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The power of film can be inspiring. Whether it is a certain scene, an acting performance or even just a quote, there will always be moments that live long in the memory. For me, it is inspiring travel movies that really hit home. A feeling that is portrayed in a city or country I have never been to can make me endlessly obsess about visiting. It might also be a place that I have already travelled to, and the sight of it in a movie can make me long to return. Movies have long been influencing where I travel to and probably always will. Here is a list of my favourite travel movies that may inspire you to pack your bags and head for pastures new.

The Beach

The majority of backpackers in South East Asia will have seen The Beach at some time in their life. Adapted from Alex Garland’s novel in 2000, the story follows Richard, portrayed by Leonardo Di Caprio, as he arrives in Thailand in search of a new adventure. He quickly becomes disillusioned by the backpacking lifestyle and sets out to find a mystical island that he has been told about. The island is said to be the home of a community of breakaway travellers living in paradise. When he finds the island, he quickly realizes that it is not all it is cracked up to be.

It is a lesson in how travellers, even backpackers with the best intentions, can end up spoiling a place. Maya Bay in Thailand where the movie was shot has since been closed due to over-tourism. I think that the movie resonates with travellers so well because we all set out to find our own paradise along the way, even if most never find it. We all want to be seen as doing something different, yet tend to follow the same path as those that have been there before us. I can’t help but watch The Beach and dream of being back in Thailand. The beaches, the landscapes and the craziness that the country offers are all on display in this movie.

Into The Wild

This is my all-time favourite travel movie!! It is based on a true story about Christopher McCandless, a disillusioned college student who breaks free from society. He leaves all of his possessions behind and sets out for Alaska. Along the way, he meets many people who shape his journey. After many other adventures, Christopher finally made it to Alaska where he, unfortunately, met his demise. Despite the unhappy ending, the movie is a great teacher that life and travel are not all about what we carry on our backs but instead the feelings we have inside of us. It is the experience, good or bad, of travel that ultimately shapes us. Into the Wild is a great motivator to pack it all in and hit the road, even if the intended travel style is very different from Christopher McCandless.

In Bruges

This movie is in no way about travelling yet very few can watch it and come away not dreaming of visiting Bruges. The city provides a beautiful, picturesque backdrop to this comedy movie. The medieval streets and canals that are regularly in shot portray Bruges as something of a fairy-tale, especially when the winter fog rolls in. Despite Colin Farrell’s character having some very harsh words to say about the city, it is exactly like I mentioned before, a fairy-tale. This movie put Bruges on the map for most people, myself included. I have been twice in recent years and love it. Very few places have the charm and tranquillity that you find in Bruges.

Lost in Translation

Two hotel guests unhappy in their own lives form a special bond as they break out of their self-imposed confinement and explore the streets of Tokyo together. Starring Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson, this movie has an incredible way of showing the humour that can come from being in a strange land. Many travellers may be able to identify with forming an unlikely bond with someone as you both try and figure out the world around you and the little oddities that you realize together. This is an all-round great movie and I credit it with putting Japan right at the top of my bucket list.

A Map for Saturday

For anyone that has travelled long-term, or is considering the possibility of doing so, then you must watch A Map for Saturday. Brook Silva-Braga quits his job in New York and travels around the world for one year with his camera, making this documentary along the way. During the film, you get to experience the highs and lows of long-term travel. It’s a true insight into what it is really like and how your mindset changes in the process. Along the way, he interviewed many fellow travellers that he met, from all walks of life. For anyone that has experienced something similar, this is a fantastic throwback to that time as you are sure to identify with many of the feelings and moments throughout the movie. For those considering long-term travel, there is no better insight into that world.

Eat Pray Love

Eat Pray Love is one of the biggest travel movies ever made. The character, played by Julia Roberts, gets the sudden realization that she is not happy in her marriage and decides that her life needs to go in a different direction. After the divorce, she sets off around the world on a journey of self-discovery. Starting in Italy, a place she always dreamed of eating her way through, she begins to feel accustomed to life away from home. She then travels to India to live in an ashram before finishing her trip to Bali. This is where she eventually discovers her true inner peace. Most travelling does not need to be as soul searching as this movie entails but it is a great reminder of how travel can help you overcome major issues in your life.

Eurotrip

Eurotrip is a comedy about four friends backpacking in Europe. The whole premise of the movie is rather silly and certainly plays on stereotypes. However, that won’t stop you dreaming about travelling to the places that they visit. Amsterdam, Paris and London all make an appearance as four hapless teens make their way through the continent, getting themselves in stupid situations. It is by no means a classic but you should get a couple of laughs from it and maybe even relate to one or two of the mishaps that they have.

Up in the Air

Up in the Air is a great movie for anyone that spends a lot of time in airports. George Clooney’s character Ryan travels across America for work on a daily basis. He has no fixed home and has his heart set on becoming the youngest person to earn ten million frequent flier miles with American Airlines. His goals are thrown into disarray when his company informed him that his job will, from that time onward, be done through video-conferencing. Ryan then has to prove that it is necessary for him to do his job in person in a desperate bid to keep his lifestyle the same. He realizes during this time what a lonely life he is leading and begins to change his ways. It is not as inspiring as other movies but frequent travellers and fliers will empathize with many of Ryan’s feelings

The Bucket List

This one is a real tearjerker. Two newly befriended, terminally ill cancer patients (Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson) decide that it is time to start living life on their own terms. They discharge themselves from the hospital and begin the challenge of completing a bucket list that they have just written together. Some of the items include getting a tattoo and skydiving. Others include visiting the Taj Mahal and the Great Pyramids of Egypt. I always find this film a great reminder that life is short and you shouldn’t put off your dreams until they are too late.

The Motorcycle Diaries

South America has always been somewhat of a mystery to me. Unfortunately, I have never even gotten close to going. Yet I can’t help but dream, especially after watching The Motorcycle Diaries. This film is a dramatization of the road trip taken by Che Guevara and his cousin. They cover 14,000km in over 8 months. The movie speaks a lot about politics and this is the trip that inspired Che Guevara to go down the path he did. Away from that though, is the beautiful shots of the continent, lush rain forests and vast desert plains are a regular feature. Whatever your thoughts are on the main character, you won’t be able to watch this without feeling envious of their trip.

Wild

This movie follows Reese Witherspoon’s character, Cheryl, as she attempts to overcome her drug addiction whilst dealing with the loss of her mother. She takes on the challenge of the Pacific Crest Trail, a 1,100-mile trek. This journey forces her to overcome many physical and mental barriers as she crosses the snowy fields and deserts. This trek helps Cheryl put the train back on the tracks and find some self-control and self-acceptance. Even though your travelling may not be as drastic as the challenge undertaken in this movie, it shows that by taking control of your life, your state of mind and your feeling of self-worth will ultimately improve.

The Way

Another truly beautiful travel movie. Martin Sheen travels to France and picks up the ashes of his son who died walking the Camino de Santiago. He sets out with the intention of finishing what his son started. His eyes are opened as he begins to realize why his son loved travelling so much. He makes friends with other pilgrims and learns about their own personal reasons for undertaking the hike. He also begins to self-evaluate his own life. I have yet to take on the Camino myself but certainly will do in the future. This is the movie that first made me interested in taking on the challenging 800km trek.

The Darjeeling Limited

After the death of their father, three estranged brothers decide to take an overland train across India. This is done in an attempt to bond with each other and also finally grieve their father’s death. As expected, there are barriers to overcome, not only as brothers but also personally. All are suffering from depression and struggle with life in India. Just as things seem to be hitting rock bottom they begin to find some perspective. What they have experienced together puts the wheels in motion with regards to the healing process. The cinematography in this movie is excellent and it has quite a few laughs. It would be hard for anyone to watch The Darjeeling Limited and not want to hop on a flight to India.

Chef

This might seem like an odd choice. Chef is primarily a food movie but that doesn’t stop it being an inspiring travel movie. This is the story of a top chef who has become disillusioned with his restaurant work and quits. He finds himself in Miami with his ex-wife and neglected son. He buys a food truck in an attempt to rekindle his love for being a chef. To transport the food truck home, the chef, his son and his former line cook drive across the country, stopping at cities along the way to cook for the locals. This movie is a great example of how travelling can give you back your zest for life and repair and strengthen your relationship with people close to you. It also shows a lot of American cities along the way. I have been obsessed with going to New Orleans since first seeing Chef.

Midnight in Paris

Very few eras in history look cooler than 1920’s Paris. This is exactly the time that Owen Wilson’s character is transported to in the movie Midnight in Paris. The movie follows a writer on holiday in the French capital. At night he wanders the streets before stumbling upon a time warp. He soon finds himself mingling with Jazz icons and literary legends. The movie is beautiful with fantastic lighting, Paris as a backdrop and a great script. Watching this movie always makes me romanticize about Paris and want to return.

On The Road

This is essentially another road-trip movie. Originally a novel written by Jack Kerouac. The story is based on his own travels as he and his friends drive across the United States. The movie regularly shows the dark side of America in the 1950s. Drug use and the down and out jazz bars are a regular sight. This is certainly not your standard travel movie where everything is beautiful and inspiring. Instead, you see how the four main characters use this road trip to fight their own demons. It is a reminder that travel can be a great release from your normal life. Who you travel with and meet will ultimately be what shapes your experience.

Hangover 2

Another movie that might seem like a strange choice. I don’t think the second Hangover movie was made with the intention of inspiring people to visit Thailand. In fact, it should do the complete opposite after disaster strikes for the cast. Yet, every time I watch it my mind drifts back to Bangkok. I first saw the streets of Bangkok in this movie and I knew then I had to go there. It is one of my favourite cities in the world. So much so that just the sight of it in a movie makes me want to return. Also, the madness that occurs throughout the movie may bring back memories to many people, myself included. A crazy night in Bangkok is a lot of fun but things can get wild in that city. It reminds me of good times with good friends in a city I love so much.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

This movie is about a group of British retirees from all walks of life. They travel to India in an attempt to retire in peace. What awaits them is more of a culture shock than they could ever have imagined. The film is about each character’s adaptation to life in India and their aim to thrive in the environment they now find themselves in. Anyone who has travelled to India, myself included, may resonate with many of these issues. They learn that if you throw away your expectations of a place and immerse yourself in the culture, you could very well learn to love it. This film features many scenes of daily life in India and always has me craving to go back.

So this is my list of inspiring travel movies. Some portray a feeling. Others are simply filmed in a location that I dream of visiting. Some are both. I am not always on the road so these movies can be a great way to get the feeling of travelling from home. Most of them, I have seen more than once. If I find myself craving Thailand, I watch The Beach. If I am missing the feeling of long-term travel then I watch A Map for Saturday. I love these inspiring travel movies. Many have made me visit the places that they were filmed in. Some are still very high up on my bucket list. Most importantly though, they are all excellent films.

Of course, there are many other inspiring travel movies, these are just my personal favourites. Comment below with the movies that have inspired you!!

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The Roaming Irishman

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