The 15 Most Beautiful Coffee Table Travel Books To Inspire Your Next Adventure

Post Summary: Coffee Table Travel Books To Inspire Your Wanderlust This Christmas Season!

You can tell a lot from a person by the books they have.

Most often by their coffee table books, which are the ones on full display for their guests, friends, and family!

From food to travel, architecture to gardening, book collections are a little glimpse into that person’s life and what inspires them.

This is why we think coffee table books are the perfect gift any time of year. 

We’ve curated a list of some of our favorite photographers, inspirational collections, and more to bring you a unique list of gifts for all kinds of world travelers. 

In this post, we’re sharing our favorite coffee table travel books, and why they deserve to be on full display!

The Best Coffee Table Travel Books To Inspire Your Next Adventure

This list is curated from a collection of books we have, books we want, and inspirational photographers we admire. These links are affiliate links!


Epic Drives Of The World

Author: Lonely Planet – Publisher: Lonely Planet

Epic Drives Of The World is one of the the perfect coffee table travel books to buy for that person who is obsessed with planning their next road trip.

This book is teeming with inspiration, from iconic routes like a Pacific Coast Highway road trip on the US West Coast to incredible jaw-dropping routes like the Isle of Skye in Scotland.

You’ll be pulling this one off the shelf again and again! Lonely Planet also made Epic Hikes of the World, Epic Rides of the World, and Epic Runs of the World to fit everyone on your Christmas list.

Perfect For: Road trippers and people who like to travel on a budget


Powder: The Greatest Ski Runs On The Planet

Powder: The Greatest Ski Runs On The Planet

Author: Patrick Thorne – Publisher: Quercus

Visiting British Columbia this winter season?

After picking up some classic Vancouver gifts, consider grabbing this coffee table travel book as well, highlighting some of the best ski runs in the world! C

aptured by one of the leading ski experts in the world, Powder: The 50 Greatest Ski Runs On The Planet showcases visually stunning mountain sport destinations, including some Canadian favorites like Whistler, BC, and Lake Louise, Alberta.

Perfect For: Ski bums looking for the next epic mountain to shred


Roaming America: Exploring All the National Parks

Author: Renee and Matthew Hahnel – Publisher: Lannoo Publishers

Both extremely beautiful and exceptionally practical, Renee and Matthew Hahnel captured their journey through all of America’s National Parks in their recent book, Roaming America: Exploring All The National Parks. It’s one of our favorite coffee table travel books!

Roaming America includes practical information about all 59 National Parks, including best hiking trails, photo spots, and even maps and mini-guides to make the most of your trip.

This book is a beautiful resource for anyone planning to visit the National Parks, and a perfect gift for outdoorsy women and men alike!

Perfect for: Roadtrippers, people seeking beautiful places in the United States


Ron Timehin: London Fog

Author: Ron Timehin, Photographer – Publisher: Trope Publishing Co.

Ron Timehin is a London-based photographer capturing the endless moody skies of this English city.

His book, Ron Timehin: London Fogis a collection of moody mornings, fog-covered bridges, and ethereal city scenes that bring a unique perspective to London. He isn’t afraid to wake up at 4:00 am to capture the sleeping city before the morning dew lifts!

His atmospheric images will inspire you to think about capturing scenes from a different perspective. Who knew that Big Ben could look so beautiful in a blanket of fog?

 Perfect for: City photographers, aspiring UK travelers


Poolside With Slim Aarons

Poolside With Slim Aarons

Author: Slim Aarons – Publisher: Harry N. Abrams

Ever wondered how the rich and famous spend their vacation days?

Glamour photographer Slim Aarons was frequently invited to elite-society parties, capturing the luxurious, private lives of the wealthy.

This coffee table travel book is filled with vintage-feel photos from the 50s, 60s, and 70s, depicting what life is like by the poolside of the rich. It’s a twist on street photography – but just capturing the wealthy in their own environment.

Perfect For: Vintage photography lovers, film fanatics

Read More: Best 35mm Color Film For Your Outdoor Adventures


How Does It Feel?

How Does It Feel by Andrew Kearns

Author: Andrew Kearns – Publisher: Thought Catalog Books

Andrew Kearns’ photography collection in How Does It Feel? is an artful masterpiece collage from the mountains to the sea. In each of his images, the question “how does it feel?” is the main thought behind the photos, bringing out raw, authentic musings with friends and nature alike.

You’ll feel a lot of nostalgia in this book – from spontaneous adventures to film-like wanderings, it will make you think deeply about the memories you capture for yourself. 

Note: There is also the Kindle version is available on Amazon. Find the hardcover here.

Perfect for: People who seek a deeper connection between photography and their subject


Destinations of a Lifetime: 225 Of The World’s Most Amazing Places

Author: National Geographic – Publisher: National Geographic

Destinations of a Lifetime: 224 Of The World’s Most Amazing Places is a book that will fuel your wanderlust and help you plan your next epic escape!

This is one of the best coffee table travel books that make a perfect wedding gift for outdoorsy couples, or even a gift just for someone who loves solo adventures.


Cabin Porn: Inspiration For Your Quiet Place Somewhere

Editors and Authors: Zach Klein, Steven Leckart, Noah Kalina – Publisher: Little, Brown, and Company

Have you ever dreamed about owning your own cabin, but don’t know where to begin? Cabin Porn will awaken your inner yearning for a quiet existence, giving you the inspiration to create your own hideaway.

From secluded woodsy cabins to hideaways on the edge of a cliff, it will give you a close-up view of some of the most unique and beautiful man-built architecture today. (And if you need some inspiration, check out these incredible Pacific Northwest cabins to rent!)

Perfect for: The DIYer, renovators, or aspiring cabin-owners


Cabin Porn: Inside

Editor and Authors: Zach Klein, Freda Moon –  Publisher: Particular Books

Cabin Porn: Inside is the second edition of the Cabin Porn series. This time, we get to take a peek inside some of these gorgeous cabins that inspire readers to unplug and escape the busy-ness of everyday life.

Filled with everything from tiny house living to fire lookout escapes (yes, even Crystal Peak Lookout is included!), cozy up with a blanket and a cup of coffee to get lost inside this book!

Perfect for: Interior lovers, hygge enthusiasts, aspiring cabin owners


Steve McCurry: A Life In Pictures

Author: Steve McCurry and Bonnie McCurry – Publisher: Laurence King Publishing

With 40 years of McCurry’s best photography compiled into A Life In Pictures, this is an excellent coffee table travel book for people who love raw and candid life moments.

From his early days in the US, capturing hidden moments of the mujahideen in Afghanistan, and documenting events like 9/11 and the Gulf War, his photos tell the story of iconic moments that go down in history. 

Perfect for: Aspiring photojournalists, history buffs, and anthropologists 


Wanderlust: A Hiker’s Companion

Author: Cam Honan and Die Gestalten Verla – Publisher: Gestalten

Wanderlust: A Hiker’s Companion illustrates some of the world’s most famous, beautiful, and awe-inspiring trails. From the Salkantay Trail into Machu Picchu to the Canyon Trail (Zion) in the middle of the Utah desert, this book takes you on a journey to all corners of the earth. 

With easy to follow maps, practical tips, and inspiring photography, you’ll be getting your hiking boots on before you turn the last page.

Perfect for: Trail lovers, outdoor enthusiasts, nature photographers


Van Life: Your Home On The Road

Van Life: Your Home On The Road by Foster Huntington

Author: Foster Huntington – Publisher: Black Dog & Leventhal

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to live in a van, Foster Huntington’s book Van Life: Your Home On Wheels does a pretty darn good job of giving you a practical and unique insight into this nomadic lifestyle. Many of the most iconic backpacking books evoke wanderlust by the words on the page, but Van Life brings that feeling in the images!

This book is a perfect mix of cleverly designed interiors, eclectic homes on wheels, and the stunning landscapes they can lead to.

Foster Huntington is the creator of the #vanlife hashtag, bringing a community of independence-seeking travelers together in this beautifully curated book.

Perfect for: People who are curious about Van Life, roamers, spontaneous adventurers


High Tide: A Surf Odyssey – Photography By Chris Burkard

High Tide: A Surf Odyssey - Photography By Chris Burkard

Author: Chris Burkard – Publisher: Lannoo Publishers

High Tide: A Surf Odyssey is a collection of photos curated by Chris Burkard on his surfing quests around the world. From surfing in the arctic circle all the way to tropical paradises, Chris captures his quests for the perfect wave all over the world.

From the bright whites of Noway to the rich greens of the Pacific islands, you’ll be inspired to explore the open oceans for yourself! Among all the coffee table travel books on this list, Chris Burkard’s book is one of the greatest examples of adventure photography!

Perfect For: People who love extreme sports, epic photography landscapes


Humans Of New York

Author: Brandon Stanton – Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Humans of New York became an instant success in 2010, and continues to be published still today!

Brandon Stanton, a photojournalist armed with a camera and determined to share the diversity of people and stories in New York City. This is one of the best coffee table travel books to give to the person who loves getting to know people!

Perfect For: People who love street photographer and real human stories

Escape

Author: Gray Malin – Publisher: Harry N. Abrams

Escape is just one of Gray Malin’s recent masterpieces. His other books Italy and Beaches became a huge success for their unique perspectives and idyllic, pastel colors. Malin continues with this trend of dreamy scenes and landscapes but in more exotic locations in Escape.

From dry deserts to downtown scenes, cliffside pools and mountain tops, this coffee table travel book will be one you flip through again and again.

Perfect For: Readers who love to plan once-in-a-lifetime adventures

Can’t get enough coffee table travel books? What are some of your favorites we should add to this list? Share them in the comments below!