 at 10:37 am

Hi Lisa thanks for sharing this blog, this is very inspiring.

January 25, 2022 at 9:24 am

Where do you source your cover leather?

April 21, 2021 at 11:33 pm

Hello! I have used multiple moleskin notebooks to keep life organized for many years and never thought of keeping them all together in one binder. What a great idea!! Did you write the post about how you set up your bullet journal and your favorite tools? I would really like to read that!

April 23, 2021 at 10:15 am

I shared a video tour on Instagram. You can find the video on my saved IGTV videos (@thispilgrimlife)

January 27, 2021 at 7:32 pm

Oh my, this is sooo awesome, Lisa! I love it!! It looks fabulous to me, but I love that you say that things don’t have to be perfect all the time to do their job, I feel the same! If everything I did had to look perfect, I would definitely make nothing. Haha!

[…] the everyday, I LOVE bullet journaling, and usually have a stack that I keep all together in my traveler’s journal. But during the holidays, I like to have something special–a planner that is extra festive, […]

[…] DIY TRAVELER’S JOURNAL From This Pilgrim Life […]

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How to Make a Travel Journal

Introduction: How to Make a Travel Journal

A travel journal is a great way to preserve your vacation memories. It is unique and a great personal "souvenir" of your trips. Journals allow you to remember the little things that you may forget years down the road, and you can almost feel like you are right there on your experience again! In this instructable I will go through the steps on how to make a travel journal.

Step 1: Inspiration

Find your theme for your travel journal! You can get so many great ideas from pinterest, and other fun websites. Try to read up on where you are going and find your feel of how you want your journal to be like. Going to Europe? Eiffel tours aren't too hard to get pictures of for your cover page!

Step 2: How Many Notebooks/ Sections?

How long is your trip going to be? If you are going on a big trip around the world you may want to keep separate journals. If you are going on short trips, it is fun to keep on journal for one trip. Remember- size depends on the journey! If you think you are bringing your journal with you on your trip, remember it has to be able to fit into your bag. This is also the time to decided if you will make your journal beforehand, and bring it with you, or if you will just wait until you get back from your trip. Either works!

Step 3: Jot Down Notes on Your Trip

What's on your mind? I like to do this myself while I am on trips. It works best if you are sitting in a café, on the plane to your destination, or awake at night with jetlag in your hotel room. Write whatever comes to mind, what you did in the day, and how your feeling. It's almost like a diary! You can glue this into your travel journal and look back on it to remember the cute Australian sitting across from your at the café! You can also keep lists, directions, and even cool phrases you hear. It is always a fun reminder of your trip.

Step 4: Collect, Collect, Collect!

Collect souvenirs wherever you go- (park maps, tickets, cards, brochures, etc.) They can easily be glued into your travel journal and you can remember where you went and how much fun you had. If you don't want to glue them in, you can always use pocket pages so that they can easily be taken out. Make sure to have a plastic bag or zippered file folder with you on your trip to collect everything so you don't loose it.

Step 5: Eavesdrop!

That's right guys and gals, listen in to other peoples conversations. Listen in at cafes, bus stops, etc. This can give you great little notes to jot down and you can really get hold of the atmosphere of the place you are in. Striking up real conversations can also be very informative. If you make a friend, keep their address and phone number in your travel journal and maybe glue in a picture. You could even keep a separate page in your journal for people you meet to sign, it could be fun! You will be able to bring back cool quotes, sketches, and contacts back home with you.

Step 6: "Be Here Now"

Stay focused on where you are. You don't want to be worrying about your travel journal the whole time. Remember you might only be there once, so you have to enjoy it. Rather than writing down every single thing you do and going into great detail while wasting your vacation time, just jot down quick notes on your way. Things that really grab your attention is easy to just quickly write on your "what on your mind?" page.

Step 7: Enjoy Your Trip and Put It All Together!

When you get back from your trip, keep the excitement alive by pasting all of your collections into your travel book. When it is all done- you will be able to share your experience with others and also look back on your time with your new friends. Have fun making your travel journals!

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Unique Travel Journal Ideas – 11 Ways To Make a Travel Diary Memorable

March 8, 2017 By //  by  Halef 9 Comments

Are you looking for easy travel journal ideas to make your creation more unique?

Are you one of those rare travelers who still has the urge to write a sentence or two in your travel journals while on the road – your thoughts and opinions about a subject, the things that you do, what you spent on lunch at a small cafe in an alley in Honolulu?

Creating a handwritten travel journal is one of the most important things I do when we’re on the road – just a book, a pen, and a glue stick is all I need. For me, writing it all down is part of the fun.

So, is it worth doing? Definitely! Throughout my years of travel, I have developed a few unique things to include in my travel journal, aside from the usual writing.

Travel journal tips and pics!

Here are eleven cool travel journal tips and examples that may help you write a travel journal that’s worth reading!

1. Tickets and maps are great travel journal ideas

Unless you just fly into a city and stay in the airport the whole time, you have tickets and maps from your travels. But maybe you just put them all in a plastic bag and keep them in the closet.

Instead of putting them in a shoebox, physically glue maps and tickets into the pages of your travel journals.

Do this so that you can keep them organized and in context.

2. Record unique interactions with others

You meet a lot of people on the road, both locals and fellow travelers. You may exchange contact info at some point. Or you might just have a nice chat!

Capture all this stuff in your traveler’s notebook.

Glue business cards in your book. Let them write their email addresses or contact information.

Tell them to do it both in your language and their own. Translate a few local words and phrases in your travel journal.

3. Add sketches to your travel diary

Back in Landscape Architecture school, I did a lot of great sketching while traveling with my class. Although I wish I have done more of these sketches on the road, I did a handful.

I love sitting down in front of an object – taking my time to look at it and sketch.

It might even be an animal like a Komodo Dragon, who could easily get impatient with being my model and rip me to shreds!

If you see something interesting while on the road and can draw even a little bit (or not!), make a sketch in your travel journal.

Here’s an example of my own:

4. Glue money in your travel journal

One of the first things you do after clearing immigration at the airport is hit an ATM or currency exchange counter to get a stack of the local currency.

At the end of the journey, you probably have some left. So, why not glue money in your travel journal? I have an entire South African set in my journal!

Of course, this always works best with a currency that doesn’t have a high value, but go ahead and glue those in, too!

Especially if you know you won’t be back anytime soon.

 5. Postage stamps for a unique travel journal

This is one of my favorite travel journal ideas. I just walk into a local post office and say…

I want to buy a stamp for my journal. I want it canceled with today’s date and the location of the post office. And I know you don’t speak English, but I’m not leaving until you understand what I mean in my introductory Arabic.

Hey! I’m a stamp collector, and I love the interaction that I have with postal workers. And I end up with a very unique and pretty keepsake in my journal!

But even if you have no interest in stamps, they add a touch of local flavor to a travel journal that is unique. And, like a passport stamp, it proves you were there!

Further reading: More about my travel journal postage stamps and cancellations here.

I have never encountered any problems with this request all around the world, except in Italy, where the clerk refused to cancel my stamp.

In the United States, all 400+ National Park sites have a passport stamp that I add to both my NPS Passport and my custom travel journals. NPS locations can be found here , including the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, the Everglades, and the White House.

6. Leaves & flowers are great travel journal ideas

As a Landscape Architect, I’m always drawn to different plants in foreign countries. Even if you’re not a plant enthusiast, you can always appreciate them.

Plants may also beautifully capture a specific event you experienced – a yellow sugar maple leaf from Canada’s Fall visit or sakura petals from the Cherry Blossom Festival in Japan.

The sandwich that I ordered at Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden in Cape Town came with a branch of fragrant rosemary that I keep in my journal!

I kept a few Cherry blossom petals from the festival I attended in Nikko, Japan, as well as a small cedar branch that defines this UNESCO site.

As a result, my Japanese journal now still smells like an evergreen forest!

Note. If you decide to add plants to your travel journal, you might not want to tell a Customs agent. I’ve never had a problem, but, you know…laws and stuff!

7. Include color from a special place

This travel journal idea came to me when I was in Fiesole, near Florence. We spilled a jug of red wine at a wine bar, which partially ruined my journal.

And as it dried, a few of my travel journal pages turned a tinge of purple. It became a story in itself that captured our experience in Tuscany.

I know that this may be dirty and messy. But it’s worth doing. Not spilling wine – but adding color to your journal…

I even like to rub dirt onto my journal pages sometimes. I’ve done this in only a handful of places – the pink sand of Petra, the mud volcano in Colombia, and during my hike up Table Top Mountain in Cape Town.

In Cartagena and Valparaiso, which are famous for their colorful houses, I found a few paint flakes on the street that I glued onto my travel journals.

8. Found something unique? Put it in!

I don’t do this a lot. A few times though, I found interesting objects on the road while traveling, and I keep them in my travel journals.

In Lucerne, I found a Ukrainian bill on a road and I glued it next to a goose feather.

Both of these were interesting travel journal ideas that added nicely to the experience I wrote about that day in Switzerland.

Found objects can come from anywhere – supermarket flyers, free handouts – all interesting items that make cool travel journal ideas that add depth to your journey.

9. Stickers & interesting food packaging

I like going to local grocery stores to see what they sell that is different from home. Local products typically have great and interesting packing, with label designs that are worth keeping.

Keep eye-catching stickers or labels in your travel journal that come from products that you used or ate. A sticker from an egg carton. Teabag labels or labels from wine and beer bottles.

Those little stickers from fruit or cheese or prepackaged sandwiches could make a good collage in your travel diary.

All are nice, personalized travel journal ideas that will spice them up – maybe even literally!

10. Design a custom travel journal cover

Yes, I even make my own journal covers. My travel journal cover ideas include fabric or bag-like objects that I find during my travels that can be made into custom travel journal covers.

I’ve used a plastic bag that I received from my Marathon Expo in Germany, even a goodie-bag from a wedding in Portugal .

This is especially good for those crafty types who like to sew.

You can even make travel journals with pockets this way.

An old garment or tourist t-shirt with the city’s name or a reusable grocery bag make excellent travel journal covers.

The list is endless.

11. Send yourself a postcard and add it

It sounds pathetic and lonely to send yourself a postcard, but it is actually a very cool keepsake to add to your travel journal.

For more than twenty years, I’ve sent postcards to my mom in Indonesia. She’s received one from everywhere I’ve traveled. When I visited her a few years ago, I was astonished to see that she kept every single one of them!

I describe a snapshot of my day in that particular place and add the postcard to my travel journal when I get home.

Travel Journals for kids

Of course, none of the ideas above are unique to adults. They’re perfect for children’s travel journals, too!

When you’re on the road, a travel journal that incorporates the ideas above are a great way to keep kids occupied. It’s an amazing way to stoke their creativity and keep them engaged with the world they are experiencing with you!

Give it a try!

The best travel journals are personalized

Keeping a handwritten journal of your travels is fun! If you don’t do it now, at least give it a try!

If old school is not your thing, at least record your thoughts and feelings on the road in some way and add your new travel journal ideas to them.

While digital (blogs, Instagram, Facebook) is easy, a physical book adds the details that you often forget when you just reply on Facebook or even a blog.

I know I take my travel journals to the extreme, and you definitely don’t need to overwhelm yourself with all of these suggestions.

Your creative travel journal ideas have to be a reflection of you – and there’s no right or wrong on how you do it.

Make your travel journal unique!

So give it a try! My guess is that you’ll be glad to have all this stuff written down. We hope my travel journal tips make yours a great journal to read when you are reflecting on a life well-lived later on.

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Halef moved from Indonesia to the US nearly two decades ago to go to college here. He hasn’t looked back. He’s been to over forty countries and doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. He’s a Landscape Architect in Atlanta, GA.

Reader Interactions

March 31, 2017 at 4:01 am

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August 24, 2018 at 1:52 pm

These are wonderful ideas! I plan to use every one of theses for my next trip…Las Vegas in September!

August 24, 2018 at 4:58 pm

Good idea! If you win $1,000 at the tables, glue that poker chip into your journal! 😉

February 25, 2020 at 7:19 am

Thank you Halef, these are great ideas, very inspirational!

June 15, 2020 at 10:52 am

A kindred spirit! I, too, make travel journals as I go. They are the best souvenirs I have.

One thing I’ve done is to create borders around my pages to delineate different locations. Sometimes I do it ahead of time (often while researching the upcoming destinations), sometimes while on a plane/bus/train on the go with an art kit I fit into a small packing cube. I leave plenty of space for each locale. Don’t end up needing that much space? No problem! I just print some pictures from the trip and glue them in when I get home.

Thanks for writing this article. It’s good to know there is someone else that sees creating on the go as joy instead of work.

June 10, 2021 at 2:13 pm

So many great ideas. I wish I had seen this 45 years ago, when I was doing the most traveling. I plan the heck out of every trip, but never follow up with a journal. I’m a few years from retirement and looking forward to making a lot of new memories. Great Article!

June 10, 2021 at 2:23 pm

Glad you enjoyed it. Never too late to start!

September 1, 2021 at 9:30 am

Wonderful ideas!! I am an art journalist and just love the tips you shared, especially the postage and cancelled stamp idea! Looking forward to seeing some flip throughs in the future! Thank you!!

January 1, 2023 at 10:34 pm

Some great ideas here, thanks for sharing. But please do not recommend to others to sneak in flora or soil from countries, to other countries. Countries such as NZ and Australia and states such as Hawaii have strict rules to protect the agriculture of their country and tourists sneaking in things, could give them a hefty fine if they are caught due to the risk of there being something dangerous to their flora and fauna.

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