Travelling the world is exhilarating. It allows us to discover a new look at dawn, listen to a new language, embrace a different culture. Being able to travel draws us to other parts of the world. It inspires us and allows us to leap bounds of faith to bring us to our true destiny.

The above is not a line in the movie, but something I have felt after watching a couple of the travel movies listed below. Discover new worlds and be inspired to discover the different sides of Earth as we unravel the top 12 of the best and must see movies every traveler should see. Laugh, cry, be inspired or simply enjoy watching our list. Grab a seat and keep a box of tissues near.

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 “If you want something in life, reach out and grab it.”

Into the Wild

2007 | Emile Hirsch | 148 minutes

Life changing decisions and encounters that alter who you are and what the future holds is what this movie is about. Christopher McCandless portrayed by Emile Hirsch was at the peak of his life but was seeking for himself. He graduated as top student in Emory University and happens to be one of the best and most popular athletes in school. However, due to faith or maybe destiny, he decided to abandon all his possessions, donated all his life savings to charity and goes on a hitchhike to Alaska to live a life in the wilderness. Life gets even more interesting as he encounters a series of characters in the story that changed his life.

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“I will not die today!”

The Beach

2000| Leonardo DiCaprio | 119 minutes

Richard (Leonardo DiCaprio) goes on an adventure in Thailand and finds a strange map leading him and his friends to a beautiful island and a beach. Intrigued with the mysteries the island holds, he sets out to find it, only to discover the dangers that were patiently waiting for them. An experience any traveler would see as a nightmare. Hold on to your seats as Richard clings on to dear life and fight for survival.

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“We do not choose a life Dad, we live one.”

The Way

2010| Martin Sheen | 123 minutes

The Way brings us to a father’s journey at the “El Camino de Santiago” in his journey to finish the pilgrimage together with his son who died on the trail. He was forced to take a set of strangers as friends as he set off to the 800km pilgrimage. Each character has a reason for walking the part, but all discovered a deeper meaning in life while traveling the path. A stunning movie that touches not the heart but digs deeper into the soul.

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“Find the joy in your life.”

The Bucket List

2007| Jack Nicholson | 97 minutes

Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman goes out on an adventure as they try to complete each other’s bucket list before they die. From racing cars, having coffee by the pyramids and sky diving, the two discovers more about each other and life in their road trip adventure. A story about time lost, family, forgiveness and finding true happiness that will surely bleed tears in any adventurer’s heart.

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“Why is your freedom more important than mine?”

Out of Africa

1985| Meryl Streep | 161 minutes

Step out of your comfort zones and rediscover Africa in a raw and a rather more primal venue. Out of Africa features that story of a free-spirited big-game hunter (Robert Redford) who catches that heart of a Danish baroness (Meryl Streep). A doomed love story between a married woman and the man that touched her soul as they journey through the wilds of Africa, with its pure beauty, dangers and mysteries.

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 “I’ll always love you, even if you’re enormous, even if it takes months to lose this weight.”

Away We Go

2009| John Krasinski | 98 minutes

A couple’s journey to find the best place in the USA to find the perfect place to start their family. They reconnected with friends, families and discovers “home” on their own terms for the first time in their lives. They travel from Miami, Montreal, Madison, Phoenix, Tucson and other parts of the America with always a new beginning in mind. It’s a nice movie to see for travelers who would want to see America the unconventional way, or in the movie’s case, with a baby about to come as part of the journey.

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 “I used to have this appetite for my life and it is just gone.”

Eat Pray Love

2010| Julia Roberts | 133 minutes

An unhappy married wife (Julia Roberts) decided to go on a journey around the world to find herself. She decided to let go and went to Italy, India and Bali. She builds a relationship with pizza while allowing the universe to crush in her doorway, as everything else takes care of itself. A really nice movie to consider watching when you suddenly feel lost and would want to rediscover the old you, or a new better of yourself.

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“Can you read? I can only read the pictures.”

City of God

2014| Alexandre Rodrigues | 130 minutes

See Brazil far from the parties, the beach and the city life. Go back to the 1960s and set a path to the rather dangerous and chaotic side of Brazil as violence and fear prevail in the City of God. Be swept with the immense struggle for power between rival gangs in the seemingly never ending fight to topple of madness as one brave photographer tries to document it all. Brazil’s slum areas were never featured in travel blogs or documentaries so this movie offers a rare look of the less travelled side of Brazil. Fall in love with the dangers, the people and the fascinating landscapes of Rio De Janerio Brazil at a different light.

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“Dear sweet mother of God…were in Eastern Europe!”

Euro Trip

2004| Scott Mechlowicz | 93 minutes

Enjoy a lighter movie from our top 12 of the best and must see movies every traveler should see as Scott Thomas and the rest of his gang goes on a trip around Europe. Hilarious experience while traveling on a train, plane or even while hitchhiking in Europe will definitely keep you entertained while on your own trip to Europe as well. Discover the crazy and wild side of Amsterdam, Bratislava, Riviera and even the Vatican in this fun and quite  a relatable movie.

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“I’m Purohit Narsimacharaya Virajnarianan. But you can call me Puro.”

Outsourced

2006| Josh Hamilton | 103 minutes

A glimpse into the life of living in a foreign country while trying to adapt to local costumes without having to forget your Western ways. A cross road of sorts in the life of a person who is about to lose his job and get replaced by an outsourced. The worst part, he had to travel to India to train his replacement. A must-see movie for freelancers and people who sees getting lost as a way of finding yourself back.

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“I now know, by an almost fatalistic conformity with the facts, that my destiny is to travel…”

The Motorcycle Diaries

2004| Gael Garcia Bernal | 126 minutes

A movie based on the true story of Ernesto Guevarra and Alberto Granado who took a trip around South America via La Poderosa, an old rickety motorcycle – the journey that created the Che Guevarra that we know today. True accounts on how and a possible explanation on why Ernesto “Che” Guevarra ended up to become the Marxist revolutionary he was. A life-changing experience available in the wide screen any traveler and adventurer should not miss. Changing history is indeed possible simply by finding your true destiny.

 

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“You get what you settle for.”

Thelma and Louise

1991| Susan Sarandon, Geena Davis | 130 minutes

A great way to bond with your best travel buddy is also included in our top 12 of the best and must see movies every traveler should see.  Thelma and Louise is about a movie about two girls set off on a road trip not only to have fun and strengthen the bond of their friendship but also to prove that even woman can hit the road and have an adventure on their own. Grab some popcorn and a box of tissues for this feel-good movie. It’s one of our top favorites in this list as well.

Have a travel movie to share? We would like to hear from you in your comments section.

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