When travel is off the cards for a while, the itchy-footed among us have to get creative in order to get our fix of foreign lands and unknown cultures. What easier way to satiate that rumble of wanderlust in your (probably) bloated belly than to sprawl on the couch watching some of the best travel TV shows on the box?
From eye-opening travel documentaries to tongue-in-cheek series about a well-known figure’s physical and psychological journey; filmed everywhere from the backstreets of unchartered villages to the tourist drags of world-famous cities: these TV shows about travel do an excellent job of capturing the overall essence of adventure.
Missing unfamiliar food, heartwarming interactions with locals, emotive landscapes and bucket list moments? While we can’t chase these experiences ourselves, we can watch telly that reminds us what’s out there waiting while we’re stuck at home.
15 Best TV Shows About Travel
Here’s my list of what I believe are the best popular TV shows focusing on travel, in no particular order.
1 Extreme Engagement
Adventurous filmmaker Tim Noonan and his TV presenter partner PJ Madam set out on a pre-marriage honeymoon so they can really get to know each other before tying the knot. The show takes them to explore the relationship traditions of places such as Cameroon, Mongolia and Papua New Guinea.
In addition to showing us aspects of cultures we’d never normally get to learn about, the show raises interesting questions about boundaries in relationships – PJ is clearly a lot less comfortable with some of the situations than Tim is.
Extreme Engagement has been criticised on Twitter for cultural appropriation, but I didn’t feel that way about it.
Watch it on: Netflix
2 Jack Whitehall: Travels With My Father
Jack-the-lad Whitehall goes on an overdue gap yah style trip with his old dad, TV producer Michael Whitehall.
The twosome differ madly in their travel styles, with the senior male valuing fine art, history and above all, comfort. Jack, meanwhile, just wants to get lashed. Their resulting (mis)adventures are hilarious, awkward and at times, downright ridiculous.
The first series is filmed in South East Asia, where Jack pursues the usual hedonistic experiences – much to his dad’s chagrin. The second series (Michael’s turn to choose) is in Eastern Europe.
The father-son duo have also penned a book together, Him & Me. You can buy it on Amazon.
Watch it on: Netflix
3 Asian Provocateur
In Asian Provocateur comedian Romesh Ranganathan embarks on a journey though his parents’ homeland, Sri Lanka, in an effort to please his mum. The first series artfully explores the second-generation experience as Crawley-born Romesh bumbles through lessons about his heritage.
Romesh’s portrayal of the second-generation struggle resonates with many, and educates those who can’t relate, while keeping us hugely entertained.
His mother, Shanthi, was hilarious in the first series and joined Romesh for the next series, where the two tour the US.
Watch it on: Netflix
4 The Kindness Diaries
In this documentary-style series, former depressed broker Leon Logothetis travels the world on a vintage motorbike and relies on the kindness of strangers for food, petrol and lodging.
The hospitality Leon encounters on his radical journey is heartwarming and he pays it back with self-funded projects such as helping to save stray dogs or building schools.
He learns, like many travellers do along the way, that kindness shows us our similarities instead of focusing on our differences.
Watch it on: Netflix
5 Anything with Anthony Bourdain
Parts Unknown is my personal favourite of all of the late chef, author and travel documentary maker’s shows. In it, Anthony visits Libya, Tokyo, the Punjab region, Jamaica, Turkey, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Texas and Armenia. Barack Obama even made an appearance in one episode!
The show explores the culinary scene in each of the lesser-visited and often politically tense destinations it covers, with Bourdain’s providing his token sarcastic narration throughout.
The Layover is another incredible travel TV show, with Bourdain hotfooting it around cities in Europe, Asia and the US attempting to uncover delicious food worth shouting about in the 48 hours he has in each place.
Watch it on: Netflix
6 Dark Tourist
This travel TV show is unique in that it focuses on the creepier destinations; the places with scary stories and often misunderstood traditions attached.
While the average tourist goes in search of palm-fringed beaches and cheap pints, Dark Tourist shines a light on the subset of travellers who reject the usual tourist sites and instead opt to explore the unknown.
Journalist David Ferrier hangs out with vampires in New Orleans and learns about a death-worshipping cult in Mexico. Well, travel is supposed to open your eyes to other cultures!
Watch it on: Netflix
7 Anything with Stacey Dooley
Finally, a show following a woman who travels! Amateur journalist Stacey is hugely likeable and brings a striking amount of calm and rationality to the serious situations she encounters in her documentaries.
Dooley’s best travel documentary in my opinion is Stacey Dooley Investigates, where she travels to places like Tokyo to learn more about some of the most heinous and controversial issues.
From diving into the world of whale hunters in Norway to highlighting violence against women in Russia; the series is brave, ballsy and calls attention to important issues.
Watch it on: BBC iPlayer
8 Anything with Louis Theroux
Ah Louis, how have we made it this far into a list of the best travel TV shows without mentioning you yet?
The affable documentary maker gambles in Las Vegas, immerses himself in the most hated family in America and meets holidaying hunters in South Africa. Wherever he is, Theroux’s wry questions and awkward incredulity are fun to watch.
Theroux’s documentaries aren’t just travel shows, they’re iconic representations of some of the weirdest and most shocking people on earth. His books are decent too.
Watch it on: BBC iPlayer
9 Gordon, Gino and Fred: Road Trip
The camaraderie between this cheeky trio of celebrity chefs makes their joint travel TV endeavour a joy to watch. Gordon Ramsay brings the British humour into their camper van, Gino D’Acampo lends the series his Italian charm and French maitre d’ Fred Sirieix offers a little je ne sais quoi.
They traverse each gent’s homeland first, sampling the best cuisine in France, Italy and Scotland with friendly rivalry. Next, it’s an American road trip through Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Texas.
Don’t miss the episode where they get high on THC infused tea in San Francisco.
Watch it on: ITV Player
10 An Idiot Abroad
Hapless idiot Karl Pilkington reluctantly has his eyes opened to other cultures in this travel themed TV show created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant.
Karl is the most British bloke you’ve probably ever encountered and he has zero interest in seeing the world. His obvious discomfort and sheer incredulity at some of the things he witnesses on his trips makes for funny viewing.
Karl, at his friends’ bequest, visits the seven wonders of the world and is forced to endure the average traveller’s bucket list experiences. It’s like watching the world’s most elaborate practical joke play out.
Watch it on: Sky TV
11 Stephen Fry In America
The great Stephen Fry travels across the USA in a very British black cab in this series, starting in New England and winding up in Alaska.
Along the way, Fry gets to experience some of the most unique and diverse attractions in each destination, from a hot air balloon ride over the Smoky Mountains to swimming with sharks in Hawaii. He meets some remarkable people on his adventures.
There’s a book about this series where Fry shares more of his account of the trip.
Watch it on: Prime Video
12 The World’s Most Extraordinary Homes
If you love to see how the 1% live when you travel – even if it is only via the peephole, this luxury property programme will satiate your craving for the good life.
Unlikely duo architect Piers Taylor and actress and property enthusiast Caroline Quentin sneak around some of the most elaborate and high-budget homes in the world, which just so happen to be built in some pretty jaw-dropping destinations.
As an example, the two spend time in a wooden building on New Zealand’s Marlborough Sounds and a nautical-themed building in Nova Scotia, Canada.
Watch it on: Netflix
13 Anything with Rick Stein
TV personality and chef Rick Stein has an admirable catalogue of travel shows under his belt. In his programmes, Stein eats in local restaurants of every kind, and explores the history and culture of each destination through its cuisine.
He draws attention to the bits of life that other countries are doing much better than us Brits wherever he goes.
Rick Stein’s The Road to Mexico, Long Weekends and most recently, Secret France all centre around local food. Isn’t the best way to truly get to know a destination through its gastronomy?
Watch it on: BBC iPlayer
14 Ugly Delicious
Food and travel are intertwined, and neither is truly great without the other. That’s my opinion, anyway.
Fellow foodies might enjoy a travel show that focuses on one famous dish or concept from a destination, and explores how it is made in different regions and how it evolved as the recipe travelled.
This travelogue follows chef David Chang as he embarks on this mouthwatering investigation, where he tries to introduce Vietnamese fusion crawfish to New Orleans and compares the concept of ‘curry’ in America and India.
Watch it on: Netflix
15 Stay Here
If you stay in Airbnbs when you travel and often find yourself frustrated at the improvements that could be made to the properties you lodge in, you’ll love this accommodation focused TV show.
Interior designer Genevieve Gorder and Peter Lorimer, a real estate broker, transform short-term rental homes into serious Airbnb gold across the United States.
Rentals featured on the show include a ‘Lakeside Lovenest’ houseboat in Seattle, a brownstone in Brooklyn, and a SoCo Poolhouse in Austin.
Watch it on: Netflix
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Have I missed out an amazing travel themed TV show that you love? Leave your best travel programmes in the comments!
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Nicola says
You missed Race Across the world, series 1&2. Travel on a budget!
Amal Owasi says
You missed Street-Food & Taco Chronicles which aired last year. I have watched both of them and i guess everyone else who loves food and traveling should too. Best shows to watch during traveling.