The following post is a guest post written by the lovely Caroline from Culture Coverage. In the midst of my hiatus while traveling, I thought this would be a fitting piece to post now! Enjoy!

One of the most beautiful things about books is their power to transport you to another place, time or even universe. Through the adventures of others, we can vicariously explore worlds that often don’t even exist. However, unfortunately sharing these epic journeys with our favorite characters often gives us our own case of itchy feet.

These five enchanting novels are not only excellent reads; they are also sure to give you severe wanderlust. Encapsulating both the spirit of travel, with an actual physical journey, each of these books is sure to have you packing your bags, buying tickets and jetting off into the horizon.

1. The Alchemist – Paulo Coelho

Pitched as a story about following your dreams, this world-famous novel by Paulo Coelho is a true masterpiece. Easy to read and beautifully crafted, it explores what happens when you give into the unknown and allow the universe to guide you.

Santiago is a young sheep farmer in Andalucia, the southernmost region of Spain, whose is told by a fortune-teller that his recurring dreams are encouraging him to search for treasure in the pyramids of Egypt. Galvanized by the prophecy, he sells his sheep and begins on his journey, but things fall apart as he is robbed soon after entering North Africa.

Lost, hopeless, broke and with nowhere to go, Santiago is forced to adapt to his surroundings, and the journey this takes him on is far more profound and life-changing than anything he could have experienced otherwise. This book is a best-seller worldwide, and on most ‘best travel books’ lists, so if you haven’t checked it out already, I recommend you buy it immediately!