Epic Journeys: 245 Life-Changing Adventures by National Geographic

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

From rafting the Zambezi River’s 23 stomach-flipping rapids to hiking the Inca trail and sailing from island to island in Greece, the travel experts at National Geographic reveal the world’s best adventures in this stunning–and practical–treasury.

From navigating the class-five rapids of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon to sandboarding the slopes of a volcano in Nicaragua to dogsledding in the Arctic, this beautiful and comprehensive book offers trips of a lifetime for explorers and adrenaline junkies alike. Filled with more than 300 vivid photographs, this inspirational guide reveals over 225 of the planet’s best destinations for hikers, skiers, divers, rafters, and more. You’ll also find everything you need to know for the ultimate epic journey: what to see, when to go, and what to do. Combining adventure with cultural experiences–for example, a safari through Madagascar or visiting the ruins of Buddhist temples after sea kayaking the warm waters of Vietnam–this one-of-a-kind collection, complemented by top ten lists and adventurer essays covering everything from the best hiking trails to the top wildlife parks, will lead you to new heights of exploration.

my thoughts:

If you have a bucket list chock full of travel destinations to visit, then this book is for you. National Geographic's latest tome is all about Epic Journeys.  Yep, 245 Life-Changing Adventures to be exact.  How awesome does that sound?  Plus, you know when it comes to National Geographic they are going to provide it all - photos, itineraries, and top ten lists.  And, did I mention the photos. Oh my, they are beyond amazing! Just flipping through this fantastic travel book, you can't help but get lost in the photos and imagine the adventures you would go on when visiting these places.  I'm taking about photos of hiking in Bolivia, water rafting in Thailand, and biking around the Transylvanian Alps - how exciting and thrilling does that sound? Along with all the brilliant photos are fascinating essays about the places by some of National Geographic's legendary explorers - so, you just know you are going to be in for quite a treat reading what they have to say about these beautiful destinations. 

Epic Journeys is the perfect book to inspire you to pack your bags and head off on an epic adventure.  You can't help but jot down new additions to your ever-growing bucket list.  Plus, the book itself makes for a fun a way to wile away the afternoon. I'm serious, just looking through the photos and reading the essays and lists, you can't help but get caught up in the extraordinary beauty that makes up this world we live in.  It is just brilliant.  And, did I mention that this book will settle nicely on your coffee table - ready to be picked up and thumbed through whenever your eye happens to rest upon it. I'm thinking it would make the perfect Christmas gift for a loved one who's been bitten by the travel bug - they would just LOVE this book to bits.  How could they not? 

I'm happy to recommend Epic Journeys to fans of National Geographic's awesome travel books and to anyone looking for their next great adventure read - you are going to truly LOVE this book!!

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!