Travel and art are gifts to the world, and when they combine, the result is always phenomenal. Which is why we’ve compiled a list of movies every traveler must watch!

Into the Wild (2007)

“The core of man’s spirit comes from new experiences.” Christopher McCandless.

Based on the true story of McCandless, this movie follows the life of a recent college graduate who leaves his life behind to embark on a hitchhiking trip to Alaska. The cinematography alone makes this movie a must watch, but the story of this movie is even more appealing.

Written and directed by Sean Penn, this movie perfectly encapsulates the spirit of what traveling really is. The good, the bad, the experience of meeting new people and discovering new places and the lesson that every dream you have might not come true but despite of that, you need to be true to yourself and your surroundings.

The Motorcycle Diaries

“This isn’t a tale of heroic feats. It’s about two lives running parallel for a while, with common aspirations and similar dreams.” – Che Guevara.

An adaptation of a journal written by Ernesto “Che” Guevara, this movie is about his journey with his friend Alberto Granado when they decide to travel across South America on Alberto’s motorcycle in order to do their medical residency at a leper colony. Beginning as a tourism movie in which Ernesto and Alberto are looking for fun and adventure, the movie takes a turn when a chance encounter leads both the men to realize their real journey and ambitions in life.

The Darjeeling Limited

“I wonder if the three of us would’ve been friends in real life. Not as brothers, but as people.”

The Darjeeling Limited stars Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman, and Adrien Brody as three brothers who, at the insistence of the oldest, take a train ride through India after their father’s death in order to strengthen their bond. The movie takes us on a journey of the three brothers who, despite trying to rebuild their family ties, end up in some unanticipated situations. The amazing shots of India make this movie an eye candy for everyone!

Midnight in Paris

“That Paris exists and anyone could choose to live anywhere else in the world will always be a mystery to me.”

Set in the era of the 1920s Jazz Age Paris, this movie follows the life of Gil, played by Owen Wilson, a writer on vacation with his fiancée and her family. One night he stumbles into a time warp that sends him back to the 20s to meet some of the most famous people of that age. With a story that is simple yet refreshing, this movie will certainly make you want to visit the City of Lights.

The Lord of the Rings

“All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost.”

We’ve saved the best for the last! Lord of the Rings is an award winning epic directed by Peter Jackson, shot in the amazing scenery of New Zealand. The movie follows the journey of Frodo Baggins and his friends, who are on a mission to destroy the One Ring. From its story to the amazing cinematography showing the beauty of the locations it was shot in, Lord of the Rings jumpstarted the tourism industry in New Zealand and is still one of the most highly rated movies of all time.

Know of some more movies that travel-fans should watch? Suggest us here in the comments.

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