Welcome to your ultimate guide to the best travel podcasts, where you'll find overviews of the most popular series available to stream right now.
While nothing beats the lived experience of jetting off to a new place, these shows offer the next best thing, which is to help you explore the world through your headphones!
So, whether you're seeking inspiration for your next holiday or simply love hearing travel stories from those who've been there, done that, got the passport stamp — here are some of the top travel podcasts for keen globetrotters.
1. Inspiring Travel Podcast
New to streaming platforms, The Inspiring Travel Podcast is a 'must subscribe' for those who are either in the process of planning a holiday or need some travel inspiration for the future.
Each episode, host and travel enthusiast, Dani Zebrowska, interviews an expert from the Inspiring Travel team on their specialist destination, bringing holiday hotspots to life with first-hand insights, as well as offering practical advice to help you plan your own escape.
What sets this podcast apart from others of its kind is that it shines a light on the extraordinary world of tailor-made luxury travel, where no itinerary is too big, no request too extravagant and no activity is out of the question. Sleeping under the stars on a private sandbank in the Maldives, anyone?
So, whether you want to get the lowdown on some of the most exclusive hotels in the world or find out how you can enhance your holiday with out-of-this-world experiences, The Inspiring Travel Podcast is here to help you 'dream big' when it comes to planning your next getaway.
To find out more, read our other blog: Welcome to the Inspiring Travel Podcast.
2. Wanderlust: Off the page
A branch-off podcast from the UK's leading independent travel magazine, Wanderlust, Wanderlust: Off the page expands on some of the best destination articles featured in the magazine through insightful conversations.
Hosted by award-winning British travel writer, Aaron Millar, each episode brings in experts — from journalists to tourist board members and travel agents — to delve deep into some seriously amazing destinations.
Look out for the 'California Dreaming' episode, where Millar himself (who currently resides in the US) is interviewed about the multiple road trips he's enjoyed in 'The Golden State'.
Interestingly, the podcast also features some interviews with Founding Editor, Lyn Hughes, who shares her experiences of setting up the magazine in the early nineties and the challenges she faced when pitching Wanderlust to retailers.
3. Armchair Explorer
If you're looking for immersive storytelling, then Armchair Explorer is the travel podcast for you. And the tagline perfectly sums up why: 'The World's Greatest Adventurers Tell Their Best Story From the Road'.
Essentially, dedicated explorers recount their most unforgettable travel experiences, and in the process, transport listeners to the places and scenarios they describe. From near-death experiences to extraordinary wildlife encounters, you might find your heart racing to some of these fascinating stories.
Arguably, some the best episodes are those set in the most remote parts of the world, giving us insight into places that visitors rarely get to see, such as the piranha-infested rivers of the Amazon Rainforest and the oxygen-deprived summit of Kilimanjaro.
Like Wanderlust: Off the page, Armchair Explorer is also hosted by Aaron Millar, and has received multiple awards for its cinematic, documentary-style format.
4. Zero to Travel
For those looking to make travel a central part of their lives, the Zero to Travel podcast has got you covered.
Hosted by Jason Moore — who wandered the world as a nomad for over a decade — each episode is dedicated to offering life-changing perspectives on travel, as well as actionable advice for hopeful or current wanderers, no matter their current circumstances.
Discussing a variety of 'travel lifestyle' topics — from affordable adventures to setting up an online business so you can work from anywhere in the world — Moore's indie travel podcast has inspired many listeners to make their nomadic dreams a reality. Or rather, to become more "location independent", as one fan puts it.
Some of the most fascinating episodes feature interviews with wanderers from across the world; in the most recent series on female adventurers, guest Suzanne Heywood shares her experience of surviving a shipwreck!
5. The Big Travel Podcast
See the world through the eyes of some truly fascinating people by tuning in to the The Big Travel Podcast.
Featuring celebrity guests — from famous TV and film actors to well-known authors and athletes — this podcast is great for combining lessons for life with inspiration for travel.
Host and travel journalist, Lisa Francesca Nand, asks guests to reflect on their lives through the medium of travel. As a result, these discussions tend to tackle the more 'big picture' questions about the role of travel in our lives: what it is about wandering the world that inspires us, and how it can draw out some of our most intense emotions, from love to sadness, and even embarrassment.
Notable guests from the latest series included the likes of Warwick Davies, Rachel Riley MBE and Nitin Sawhney CBE, to name but a few.
6. You Should Have Been There
Hosted with journalistic flair by Simon Calder (travel correspondent for The Independent) and Mike Webb (former BBC producer), You Should Have Been There is as much about the public's thoughts on travel, as it is about the hosts' own journeys.
Many of the episodes feature listeners' travel stories, showcasing the diversity of perspectives on common travel conundrums, like: when does your holiday really start? What strange restrictions have listeners encountered while travelling? And which are the best airports to be delayed in?
As you might expect from a prominent journalist and BBC producer, Calder and Webb find unique angles for their discussions, reflecting a lesser-discussed aspects of travel, from passport problems to shrinking luggage allowances and bad breakfasts on the road.
They also interview guests from within the travel industry to "take the pulse of travel" and give listeners unique insight into the business side of things.
7. Amateur Traveler
Since 2005, this weekly podcast has looked at the world through the eyes of the uninitiated adventurer.
Hosted by Chris Christensen — who has been hailed as 'the best independent travel journalist' by Travel+Leisure — the show is great for conducting a bit of pre-trip research on places you've never visited before.
Each episode focuses on a specific destination, covering a wide range of topics therein, from ideal itineraries to iconic landmarks and 'must try' local cuisine. It places an emphasis on cultural travel and Christensen brings on an expert each week to do a deep dive into the destination, giving listeners invaluable travel tips and highlighting why people should go there.
And with over 800 episodes to choose from, you're sure to find an Amateur Traveler guide for the next destination on your bucket list.
8. The Travel Podcast Diaries
Are you in need of a big dose of inspiration? The Travel Podcast Diaries is the UK's number 1 travel podcast and is almost guaranteed to ignite your wanderlust.
Hosted by travel and entertainment journalist, Holly Rubenstein, this show is extremely bingeworthy thanks to its three key components: star power, the topic of travel, and amazing storytelling.
The format of the show involves high-profile guests taking us through the 'seven travel chapters' of their lives, from their earliest childhood adventures to their most seminal travel experiences, as well as where they hope to visit in the future.
Some of the most inspiring personalities to feature on the podcast include travel documentary-maker, Simon Reeve, British actor, Dev Patel, and renowned explorer, Levison Wood.
Subscribe to the Inspiring Travel Podcast today on all major streaming platforms to get notified of each new episode release.
And as you're listening, remember, this is just a taste of some of the amazing holidays we can create for you — browse our website to see our full portfolio of incredible destinations, bespoke tours, exclusive experiences and handpicked luxury resorts.
Finished all your pre-trip research? Start planning your tailor-made adventure by speaking to one of our dedicated Travel Specialists.
