Movies That Inspired Me to Travel    

Into the Wild (2007)

One of my favorite movies about a young man of privilege who decides to give up everything and hike to Alaska. Along the way, he meets some very special people who help him find what he is looking for. This is a wonderful story of self-fulfillment and following your heart and dreams without looking back.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)

This is great story about a guy going through a mid life crisis who has wondered what he’s been doing with his life. In order to fight off the monotony of his job, he daydreams of exotic places and adventure. The main character finally gets a chance to “do something” and off he goes. The cinematography is wonderful and one of the reasons why Iceland is becoming a tourist hotspot.

Tracks (2013)

 This story takes place in the 70s about a young woman trekking nearly 1,700 miles across the Australian desert with only a dog and camels. A 9 month journey, this movie embodies all the personal demons we carry within us and the things necessary to free ourselves of the past.

Wild (2014)

This is a story about a young woman looking for redemption on the famed Pacific Crest Trail. Dealing with a personal loss, the main character tries to rebuild her life and focus on healing herself along one of the largest hiking trails despite having no outdoor experience.

The Way (2010)

This is a touching story about an American father who has to recover the body of his son who passed away on the Pyrenees trail.  At odds and estranged from each other, the father decides to discover and learn about the motivation behind his son’s choice to hike the trail and decides to complete it.  

The Way Back (2010)

One of the ultimate man versus nature films I’ve seen, this story takes place during WW2 in Siberia. A small group tries to escape a Siberian labor camp and end up walking across the Himalayas to freedom. A great film that embodies the human spirit and doing what it takes to survive.

Baraka (1992)

This is a stunning documentary about the diversity of cultures and animals on this planet. I first learned of this documentary recently and immediately made look at my calendar and wanted to schedule a vacation to one of the places shown.

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

This is a great little independent movie about a dysfunctional family who must get their daughter to a beauty contest. This movie shows a family coming together on the road and being there for each other when they need it the most.

Up In the Air (2009)

A movie about a corporate downsizer who most constantly travel the country, it embodies the not so glamorous/romanticized aspect of frequent travel.

Any James Bond movie

 Other than the fancy toys, diabolical villains, and beautiful women, James Bond movies always take place in exotic and beautiful places. If it weren’t for the chase scene from For Your Eyes Only near the Floating Monasteries of Meteora, I wouldn’t have gone to this part of Greece.

Any Indiana Jones movie

You’ve seen the cinematography so nothing else to say.

Any Lord of the Rings movie

You’ve seen the cinematography so nothing else to say.

The English Patient (1996)

The movie takes place during World War 2 in the Sahara Desert and is seen through the eyes of a nurse, a thief, and a dying patient. This is a movie about the visible and not so visible scars we carry with us.

Tomb Raider (2001)

I love all the video games and this is the movie that put Cambodia back on the list to go and visit. Stunning and amazing images of Angkor Wat, the main character in this movie is the female version of Indiana Jones.

Romancing the Stone (1984)

An action-romance-comedy movie about a famed writer trying to save her sister in Colombia, I loved watching this movie as a kid and the sense of adventure it embodied.

Meru (2015)

A documentary about mountaineers and the epic challenges they face. The landscapes and images are stunning and a testament to the human spirit. Although mostly focusing on mountaineering, many points can be applied to overcoming adversity and obstacles in this thing we call life.

Salt of the Earth (2014)

 A documentary about world famous photographer Sebastiao Salgado, this movie takes you all around the globe and introduces you to communities that would make National Geographic blush. Powerful and moving images inspired me to not only travel and see what’s out there but serves as an inspiration as an aspiring photographer too.

Antarctica: A Year on Ice (2013)

 A great documentary about what life is like for a bunch of researchers in one of the most remote places on the planet. Although not as extreme, it reminds me of my Peace Corps experience, and the feelings of missing home when being so far away from my comfort zone.  

Hector and the Search for Happiness (2014)

 A great story about a guy who is frustrated with his life and sets out to seek what defines happiness, he travels the globe in gets himself in some very unique situations. He eventually realizes what happiness means to him. What I liked about this movie is that the protagonist finally gets to go out in the world and compare his life to others and realizes that he doesn’t have it so bad after all.

The Kite Runner (2003)

Although the movie version is not as intense as the novel by Khaled Hosseini, this movie did a great job portraying life before and after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. An extremely touching movie about betrayal and redemption, it’s a reminder to me that all journeys, be it physical and emotional, have a beginning and ending.

Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

One of my favorite movies by Director Danny Boyle, the movie takes place in Mumbai, India and takes three young people from youth to adulthood. A culture shock to those who are not accustomed to seeing abject poverty this movie helped me want to visit India and experience the diverse cultures it has to offer.

The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)

Based on the youth of iconic Latin American revolutionary, this film chronicles his travels in the region and how it helped shape his identity. I never realized how beautiful South America was until seeing this film.

Everest (2015)

Based on famed writer Jon Krakauer’s Into the Air, this movie portrays the will and determination of the human spirit to achieve their goals. Although the story is tragic in nature, the scenery is amazing and inspiring.

March of the Penguins (2005)    

What can I say, Emperor Penguins are cute, I love nature, and Antarctica is one of the continents I’ve never been on. It motivates me to see them out in the wild.