From the green pastures and rolling hills of New Zealand to the breathtaking peak of Mt. Everest, these destinations across the world are home to some of the greatest literary adventures. Inspired by nine novels, Mashable curated a list of trips for those who desire a life-changing experience.
1. New Zealand — The Hobbit, J. R. R. Tolkien
Many bibliophiles would agree that Tolkien's stories are some of the greatest adventure tales of all time. In each page, excitement, risk and opportunity abound. While a journey to The Shire through the Mirkwood Forest and Misty Mountains isn't quite possible, a trip to New Zealand (where The Hobbit movies were filmed) is the next best thing.
The country's landscapes — the Waikato region, to be more specific — make for a beautiful interpretation of Tolkien's words. It's a wonderful place to travel alone or with companions, with opportunities to hike, bike and stroll along the river. Travel a little father north and you'll find Auckland, a bustling city with beaches and islands, and in the south you can black water raft through the Waitomo caves. You can also visit the book/film's commercialized tour location, Hobbiton, an attraction with hobbit holes, sheep farm and a replica of The Green Dragon Inn.
2. The Appalachian Trail — A Walk in the Woods, Bill Bryson
Bill Bryson is a man on the move. With a friend by his side, Bryson sets out to walk the 2,100 miles covering the Appalachian Trail — from north Georgia to Maine's Mt. Katahdin. A true plunge into the wilderness, this tale offers insight, entertainment and a reason to travel.
The book is as suspenseful as it is inspirational, and for readers seeking a life-changing adventure, a trek through the AT might be what the doctor ordered. Whether your "walk in the woods" is a few days or several months, the journey truly is as meaningful as the destination.
3. The Caribbean — Far Tortuga, Peter Matthiessen
Reality becomes almost dreamlike in the picture that Matthiessen paints in Far Tortuga. A poetic portrayal of life aboard the Lillias Eden on a turtle-hunting voyage, the adventure story meditates on all of life's trivial and profound emotions. Matthiessen's detailed descriptions of landscapes and the sea create a yearning to travel.
Read this novel as you sit on the Caribbean shore, as the waves crash on the sand, and you'll feel as if you've swum straight into the text. The story is meant to seem both expansive and intimate, both lifelike and far away. In a 1989 interview, Matthiessen said, "Originally Far Tortuga began as a non-fiction piece for The New Yorker. I’d heard about a man who was still running a schooner from Grand Cayman down to Nicaragua, fishing sea turtles. I got The New Yorker to send me on the schooner, and I was stunned by the men and their attitudes toward the sea, the way they handled themselves with no life-preserving equipment, dangerous reefs and everything so worn-out, so bare and spare. I was drawn by that spareness."
So head off to the Cayman Islands. While you may not board a ship on such a mission as narrated in this novel, you'll experience the beauty of the sea.
4. Robinson Crusoe Island, Chile — Robinson Crusoe, Daniel Defoe
This novel, published in 1719, was originally credited to the story's protagonist, causing readers to speculate that Crusoe was, in fact, a real man offering real travel tales. In actuality, the book is a story of a fictional character — a man who spent thirty years cast away on an island near Trinidad.
Although some believe the novel was based on the life of Alexander Selkirk, a Scottish man who lived alone on a Pacific Island for four years — the Chilean government named the island Robinson Crusoe Island in 1966 to lure visitors.
The flight to the island, right off of Fiji from Santiago de Chile, is just under three hours, and it's a beautiful area to scuba dive, explore mangrove forests and swim in the lagoon.
5. France, Italy and the Mediterranean — The Count of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas
The story of Edmond Dantès is one well-known by many — a tale of betrayal, imprisonment, resurgence and revenge, mercy and forgiveness, The Count of Monte Cristo takes place in France, Italy and the Mediterranean during 1815-1839 from the era of the Bourbon Restoration to the reign of Louis-Philippe.
Dantès, wrongfully imprisoned for six years, escapes and takes on a new identity as a rich Count, ultimately seeking revenge on the men responsible for his imprisonment.
In Paris, you can find a myriad of locations that held significance in the book, like Rue de la Jussienne & Rue Coq-Héron where police chased Noirtier de Villefort through the streets, or the Church of Saint Sulpice where Dantès stayed under the Abbé Busoni pseudonym. In Italy, the Corniche Kennedy has a wonderful view of the island of "Chateau d’If," where Dantès was imprisoned in the book (pictured above). A lucky few can also visit the island of Monte Cristo in the Tyrrhenian Sea, made famous by the novel — the waiting list for access is lengthy, with only 1,000 visitors allowed each year.
6. Mt. Everest — Into Thin Air, Jon Krakauer
A trip inspired by this novel isn't suggested for everybody; after all, this is Mt. Everest we're talking about. Into Thin Air is Jon Krakauer's account of the unbelievable disaster in May, 1996. Many remember it vividly, and it's something Krakauer will never be able to forget. Both of Krakauer's guides died on their expedition in a single day — his intentions for climbing were professional, as Krakauer was a journalist for the magazine Outside.
Brave travelers continue to climb Mt. Everest, as it's an adventure that, while risky, can also positively change your life forever. It's a climb of over 28,000 feet to reach the peak.
7. Berlin, Germany — The Berlin Memorandum (Quiller #1), Adam Hall
Written by Elleston Trevor under the pseudonym Adam Hall, this novel is about a British secret agent in the 1960s on a hunt of neo-Nazis aiming to destabilize Western Europe. It's an espionage thriller with many twists and turns, all taking place in Berlin, Germany.
Berlin is a city that deserves your travels. The historical sights, the cultural scene and the beautiful parks are just a few of the draws to this stunning city. Beyond the Berlin Wall, there are numerous reasons to visit — the Kreuzberg cobblestone neighborhood, lined with cafés and shops; Strandbad Grünau, a beautiful beach hidden deep in East Berlin; and Treptower Park, the largest Soviet memorial.
The city is a wonderful destination for solo travel, and honestly, might be more enjoyable when not having to worry about the needs of a traveling partner. Berlin is filled with travelers, so you'll be sure to meet people along the way.
8. Mt. Roraima — The Lost World, Arthur Conan Doyle
Imagine a world where dinosaurs roam free, stomping through the jungles of South America. Forget Jurassic Park — this is the original dinosaur adventure tale.
In 1912, when The Lost World was published, explorers had only begun to discover remote parts of the world. This fantastic, mystical plot dreamed up by Arthur Conan Doyle perhaps seemed plausible to some. In the story, a small troupe of British explorers find themselves atop a dangerous plateau where they encounter these prehistoric creatures.
And, yes, this mountain truly exists. Mount Roraima borders Venezuela, Brazil and Guyana, sits 9,200 feet high and holds spiritual importance for many Venezuelans and Pemons. In Pemon language, the mountain is known as "tepuis," which means "houses of the gods." An unconventional travel destination, Mount Roraima, if climbed, offers breathtaking views. To get there, you can take a plane to Santa Elna de Uairén airport in Venezuela and hop on a shuttle to Paraitepui, a town close to the ascending point.
Reference:http://mashable.com/2015/07/06/trips-inspired-by-adventure-novels/
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