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How to Create a Travel-Themed Reading Challenge
- Theresa Wilson
- 7 hours ago
- 6 min read
There’s something a little magical about combining two kinds of escapism—books and travel. One lets you step into another world through pages, the other through places. A travel-themed reading challenge brings those two together in the best way possible: you get to explore the world without packing a suitcase, while still feeling like you’re on a journey.
Whether you’re in a reading slump, craving a fresh challenge, or just want a more intentional way to choose your next book, this kind of reading challenge turns your TBR into a passport full of possibilities.
And the best part? You can make it as structured or as loose as you want.
Let’s walk through how to create your own travel-themed reading challenge—plus a fun DIY reading passport idea and a printable you can grab from my freebies library to make it even easier.
Why a Travel-Themed Reading Challenge Works So Well
Before we get into the “how,” it’s worth talking about the “why.”
A travel-themed reading challenge works because it gives your reading life direction without pressure.
Instead of randomly picking up books and hoping they stick, you’re choosing books that are tied to a sense of place, culture, or atmosphere.
It turns reading into something a little more intentional:
You’re not just reading a book—you’re “visiting” somewhere new
You naturally diversify your genres and authors
It makes your TBR feel exciting instead of overwhelming
It adds a visual, almost scrapbook-like element to your reading life
And honestly? It just makes reading feel a bit more like an adventure again.
Step 1: Decide What “Travel” Means for You
The first thing to figure out is how you want to define travel in your challenge. There’s no wrong answer here—it just depends on the kind of experience you want.
Here are a few ways to structure it:
🌍 Country-Based Travel
Read books set in different countries. This is the most classic version and works beautifully if you want a true “around the world” feel.
Example:
Italy one month
Japan the next
Ireland after that
🏙 City or Region Focus
If you want something more specific, you can zoom in on cities or regions instead of entire countries.
Think:
Paris cafés and streets
Small-town coastal England
Canadian prairie settings
✈️ “Vibe Travel”
This one is more atmospheric. Instead of focusing strictly on geography, you choose books based on a feeling of place.
Examples:
Cozy seaside towns
Mountain retreats
Big city romance energy
Small village comfort reads
🍽 Cultural or Lifestyle Travel
You can also build your challenge around cultural elements like food, traditions, or historical periods.
This version pairs especially well with reading challenges that include cooking or lifestyle elements alongside books.
Step 2: Decide on the Structure of Your Challenge
Once you know your “travel style,” decide how you want the challenge to actually work.
Here are a few options:
📚 Monthly Destinations
One book (or more) per month tied to a different place.
🌎 12 Stops in a Year
Twelve books, twelve destinations—simple and satisfying.
✈️ Seasonal Travel
Each season has a theme:
Winter: cozy northern settings
Spring: European countryside vibes
Summer: coastal or road trip reads
Fall: atmospheric, moody destinations
🎒 Flexible Travel TBR
Instead of locking everything in, you create a “bucket list” of destinations and pick from them as you go.
This one works especially well if you like mood reading.
Step 3: Build Your Travel TBR
Now comes the fun part—choosing your books.
You don’t need to overthink this. You’re not trying to “perfect” your list; you’re just building a starting point.
You can include:
Fiction set in your chosen locations
Romance novels with strong sense of place
Historical fiction that brings a location to life
Memoirs or travel writing
Even fantasy or romantasy inspired by real-world cultures or settings
A good mix keeps things interesting and prevents your challenge from feeling repetitive.
And if you’re anything like me, you’ll probably end up discovering new favourite settings you didn’t expect to love.
Step 4: Make It More Than Just Reading
This is where a travel-themed reading challenge gets really fun—turning it into an experience instead of just a list.
Here are a few ideas:
🍝 Cook Something Inspired
Pick a dish from the book’s setting and try making it at home. Even something simple like pasta inspired by Italy or tea-time treats from England can make the experience more immersive.
🎶 Build a Playlist
Create a playlist that matches the vibe of the book’s setting. It doesn’t have to be traditional—just atmospheric.
🕯 Set the Scene
Light a candle, change your reading spot, or add small decor touches that reflect the “destination.”
📸 Capture Your Reads
Take a few cozy photos of your book with themed props—maps, snacks, mugs, anything that fits the place.
It’s not about perfection—it’s about making reading feel intentional and fun.
Step 5: Track Your Journey (This Is Where It Gets Cute)
Tracking your reading is where the travel theme really comes to life.
You can:
Mark locations on a world map
Write short reflections for each “destination”
Create a shelf or journal dedicated to your challenge
Use stickers, stamps, or colour coding
And this is also where my printable comes in 👀
I actually have a Travel-Themed Reading Challenge printable available in my freebies library, filled with travel-inspired prompts to guide your reading adventure.
If you like having something visual, it’s a really good companion for this challenge.
Step 6: DIY Idea — Create Your Own Reading Passport
This is one of my favourite parts of this whole idea, and honestly something I’m planning to make for myself too.
A reading passport is exactly what it sounds like—a little creative “passport” that tracks your reading travels.
Here’s how you can make one:
✂️ What You Need:
A small notebook or journal (or you can create your own if you want to be really DIY)
Stickers or stamps (optional but fun)
Pens, markers, or highlighters
Printed flags or country labels if you want extra detail
📖 How to Set It Up:
1. Cover Page
Title it something like “My Reading Passport” and add your name.
2. Passport Pages (One per Book or Destination)
Each page can include:
Book title
Author
Setting (country/city/vibe)
Date read
A short reflection or favourite quote
3. Stamp System (Optional but adorable)
Give each “destination” a stamp or sticker once you finish the book. It makes it feel like you’re actually travelling.
4. Bonus Section
Add a wishlist page for future destinations you want to “visit.”
It’s simple, but it turns your reading challenge into something you can physically flip through and look back on—which is part of the fun.
Step 7: Keep It Flexible and Fun
This is important: this challenge is meant to add joy, not pressure.
If you change books halfway through a destination, that’s fine.
If you reread something instead of picking a new country, that’s fine too.
If you skip a month, the world does not end.
The whole point is to feel like your reading is taking you somewhere—not that it’s another obligation.
Let it be messy, flexible, and seasonal. That’s where the magic is.
A travel-themed reading challenge is really just a way to turn your bookshelf into a map. Every book becomes a new stop, every page a new place you’ve “visited,” and suddenly your reading life feels a little more expansive than just what’s on your nightstand.
It’s simple, creative, and endlessly customizable—which makes it perfect for any kind of reader, whether you plan everything out or just follow your mood.
And if you want an easy way to get started, don’t forget there’s a printable Travel-Themed Reading Challenge waiting for you in my freebies library, complete with travel-inspired prompts to help bring a little more adventure into your reading life.
Plus, if you do end up making a reading passport… I fully support it. I think it’s going to be one of those things you didn’t know you needed until it’s sitting on your shelf, full of little bookish memories.
Let me know in the comments—if you created your own travel reading challenge, where would your first destination be?
May your heart stay warm, your pages stay full, and I’ll meet you in the next chapter. ✨
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