With COVID-19 grounding flights around the world, it could be a while before most of us travel abroad again. Being stuck at home offers the opportunity to dream up new experiences and be inspired by the adventures of others. Adventure travel podcasts in particular have a way of whisking us off to another place in our minds.
Here are 50 of the best travel podcasts to quench your wanderlust and bring you some exciting armchair travels.
1. Zero to Travel
Want to learn how to become a digital nomad, start an online business, or plan an epic backpacking trip? Travel expert Jason Moore will help you get started. The podcast covers a wide range of travel topics to help people from all walks of life explore the world. With over 300 episodes to choose from, you’ll have plenty of travel inspiration to last you through the pandemic.
Where to start: When Should You Go “All In” On Something?
2. Travel With Meaning
Hosted by Mike Schibel, founder of the Travel With Meaning community, this podcast focuses on authentic storytelling with the goal of inspiring others to travel.
From CEOs and entrepreneurs to athletes and entertainers, Schibel interviews high-profile guests about what travel means to them. During each in-depth, 50-minute interview, guests share original travel stories and defining moments that have shaped their lives, careers, and creative visions.
Where to start: Episode 27: Chris Burkard
3. The World Wanderers
Whether you’re looking for insights into digital nomad life, detailed destination profiles, or helpful trip advice, this podcast has it. Canadians Amanda Kingsmith and Ryan Ferguson share the adventures they’ve had since 2011 when they started traveling the world together.
Many episodes highlight Ryan and Amanda’s personal experiences and favorite places, from swimming under waterfalls in Chiang Mai to hiking up volcanoes in Guatemala. Others feature adventurous guests who offer advice on topics like building a successful travel business, retiring early and traveling the world, or landing seasonal adventure jobs.
Where to start: Dylan Magaster on Creating a Life Full of Adventure
4. How Not To Travel
How Not To Travel seeks to dismantle commonly held assumptions and help listeners see the world differently. Dr. Kiona, creator of How Not to Travel Like a Basic Bitch, dives into some of the more complex issues associated with traveling. By exploring questions around safety, sustainability, privilege, and ethnocentrism, the podcast provides tips on how to travel mindfully.
At around 10 minutes long, each episode is concise while remaining engaging and informative. Check out this podcast if you’re interested in reexamining the things we take for granted when traveling.
Where to start: Episode 5: Traveling “Like A Local”
5. JUMP with Traveling Jackie
As the name suggests, JUMP encourages listeners to take the leap and explore the world. Formerly known as The Budget-Minded Traveler, the podcast strikes a balance between practical advice and inspiration.
Traveling Jackie and her diverse guests share their wildest adventures and the lessons they learned from them. With topics ranging from packing tips to hitchhiking stories, expect an exciting mix of travel content that will have you dreaming about your next trip.
Where to start: JUMP 126: 5 Adventure Firsts in Europe – Stories from the Road
6. Live Different
Matt Wilson, the founder of the Under30CEO blog, motivates listeners to “live beyond the status quo.” Each episode is fun yet informative – you’ll receive expert advice and tips for success from entrepreneurs, coaches, authors, doctors, and more.
The extensive interviews and other content will inspire you to achieve your travel, health, and business goals while providing you with the tools to do so.
Where to start: #133 Fly for Free: Travel Hacking, Credit Card Rewards, & Airline Miles
7. Armchair Explorer
This is not your typical travel podcast. Tune into Armchair Explorer for an immersive storytelling experience that will make you want to pack your bags and set off on a wild expedition.
The action-packed episodes feature some of the world’s most extreme adventurers. From sailing around the world to cage diving with sharks, the documentary style and cinematic sound effects will make you feel like you were there.
Where to start: The World’s Most Dangerous Countries Through New Eyes
8. Extra Pack of Peanuts
If you want to learn how to get more out of your trips while spending less, Extra Pack of Peanuts is the perfect podcast. Entrepreneur Travis Sherry and the travel experts he interviews share their advice for traveling on a budget, packing strategically, and using frequent flier miles and reward program points.
The podcast also features extensive destination profiles highlighting the best places to eat, drink, and explore in exciting international locations. Travis is dedicated to filling his listeners with wanderlust and provides valuable information in an entertaining and personable way.
Where to start: Croatian Mishaps
9. Once Upon A Wander
Jacqueline, a ten-year nomad, hosts Once Upon a Wander, where she talks to other nomads about their journeys. We learn about the personal challenges, hopes, dreams, and adventures of these wanderers with unusual, full-time travel lifestyles.
Dive into an episode to discover a new perspective or hear about seasonal travel work experiences. Listen to Marissa’s behind-the-scenes expose of life on a Disney cruise liner or Osama’s search for community in the US.
Where to start: Nita Questions Her Mormon Roots in the Tetons
10. Indie Travel Podcast
Having traveled together since 2006, hosts Craig and Linda Martin have loads of insider tips and interesting tales. Whether you’re looking for the best summer festivals across the globe, suggestions for long-haul flights, or the top things to do in New Zealand, you’ll find it here.
Episodes range from around 20 to 40 minutes and give you the tools you need to make sure your next adventure is well thought out.
Where to start: How to plan your Europe trip
11. Women Who Travel
Condé Nast Traveler editors Lale Arikoglu and Meredith Carey empower women to get out there and see the world. Some episodes answer frequently asked travel questions, while others share stories from women who are rewriting the travel industry’s dominant narrative.
In addition to hearing compelling stories from impressive women, you’ll learn things like how to plan a road trip, what it’s like to move overseas, and why full-time travel is not always as glamorous as it looks.
Where to start: How One Adventurer Spent 293 Days Alone at Sea
12. Travel Tales by AFAR
Launched earlier this year, Travel Tales seeks to provide hope and inspiration to all those who have had to put their travel plans on hold as a result of COVID-19.
By combining powerful storytelling with vivid descriptions of the places featured, the podcast will immerse you in the adventure and remind you of the transformative powers of travel.
Where to start: A Blind Man’s Trip Will Change the Way You Think About Safaris
13. Nomadtopia Radio
Nomadtopia Radio offers nomadic souls resources and inspiration to live their best lives. Hosted by Amy Scott, founder of Nomadtopia.com, this podcast will teach you how to build a life of location independence with the freedom and flexibility to do more of what you love.
You’ll hear from a wide range of travelers, including expats, backpackers, entrepreneurs, retirees, and more about their experiences and how they made their ideal lifestyles possible.
Where to start: Dan Grec: Overland through Africa
14. The Travel Diaries
Travel and entertainment journalist Holly Rubenstein speaks with writers, chefs, historians, actors, artists, and more to hear how various destinations and experiences have impacted their lives.
The conversations explore defining moments, from guests’ earliest travel memories to the first destinations they became enamored with. Prepare to be taken on an exciting journey around the world and gain insights into the meaning we find in travel.
Where to start: Beautiful Destinations founder, Jeremy Jauncey
15. Become Nomad Podcast
Whether you’re intrigued by the digital nomad lifestyle or already living life on the road, Become Nomad will provide insider tips and valuable resources to make the most of nomadic life.
The episodes offer insights into the ups and downs of long-term travel, different paths people take on their nomadic journeys, and career ideas that will allow you to become location-independent.
Where to start: BN 058: Remote Work and Digital Nomad Careers
16. Let’s Go Together
In a new podcast from Travel + Leisure, travel expert and explorer Kellee Edwards elevates diverse voices that are often underrepresented in the travel industry.
The podcast seeks to break down barriers and show how travel connects us all. From a person with quadriplegia climbing Machu Picchu in a wheelchair to a black woman traveling to every country in the world, the inspiring guests and their stories prove that nothing can stop you from seeing the world.
Where to start: Black Travelers Breaking Barriers
17. The Location Indie Podcast
Jason and Trav, the Location Indie community’s co-founders, want to help others explore the world and attain location independence. The episodes provide an honest look at nomadic life and teach listeners how to achieve “The Triangle Of TOTAL Freedom” – location freedom, time freedom, and financial freedom.
The podcast’s coaching style encourages budding digital nomads and entrepreneurs to set out into the world and reach their goals.
Where to start: Big Leap Series: Hobby Hacking From Passion To Business w/ Sean Ogle
18. Active Travel Adventures
If your ideal vacation involves an action-packed, multi-sport adventure through remote parts of the world, this is the podcast for you. Active Travel Adventures strives to empower listeners to “lead a bigger life through adventure travel.”
In each episode, guests share their worldwide outdoor adventures and explain how they got into adventure travel. With choices like hiking in the Dolomites, cycling through Thailand, and paddling along New Zealand’s stunning coastline, there is plenty of material to inspire your next trip.
Where to start: Peru And Bolivia Adventure: Hike, Bike & Paddle
19. The Rough Guide to Everywhere
Following the brand’s “tell-it-like-it-is” ideology, The Rough Guide to Everywhere features offbeat topics rarely mentioned in guidebooks and on mainstream travel sites.
Through interviews with local characters, the podcast uncovers hidden stories and unique traditions, such as witchcraft in Iceland, favela surf schools in Brazil, cow-calling in Sweden, and Vodou culture in Haiti.
Where to start: Witchcraft in Western Iceland
20. Backpack Digital
This podcast offers interviews with globetrotters and musings about travel from the host, Hayden Lee. The first five seasons feature entertaining anecdotes from world travelers, including discovering Havana with a local, road-tripping from California to Panama, and hitchhiking in Somalia. In the next two seasons, Hayden immerses listeners in his journey across Europe and Vietnam on a motorcycle.
The theme of finding purpose and meaning through travel underlies many of the Backpack Digital episodes. Hayden and guests explore how we grow and learn when we leave behind the familiar in search of the unknown.
Where to start: The Story So Far — 7 Months Into Solo Motorcycle Travel
21. Living Unconventionally
On Living Unconventionally, host Chris Pyak interviews guests who ditched their nine-to-fives in favor of a nomadic lifestyle. Entrepreneurs, digital nomads, and full-time travelers explain how they decided to quit their jobs, how they afford to travel, and how abandoning a conventional lifestyle has allowed them to pursue their passions.
The podcast inspires listeners to break free of jobs they hate, stop living vicariously, and change their lives through travel.
Where to start: Xavier Takes the Bike – All the Way to Argentina
22. Wander Woman
Each episode of Wander Woman includes an off-the-beaten-track journey to a different destination around the world. The podcast’s magazine style, interviews with locals, and striking descriptions make it an immersive experience for listeners with plenty of memorable adventures and unconventional activities.
Hosted by Phoebe Smith, an award-winning broadcaster, author, travel writer, and photographer, the podcast also offers travel hacks, gear recommendations, celebrity interviews, and conversations with lesser-known travel pioneers.
Where to start: Have you ever been enchanted?
23. The Thought Card
This podcast is all about money and travel. Host Danielle Desir teaches listeners how to become financially savvy travelers and meet financial goals. You’ll learn how to make travel more affordable, build wealth through passive income, and choose budget-friendly destinations.
If you want to become financially independent and shift your mindset to one of abundance, this is the podcast for you.
Where to start: How to Get Started Travel Hacking with Cody from Fly To FI
24. The Thoughtful Travel Podcast
On The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, Amanda Kendle interviews fellow travel addicts about a wide range of topics, including life-changing experiences, culture shock, mental health, and lessons learned from travel. Amanda reminds listeners of their own travel memories through creative storytelling and encourages them to seek out adventure.
In addition to getting some inspiration, you’ll learn what it’s like to travel to uncommon destinations and dangerous places and how to handle mishaps like getting lost, losing your passport, and missing flights.
Where to start: 157 Uncommon Destinations
25. Chronicles Abroad
This podcast is perfect for creatives and entrepreneurs looking for travel advice and tales of personal growth. The hosts, Nubia Younge and Frantzces Lys, decided a conventional lifestyle wasn’t for them and set off to see the world a few years ago.
In addition to sharing travel stories, the podcast helps listeners think about things differently with motivational coaching from Frantzces on the Monday Message episodes. Chronicles Abroad is geared towards professionals 35 and up, but the diverse content includes something everyone can enjoy.
Where to start: Ep 147 | Jazzie From Probation To Passports And Black Digital Nomad
26. As Told By Nomads
As Told By Nomads’ mission is to solve issues around the world by helping create the next generation of leaders. Host Tayo Rockson interviews nomads, immigrants, third culture kids, and others who have become global leaders in travel, business, psychology, technology, and international affairs.
You’ll learn how to make smarter decisions, embrace your multicultural identity, communicate across cultures, and expand your mindset.
Where to start: 542: Going From Immigrant To Influencer With Leo Chan
27. Adventure Travel Show
Launched as a companion podcast to Active Travel Adventures, the Adventure Travel Show helps listeners plan outdoor trips with detailed how-to guides. 58-year-old Kit Parks discovered hiking when she was 50 and wants to share the joys of adventure travel with others.
If you’ve ever wondered what food to pack for an outdoor adventure, how to choose the right hiking footwear, or how to train for adventurous vacations, this podcast will provide you with the resources needed for your next expedition.
Where to start: Learn How to Backpack
28. You Should Have Been There
Launched in October of last year, the first season of You Should Have Been There explores themes of getting lost, traveling after Coronavirus, slow travel, and sustainability.
Hosted by Simon Calder, travel correspondent for The Independent,and Mick Webb, former BBC producer, the podcast feels like listening to friends exchange travel stories and opinions about some of the most highly-debated topics in the travel industry.
Where to start: Getting to know the Stans
29. The World Nomads Travel Podcast
The World Nomads Travel Podcast presents independent and adventurous travelers with intriguing content from across the globe. Created by insurance provider and travel brand World Nomads, the podcast includes the latest travel news, insider advice from travelers and experts, and stories from off-the-beaten-path places as far-stretched as Bhutan, Tonga, and Suriname.
The in-depth destination reports provide excellent tips for going beyond the typical tourist’s bucket list and will have you browsing through flights before the episode is over.
Where to start: São Tomé and Príncipe: Castaway Islands
30. The Offbeat Life
If you find yourself dreaming of quitting your nine-to-five, selling your belongings, and buying a one-way ticket to a far-off place, this is a great place to get inspired. Host Debbie Arcangeles encourages others to create a life of meaning by taking risks and pursuing their passions.
Through interviews with bold guests who chose freedom over stability, the podcast offers valuable tips and resources to help you take the plunge and live the life you’ve been fantasizing about. You’ll hear about what led these individuals to overhaul their lives, how they overcame various obstacles, and how to generate income while traveling.
Where to start: Ep. 158: How this former finance manager left a thriving career to become an eCommerce entrepreneur with Diana Fung
31. The Big Travel Podcast
On The Big Travel Podcast, travel journalist and filmmaker Lisa Francesca Nand interviews philanthropists, journalists, politicians, Paralympians, celebrities, and ordinary people about their extraordinary journeys.
Whether they’re elephant conservationists in Chad, foreign correspondents in war zones, or adventurers rowing across the Atlantic, the diverse guests share incredible life experiences from far corners of the world. Their stories explore how travel enriches our lives and challenges us to grow in ways we may have never imagined.
Where to start: Giles Coren; The World’s Best Restaurants, Roast Guinea Pig in Ecuador, Terrifying Tiny Planes in Kenya and Randy Whales in Tahiti
32. Wild Ideas Worth Living
Presented by REI, the podcast’s mission is to encourage listeners to get out there and live more wildly.
Alongside host Shelby Stranger, you’ll hear from authors like Cheryl Strayed, activists like Pattie Gonia, and athletes like Alex Honnold about how they followed their passions and turned their dreams into a reality. Their moving stories will embolden you to find your own wild idea and make it happen.
Where to start: Cheryl Strayed – On Hiking, Getting Outside, Being Kind, and Writing Like a ‘MoFo
33. No Shitting In The Toilet
Best-selling travel author Peter Moore created this cheeky new podcast with the goal of making it the “online version of dodgy backpacker bars.”
Each episode of No Shitting In The Toilet features an expert guest and focuses on a particular facet of travel, such as border crossings, sleeping experiences, trains, and, of course, toilets. Tune in, have a laugh, and learn about the aspects of travel that don’t typically make it to Instagram.
Where to start: Toilets
34. The Nomad Together Podcast
How do location-independent lifestyles impact kids? Is worldschooling right for your family? How do you help children through the struggles of culture shock? The Nomad Together Podcast will answer all these questions and more.
Paul and Becky Kortman launched the podcast and Nomad Together community to cultivate a space for cross-cultural and digital nomad families to learn from one another. The Kortmans and other nomadic families show that achieving location independence is possible for everyone.
Where to start: Episode #42: A Teenager’s Perspective on Location Independence with Réka Kaponay
35. The Dirtbag Diaries
Nothing beats a wild adventure. On The Dirtbag Diaries, wanderers and thrill-seekers share compelling stories from rugged places around the world. You’ll hear about rock climbing in the UAE, biking in the Himalayas, and backcountry skiing in the Alaskan wilderness from those who lived to tell the tale.
In addition to immersing you in their adventures, guests discuss the physical and mental challenges that come along with these adrenaline-inducing experiences.
Where to start: Solo She Rides
36. NomadMe | The Digital Nomad Daily Show
If you’re looking for tools and resources to start living as a digital nomad or give your current location-independent lifestyle a boost, NomadMe is a great place to turn for new ideas.
Host Beck Power discusses daily life as a digital nomad and interviews fellow wanderers. The conversations focus on challenges guests have faced and overcome, their greatest successes, and ways to make money while traveling.
Where to start: Travel Blogging Pioneer Nora Dunn, The Professional Hobo
37. The Radio Vagabond
Radio producer and host Palle Bo decided to sell his house and belongings at age 50 and set out on a mission to visit every country in the world.
On The Radio Vagabond, Palle shares his adventures and mishaps, thoughts on digital nomad life, and experiences meeting the locals in diverse places across the globe. The entertaining anecdotes are masterfully told and will make you long for an adventure overseas.
Where to start: Unique Experiences in the Center of Sri Lanka
38. Travel Like A Boss
Do you dream of having a four-hour workweek? Tune into Travel Like A Boss for weekly interviews with successful entrepreneurs who have achieved financial freedom and location independence through e-commerce, affiliate marketing, dropshipping, and other online businesses.
Hear their travel stories and tips for success with host and digital nomad, Johnny FD.
Where to start: Felipe Caceres (Cold in Canada to Earning $11,000 a month in Chiang Mai, Thailand)
39. Women on the Road
Through conversations with host and adventure photographer Laura Borichevsky, bold women share their perspectives on solo-travel, overcoming fears, and practical aspects of living on the road.
Whether you’re considering van life, planning a long-term road trip, or just looking for inspiration from adventurous women, this podcast provides ample opportunity to learn about life on the road from those who’ve lived it themselves.
Where to start: From Country to Country: Margaret Miller
40. Escape
Listen to Escape for a variety of content from the UK’s most respected authority on travel, Simon Calder. The podcast covers travel deals, industry news, destination profiles, and masterclasses on topics like photography and African safaris.
Each 30-minute episode includes insights from an expert guest, such as Lonely Planet co-founder Tony Wheeler, or Wanderlust magazine’s editor in chief, Lyn Hughes.
Where to start: Island hopping through the Caribbean on a budget
41. On She Goes
On She Goes seeks to add diverse perspectives to the travel industry by amplifying the voices and experiences of women of color.
Through conversations about immigration, transracial adoption, and traveling while black, the podcast gives women of color the tools they need to become more confident, adventurous, and frequent travelers.
Where to start: “It’s a Funny One” OSG & Chanel Ali
42. The Globetrotter Lounge
Lisette Austin, also known as Jet Set Lisette, has mastered the art of travel hacking and wants to share her knowledge with others to help them travel more.
The podcast features conversations with diverse women, like the first Algerian travel vlogger, an Emmy-award winning TV host, and an international marathon runner. Lisette and her guests will teach you how to become a budget-conscious traveler and find creative ways to bring your travel goals to life.
Where to start: Nicolle Merrill: Global Careers as a Way to Travel More
43. Not So Bon Voyage
What happens when everything starts to go wrong on your trip? This humorous yet hair-raising podcast explores the worst things that can occur when traveling. From international kidnappings to near-death hiking experiences, Jules and Christine recount the wildest misadventures in travel.
Some stories are their own, while others are urban legends or submitted by fans.
Where to start: Scandalous Skinny Dippers and The Crappy Cruise
44. The Freedom Lovin’ Podcast
If your ultimate goal in life is to shirk societal norms and embrace a life of freedom, this podcast will provide you with inspiration from like-minded souls.
Host and online entrepreneur Kevin Koskella will help you learn how to travel hack, cultivate a positive mindset, and build an online business as he and his guests share their experiences wandering around the globe in pursuit of freedom.
Where to start: FL130: Living the Digital Nomad Lifestyle with Kayla Kurin
45. RV Miles
Dreaming of #vanlife? Check out RV Miles for travel guides, RV-friendly recipes, RV industry news, and more. Hosts Jason and Abby Epperson will help you figure out how to choose the right vehicle, decide where to go on your next RV trip, and invest in quality camping gear.
Where to start: 10 Best Road Trips and Fulltime Freedom Week
46. Livin That Life – Digital Nomad Podcast
On Livin That Life, host Riley Bennett highlights online career opportunities to inspire listeners to pursue their goals and live differently. Riley and his guests share their tips for success on the path to location independence.
If you want to learn how to create passive income streams or land a remote job, this podcast will teach you how to make it happen.
Where to start: The TRUTH about Why You Should Quit Your Job (to Start a Business)
47. Outside Podcast
Like the popular magazine, Outside Podcast aspires to get people outdoors and encourage an active lifestyle. Authors, scientists, explorers, and athletes discuss topics of travel, adventure, health, and the environment.
With tales of survival and transformative experiences and the science underlying our deepest desires to roam and explore, the podcast offers a mix of exciting and informative content that will have you daydreaming about setting off into the wilderness.
Where to start: A Wild Odyssey with the World’s Greatest Chef
48. Travel with Rick Steves
Rick Steves, the iconic American travel writer famous for his best-selling guidebooks, takes listeners around the world each week as he chats with travel experts and locals about culture, language, and unique experiences.
Keeping in line with the Rick Steves travel philosophy, the podcast encourages listeners to visit less touristy areas and immerse themselves in the local way of life.
Where to start: 578 Walking Ljubljana; Munich and Bavaria; Wild Animals
49. Abroaders
Check out this podcast for the best travel hacks, money-saving tips, and reward program news. Join host Erik Paquet as he interviews entrepreneurs, expert travel hackers, digital nomads, and expats and learn how to become a financially savvy traveler.
Abroaders is packed with actionable advice that will help you get the most out of your travel budget and use travel as a tool for business development.
Where to start: Maximizing Miles with Everyday Spending
50. We Travel There
We Travel There offers insider knowledge to help you travel like a local. In each episode, you’ll hear about a particular destination from the perspective of someone who lives there. The guests will help you get off the usual tourist track to discover hidden gems, find the best places to eat and drink, and experience the local flavor.
While many of the featured places are American cities, the podcast also includes interesting global locations, like Medellin, Colombia, and Kamakura, Japan.
Where to start: Cairns, Australia | Swimming the Great Barrier Reef with Tyson
