Published 23rd Feb. 2026
Written by Emily Heeks
Reading time
There’s something undeniably magic about standing in the very place where your favourite story unfolded. While film buffs chase Hollywood backdrops, we’re championing a new kind of traveller: the fictioneer – book lovers looking to swap their reading chair for the real-life setting. Picture yourself sailing down the Nile, channelling Hercule Poirot as intrigue lingers around every bend, wandering Transylvanian streets in search of Count Dracula (garlic optional), or retracing the journey of The Odyssey in Greece. The avid readers in our team have compiled a list of our favourite books and accompanying destinations for fictioneers to visit, because why just turn the page when you could step inside it?
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Few settings feel quite as cinematic, or as literary, as Egypt’s Nile River. We’re proud to be the sole UK operators of the Steam Ship Sudan, the very vessel that inspired Death on The Nile. It was aboard this elegant steamer that Agatha Christie travelled with her husband in 1933, drifting past golden-lit temples and everyday scenes on the Nile, sights that would later drift into her iconic murder mystery four years later. Sailing here today feels less like a cruise and more like gentle time travel, where you might find yourself casting a playful glance at your fellow passengers for any suspicious alibis.
Much of that genteel 1930s glamour remains on the Steam Ship Sudan. Guests can sleep in the eponymous Agatha Christie cabin, sip sundowners on polished teak decks and get to know knowledgeable guides as they share stories of the rich history of Egypt. It’s this blend of storytelling that makes sailing aboard the Sudan so special. And with inspiration flowing as steadily as the Nile, you might just leave with a new story of your own, without the murderous plot twists of course.
Image by Mathieu Richer Mamousse
2
Immerse yourself in the adventure of Lost Horizon and head for Shangri-La, originally known as Zhongdian, high in the mountains in the Tibet region of China, that James Hilton imagined in his 1933 classic. In the novel, travellers survive a plane crash and stumble across utopia, discovering a life removed from the chaos of the outside world (we promise your journey won’t be anywhere near as tumultuous). The book offers a glimpse into Buddhist culture, which you can expand on with a visit Songzanlin Monastery to see these traditions in practise; honour the local customs by learning about the deities and manifest good fortune as you spin prayer wheels. Perched high up in the clouds, the magic of the mountains is unforgettable.
Image by Sergii Mostovyi/stock.adobe.com
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Transylvania is darkly romantic, where forests and fortresses create the perfect backdrop for the Gothic novel Dracula, written by Bram Stoker in 1897. As you explore winding streets, craggy castles and shadowed corners, it’s easy to imagine vampires slipping silently through the mist. And every time you see one of the winged residents of the night, you might start questioning… is that really a bat? Cosy up by a fire with the book in hand, and don’t worry if a creaking door makes you jump as you read, that’s all part of the charm...
Once you’ve had your fill of Transylvania, Romania has plenty more to offer, from the architecturally rich streets of Bucharest to its sprawling woodlands, home to wolves, bears and other wildlife.
Image by Carol Sachs
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Homer’s The Odyssey is a cornerstone of ancient Greek literature, chronicling Odysseus’ epic journey home after the Trojan War. And what better place to read it than Greece itself? Follow in Odysseus’s footsteps as you wander the ruins of Athens, explore the sparkling Cycladic Islands or stroll the olive groves of Ithaca, where the myths truly come alive. While this epic saga is separated into 24 books (yes, 24), if you don’t have time to read all of this in between island-hopping and eating your way through Greek cuisine, the film adaptation is coming out in July 2026, offering a cinematic shortcut through Homer’s legendary journey.
For a more modern take on Greek mythology, try Circe or The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, perfect for poolside reading.
Image by Peter Frank Edwards/REDUX-REA
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Written by Harper Lee in 1960, To Kill a Mockingbird is the epitome of classic American literature. Set in small-town Alabama, the book is defined by strict social hierarchies and racial prejudice. Today, you can take a road trip through the Deep South to Monroeville, Lee’s hometown and the inspiration for Maycomb. Exploring the Monroeville Museum and the Department of Archives and History in Montgomery brings the region’s troubled history to life and adds extra depth to Tom, Scout and Atticus’s experiences, leaving you in awe of their courage.
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Prefer a more contemporary read? Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner, published in 2021, is a heartfelt memoir exploring her Korean American heritage and the deep bond with her mother, forged through food. From fragrant kimchi, spicy tteokbokki to sizzling barbecues and bowls of bibimbap, the flavours of South Korea weave through every page, leaving your stomach rumbling as you read. The solution? Head to Seoul or Busan to nip into a local street food market and sample the delicacies yourself, bringing the memoir to life one bite at a time.
Image by Cécile Rosenstrauch
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If you like your fiction a little strange and deeply introspective, Clarice Lispector is the author for you. From the Hour of the Star to Near the Wild Heart and The Passion According to G.H, her novels delve into identity, womanhood and existential questions, unfolding in a stream-of-consciousness prose often set on the streets of Rio de Janeiro. Reading her in Brazil, surrounded by the cultural rhythm that shaped her work, makes the experience even more vivid.
Image by Terence Connors
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For a safari story with heart, pack The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony, set on the Thula Thula reserve in KwaZulu-Natal. This true story follows Anthony as he takes in a traumatised herd of elephants and, against the odds, earns their trust. It provides an inspiring insight into the conservation efforts that protect these extraordinary animals. Moments that make you laugh and others that tug at the heart make this book a very worthwhile addition to your suitcase on a South Africa holiday.
Image by Olivier Romano
Header Image by Alixe Lay
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