8 travel documentaries to watch when you’re antsy for your next adventure

Since we’re awaiting our next travels too, we’ll share our list of must-see travel docs. These films transport you to eclectic cities in Asia where you can almost taste local delicacies prepared from simple streetside stalls. Or perhaps you’re drawn to the tranquility of remote landscapes in South America, where every scene feels like an invitation to sign yourself up for an epic adventure. Whatever your travel style, these documentaries offer a vivid glimpse into some of the world’s most exciting destinations. Watch these, and before you know it, it’ll be time for adventures IRL.

Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain

Whether you’re a bookworm, foodie, dark tourist or fan of off-the-beaten-path adventures, you’re likely to be a fan of Anthony Bourdain. Bourdain is a household name in travel for his books which you may have read cover-to-cover in a night or his famous show, Parts Unknown, which takes an authentic and genuine approach to travels abroad. This relatively new documentary offers an intimate look into the life and career of Bourdain and of course, his adventures to far-flung places. Through interviews with those who knew him best, along with archival footage, the documentary delves into Bourdain's complex personality, his impact on the culinary world, and the struggles he faced behind the scenes. This movie is about a man who inspired many with his curiosity, authenticity, and passion for exploring the world and it’s equal parts inspiring and sad.

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Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa

Watching Mountain Queen is likely to bring up a lot of emotions: awe, sadness, anger, and inspiration to name a few. This is about the life and achievements of Lhakpa Sherpa, the most successful female climber of Mount Everest and first Nepali woman to summit Everest and live. The film delves into her journey as a sherpa woman breaking barriers in the male-dominated world of high-altitude mountaineering. It explores her numerous ascents of Everest, the challenges she has faced in order to do that, her difficult life as an immigrant in the U.S., and her enduring determination to pave the way for future generations of female climbers. The documentary offers an inspiring look at her resilience, courage, and the cultural significance of her accomplishments. Be warned, it also explores themes of verbal and mental abuse so check in with yourself and watch knowing it can be a difficult one.

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Somebody Feed Phil

Sometimes you just need a lighthearted watch to cheer you up and that’s what this series is. Whether you’ve got post-travel blues, a frustrating case of wanderlust, or are homesick abroad, Somebody Feed Phil will be sure to put a smile on your face. This show is about a jolly, smiley man galavanting around the world and eating seriously wonderful food. That’s it. And it’s awesome. Here, we’ve got a show hosted by Phil Rosenthal (the creator of Everybody Loves Raymond) whose attitude is about as captivating as the dishes he sets out to try. In each episode, Phil travels to a different city around the world, indulging in the local cuisine and exploring the culture behind it. We’ve got gumbo in New Orleans, beef stew in Ireland, custard tarts in Lisbon, and heartwarming encounters to tie it all together.

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Longest Third Date

This is not a relaxing watch for players, the emotionally unavailable, or those who keep first dates to a two-drink maximum. For everyone else, Longest Third Date does make for a lighthearted, wanderlust-sparking watch. This Netflix gem takes an unexpected turn when Khani and Matt’s third date (which happens to be a spontaneous trip to Costa Rica… as you do) turns into a wild adventure as the pandemic shuts down travel worldwide. What was meant to be a quick getaway suddenly stretches into months of quarantining together in paradise. As they navigate the highs and lows of an unplanned extended stay, viewers get a front-row seat to jungle hikes, beachside sunsets, and navigating a foreign country under lockdown. It's part love story, part travel mishap, and totally binge-worthy!

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Street Food: Asia

Street Food: Asia is a documentary you watch when you’re craving travel with a side of spring rolls and fresh noodles. We do recommend hitting play on this series. We don’t recommend doing so without a large order of your favourite takeout. A lot of us travellers wander through the world with growling stomachs and curious taste buds looking for their new favourite food. If that’s you, you’ll love these episodes spotlighting the stories of the chefs and vendors behind beloved dishes sold on the streets of South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, and Japan. Each episode focuses on a different city, so you can get a little glimpse of Cebu, Seoul, or Ho Chi Minh City. The series not only highlights the flavours of these street foods but also explores the cultural and personal stories that make each dish a vital part of the local community.

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Magical Andes

If you’re a mountain person, Magical Andes is the documentary series for you. If your trip to Patagonia feels way too far in the future, this series will at least help you escape to snow-covered and jagged peaks for an evening or two. The Andes, being the longest mountain range in the world, lends itself well to an epic series where you can learn about mountain guides in Argentina, weavers in Chile, herders in Bolivia, and quinoa farmers in Peru. This is a visually-stunning and easily digestible series for those who love South America, geography, barely-touched landscapes, and untold stories. Be warned: you’ll probably be tempted to book a trip to the salt flats or plan long-term solo travels to remote regions in the Andes after watching this one.

Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat

This series by the same name as her bestselling book is hosted by chef Samin Nosrat. This is another one for the foodie adventurer awaiting their next international food crawl. The title is inspired by Nosrat’s cooking philosophy which is that a great meal must have four components: salt, fat, acid, and heat. The format follows this formula and has an episode on each element in the place in the world that does it best. In the "salt" episode, she visits Japan to highlight the variety of salty flavours like soy sauce, sea salt, and miso. For the “fat” component, she heads to Italy, delving into the richness of olive oil, cheese, and pork. To showcase some of the best acidic flavours in the world, she goes to Mexico where the salsas and citrus fruits take the stage and she wraps it all up by heading to California to heat up the grill. This is a lighthearted watch which will leave you wanting to head to all four countries—or at least host an international-inspired dinner party.

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Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones

We all have our different values and styles of travel. For some, the journey is about socializing, parties, and connection. Others aim for introverted pursuits like rest, recharging and solo practices like journalling or reading. For many, it’s about health and wellness and exploring the world to learn the best practices from other cultures so that we can enhance our own wellbeing. (Hence why retreats, active travel, yoga-focused trips, and escapes in nature happen to be so popular!) If that sounds like you, Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones is the documentary series to tide you over until your next retreat to an eco lodge. If you’re not familiar, the blue zones are the regions around the world where people live extraordinarily long and healthy lives. These are: Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Ikaria, Greece; Nicoya, Costa Rica; and Loma Linda, California. This doc series is an insightful one that explores each of these regions uncovering the lifestyle choices, diets, and community practices that contribute to their residents' remarkable longevity. Through personal stories and expert analysis, the documentary offers practical lessons on how to incorporate these longevity secrets into everyday life, providing a roadmap to a healthier and more fulfilling existence. So who knows, maybe binging this one will have you committing to a Costa Rican diet or choosing walking over driving more often.

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