11 books that will transport you somewhere glorious.

Stuck at home and dreaming about exotic and faraway places? Planning a trip and want to get familiar with your destination?

From Tuscany to New York City, the Ganges to the Red Centre of Australia, here’s a list of books guaranteed to give you itchy feet.

1. Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

The best-selling travel memoir begins with Elizabeth trying for a baby and crying about her marriage on the bathroom floor. After a divorce and a disastrous rebound, something clicks and she sets off on a journey of self-discovery through Italy, India and Indonesia.

2. Wild by Cheryl Strayed

When Cheryl's mother died, she turned to heroin. After the breakup of her marriage, she set out on an 1800km hike along the Pacific Crest Trail. An inspiring story of getting life back on track, coming to terms with grief and finding yourself in the wilderness.

3. Without Reservations by Alice Steinbach

A beautifully crafted memoir from a prize-winning journalist. Alice Steinbach discovers she defines herself according to her relationship with others, and travels through magical places such as Paris (where she finds her soulmate) Oxford and Milan, to rediscover the relationship she too has her own identity.

4.Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes

Frances Mayes buys an abandoned villa in Tuscany with the intention of restoring it. What follows are incredible discoveries in local markets spilling with fresh produce, and an exploration of the finer points of Tuscan living. Included in this book are dozens of recipes created by Frances herself with the seasonal produce of the area.

5. A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle

Peter Mayle carries out his lifelong dream of living in a stone farmhouse in Provence. Weathering January's frosts, racing goats through the centre of town, and feasting on local cuisine are just some of the experiences that delight him and have fascinated his many readers over the years.

6. The Art of Travel by Alain de Botton

Alain de Botton asks what inspires us to travel, providing us with insights on romance, airports, sight-seeing and hotel mini bars. Using excerpts from great writers, artists and thinkers, he shows how we have always been fascinated with travel and how it makes us feel, and how we can be happier while doing it.

7. Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

The true story of how a young man from a well-off family became the poster child for reckless behaviour. Christopher McCandless hitchhiked into Alaska, vanishing into the wilderness for some time alone. Four months later, he had starved to death. Jon Krakauer pieces together Christopher's journey, from giving himself a new name and burning all his cash in the Mojave Desert, to his lonely end in Alaska.

8. Holy Cow by Sarah Macdonald

Sarah Macdonald proves you can never say never in this often-humorous tale of following the love of her life back to India. Through near-death experiences and random baldness, Sarah perseveres through the chaos and learns to love the country and its people.

9.The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough

An epic saga of family in the Australian outback. Three generations of family carve a living out of the unyielding earth and take passion, struggle and sacrifice in their stride. But at the heart, there lies a forbidden love story, which threatens to tear everything apart.

10. Only in New York by Lily Brett

As a young journalist, Australian Lily Brett began her love affair with New York. Returning in her early 40s, family in tow, she began a new life as a New Yorker. For 25 years, she has lived and breathed the city. This memoir is a collection of the things she loves about the city she now calls home.

11. Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami

Haruki Murakami is the quintessential Japanese author. His descriptions of life in Japan have inspired many travellers over the decades. In this novel, a young man's four best friends from school each have a colour in their names. His name is the only one without colour. One day, they announce that they want nothing more to do with him, and he finds himself floating aimlessly through life. Then he meets a woman who tells him that it is time to find out why his friends abandoned him.

Cheryl Akle is the director of Better Reading.

Better Reading is an independent book recommendation initiative and news site dedicated to helping people discover great books and authors, both past and present, to captivate an audience of all ages. Better Reading: Books that won’t let you down. You can like them on Facebook and follow then on Twitter.

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