Travel Write : Select entries from 20 years of the Bradt travel-writing competition

Over 20 years of award-winning travel writing from the Bradt Travel Guides annual competition

For more than two decades, Bradt Travel Guides has championed exceptional travel writing through its annual competition, attracting hundreds of entrants from around the world. Now, for the first time, this acclaimed independent publisher brings together a curated collection of the very best pieces to emerge from two decades of judging—stories that showcase the same high standards Bradt brings to travel publishing itself.

This vibrant anthology features 95 stories from both established and emerging writers, old and young, based across the globe. Each tale is a vivid snapshot of our endless appetite for adventure, connection, and discovery—and remarkably, each is told in under 800 words. Organized into six themed chapters covering remarkable places, extraordinary people, wildlife encounters, real terror, history, and learning and reflection, these pieces range from the heartwarming and familiar to the uncomfortable and utterly unrepeatable. You'll find everything from border guard mix-ups and wild animal encounters to a day trip to Iceland and an unforgettable encounter with a goat in a French market.

Whether you're seeking virtual travel from your armchair or looking for inspiration for your next adventure, these true stories offer the perfect escape—painting vivid pictures through the power of compelling writing alone.