Welcome to Reading the Book Travel!
I’m Jill Bowdery, a British blogger who has been travelling for more than 15 years, visiting 70 countries on 6 continents. I love to travel both
Welcome to Reading the Book Travel
I’m Jill Bowdery, a British blogger who has been travelling for more than 15 years, visiting nearly 70 countries on 6 continents. I love to travel both solo and with groups, and to discover the cultures and peoples of the countries I visit. And I love to share a good story or two along the way!
Latest posts from Reading the Book Travel
Lisbon airport to the city centre: Using the Lisbon airport metro
Portugal’s capital city, Lisbon, is a destination which is beginning to make its mark on the popular tourist trail. Located halfway down Portugal’s western coastline, Lisbon has it all: big city hotels and shopping, beautiful buildings, traditional music and more...
One Day in Lisbon: Exploring Lisbon Castle
Towering over the city of Lisbon, Portugal, Castelo São Jorge is hard to miss, and is surely the most strategically significant of all Portuguese castles. Perched on top of a hill to the north of the city centre, with views over the Portuguese capital to the south and...
Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary and the Langue de Barbarie: The best Senegal bird watching tours
For serious bird-spotters, the northwest coast of Senegal is paradise. The destination for migrating birds from Europe, as well as many local species, the Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary and Langue de Barbarie National Park make spectacular half-day trips from...
Ile de Goree Senegal: Discovering West Africa’s slave heritage
Located a short ferry ride off the coast of the capital, Dakar, Goree Island in Senegal is a world apart. Discovered in 1433 by the Portuguese (although presumably known to the Senegalese far earlier), the island was initially named Palm Island for the number of palm...
Taking a River Gambia tour: the ultimate Gambian experience
I’m on a converted peanut boat in the middle of the Gambia river, exploring the less-visited side of this beautiful West African nation. Crossing over the border with Senegal yesterday at Farafenni, we entered one of the most stable countries in Africa but also one...
Destination Africa: The best African countries to visit
Africa. A vast continent of 54 individual countries, each with their own history, culture and identity. A place of mystique and wonder, of poverty and enterprise, of bustling cities and incredible wildlife. How do you know where to start exploring this exotic (and...
How to plan your holiday: Top tips for solo overseas travel
Solo travel is one of the most exciting and empowering things you can experience. The rush of heading off on your own, free of anyone else to please and able to go wherever you like, can fill you with a sense of adventure and possibility. But solo travel is also a...
Ultimate Australia: Top things to do in every Australian state and territory
Australia: The Land Down Under. It's the dream destination of travellers of all ages looking to enjoy sun, surf and a cold beer or two under the Antipodean sun, but there is so much more to this vast and varied country than meets the eye. So which are the best holiday...
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Must see Luxembourg: Top things to do in Luxembourg City
One of the smallest countries in Europe, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is often overlooked in favour of its larger neighbours - or considered simply a country to “tick off” on your European visit. But this little nation has a surprising amount to offer visitors, and...
Lisbon airport to the city centre: Using the Lisbon airport metro
Portugal’s capital city, Lisbon, is a destination which is beginning to make its mark on the popular tourist trail. Located halfway down Portugal’s western coastline, Lisbon has it all: big city hotels and shopping, beautiful buildings, traditional music and more...
One Day in Lisbon: Exploring Lisbon Castle
Towering over the city of Lisbon, Portugal, Castelo São Jorge is hard to miss, and is surely the most strategically significant of all Portuguese castles. Perched on top of a hill to the north of the city centre, with views over the Portuguese capital to the south and...
Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary and the Langue de Barbarie: The best Senegal bird watching tours
For serious bird-spotters, the northwest coast of Senegal is paradise. The destination for migrating birds from Europe, as well as many local species, the Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary and Langue de Barbarie National Park make spectacular half-day trips from...
Ile de Goree Senegal: Discovering West Africa’s slave heritage
Located a short ferry ride off the coast of the capital, Dakar, Goree Island in Senegal is a world apart. Discovered in 1433 by the Portuguese (although presumably known to the Senegalese far earlier), the island was initially named Palm Island for the number of palm...
Taking a River Gambia tour: the ultimate Gambian experience
Located a short ferry ride off the coast of the capital, Dakar, Goree Island in Senegal is a world apart. Discovered in 1433 by the Portuguese (although presumably known to the Senegalese far earlier), the island was initially named Palm Island for the number of palm...
Destination Africa: The best African countries to visit
I’m on a converted peanut boat in the middle of the Gambia river, exploring the less-visited side of this beautiful West African nation. Crossing over the border with Senegal yesterday at Farafenni, we entered one of the most stable countries in Africa but also one...
How to plan your holiday: Top tips for solo overseas travel
Africa. A vast continent of 54 individual countries, each with their own history, culture and identity. A place of mystique and wonder, of poverty and enterprise, of bustling cities and incredible wildlife. How do you know where to start exploring this exotic (and...
Ultimate Australia: Top things to do in every Australian state and territory
Solo travel is one of the most exciting and empowering things you can experience. The rush of heading off on your own, free of anyone else to please and able to go wherever you like, can fill you with a sense of adventure and possibility. But solo travel is also a...
An African market day: The local market at Camp Robin, Madagascar
Australia: The Land Down Under. It's the dream destination of travellers of all ages looking to enjoy sun, surf and a cold beer or two under the Antipodean sun, but there is so much more to this vast and varied country than meets the eye. So which are the best holiday...
About Reading the Book Travel
Reading the Book Travel inspires travellers of all ages to head just that little bit off the beaten track.
Via a mixture of solo travel and small-group adventures, discover unusual and less-visited destinations from every corner of the globe. Reading the Book Travel is not about scaling mountains or taking risks, it’s about exploring those everyday places that will open your eyes to the wider world.
The world is a book – and those who do not travel read only a page.
What readers are saying:
“Lovely blog and you have really traveled all over the world. The photos are wonderful and loved reading about your various adventures.”
“Amazing stories from interesting countries – a different kind of blog and totally worth reading!”
“Excellent stories and photos! I love digging into your guides and getting inspiration on places to add to my bucket list!”