How to prepare for your next holiday

Whether you seek adventure from the comfort of an armchair or the top of a mountain, great books can either help you get your travel fix or prepare you for that next big trip. Here are some new books that can help you get ready before you get going.

Discover Travel’s History

Human journeys arise from all manner of impulses, from migration and the search for food, to pilgrimages, trade and scientific curiosity, or simply the quest for adventure. Produced in association with the Smithsonian Institution, Journey, an illustrated account of human movement, travel, exploration and scientific discovery, tells the story of human travel, from the first trade networks in ancient Sumer to the epic Voyager missions. The book also features biographies of conquerors, explorers and travellers; stories of technological innovation; literary journals; and works of art. Themed spreads and feature panels capture the romance of travel with evocative accounts, archive images, historic maps and artefacts, while catalogue spreads add glamour and nostalgia, showcasing objects and documents associated with the rise of travel, such as postcards and passports.

Plan a Trip

For decades, bestselling DK Eyewitness Travel Guides have helped travellers experience the world through the history, art, architecture, and culture of their destinations. Expert travel writers and researchers provide independent editorial advice, recommendations and reviews on more than 200 destinations worldwide. Thousands of photographs, maps and custom illustrations bring each destination to life, while in-depth cultural and historical information ensures readers know the stories behind the sights. All city guidebooks include a pull-out map with a street index, transportation maps, and even more information on getting around your next vacation destination. To learn more, visit www.dk.com.

Learn About Animals

Bringing animals, habitats and up-to-date research to life for readers, Animal explores the creatures that fascinate and inspire humans, from intrepid Emperor penguins to fierce Siberian tigers, to the very intelligent and highly communicative humpback whale. Produced in association with the Smithsonian Institution, an updated edition features photos and descriptions of over 2,000 species and habitats, and introduces the olinguito, a recently discovered mammal that looks like a cross between a cat and a teddy bear, and the Skywalker gibbon, found in the tropical forests of Yunnan Province in southwest China and Myanmar.

Explore Nature

From the spectacular granite domes of Yosemite to the reefs of the Bahama Banks and the ice sheets of the Antarctic, “Natural Wonders of the World” surveys of the most beautiful natural treasures. Combining landscape photography and illustrations with three-dimensional terrain models and other explanatory artworks, the book reveals what lies beneath the surface and explains the geological processes to show how the features were formed. Plants and animals that inhabit each environment are also featured.