good travel documentaries netflix

23 Binge-worthy Travel Documentaries on Netflix (2024)

By: Author Tracy Collins

Posted on Last updated: April 14, 2024

If you enjoy watching travel shows (whether for inspiration or research) you are in for a treat with this selection of the best travel documentaries on Netflix in 202 4

This eclectic list of Netflix travel documentaries and series will take you across every continent to meet the people, cultures, history and geography, natural wonders and wildlife that make up our beautiful planet.

Chosen by travel bloggers this is a selection of the best travel documentaries available on Netflix around the world.

Please bear in mind that not all these shows may be available on Netflix in your location ! If you would like unrestricted access to 15 Netflix libraries around the world (including Germany/USA/UK) we recommend Surfshark VPN. You only need 1 subscription to cover every gadget in your house. Click here for more information about Surfshark

Taco Chronicles

With surfshark vpn you can, dark tourist, down to earth, grand tours of the scottish islands, expedition happiness.

• Chef's Table

Somebody Feed Phil

Extreme engagement.

• Joanna Lumley's India

Chasing Coral

Magical andes, cuba and the cameraman, jack whitehall travels with my father, restaurants on the edge, tales by light, christiane amanpour: sex & love around the world, the serpent, the dawn wall, my octopus teacher, anthony bourdain: parts unknown, street food series (latin america and asia), more tv shows & movies from countries around the world, 23 best travel documentaries on netflix.

If you didn’t love the idea of eating tacos in Mexico City already, Taco Chronicles will make sure you do! In fact, you’ll discover that there’s even more to authentic Mexican tacos than you ever knew about.

In Taco Chronicles, you’ll go on a taco journey to Mexico City and beyond, to discover the unique types of tacos eaten in Mexico’s various regions and states. The show does start off in Mexico City, with the king of Mexican tacos — the taco al pastor.

From Mexico City, enjoy a virtual Mexican culinary food tour to its neighbouring state of Hidalgo, home of barbacoa (BBQ) tacos. Beyond Central Mexico, this food and travel documentary takes you all over Mexico.

In subsequent episodes of this two-season show, you’ll discover cochinita pibil (slow-roasted suckling pig) tacos in the Yucatan Peninsula, fried fish tacos in Baja California state on the west coast, cabrito (goat) tacos in Northern Mexico, and more.

Places/countries featured – Mexico

Chosen by Shelley of Travel Mexico Solo

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Over recent years, the public’s fascination with dark tourism destinations has boomed. Sites such as Chernobyl and Auschwitz draw in thousands of tourists every year. With so many of the population sharing a fascination for dark history, it is no wonder that so many have tuned into Netflix’s ‘Dark Tourist. 

The show follows journalist David Farrier as he travels around hoping to experience the most macabre destinations that the world has to offer. Farrier’s quest to unearth the morbid takes him to several high profile dark tourism destinations, including the site of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, on a JFK assassination tour and he even witnesses an exorcism in Mexico City.  

Although Farrier sometimes comes across as a mediocre Louis Theroux, this thought-provoking travel show succeeds in its aim and transports you into the unknown. The result is an interesting series that explores the darker side of life (and death).

Chosen by Sheree   of Winging the World

In the Netflix series Down To Earth , actor Zac Efron and wellness author Darin Olien travel across the globe learning about the wellness and sustainability efforts being made in numerous destinations.

Each of the eight episodes focuses on a different location and aspect of sustainability or personal wellness.

In the first episode, you’ll learn all about harnessing the earth’s energy in Iceland. From there, travel to Paris to see their efforts to reduce bottled water impacts, learn about sustainability in Costa Rica, and nutrition in Sardinia.

Also included in the series are food education in Lima, post-hurricane sustainability in Puerto Rico, London pollution reduction efforts, and Iquitos wellness in the Peruvian Amazon.

In one of the most intriguing segments, they learn about tap water differences from a water sommelier. The series lends a glimpse into some beautiful destinations and what locals are doing to keep them beautiful for decades to come.

Chosen by Samantha of PAonPause.com

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Historian and film-maker Paul Murton brings you on a fascinating journey to many Scottish islands over four seasons. He meets with locals; finds hidden gems; and explores the rich, unique, and sometimes tragic history of each of the islands. 

You may be surprised to find yourself binge-watching this relaxing travel documentary series. You will get caught up in Murton’s contagious curiosity about its people and his great admiration for its beauty. Every episode is filled with stunning scenery. The high production quality and engaging soundtrack heighten the enjoyment of the show. Fans can follow this up with his three other Scottish travel series.  

Queue up, Grand Tours of the Scottish Islands to enjoy some dreamy armchair travel or to gain a deeper understanding of the islands as you plan your trip to Scotland .  

Places featured: Isle of Skye , Islands of Loch Lomond, Hebridean Islands, Orkney Islands, and many more

Contributed by Erica at Trip Scholars

Expedition Happiness is a home movie/travelogue that follows the story of a German couple as they give up their life in Germany to do an epic road trip in the Americas with their dog Rudi.

The couple, whose names are Selima and Felix, purchased a yellow school bus in Florida for 9500 USD. After working on it for three months, they transformed it into their “Loft on Wheel”, a comfortable, spacious, and well-equipped adventure bus. 

The itinerary was to start in Alaska near Denali National Park , drive all the way down to Central America, cross over to South America, and finish in Argentina.

On their adventure, they documented all the incredible landscapes they saw, the people they met, and more.

Whether they were able to finish their epic adventure or not, you will have to find out on Netflix! 

Chosen by Sean of Living out Lau

Chef’s Table

Even if you’re not a foodie but love to travel, be sure to watch Chef’s Table on Netflix. This documentary series features renowned Chefs from around the world who are creating inspired culinary experiences.

Now in its 6th season with 30 episodes, the series doesn’t just showcase a chef’s creations, but takes you on a journey through each of their personal stories that has led to their creativity.

World renowned chefs like Italy’s Massimo Bottura will inspire you with how he came from humble beginnings to being on the world culinary stage. But one chef in particular has inspired us to travel for her food — Chef Ana Rôs, owner of  Hiša Franko restaurant  in Kobarid, Slovenia. 

After initially pursuing a career track in business, she spent years honing her craft and experimenting with the local foods of her native Slovenia. Today, she is now one of the top chefs in the world, Hiša Franko is one of the 50 Best Restaurants in the World and newly Michelin-rated — and our dinner there on my birthday might possibly be the best meal of my life.

Watch the series and decide where your next culinary adventure will be.

Chosen by Lori of travlinmad.com

In “Somebody Feel Phil”, the creator of “Everybody Loves Raymond,” Phil Rosenthal, travels the world to indulge in the scrumptious local cuisine and to learn more about the culture of these destinations.

There are currently four seasons on Netflix and each episode features a different city around the world. This documentary does a great job of portraying local customs and traditions and viewers will feel like they’re actually in that city with the locals.

Phil has a childlike wonder to him when he’s learning about the different cultures and he answers basically any potential questions the viewers could have about the destination. One of the best parts about the documentary is watching Phil turn the strangers he meets into his family. 

Places featured – Bangkok, Saigon, Tel Aviv, Lisbon, New Orleans, Mexico City, Venice , Dublin, Buenos Aires, Copenhagen, Cape Town, New York City, Marrakesh, Chicago, London, Seoul, Montreal, Rio De Janeiro, San Francisco, Singapore, the Mississippi Delta, and Hawaii. 

Chosen by Disha of Disha Discovers

While most people get engaged and then begin planning their perfect wedding, Tim and PJ, stars of the Netflix show Extreme Engagement, do anything but that. Instead, Tim and PJ get engaged and then set out on a worldwide exploration of marital traditions around the world. 

The couple journeys to places such as Mongolia, Brazil, China, Nigeria, and Papua New Guinea facing challenging experiences along the way that has them questioning their relationship and each other. 

You get to see a glimpse inside the cross-cultural challenges associated with a new romance along with an interesting insight into how other cultures celebrate love and marriage. 

Chosen by Michelle Snell from That Texas Couple

International travellers Scott Wilson and Justin Lukach cross the world and push their limits on an expedition to find genuine, unforgettable experiences.

DEPARTURES is an international award-winning and inspiring television travel series that will take you on the journey of a lifetime and beyond. From epic landscapes to unforgettable culture, learn what it takes to make it all happen through personal successes, crushing disappointments and memorable new friendships that could only be made by travelling abroad.

With two episodes for every continent, DEPARTURES will arm and reassure your wanderlust with hours of riveting programming that captures the beauty, drama, wonder and humor of taking a leap abroad.

DEPARTURES covers every aspect of world travel, showing you exactly what to expect at destinations around the globe. From beaches in Bali and cruising in the South Pacific Islands, to trekking on Mt Kilimanjaro and sailing up icebergs off Greenland, DEPARTURES takes you straight into a location’s unique atmosphere… giving viewers insight into a whole new way of life.

Places featured – Nearly 30 countries around the world including Japan, New Zealand and Russia

Chosen by Casandra of Karpiak Caravan Adventure Family Travel

Joanna Lumley’s India

Joanna Lumley is a British actress probably most well-known for her role as the outrageous Patsy of Absolutely Fabulous. What is perhaps less known about her is that she was born in Kashmir, India, in 1946, and the descendent of British colonists in India going back to 1777.

Originally aired in 2017 with three episodes, Joanna Lumley’s India takes viewers on a personal trip across the country where she explores modern India and finds connections to members of her own family and the experience of being and speaking English in India .

Lumley has also hosted travel shows on Japan, the Silk Road, the Caribbean, and the Trans-Siberia express train.

Places featured:  Tamil Nadu, Sikkim, Gujarat, Mumbai, Ranthambhore National Park, Delhi, and Srinagar, Kashmir.

Chosen by Mariellen of Breathedreamgo

Chasing Coral is a fascinating documentary about the disappearance of coral around the world. In this chasing coral, a team of divers, researchers and photographers set out on an ocean adventure to document the bleaching of Coral in warming seas. This phenomenon is when corals lose their beautiful and vibrant colors to become white, dying shortly after. 

The point of this documentary is to show that the coral’s death is the result of climate change and the rise in temperatures that are absorbed by the oceans. 

The documentary takes us to some of the most beautiful destinations in the world such as the Florida Keys, Hawaii and the Bahamas. More than that, this documentary also shows the important damage climate change has done to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. 

I definitely recommend this documentary to anyone who wants to really understand the impact of human activity on the ocean’s ecosystem. 

Chosen by Camille from Everything Yoga Retreat

Magical Andes is one of the best travel documentaries on Netflix if you are looking to learn about the natural gems of South America. When searching amongst the 100’s of other documentaries you’ll find this particular docuseries created by Luis Ara and Alexandra Hardorf concentrates solely on the magical landscape of the Andes mountain range. 

This docuseries not only shows you all about the longest continental mountain range in the world, but talks about the wildlife, lakes, and forests, deserts, volcanoes, and other Mother Earth creations that exist in that region. 

Magical Andes focuses on truly stunning imagery and gives you a look into some of the  best places to visit in South America  that you simply wouldn’t see passing through in a car.

Places featured  – In season one, the Netflix documentary features spectacular views from Argentina and Chile. Then from the Aconcagua desert in Bolivia over to some of the more ancient cultures in Peru. The lush mountain of Colombia and Ecuador are also featured.

Chosen by Daniel of LayerCulture.com

If you’ve ever thought of visiting Cuba there are many Cuban movies and documentaries to help you to research your trip, but none are as epic as this one. 

Many people believe that Cuba is a country frozen in time, but this Netflix documentary features Jon Alpert’s travels to Cuba over a span of nearly five decades. 

And while the relationships between the United States and Cuba has been fragmented at times, he visited each time as an American journalist. It starts in 1970s, just over a decade since the Cuban revolution when the country was thriving. 

Instead of giving his perspective on Cuba, he interviews three families who share their own stories of every day life. He continues to visit Cuba to find these families to update their stories. Over the decades the political situation and relationship with the United States changes quite dramatically.

And while he also interviews Fidel Castro, most of the film is really about everyday Cubans and their highs and lows.

Chosen by Ayngelina of Baconismagic.ca

Jack Whitehall is a British comedian who attended private school and has a somewhat disjointed relationship with his father Michael because of this. Jack also never got to take a gap year before going to university so season one of Travels with my Father is all about Jack finally embarking on a traditional ‘gap year’ trip to Southeast Asia. The twist is he takes his father with him so they can strengthen their bond.

The series takes place in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam and highlights some of the gap year activities that can be done including full moon parties on the beach and visiting Angkor Wat. By the end of their travels, they reflect on what they have learned about each other and themselves.

The show continues in a similar fashion in the subsequent seasons where Michael takes Jack on a culture and history tour around Europe, Jack shows Michael everything the US has to offer, and both his mother and father join him for a road trip in Australia.

Chosen by Steph from Book It Let’s Go!

If you love travel, design and food, Restaurants on the Edge needs to be on your Netflix list. In each episode, the show highlights a restaurant in a stunning location. 

The restaurants get a makeover from a design expert and the menu often gets an upgrade from the show’s chef, the goal is to take struggling restaurants and make them sustainable for the business owners. 

There are currently two seasons of Restaurants on the Edge on Netflix, with locations throughout the world. 

In season one, you’ll be treated to beautiful ocean views in Malta, as well as stunning architecture. The views continue with a cliff side restaurant in Costa Rica. 

Season two will take you around the world again, with restaurants in Finland, St. Croix and Arizona. 

Not only is it fun to see the upgrades these restaurants go through, but it’s also inspiring to see the impact the changes have on each person’s life making this show a must-watch. 

Chosen by Alenis of seasaltandfog.com  

If you are a fan of Italy, Italian art and History, then watch the gorgeous and surprisingly brutal history of the famous Medici’s of Florence.

The Netflix show is so well done with gorgeous cinematography, beautiful costumes and stage settings. The show includes all the surrounding countryside and historic sites that document the Medici Family and their major influence on Florence, Venice, and even Rome (two popes were related to the Medici family).

It also showcases early Catholic power and greed. The Pope had absolute power and a religious mission that seemed corrupt whichever person was Pope and ruler. 

The Medici focus really hits the major sites of the city and also the start of the Renaissance period in Italy. The crowning of the main dome in the cathedral was a major achievement during this time frame and it was really fascinating to see how this was depicted and shown in development and the struggles of the Medici family to get this undertaking done.

Also, it was interesting to see how easy it was during that time frame to create wealth and also lose it depending on your affiliations and business relationships with the pope and other influential rulers of that time.

Watch the Medici’s on Netflix and if you visit Florence, you’ll gain a better understanding of the Medici fame and fortune in the area.

Chosen by Noel of Oahu Travel Now

Below Deck is a series of reality TV shows. Each show is set on a luxury yacht which is rented out by wealthy charter guests, but the real action is with the young yacht crew, or yachties, who serve them, the characterful captains who lead them and the stunning locations. The original Below Deck was so successful that it rapidly gained two spin offs, Below Deck Mediterranean and Below Deck Sailing Yacht.

The original Below Deck saw the crew sail around Sint Maarten in the Caribbean, followed by seasons in the British Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, the US Virgin Islands, Tahiti, Thailand and Antigua.

Below Deck Mediterranean’s locations have included Mykonos in the Greek Islands, Split and Cavtat in Croatia, the Amalfi Coast in Italy, the Cote d’Azur in the south of France and Mallorca in Spain’s Balearic Islands. Below Deck, Sailing Yacht has only had one series, set in Corfu.

Contributed by Helen of HelenOnHerHolidays.com

The documentary series “Tales by Light” follows renowned professional filmmakers and photographers as they visit worldwide destinations and capture fascinating content which highlights different features of the natural world. 

Every episode focuses on a different subject such as wildlife, the oceans, landscapes, adventure activities, or cultural practices and traditions. The distinct approaches of the featured photographers really help to bring the stories to life and this program presents many less well-known countries and regions in a compelling way using panoramic landscapes and stunning visuals. 

The first season explores multiple destinations per episode, with visits to Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Alaska and Colorado in the United States, Vanuatu, the Himalayas, Antarctica, Ethiopia and Uganda.

The second season covers Kenya, Norway, Brazil, the Bahamas, India and Namibia, and the third season highlights Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Australia.

This series presents a journey across the globe and is sure to inspire travellers who are looking for their next adventure.

Contributed by Claire from  Claire Pins Travel  

In this cultural travel show, CNN journalist Christiane Amanpour (who in the past has covered major stories from countries like  Iran , Rwanda, and Pakistan) travels to six different cities around the world to explore women’s love lives across multiple cultures. She talks to experts in the field as well as everyday people — revealing facts and details that give a very insightful glimpse into the culture and values of women around the world. 

Christiane is a natural at asking just the right questions and at shining a spotlight on the stories of the women in each city.

While this show focuses heavily on love and sex, viewers will get to learn a whole lot about the overall mentality and life approach of each country — making this a perfect travel show that fosters deeper cultural appreciation.

Places featured – Tokyo (Japan), Delhi (India), Beirut (Lebanon), Berlin (Germany), Accra (Ghana), Shanghai (China)

Chosen by Jiayi of The Diary of A Nomad

Released at the beginning of 2021, The Serpent is not a travel show in and of itself, but it will inevitably allure travelers into visiting the many places explored by the main characters.

Aired on Netflix, the series tells the real story of Charles Sobhraj, a French serial killer of Indian and Vietnamese origins who in the mid-1970s drugged, robbed and killed a large number of backpackers travelling between Thailand, India and Nepal. 

Sobhraj and his Quebecoise girlfriend Marie-Andrée Leclerc were finally identified as the authors of the crimes thanks to the work of Dutch diplomat Herman Knippenberg, who, albeit the many reservations of the Dutch ambassador to Thailand, set to investigate the disappearance of a Dutch couple and through a series of lead eventually managed to uncover the culprits.

Places featured: Over the course of 8 episodes you will be taken to Bangkok, the coast of Thailand, the peaks of Nepal, the streets of several Indian cities and even to Paris .

Chosen by Claudia Tavani of My Adventures Across The World

When Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson free climbed the Great Wall of the El Capitan rock face in the Yosemite National Park in 2018, the news spread like wildfire.

Dawn Wall is a US documentary about this story of perseverance and adventure.

Cameras follow these legendary free climbers as they undertake this nearly impossible task. It took Cadwell 7 years to reach the goal and we are given a detailed look into the events that led to this decision and the struggles that were involved throughout the journey.

There’s one constant theme that runs throughout the story and that is the strength of the human spirit.

This captivating documentary with great visuals should not be missed. The documentary is in English, but subtitles are available in different languages that include Spanish, French, and Chinese. 

Places featured : Yosemite National Park

Chosen by Rai from A Rai of Light

My Octopus Teacher is an award-winning and very heart-touching documentary on Netflix that covers how a filmmaker spent a year trying to capture a wild octopus on camera and also form a friendship with it. 

For about a year, Craig Foster films a wild octopus he came across while trying out free-diving through an underwater kelp forest in South Africa.

Over the period, Craig and the octopus develop a bond with the octopus almost showing Craig around and not being uninhibited by his presence as he follows it.

Craig watches as it protects itself, loses an arm to an attack and then regrows it too. At the end of the documentary, the octopus naturally passes away after mating and trying to protect its eggs. 

Filmed entirely near Cape Peninsula in South Africa, this beautiful documentary is not to be missed as it covers an offbeat relationship between man and nature. 

Places featured – A kelp forest off False Bay near Simon’s Town in South Africa

Chosen by Lavinia of Continent Hop

For the foodies of the world, who travel the world, and are strident realists about the world, “Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown” is an absolute must-watch.

Rugged, painfully honest, internationally renowned chef Anthony Bourdain travelled the globe in search of authentic food, people and life experiences. With no time for nonsense and all the time in the world for simple food done to perfection, he takes the viewer to eating establishments from tiny street food stalls to the finest of fine dining.

In his search for amazing food in amazing places, he guides you from the brutality of the Bornean jungle to the madness of Seoul’s foodie nightlife and the pure joy of a perfectly cooked steak in an Argentinian steakhouse accompanied by a glass of locally bottled Malbec. 

Parts Unknown leaves you an appetite for dinner and a bigger one for travel. Wanderlust is baked into every episode.

Chosen by Rosie of the Flying Fluskeys

The Street Food series is one for foodie lovers around the world to enjoy! Each episode follows the story of a local chef and how they started their now-famous street food shops.

From family restaurants to cultural fusions, you learn about a destination through food from the people who make it possible.

Volume one takes place in various Asian destinations, such as Bangkok (Thailand), Singapore, Delhi (India), Seoul (South Korea), and others.

The second volume takes place in Latin America, highlighting food in Salvador (Brazil), Bogota (Colombia), Lima (Peru), Oaxaca (Mexico), and more.

It is a delicious docuseries that will keep you salivating and also inspire you to understand how food and travel are one. Street Food will also encourage you to get out of your comfort zone if you normally avoid street food!

It is the ideal blend of travel and food for everyone to indulge in from home.

Chosen by Sojourner of Sojournies.com

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Second-Half Travels

Adventures of a Fifty-Something Cubicle Escapee

13 Best Travel Documentaries on Netflix (2023)

These Netflix documentaries about travel will pacify your wanderlust between trips as you explore the world from the comfort of your couch.

Here are some of the best travel documentaries on Netflix in the US as of July 24, 2023. Many are also available in other countries. Watch them while you can, because content disappears as licensing agreements expire.

Also, don’t miss the bonus list of travel documentaries on Amazon Prime below.

Table of Contents

Netflix Travel Documentaries

1. dark tourist.

Netflix meets Vice in this travelogue by New Zealand filmmaker David Farrier, who sets his sights on the world of dark tourism.

From a nuclear lake to a haunted forest, he visits macabre — and sometimes dangerous — tourist destinations around the world.

Countries : Various

2. Street Food: Latin America

Experiencing street food culture is one of the joys of travel. This mouth-watering docuseries travels to Latin America to meet the local stars of street food.

Countries : Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Peru, and Bolivia

3. Street Food: Asia

This inspiring series from the makers of Chef’s Table is as much about the compelling survival stories of these talented street chefs as it is about their signature dishes.

The first season takes the viewer to nine Asian destinations.

Countries : Thailand, Japan, India, Indonesia, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, the Philippines, and Vietnam

4. Pedal the World

Over the course of one memorable and adventure-filled year, German-born Felix Starck documents his 18,000-kilometer bicycle journey across 22 countries.

The Oscar-nominated heart-rending true story of the rangers risking their lives to save Africa’s most precious national park and its endangered gorillas.

Country: Congo

6. Chef’s Table

Each episode of this Emmy-nominated docuseries visits a different international location for an in-depth interview with one of the world’s most renowned chefs.

Creator David Gelb also directed the critically acclaimed Jiro Dreams of Sushi , and the two productions share a similar emotional and artistic sensibility hallmarked by compelling narratives and mesmerizingly beautiful cinematography.

7. Magical Andes

No English subtitles available for trailer – but you don’t need them to admire the stunning photography

From Argentina to Colombia, this inspiring documentary follows five characters who share their deep connection to South America’s majestic mountains.

Countries: Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia

8. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Chef David Chang brings his trademark irreverent humor and curiosity to Vancouver, Marrakech, Los Angeles, and Phnom Penh as he explores the culture and food accompanied by various celebrity guests.

Countries : Canada, Morocco, US, Cambodia

9. The Trader (Sovdagari)

At only 23 minutes, this award-winning documentary short provides a fascinating and poignant window into impoverished rural life in post-Soviet Georgia.

The camera follows a traveling trader as he sells secondhand goods in exchange for potatoes. Beautiful cinematography that captures the stark Georgian landscape.

Country: Georgia

10. Ugly Delicious

Smart-ass chef David Chang leads his buddies on a mouthwatering, cross-cultural hunt for the world’s most satisfying grub.

Each episode of this highly original show tackles a topic like tacos, pizza, or dumplings, examining its cultural and culinary history and visiting different countries to compare how it’s made.

Warning: Chang can be obnoxious, and racial and political commentary is liberally sprinkled throughout the show, which may not be to everyone’s taste.

11. Period. End of Sentence.

This Oscar-winning documentary short takes us to rural India, where local women fight the stigma surrounding menstruation by manufacturing low-cost sanitary pads.

Country: India

12. Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat

Based on Samin Nosrat’s best-selling book, this visually stunning series travels to the home kitchens of Italy, the southern islands of Japan, the heat of the Yucatán, and to Berkeley’s Chez Panisse.

Samin’s contagious laugh and genuine passion for cooking inspire as she explores the central principles of what makes food delicious.

Countries: Italy, Japan, Mexico, United States

13. Taco Chronicles

Note: No English subtitles available for YouTube trailer; click to watch subtitled trailer on Netflix Warning: Don’t watch if you’re hungry. Explore the complex histories of the world’s most beloved tacos in this love letter to the iconic handheld food.

Country : Mexico

Travel Documentaries on Amazon Prime

See below for some of the best travel documentaries on Amazon Prime Video. I’ve indicated whether each is free to Prime members or available for rental.

Note that these films may also be found at your local library.

A Map for Saturday

Classic travel documentary that follows a variety of solo budget travelers — from teens to seniors — through 26 countries on four continents.

Young filmmaker Brook Silva-Braga trains his inquisitive lens on backpackers lending a hand to tsunami victims, trekkers forming brief but intense relationships, and fascinating moments of self-discovery and adventure.

Available for rental on Amazon Prime .

This inspiring documentary follows the record-breaking round-the-world voyage of Dutch teen Laura Dekker, youngest person ever to sail around the world alone.

Available for free to Prime members on Amazon Prime.

This beautifully filmed docu follows adventurer Jeff Johnson as he retraces the epic 1968 journey to Patagonia of his heroes Yvon Chouinard and Doug Tompkins, legendary founders of The North Face and Patagonia sportswear and pioneering conservationists.

Along the way Johnson gets shipwrecked off Easter Island, surfs the longest wave of his life, and attempts to climb a Patagonian peak.

Available for free to Prime members on Amazon Prime .

Countries: Mexico, Chile

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About Ingrid

Ingrid left software engineering at age 43 to devote herself to language learning and travel. Her goal is to speak seven languages fluently. Currently, she speaks English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, and French, and is studying Italian.

Reader Interactions

July 5, 2018 at 3:56 pm

Definitely going to start ploughing my way through some of these before I head off next!! 🙂

July 5, 2018 at 10:38 pm

Definitely… Netflix travel shows provide some of my best inspiration! 😉

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72 Dangerous Places to Live, Dark Tourist, and more: Sate your wanderlust with the best travel shows and documentaries on Netflix

You'll love these amazing travel documentaries.

Traveling is something that many people wish they could do more of. Whether you lack the time, money, or know-how to travel the world, though, it can be comforting to watch others do it from the comfort of your couch. A great travel show or documentary can be a wonderful escape and a reminder that the world is much bigger than the tiny slice of it you live in every day. What’s even better is that many great travel documentaries on Netflix, if you’re willing to go looking for them.

These documentaries will deliver stunning panoramic shots of the U.S. National Parks , as well as plenty of international wonders, and a little bit of good food as well. If you like all kinds of docs, travel or not, we’ve got you covered with Netflix documentaries (or maybe you’re just really into crime docs and action flicks). We also have an overall guide on the best Netflix movies and the best Netflix shows .

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Have you ever found yourself looking through all the movies on Netflix, only to find that actually choosing one to watch is very taxing? That's not even mentioning all the Netflix shows to dig through. If you know you're looking for a particular kind of movie, that can help, but even then, there can be too many movies to choose from. Luckily, we've been watching tons of great sci-fi movies and have already determined which ones rise to the top of the pile on Netflix. So if you're looking for the best sci-fi movies on Netflix this year, you've come to the right place. If you're looking for Netflix movies that will keep you occupied for a whole weekend or an evening, you can also check out our list of the best sci-fi series on Netflix right now.

What is the definition of an action movie? Can there even really be a complete explanation of the genre? Some feature the kinds of stunts that no mere mortal would ever dare to attempt, while others attempt to be more grounded. Still, others have outlandish premises that take us to new, far-off worlds. It's a genre that contains multitudes, but what makes an action movie great is its ability to thrill and captivate its audience. Over the course of its history as a streaming service, Netflix has been home to a number of great action titles. Some are funny, and others are deadly serious. The only thing we know for sure, though, is that the best action movies on Netflix are sure to please. We've also rounded up some of the best action movies on Amazon Prime worth watching if you've seen all these, as well as a few great action movies available on Hulu. Looking for even more films to stream online? We've found the all-around best Netflix movies, Amazon Prime movies, Disney Plus movies, and movies on Hulu to watch this month.

Uncharted (2022)

Japanese anime and the many Western series that were influenced by the genre continue to get more and more popular. As they do, every streaming site is eager to lockdown plenty of exclusive anime titles that will draw fans of the format to their services. Netflix has long had a stockpile of great action movies, but it turns out that the streamer also has a pretty excellent library of anime series as well, which is in addition to their great animated shows. The best anime on Netflix draw from a wide array of influences, but should give every fan of the form something to chew on.

While there are plenty of great action series on this list, anime is home to a wide array of different kinds of stories, and all of those stories are represented in one form or another on this list. Netflix is even moving into adapting some of these anime into live-action, although opinions are mixed on whether that strategy is going to work out. Whatever you think about that venture, though, this list is full of Netflix anime titles that are sure to make every anime fan happy.

14 Amazing Travel Documentaries on Netflix

Looking for something new to watch on Netflix? Make it a movie that’ll take you places. To help you pick the right flick, we gathered the best travel documentaries on Netflix to date. (By gathered, we mean painstakingly watched through and vetted every movie that popped up after searching "travel documentary.") There were some bad ones, some meh ones, and a handful we’d recommend to friends. They may not all be award-winners, but these Netflix travel movies still entertain, educate, and inspire.

Under An Arctic Sky

Adventure photographer Chris Burkard and a crew of passionate surfers battle the elements in pursuit of the perfect wave in the Westfjords of northern Iceland, an unrelenting frontier few surfers or locals dare to visit. Stunning high-tech photography will make you wish you had the guts to follow in their footsteps.

Jiro Dreams of Sushi

An engrossing profile of Jiro Ono, the nonagenarian sushi master behind Sukiyabashi Jiro, a legendary, ten-seat, $300-a-plate restaurant located in a Tokyo subway. No, you don’t need to love sushi to love this movie.

In Search of Israeli Cuisine

What exactly is Israeli food? Michael Solomonov, the chef behind Zahav in Philadelphia, journeys through the Holy Land in search of an answer — tapping cooks, vintners, and writers along the way.

Planet Earth II

Plug in, get comfortable, and prepare to be spellbound by footage of Earth, her ecosystems, and all her wondrous inhabitants. Sir David Attenborough’s voice and high-definition visuals will take you places you can only dream of. 

The Endless Summer

In 1966, two top surfers ride the wild waters of Hawaii, Australia, and Africa in search of the perfect wave.

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Abstract: Ilse Crawford

A deep dive inside the life and career of interior designer Ilse Crawford (a Fathom favorite), whose work includes luxury hotels Ett Hem and Soho House New York and Cathay Pacific first class airport lounge at Hong Kong International Airport. (It's the first episode of season 1.)

Fire at Sea

Nominated for an Academy Award in 2017, Fire at Sea is a moving, urgent portrait of life on the Mediterranean island of Lampedusa, where hundreds of thousands of shipwrecked migrants have sought refuge on their way to the European mainland. The Italian film is masterfully shot, casting the migrant crisis in a new light.

Colombia: Wild Magic

This captivating tour of Colombia, the world’s second-most biologically diverse country, showcases its many enchanting landscapes and extraordinary species while calling attention to some of the challenges facing these fragile ecosystems. Bonus: It features what is sure to be the greatest hummingbird fight scene ever.

On Yoga: An Architecture for Peace

Photographer and portraitist Michael O’Neill’s experience with yoga, spurred by a deliberating arm injury, sets the stage for a beautifully shot exposition on the spiritual practice and its philosophical underpinnings. Photographs from his book of the same name accompany interviews of Eastern and Western truth seekers weighing in on all matters of consciousness. Though not the most comprehensive yoga documentary out there, the visuals will tempt you to run away to an ashram in India.

Born in China

Voiced by actor John Krasinski, the nature documentary tells the story of three animal families (pandas, golden monkeys, and snow leopards) living in the wilds of China. This one will pull at the heart strings, but is family-friendly and worth watching for glimpses at China’s elusive animals and extreme environments.

Join the Fathom community and get our expert guide to becoming a better traveler. Sign up here .

Happy People: A Year in the Taiga

Co-directed by acclaimed filmmaker Werner Herzog, the film follows four seasons in the life of a fur trapper from Bakhtia, a ramshackle Siberian village on the river Yenisei accessible only by helicopter and boat. Out on the unforgiving expanse of the Russian taiga, locals battle on like they have for centuries, with no phones, running water, or medical aid. It’s a look inside a society most people will never visit.

Carnivores will appreciate this documentary about the art of roasting meat, which explores the role barbecue plays in the lives of cooks, restaurant owners, and local culture in twelve countries around the world, including South Africa, Japan, Armenia, and the boarder of Syria and Jordan.

The Birth of Sake

With a focus on the famous Yoshida Brewery, the documentary sheds light on the labor, intuition, and meticulous detail that goes into hand-making sake. If you love sake, you'll geek out over lessons on the familial importance of sake breweries and scenes showcasing the ritualism of the process.

Surf legends Daize and Aaimon Goodwin travel the world with their two young children in tow, embracing traditions from people they meet along the way and gaining a deeper understanding of their own family legacy. The movie will tempt you to sell your belongings and hit the road, but if you’re immune to that kind of charm, it’s still worth watching for the narration alone, done entirely by their impossibly adorable toddler.

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We make every effort to ensure the information in our articles is accurate at the time of publication. But the world moves fast, and even we double-check important details before hitting the road.

The 10 Best Travel Documentaries on Netflix

Here are the best travel documentaries on Netflix, allowing you to see the world from the comfort of your own couch.

Maybe you've caught the travel bug. Maybe you have returned home from a big trip abroad and are wondering where to go next. Or maybe you're an aspirational traveler who partakes in wanderlust from the comfort of your own sofa.

No matter what your motivations are, Netflix has you covered. In this article we list the best travel documentaries you can watch on Netflix right now. All of which are guaranteed to make you long for a week (or two) experiencing new sights and sounds.

1. Expedition Happiness

What is life’s purpose ? To be happy, sure, but how? In Expedition Happiness, a couple tries to find out. What is happiness after all? Is happiness a wedding? A loft overlooking a great view of the city’s chaos? A monotonous routine just to maintain a healthy bank balance?

After all, what is the point of living if you do not break the routine. Sit back and stream the Alaskan mountains to the Mexican beaches with the "Loft on Wheels" created by Mogli and Felix with their dog Rudi. Let your soul travel as these three try to figure out what happiness is.

Get to know the ups and downs of executing a moving residence, and to turn an old school bus into happiness.

If you love this one, you might also like these nature documentaries .

2. Street Food

Combining travel with food, this documentary series from the creators of Chef's table will probably leave you hungry after a few episodes. The first season concentrates on Asia, visiting Bangkok, Osaka, and Seoul, among other destinations.

The theme tying all of these locales together is, as you probably guessed from the name, the street food you can find there. While the focus is often on the food itself, the show also focuses on the local heroes who create it.

3. Somebody Feed Phil

This is hands down the most fun you'll have watching a food and travel documentary. The way that Phil approaches new food, new places, and new people is a breath of fresh air.

He’ll take you to places you never thought of. Places you’ll end up adding to your bucket list. After watching this I ended up adding to my list: coffee in Vietnam, vegetarian food in Israel, dragon fruit in Thailand, and hot dogs in Copenhagen, to name a few.

As Phil says, "If you like a dish, go to the source." Get delighted, get amused, get amazed and definitely get hungry while somebody feeds Phil.

4. Dark Tourist

Not all of the best travel documentaries have to be about the beautiful and the serene. If you’re in the market for a slightly twisted travel story, Dark Tourist is for you. David Farrier, a New Zealand based filmmaker and journalist travels around the world looking for unusual and often morbid tourist spots across the world.

This documentary explores a new phenomenon called dark tourism. This is where tourists intentionally travel to places associated with death and destruction. A war-torn country? Sure. A dangerous border crossing? Why not. A quick trip around radioactive environments? Don’t mind if I do.

5. National Parks Adventure

The US National Parks Service is more than 100 years old. That’s more than a century of protecting natural wildernesses in the United States.

This breathtaking documentary by filmmaker Greg MacGillivray will make you want to go visit a national park right away. Between the beautiful montages is a story of three artists as they revisit Roosevelt and Muir's camping trip, where the Parks Service began.

6. Pedal the World

Some titles are artistic, hinting at a deeper meaning. Others are starkly literal. Pedal the World belongs in the second group. Why? This is a documentary following one man's trip around the world by bicycle.

That man is Felix Starck, who also happens to be the director of Expedition Happiness. If you enjoyed that documentary, you'll likely enjoy this one as well. Keep in mind that this is an earlier effort, so it may be a little rough around the edges compared to the newer movie.

This is a must watch for bicycle enthusiasts and anyone obsessed with world travel.

7. Jack Whitehall: Travels With My Father

Father-son bonding is a different experience for everyone. When comedian Jack Whitehall was young, he and his father Michael never really bonded.

Now, Whitehall wants to bring that spark back by taking a gap year and traveling with his father. Watch as this comedian trades the stand-up stage (see the best stand-up comedy specials on Netflix ) for a tuk-tuk in Thailand.

What better way to spend time with your parent than by going on a trip. But what happens when you have a slightly grumpy father and you are the overly energetic one? Quite a blast, actually, Watch as this father-son team gets into accidents, goes to odd places, and attempts to open up to one another.

8. Paul Hollywood’s Big Continental Road Trip

For most people, where you travel is the important part. For others, it's how you get there that matters. Car enthusiasts definitely fall into the latter group. If you count yourself among them, Paul Hollywood's Big Continental Road Trip should be next up in your Netflix queue.

This documentary follows the actor, baker, and part-time racing driver across a large swathe of Europe. The series sees Hollywood visit Italy, Germany, and France. In each hour-long episode, he chronicles the cars and culture of a given country.

If you're a fan of cars as well as the Great British Baking Show, don't miss this one.

9. Mountain

Feeling contemplative? Are you looking for a documentary that features breathtaking locations but takes a slower, more meditative approach? Mountain could be exactly what you're looking for.

Directed and produced by Jennifer Peedom, Mountain explores peaks around the world. Willem Dafoe narrates the film, occasionally reading passages from Robert Macfarlane's Mountains of the Mind.

Much like that book, the film examines the human fascination with mountains. Even if you never visit a mountain in your life, this film will give you a greater appreciation of them.

10. Night on Earth

Whether you're a night owl or you're afraid of the dark, night can a fascinating time. Night on Earth is a documentary in the style of Planet Earth that focuses on what happens at night across the world. Thanks to new camera technology, this is the best look at night you've probably ever seen.

Each episode has its own focus. The first episode follows predators and their prey, while other episodes touch on nighttime in the ocean or even cities. One episode even takes you behind the scenes to see how the crew captures such amazing footage.

Keep Going With Food Documentaries on Netflix

Travel and food often go hand in hand. But what if you're more of a foodie than a traveler? Now that you know about the best travel documentaries to watch on Netflix why not check out the best documentaries about food .

Want more? Here's how to find the best documentaries online .

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12 Best Netflix Travel Documentaries & Shows to Watch

If you are looking for a new travel documentary to watch , then you should check out these 12 highly rated Netflix travel documentaries. Each has its unique twist on travel destinations allowing you to discover the natural beauty and diversity on earth.

You will get to know incredible individuals & solo travelers who are dedicated to their dreams, have an adventure in their blood and want to make this planet a better place to live.

Each show will entertain you, but some will challenge you to dig deep inside yourself for answers about what makes life worth living. Traveling through the stories of others is a great way to visit when you cannot physically go to the locations yourself, especially now during and isolation and corona times.

Losing Sight of Shore

7.4/10 on IMDb   | 1h 31 minutes

This documentary chronicles the story of the four-women crew who set a world record by 8,446 miles across the Pacific from America to Australia.

The journey that occurred in three stages does not have the same women throughout the entire trip with women leaving and others joining in Hawaii and Samoa. A small camera on their boat records the journey and the women’s reaction to it.

You will feel the woman’s dire straits at times as they each take turns rowing the boat regardless of how they feel about their situation at the moment. Even when they are sick, tired, thirsty, or hungry, they know that they must take their turn.

Many of the most powerful moments of this documentary show the women standing in front of the camera and sharing what is on their hearts through days of victory and days of utter defeat.

Somebody Feed Phil

8.1/10 on IMDb | 12 episodes

Explore diverse locations around the world to explore local cuisine and the various stories behind those creations. Host Phil Rosenthal has real respect for the people that he encounters along the way, like the people serving crawfish in New Orleans, Lisbon chefs preparing pasteis de nata, and ribs in Buenos Aries. While some of the food is not what appears on most Western dinner tables, Phil approaches each with a willingness to try new things.

Along the way, you will experience Phil’s great sense of humor that you may already be familiar with from his work on The Simpsons, Everybody Loves Raymond, and other popular televisions shows. If you are a foodie, then this documentary is must-watch television.

Everyone is likely to love the humor that is found in this documentary, and the people that you will meet along Phil’s travels.

Dark Tourist

7.6/10 on IMDb | 70% on Rotten Tomatoes | 8 episodes

Each of the documentaries in the Dark Tourist series is loosely tied together in one geographical area. Host David Farrier takes you to little known locations that have an unusual twist.

For example, in Japan , you will be taken to swim in a lake formed by a nuclear explosion. This documentary keeps things moving at a rapid pace because you only visit each location for about 15 minutes. Farrier, who broke into the documentary scene with Tickled, adds his unique sense of humor to each episode.

Many of the episodes will leave you thinking about questions posed about what ties people together as humans. You are likely to love the news documentary style that journalist David Farrier brings to many locations around the world that are probably not on your travel itinerary at the moment.

Conan Without Borders

7.7/10 on IMDb | 6 episodes (Kuba, Korea, Mexico, Israel, Haiti, Italy)

Travel with late-night host Conan O’Brien as he visits diverse locations around the world, like Cuba, Mexico, Haiti, Germany, and Italy. While the first couple of episodes in this travel documentary contain a lot of Conan’s humor, the rest are very orientated to helping you explore what makes each destination unique.

This lighthearted travel documentary will keep you entertained as Conan participates in different cultural activities. As Conan laughs at himself, you are very likely to experience your happy memories.

The Dawn Wall

8.1/10 on IMDb | 100% on Rotten Tomatoes | 1h 40 minutes

This fantastic story chronicles the friendship of climbers Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson as they attempt to scale the 3,000-foot Dawn Wall in Yosemite National Park. While this story was widely covered in the media, this documentary takes you behind the scenes as the pair spends weeks climbing the sheer wall that has never been climbed before.

You may find yourself challenged by this documentary just like Caldwell is as the duo nears the end of their climb by the challenge of meeting their goal or by friendship as near disaster strikes the climb that they took over six years to plan.

This travel documentary that is also an excellent sports documentary has a broken love story, obsession, friendship, and dedication to meet a goal. Watch to see the thrilling ending of this documentary that will make you wonder if this story is real or Hollywood make-believe.

Pedal The World

5.1/10 on IMDb | 1h 24 minutes

Join Felix Starck’s 365-day bike ride across 22 countries when you watch this documentary. The cinematography in this travel documentary is breathtaking as you see a very-well edited, vacation-like photos from each location.

You will experience the struggles of riding in a hard rain, dealing with a broken bike spoke and other frustrations of attempting this journey lasting almost 5,000 miles on three different continents. If you love seeing beautiful scenery without needing to follow an emotional storyline, then this documentary is for you.

Along the way, you may find yourself cheering at the high points and getting depressed at the low ones. In the end, John receives the gift of realizing the most critical thing in the world is found right in his own neighborhood.

7.2/10 on IMDb | 87% on Rotten Tomatoes | 1h 13 minutes

Director Jennifer Peedom takes you soaring to new heights around the world, without disclosing the exact destination, to show you life on the highest peaks on earth. Mountain climber Renan Ozturk, who you may already be familiar with from Meru and the Last Honey Hunter, shoots most of the footage in this travel documentary that opens near the summit of El Potrero Chico in Mexico.

You will find yourself challenged to examine the role that consumerism plays in the lives of people living in remote mountain communities and on the landscape itself. This documentary set to classical music is loosely based on Robert Macfarlane’s book Mountains of the Mind. Without being preachy, you may come away from this travel documentary, wondering what your travel footprint should be and if you need to change the way that you travel.

Expedition Happiness

5.9/10 on IMDb | 1h 36 minutes

Join Felix Starck, his musician girlfriend, and their Bernese mountain dog as they travel from Alaska to Mexico on their converted school bus following the Pacific Coast Highway for much of their trip. You will be thrilled by the soundtrack on this travel documentary as most of it was written by the girlfriend as she saw the beautiful scenery along the way.

After watching this travel documentary, you may even find yourself challenged to create an art project based on the fantastic scenery in this show. As the young couple from Germany experience frustrations with the bus breaking down and other travel problems, you will love this couple’s optimistic outlook on life along with the way that they think outside the box to solve issues, and you will find inspiration to face challenges confronting you. Chances are extreme, you will come away from watching this show with a more optimistic attitude and ready to make the world a better place.

Street Food – WARNING: you’ll get hungry! 😀

8.0/10 on IMDb | 100% on Rotten Tomatoes | Asia (9 episodes) + Latin America (coming soon)

Celebrate street foods from around the world along with the people who prepare and sell them by watching this travel documentary.

You will visit diverse locations from around the world and meet people who will inspire you. For instance, in this travel documentary’s first episode, you will be introduced to Bangkok’s Jay Fai who lost everything in a fire, so she taught herself to cook to raise money to meet her needs.

In the process, Jay Fai becomes a Michelin-star chef. This is just one of the many people you will encounter when you watch this travel documentary series. As you watch this documentary, you may find new inspiration to overcome issues in your own life and accomplish goals that you may currently see as unrealistic.

The Kindness Diaries

8.1/10 on IMDb | 13 episodes

Leon Logothetis travels around the world on a motorbike or in a Volkswagen Beetle connecting with real people in diverse locations. He relies on others for shelter, gas, and other needs. The only rule is that he cannot accept money.

In exchange, he lets them tell their stories, and you are privileged to watch them in this heartwarming travel documentary. In exchange for the kindness that others have shown him, Leon, who is a former stockbroker, has spent over $200,000 of his own money on doing kind deeds, including building a school in Peru, feeding stray dogs in Ecuador, and feeding orphans in Costa Rica.

National Parks Adventure

7.0/10 on IMDb | 100% on Rotten Tomatoes  | 42 minutes

Written by Robert Redford, journey along with mountaineer Conrad Anker, photographer Max Lowe and artist Rachel Pohl as they explore America’s national parks. See scenes from Yellowstone, Yosemite, Glacier National Park, Redwood National Park, the Everglades, and Arches National Park.

Breathtaking scenery is found in each of these documentaries, but you will also find yourself challenged to consider the importance of protecting natural environments in the 21st century.

Produced as the national parks celebrated their 100 birthday, this documentary is like a gift from Redford to American citizens who may never get to see the immense beauty of these parks for themselves.

The Last Shaman

6.8/10 on IMDb | 40% on Rotten Tomatoes  | 1h 22 minutes

Watch trailer on FB

This travel documentary opens with a depressed John Freeman wandering Phillips College’s campus feeling like life is not worth living. He is despondent that life seems to have no meaning, except for the pursuit of money.

He gives himself 12 months to travel to the Amazon jungle to seek out the meaning of life. While John hopes to find the healing effects of the ayahuasca plant, he discovers that money drives many who have access to the plant. He finally gets the plant from a shaman who is shunned by an NGO that plans to sell the ayahuasca plant.

Since we can not travel, let’s watch these Netflix travel documentaries, and enjoy exploring the world virtually. Find yourself challenged in many of your beliefs while seeing immense beauty. Meet people from around the world and hear their incredible stories of hard work and determination. After watching these 12 travel documentaries, do not be surprised if your life is changed in a good way forever, even if you never leave your couch.

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Hidden Gems Of Netflix — Travel Documentaries You Need To Watch

Here are some of the best travel documentaries on netflix to binge-watch right now. enjoy some virtual travels during this quarantine period..

By: Akriti Sharma Published: Jun 17, 2021 07:00 AM IST

In times like these, there’s nothing better than dreaming about our next adventure to escape the monotony of staying put—no matter how incredibly hard the travel bug has bitten us! That’s why we have made a list of outstanding travel documentaries that you can binge-watch on Netflix and travel virtually . By Akriti Sharma

The best travel documentaries on Netflix to watch –

Magical andes (2021).

Magical Andes is akin to taking a virtual trip to South America’s majestic Andes mountains. This six-part docu-series exhibits the region’s landscape and the ever-changing lives of people residing there. This human-centric Spanish travel documentary features unique stories of five characters who share a deep love for nature and mountains.

Watch here.

Moving Art (2018)

In this movie, ace filmmaker Louie Schwartzberg has captured phenomenal shots while travelling through forests, oceans, deserts and untrodden spots of New Zealand, Tahiti, Machu Pichu, Hokkaido, Koh Samui, Iceland and Marques Islands. The breathtaking imagery, paired with a soothing background score and time-lapses, focuses on different locations and weaves together mini-stories of peace and tranquillity.

ALSO READ: The best Indian food shows on Netflix

Paul Hollywood’s Big Continental Road Trip (2017)

Master baker Paul Hollywood embarks on a road trip across European countries while driving supercars like Aston Martin, and meeting local celebrities, car experts and motorists on his way. This fun travel documentary series is all about cars and gorgeous vistas coupled with spectacular cinematography of European landscapes— making it an ideal watch for foodies, travel and automobile enthusiasts.

Expedition Happiness (2017)

Expedition Happiness is a travelogue created by a German couple—Felix Starck, an accomplished filmmaker; and Mogli (aka Selima Taibi), a talented singer-songwriter—who refurbished an old school bus to make a tiny home and embarked on an epic road trip across North America with their dog, Rudy. The trio planned the ultimate adventure, travelling across Canada and the States while keeping it real—be it border problems, visa issues, awful roads or other difficulties.

Untamed Romania (2018)

Untamed Romania is a fuss-free and pleasant-to-watch series about wild spots in the European country. The travel documentary educates people about wildlife in one of Europe’s largest natural habitats. The series spans across desolate mountains, stunning landscapes, and the vast wilderness which surrounds the fairytale-like Danube River.

Tales by Light (2015-2018)

Travel docu-series, Tales by Light, is filled with moving portraits, panoramic imagery, soulful music and philosophical narration in pursuit of exploring the natural world through various photographers and filmmakers. It has unseen footage from unique angles, making it a series ahead of its time. The series was filmed in 6k and 4k and is available to watch in 4K.

Pedal the World (2015)

Pedal the World is a story of a young millennial who sets out to explore the world on an epic 18,000 kilometres bicycle journey across 22 countries in one adventure-filled year. The German -born amateur filmmaker and editor, Felix Starck relies on a vlog-style personal journey filled with extreme circumstances and inspires people to follow their wanderlust as well.

Dark Tourist (2018)

Dark Tourist is a one-of-a-kind travel series. Presented by journalist David Ferrier, the show explores dark tourism as he travels to some ‘shady’ corners of the world, often messing things up which in turn leads to dramatic consequences. The series is a wild ride that depicts bizarre tourist traps and unsociable things. Paired with Farrier’s amusing narration, it serves as a nice contrast to the inexplicable situations he often finds himself in.

Jack Whitehall: Travels with my Father (2020)

This British reality series stars English comedian Jack Whitehall and his father going on a vacation together. The storyline depicts a valiant journey with season one highlighting treks across Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand). The series shows Jack Whitehall in his element with his British humour and quick-witted comments making it a light-hearted travelogue.

Editor’s Note: Keeping the current situation of the pandemic in mind, T+L India recommends every reader to stay safe and take all government-regulated precautions in case travel at this time is absolutely necessary. Please follow our stories on   COVID-19   for all the latest travel guidelines.

Related: Inspired By Netflix, Here Are 4 Indian States Where You Can Spot The White Tiger

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The best travel documentaries to stream right now

By Condé Nast Traveller and Antonia Quirke

There are films that make you want to travel . But that’s easy. Just point a camera at an April meadow or a Sicilian back street and most of us salivate. And then there are films that make you feel like you have actually, physically travelled to a place. That leave you suffused with the sensations of its air and sounds. As though the camera lens has been your own eyes, noting details of light against brick, hills stepping inland, fruit and cigarettes on a table, springs gushing out of rocks, courtyards hanging with people and flowers, shirts on a line across a high, unstable balcony. So much that it can begin to feel spooky: you muddle the movie’s memories with your own.

Passing Stromboli on a boat one summer I thought, ‘Been there.’ I hadn’t. I’d just seen the movie, and more recently Ingrid Bergman’s own cine-film footage of the shoot (see below.) But still, I got off, and walked around. And it was true. I had been there already. The mesmerising, almost drugging déjà vu! Here are some more of the best travel documentary films that have that very singular effect.

My Octopus Teacher (2020)

Be immersed in the wonders of nature with this uplifting Netflix original, which won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature at the 2021 Academy Awards. Directed by Pippa Ehrlich and James Reed, it follows the unexpected friendship between filmmaker Craig Foster and a wild octopus in a South African kelp forest. After swimming in the remote location near Cape Town and discovering this curious marine animal, Foster decided to visit the same spot every day to learn and understand more about the creature and subsequently form a strong bond with it.

In one hour and 25 minutes of beautiful imagery and filmography, this documentary leaves you feeling sentimental about human connections, our extraordinary interactions with other life – and intrigued about what else lies below the ocean’s surface… By Cordelia Aspinall

'My Octopus Teacher' is available to stream on Netflix now

Cher and the Loneliest Elephant documentary (2021)

Watch the trailer below

Released in the USA on Thursday 22 April to mark Earth Day 2021 , this heart-warming wildlife documentary follows singer Cher’s mission to rescue a captive elephant named Kaavan. Kaavan, a Sri-Lankan born elephant, was sent as a gift to the daughter of the president of Pakistan and ended up, confined, in Islamabad Zoo. After a global petition via Change.org and Twitter received more than 400,000 signatures, a five-year fight for his freedom began, with none other than global pop superstar Cher stepping in after she spotted the campaign online. Having been confined for more than 35 years (the duration of its life) and given the title ‘the loneliest elephant in the world’, the five-tonne animal was relocated across Asia to a 30,000-acre Cambodian wildlife sanctuary.

With teary moments and incredible footage of the massive process involved in the transportation of Kaavan to Cambodia, this is a moving story focusing on the unsettling trauma the elephant was forced to experience, yet it has an uplifting end. Not only does the film with Cher’s narration walk you through this elephant’s long struggle of neglect and maltreatment, it also shines a light on the cruelty that so many animals around the world endure every day. It is a moving yet educational documentary hooked on a powerful true story. Cher co-founded the animal rights organisation Free the Wild as a result and even released the song 'Walls' inspired by her experience. By Cordelia Aspinall

'Cher and the Loneliest Elephant' is available on Smithsonian Channel from Wednesday 19 May 2021

MAN ON WIRE (2008)

‘I remember the vastness of New York . The altitude! It was all so alive!’ Was a city ever so breathtakingly captured as in this celebrated account of the mist-swagged August morning in 1974 when French wire-walker Philippe Petit illegally rigged a cable between the twin towers of the World Trade Center and made eight entirely improbable crossings in 45 minutes. Dressed all in black, his slender figure carrying its long balancing pole occasionally kneels on the thin wire (he even lies down – how your stomach heaves!), saluting the dazzling morning, and his own skill and chutzpah, as the startled pedestrians on the streets far below gaze up weeping and gasping while steam filters up through cracks in the pavement in that quintessential NYC way. Even though the crossings themselves are all in fact captured only in stills taken at the time by Petit’s assistants and friends you somehow remember the whole marvellous incident in moving images. It’s the city itself that’s doing that to you: its inherent dynamism, its irrepressible atmosphere of perpetual motion.

Charlotte Davey

Lee Marshall

Arati Menon

Connor Sturges

We see Manhattan photographed here from so high above (much as we see it in the 1933 King Kong ), the Hudson spreading like glitter – like nitrate itself – in any black-and-white images. And the colour of apricot in colour stills, under blue swags of cloud and summer sky. ‘Everyone was spellbound by the watching of it,’ exhales a policeman dispatched to arrest Petit, who was ultimately charged with trespass and disorderly conduct. But the city embraced him.

Stream on Amazon , Google Play and YouTube

FREE SOLO (2018)

An immense, waning moon stares into a canyon’s abyss of sharp stones. A fierce river below spurts along the valley, wild grasses on the banks rolling in the wind like feathers or fur. All this the free-climber Alex Honnold sees – or does he? Fixed like Spider-Man to the side of a cliff, climber’s white chalk clinging to the back of his blistered hands, as the evening flushes rose right across Yosemite National Park. A film that follows Honnold in 2017 preparing to climb the infamous El Capitan – ‘3,200 feet of sheer vertical granite… the centre of the rock-climbing universe’ – without ropes. You sweat in sickly fear for his safety while also completely revelling in the fresh air every frame seems to blow your way, the bright warmth of sun on boulder, the absurd beauty of distant trees, the sight of a rainbow slicing through the foaming heart of a waterfall. You emerge healthier and freer somehow, just for having watched it. Your own limbs spasm as though you walked all day. Despite it being a compelling story of self-induced terror (what drives the angel-faced Honnold remains a mystery), you remember more the awesome sights, the very visceral sensation of movement.

Stream on All4

SEASPIRACY (2021)

Not one for the faint of heart, this 90-minute Netflix documentary has been hitting audiences hard in quite a few ways. It’s from the team behind C owspiracy: The Sustainability Secret (another in-depth spotlight, this time on the impact of agriculture on our planet), and you can expect to see similar themes, upsetting footage and quite controversial interviews with figures in the global fishing industry. The film, directed and narrated by British filmmaker Ali Tabrizi, sets out to explore the damaging effects of mass-scale commercial fishing on marine life and the levels of pollution in waters around the world. Expect to learn about the importance of dolphins, sharks and whales for our oceans ’ ecosystems, that sustainably sourced seafood might not be all that it seems, and that, ultimately, we should all be reducing our fish consumption. You might very well be off fish by the end, but it’s also worth reading around some more: there are some conflicting views about the film and whether the scientific points it makes are factually out of context. Katharine Sohn

Seaspiracy is available to stream on Netflix now

Chasing Coral (2017)

You may not be able to travel to see the Great Barrier Reef , the subject of this Netflix documentary, for much longer if we don't do something about climate change and ocean warming. The film uses hi-tech camera equipment and time lapses to show the deterioration of the coral as it turns from 'colourful, vibrant ecosystems into barren, lifeless wastelands,' writes Condé Nast Traveler US 's Sebastian Modak. You'll feel truly gutted once the movie's over, but it will have you planning a trip to Australia , and other areas with endangered natural wonders, within minutes of the rolling credits.

Stream Chasing Coral on Netflix

THE WHALEBONE BOX (2020)

Here’s a treat. Andrew Kotting – our most quietly influential experimental filmmaker – released a film online that sweeps us up on a pilgrimage to return a box made of whalebone to a far beach on the Hebridean Isle of Harris, whence the whale bones originally came. So, we cram in a car with Kotting and the psychogeographer Iain Sinclair and rumble north (filming mostly on a camera-phone) all overseen by Kotting’s daughter Eden, who wears a pagan crown of ivy and seems to be conjuring the whole mysterious and somehow healing road trip in a fever-dream. It’s a perfect evocation of that desire to travel. To move, to be en route, to feel twinges of uneasy excitement, to spin out illusionary ideas of a distant location. The place names whirl by: Ardlui, Mallaig. (At one point we suddenly find ourselves in a Templar castle in the Pyrenees.) Inside the car there’s that super-seductive sense of a gang travelling light, seeing what happens and who they might meet along the jagged coastline. ‘There are places you go, to access time,’ Kotting tells us, as the startling white sand of Harris glows in its near-sinister, beckoning way, under racing skies full of clouds like shredded curtains, and sudden glimmers of wet, green Hebridean sunlight.

Streamed exclusively on MUBI

BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB (1999)

A phenomenon as much as a movie, the spectacular success of the Buena Vista Social Club album and film had a limitless impact on the Cuban tourist industry. Some 20 years later, the music you hear on street corners in that city is more likely to be the music of pre-revolutionary Cuba defined in the film, by a cadre of musicians (some in their 70s and 80s) who had long fallen out of favour, only to be made world famous in their dotage.

I especially love when the camera sways out onto the streets of Havana, filming fast and in natural light the life there: the men working on immense old cars observed by stray dogs the colour of a sweet cold beer; the breeze off the sea playing against shirts; children rolling wooden toys before them; the unloading of mountains of bananas; residents of stuccoed tenements easing vast, scratched and defunct Fifties American fridges out of doors past murals of Che, as though demonstrating the very sickness of capitalism that Guevera railed against. Guitarist Compay Segundo recalling how, aged five, he would light his grandmother’s cigars in Santiago. Or baritone crooner Ibrahim Ferrer showing us the wooden carving he has always kept of Lazarus, and the little bowls of honey, rum and perfume he would offer to it, for good luck – which finally came to him after years of penury and shoe-shining in Havana after the film was released. Every frame takes you to that city, that climate. The smoky smell of the pavements as the sun grows stronger.

Stream on Google Play and YouTube

THE BEACHES OF AGNÈS (2008)

‘The North Sea and the sand is the start for me…’ says Agnès Varda, esteemed filmmaker of the Nouvelle Vague and photographer of genius, who aged 80 in this autobiographical collage of personal memory and feeling, takes us to the beaches that shaped her childhood, her marriage, her art and beyond. ‘Time passes, except on the beaches, which are timeless…’ she reasons, remembering with fondness Belgian sands at La Panne and Middelkerke. And especially the port city of Sète in France ’s southern region of Occitanie, where she speaks of seeing fishermen in the 1940s living in rough tents on the dunes, canvas walls slung with storm lamps and old pans. Noirmoutier, the French island in the Bay of Biscay, she recalls her husband Jacques Demy particularly loving, and she films it here in tribute and with such freshness it’s since become a destination for fans of the movie. ‘What is cinema?’ Varda asks, ‘It is LIGHT coming from somewhere…’ We see her sailing up the Seine in a wooden boat, right under the Ponts des Arts, the craft itself painted the sun-flashing yellow of the Provençal sunflowers that Varda always seemed to feature in her movies. I had the good fortune to interview Varda when she was 90, just months before she died, and I took a bunch of sunflowers as a gift – she received them with a yelp of happiness, saying they reminded her of French summers, her wise eyes warm as landing lights.

GRIZZLY MAN (2005)

‘Sometimes images themselves develop their own mysterious stardom…’ narrates German director Werner Herzog, over this his most heart-rending film. Part ‘kind warrior’ part ‘samurai’ the conservationist-activist Timothy Treadwell lived for 13 summers with wild Kodiak bears in remote areas of the Alaskan peninsula, shooting 100 hours of footage of those bears in their natural habitat. Styling himself as a Prince Valiant, his eventual death-by-Kodiak was shockingly violent, and Herzog shapes Treadwell’s sad, strange story as a tribute to ‘wild, primordial nature’ where his subject was truly at home. As you watch, you’re convinced you too can feel the fresh air on your own skin, the nip of mosquitoes, the pelter of rain. The long evenings spent alone, the vast plateau of mountains, the tide flats, the tumbled jags of glaciers, the sensation of Treadwell’s hands calloused like leather, the yelp of light in the mornings, the changing Alaskan sky.

In one scene, little slim foxes (called Ghost and Spirit) wake him by pressing their noses and paws against the walls of his tent, and he runs with them across a flower-studded meadow, delirious with the surprising gift of such companionship and freedom that would make any child’s heart explode. To be friends with the animals! ‘He captures such glorious improvised moments the likes of which studio directors with their union crews could never dream of,’ says Herzog, with patent admiration, himself an absolute master of putting not just nature, but the profound euphoria of travel on film. Think of those moments in Herzog’s Nosferatu the Vampyre, when the hero walks the High Tatra mountains of northern Slovakia, or the Partnach Gorge in the Reintal valley in southern Germany . Rhapsodic.

JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI (2011)

Even though this documentary is almost entirely set inside a 10-seater Tokyo restaurant with no view, its location somehow comes to feel as though the whole history of Japan might be contained within its temple-like walls. Jiro Ono (now 94) is Japan’s most famous sushi master. He left home aged nine to become an apprentice, opening his own restaurant in the 1960s that now has a three-Michelin-star rating, which means (says one food critic) ‘It’s worth visiting that country just to visit the restaurant.’ Jiro is modest and stern, and we glimpse snatches of his past – anecdotes about his harsh infancy or an alluring black-and-white photograph of his father formally seated in 1927 wearing a sheeny kimono, an image with unforgettable resonance and romance, that seems to far, far predate the Taisho era.

Inside the restaurant – a capsule of absorption, firmly sealed in its own private weather – every day proceeds without alteration. The rice is steamed and hand-fanned, the halibut and squid and eel finely sliced and pressed together. ‘Press the sushi like you’re pressing a little chick,’ Jiro advises. ‘The world has turned outside, but he has remained the same,’ someone says, as the camera occasionally takes us outside to the brooding, energetic Tokyo streets, where it always seems to be raining and the crowds hurry. Down to the fish market full of tottering porters and barrow-pushers rhythmically going to and fro, where the best tuna trader drags frowningly on his hand-cupped cigarette, his hair slicked like Elvis, dreaming of the days when the fish were fat as pianos.

Stream on Amazon , and Netflix (US)

THE EPIC OF EVEREST (1924)

Not just one of the most important travel films ever made, but a precious artefact. A time capsule, a relic. If the third attempt to ascend Everest culminated in the sad deaths of the determined English climbers George Mallory and Andrew Irvine, the moving image of their expedition (shot by Captain John Noel with a hand-cranked camera sometimes using high-powered telescopic lenses) has thankfully survived. Some of the earliest filmed records of life in Tibet are here, and several frames have been tinted in the original reds and purples of the first screenings in 1924, thanks to meticulous restoration by the BFI.

Every second is a marvel, the images profound. Mallory and Irvine facing the climb of their lives in modest tweed jackets. Tibetan babies in stone villages, their skin slathered in yak butter, lying out happily in the sun. A Tibetan gentleman showing his glimmering ear to the camera, dangling its pendant earring of gold and aquamarine. A baby donkey born during the long march west, expected to walk 25 miles on its first day of life, collapsed in the mud (‘How tired and sleepy he is!’). Ancient castles and monasteries stud the mountains, hermit lamas dwelling in cliff-built cells predicting doom for the mission, climbers snow-blind and in states of collapse or trudging past ice-caves and picking off stalactites, as though they were great jags of lickable sugar on a fairy palace.

The mountain itself – Tibet’s Goddess Mother of the World – seems to physically pulsate with (as a title card tells us) ‘lofty solitude. Grand, solemn and unutterably lonely.’ And then the image of Mallory and Irvine ascending up, and up, and up, only to disappear, eternally out of sight. ‘We may think of ourselves and nature,’ warns the original text on screen, with what feels like definitive prescience. ‘We spring from nature. In life, we defy her.’

Stream on BFI Player

JAZZ ON A SUMMER’S DAY (1959)

Perhaps the ultimate concert film, made during the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival on Rhode Island, headlined by (among others) Thelonious Monk and Dinah Washington, Gerry Mulligan and Chuck Berry. How many times you wish yourself into the frame! To be among that happy, confident, peanut-crunching crowd. Because the camera has such a lovely, casual eye, it’s like a friend describing little moments and scenes, interested, curious, relaxed.

We see Monk take the stage with his bamboo-rimmed dark glasses. Sal Salvador on guitar with a buzz cut, eyes closed in bliss. Anita O’Day singing Tea for Two in a black hat fringed in white feathers, snapping her fingers as she sings, her gloves immaculate. The crowd sways and giggles and sighs, a jewel-box of capri pants and Breton tops. Strappy yellow sundresses and cat-eyed shades, baked shoulders and freckled clavicles draped with hipster cardigans. Well-fed babies are passed down rows to be greeted with kisses by mothers waving choc-ices. Beyond, the water of Narragansett Bay is a sparkling blur dotted with pretty racing boats called Nomad and Pixie. ‘The weather out here is summery, with a smoky haze on the horizon,’ someone thrills over a tannoy, as the camera picks out brown, sandalled feet dangling from a crow’s nests during a race.

Sometimes it feels like everything is reflected in the glistering water of the movie; all of the USA’s post-war reach and ambition. It has the optimism of a Cadillac. The ‘Dionysian potential of American life,’ as John Updike put it; that ‘carnival under the dome of heaven, every fair day.’ To me, this film captures precisely that gorgeous, lost moment in time and place, when Ted Hughes was gazing at his new and glamorous wife, Sylvia Plath, recalled in the poem 18 Rugby Street, ‘So this is America, I marvelled. Beautiful, beautiful America !’

60th-anniversary edition available on DVD

INGRID BERGMAN: IN HER OWN WORDS (2015)

‘I don’t want any roots. I want to be free.’ Ingrid Bergman’s will to travel came from deep within her. Sweden , California , Italy , France, London – she was able to up and move, reinvent herself, leaving lovers and children behind, documenting it all with a cine-camera – and her own footage occupies the majority of this powerfully alluring film. ‘I wanted desperately to get out in the world,’ she said, in letters to friends. ‘It’s as if a bird of passage is living with me.’

And so we follow her through the various stages of her life, with different husbands, and all her pretty infants blowing about like bright petals across the terraces of various villas and hotels (Hotel Raphael in Paris was her favourite). She’s here, driving around Rome in a white convertible, laughing at the paparazzi. Or clambouring with fishermen about the Aeolian island of Stromboli, sweeping shining hair from out of her tear-filled eyes. Or knitting topless in the powerful sunlight, all broad shoulders and witty expression. Diving into a pool in Hollywood, using a magnum of Champagne as a life buoy. And best: her robust, salty skin tanned the colour of rosewood against an unglamorous raincoat on the isolated, harshly granite island of Dannholmen off the Swedish west coast, where she joined the local sailing school, and where her ashes were scattered after she died. ‘I love your island,’ she’d said to her third husband, seeing his modest wooden house in 1958, with its rusted anchor sitting sentinel off the grey and merciless rocks. ‘Good,’ he’d nodded. ‘Let’s get married, then.’

Stream on Amazon

Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat (2018)

Chef and food writer Samin Nosrat’s four-part series focuses on the four ingredients she thinks makes food delicious. In Italy she explores fat, in Japan she finds salt, in Mexico it’s acid and in the USA there’s heat. Her smile and spontaneous dancing are irresistible viewing, not to mention the sizzling close-ups of her adventurous, elemental cooking. Meredith Carey

Stream Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat on Netflix

Chef’s Table Pastry (2018)

This is a four-episode-only spin-off from the Emmy award-winning Chef’s Table. The show kicks off with Christina Tosi and her New York Milk Bar empire, an instant hit into the series. Also on the menu: Jordi Roca, Will Goldfarb and Corrado Assenza. Mesmerising and delicious – don't think about watching without sweet snacks to hand. MC

Stream Chef's Table Pastry on Netflix

Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories (2016)

Set in a tiny Tokyo diner that's only open from midnight to 7am, the fictional show follows the Midnight Diner's owner and clientele as they share their trials and joys, all while eating whatever the owner, called Master, dishes up. In the diner, pork miso soup is the go-to, but Master will cook visitors anything they order, as long as he's got the goods to make it. Episodes are a little more than 20 minutes long, so it's the most bingeable of the bunch. Watch with subtitles and don't - seriously, don't - watch while hungry. MC

Stream Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories on Netflix

Travels with My Father (2017)

Follow stand-up comedian Jack Whitehall and his father, Michael, in this six-episode Netflix original across Southeast Asia . The series tracks the duo as they finish the gap year Jack never got to complete, just a few years late (eight, to be exact). MC

Stream Travels with My Father on Netflix

Stephen Fry in America (2012)

In this six-part mini-series, Stephen Fry drives around all 50 US states in a London cab. Football games at the University of Alabama and lobster fishing in Maine are on the menu. Expect a lot of laughs and a surprise appearance from Morgan Freeman. MC

Stream Stephen Fry in America on Netflix

Chef's Table (2015)

If you've ever raised an eyebrow at food as art, set aside some time to watch this Netflix original docu-series. Each 50-minute episode profiles one of the world’s most extraordinary chefs (such as Peruvian Virgilio Martínez, pictured, the owner of Lima's Central restaurant, and Swede Magnus Nilsson) as they create impossibly complicated dishes. MC

Stream Chef's Table on Netflix

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The Best Travel Documentaries On Netflix For Planning A Post-Quarantine Adventure

Last Updated: March 17th

Sometimes you need a nudge to get outdoors and hit the road. Other times you need a full-on shove. And, in times like these, you need a break from the news and quarantine life to dream of all the places you’ll go when this catastrophe finally passes.

That’s why we put together this new list of the best travel documentaries on Netflix right now. These are movies that blend travel with the heights of the human spirit to, hopefully, remind you that travel and adventure are within your grasp. Or will be soon. Below you’ll find a round-up of our favorite travel documentaries on Netflix. Read and then watch to discover faraway places and witness the mad few who wander to the edges of the map in search of adventure.

Expedition Happiness (2017)

Run Time: 95 min | IMDb: 5.9/10

German van lifers and filmmakers Felix Starck and Selima Taibi tricked out an old American school bus to Instagram-perfection and set out along the Pan-American highway from Alaska to Mexico with their trusty dog. Along the way, the duo made a doc about life on the road, van life, and the general hardships and heights of travel. Overall, this is can be a hard watch as the camera almost exclusively focuses on model/musician Taibi with little to no reference to where they’re actually traveling through, which is a shame.

Add To Netflix Queue

Pedal The World (2015)

Run Time: 80 min | IMDb: 5.1/10

Felix Starck didn’t start off as a van lifer. The documentary filmmaker cut his teeth while documenting his 12,000-mile, 22-country bicycle tour of the planet. The film is the Instagram generation’s gateway to seeing the world through the eyes of pure wanderlust. The film shines in the nature of Starck’s mode of transportation and the harsh realities of riding a bike, literally, around the world. The film sort of falls apart in its inability to form a clear narrative but the overall thrust of the story is just enough to keep you from turning it off.

Amanda Knox (2016)

Run Time: 92 min | IMDb: 6.9/10

The Amanda Knox story is the perfect storm of travel and true crime. The film focuses on the Seattleite’s year aboard living in Italy and the murder of Knox’s roommate. It’s a fascinating case study of when travel can go horribly wrong on almost every level — from batsh*t crazy detectives to trying to bridge misunderstood cultural gulfs to the imprisoned foreigner’s desire to just get home again.

Losing Sight Of Shore (2017)

Run Time: 92 min | IMDb: 7.4/10

Losing Sight Of Shore is one of the better travel documentaries of the last decade. The film follows four female friends as they train, plan, and then sail (in a rowboat) from California across the Pacific to Australia. It’s pure madness. The film is harrowing, emotionally wrought, and wonderfully executed. It keeps you on the edge of your seat as you feel the great ups and harsh downs of travel on the edge.

This is a great way to spend 90 minutes any night of the week and, maybe, it’ll inspire you to get out there too.

Fire At Sea (2016)

Run Time: 114 min | IMDb: 6.8/10

Travel isn’t always about Instagram hashtags and wanderlust. Sometimes it’s about survival. Fire At Sea offers a harrowing glimpse into the realities of refugees fleeing Northern Africa for Europe — specifically Sicily, Italy in this case. The film juxtaposes how a small backwater town became the flashpoint for refugees landing in Europe. It’s a stark tale of humanity, suffering, and spirit to overcome and survive.

The Last Shaman (2016)

Run Time: 77 min | IMDb: 6.8/10

This is a fascinating and harrowing film. Produced by Leonard DiCaprio, the film follows James who has given himself 12 months to find a way past his chronic and crippling depression before he kills himself. To do this, he takes the drastic step of delving deep into the Peruvian Amazon to find real-deal shamans and go through courses of ayahuasca to cure his depression. We won’t spoil the documentary here but it’s worth 77 minutes of your time to find out what a combination of adventure, psychonautics, and introspection can bring.

The Free Man (2016)

Run Time: 84 min | IMDb: 6.1/10

There’s a sense of the mad ones in this film that follows Olympic Freestyle Skier Jossi Wells. Wells meets up with a boundary-pushing ski group called The Flying Frenchies who push the limits of human endurance and sanity by skiing the wildest and most dangerous places. This is a mind-boggling story of what on the surface looks like people with a deathwish masquerading as “being free.” It’s a wild ride for 80 thrilling minutes.

Mountain (2017)

Run Time: 74 min | IMDb: 7.2/10

Narrated by Willem Dafoe, this documentary looks at those who climb the world’s tallest and most dangerous peaks. Where the film really wows is in the orchestral score and jaw-dropping cinematography. This is the perfect film for sinking into a couch, maybe lighting up a little cannabis , and letting the images wash over you.

Footprints, the Path of Your Life (2016)

Run Time: 89 min | IMDb: 6.1/10

This film follows a Roman Catholic priest as he leads ten young men on a trip of a lifetime. The group is walking the 500-mile northern route from France to Spain on the Camino to Santiago de Compostela. The legendary pilgrimage has drawn millions of people (religious or not) over the centuries and this film shows the difficulty and reward of traveling a foreign land by foot, who you meet along the way, and who you come home as.

Fyre (2019)

Run Time: 97 min | IMDb: 7.2/10

Traveling for dope, Instagram-worthy festivals has become a clear part of the travel world in 2020. While sexy, drug-fueled times usually ensue when you arrive on some faraway beach to listen to DJs spin and do yoga as the sunrises, it’s doesn’t always work out. The Fyre Festival is the best example of how everything can go wrong and how that can ruin a trip to somewhere amazing. And, hey, travel isn’t always perfect and this movie is a great reminder of that.

The Dawn Wall (2017)

Run Time: 100 min | IMDb: 8.1/10

Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson’s climb of El Capitan’s Dawn Wall is the stuff of legends. Caldwell and Jorgenson took years to plan their ascent and weeks to complete it and it’s all documented in this enthralling documentary that serves as a sort of prequel to the Academy award-winning Free Solo . If you follow rock climbing, then you know how this one ends. But don’t let that stop you from spending time watching this doc. It’ll give a deeper understanding of how much actually goes into the background of these climbs.

Roll with Me (2017)

Run Time: 90 min | IMDb: 8.6/10

This is a pretty incredible film and feat. Former drug-addict and alcoholic Gabriel Cordell (who’s a paraplegic) decides to inspire his gang-member nephew by having him be his crew as he travels by wheelchair all the way across America. This film is harrowing, inspiring, and a must-watch as Cordell struggles to roll for over 3,000 miles through rain or shine as his nephew provides support the entire way. You’ll be left asking what you’ve done with your life by the time the credits roll and itching to get out there and do something epic like Cordell did.

10 Best Netflix Travel Documentaries You Should Not Miss

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Gone are the days when luggage tags read “wanderlust” and phone covers used to boast quotes such as “travel more.” In the post-COVID world, we all try to travel but mostly live vicariously through travel documentaries. Watching people explore places, cuisines, cultures, and mysteries of the world is a treat, and we can’t help but indulge in it. Sometimes even more than we should. 

Although travel documentaries are sometimes romanticized, they are relatively more grounded in reality than feature films of the same genre. Places that might be on our bucket lists can easily be accessed through our screens. Watching these documentaries even makes us realize that nature and the world, while beautiful, can be challenging. It requires us to prepare, be patient, and be resilient to enjoy it to the fullest.

We’ve compiled a list of the best travel documentaries on Netflix that you shouldn’t miss. We have filtered out a few documentaries since they were location-specific and might be unavailable across different countries. Get ready to discover mesmerizing views, majestic mountains, deep-seal marvels, and much more. So grab your PJs and some snacks to accompany your binge. It’s time to explore.

Top 10 Netflix Travel Documentaries

1. the volcano – rescue from whakaari .

• Genre: Intense, Explosive, Volcano, Humanity
• IMDb Rating: 7.3

The Volcano – Rescue from Whakaari is one of the most visceral and raw representations of disasters. The documentary gained instant recognition upon its release in 2022 and covers the White Island volcanic eruption in 2019. A volcano erupts off the coast of New Zealand, trapping 47 unsuspecting tourists and guides. 

The makers stitched minute-by-minute footage of the 24 hours wherein survivors shared their experiences. The documentary gives you a closer look at the unimaginable horrors the people had to endure.

2. 14 peaks – Nothing is Impossible

• Genre: Nature, Exploration, Extreme Sports
• IMDb Rating: 7.7

True to its name, the 14 Peaks – Nothing is Impossible is one such documentary that makes you question just what is impossible when a human puts their mind to something. With flying aircraft and pictures of space, with floating planets and the simple wonder of gravity, life can quickly seem outworldly if we look too close. 

38-year-old Nepali mountaineer Nimsdai Purja had to know just how close he could look. Vowing to climb all 14 8000-meter summits on Earth in a mere seven months, Nimsdai Purja embarks upon the adventure of his lifetime to rewrite history. Don’t miss this documentary, as it captures the most dangerous journeys in the most picturesque fashion.

3. The Deepest Breath (2023)

• Genre: Science, Humanity, Exploration 

We suggest that you remember to take deep breaths as you watch what has been named “one of the most anxiety-inducing extreme sports documentaries ever.” An exhilarating watch, the documentary captures the story of a free diver who trains to break the world record. He enlists the help of a safety diver and thus begins their journey of finding their dreams in the dark of the ocean. 

The Deepest Breath portrays the depths of the oceans in a way that you’d be left dumbfounded. The 50 shades of blue and green never felt more entrancing and dangerous. However, be warned that it did not earn its title for no reason, as it quickly turns into a hyperreal life-threatening experience for the divers. 

4. Biking Borders (2019)

• Genre: Inspiring, Heartfelt, Exploration, Travel & Adventure

Biking Borders is an inspiring documentary about two enthusiastic young men, Max and Nono. The two set out on their bicycle with a small dream – To build a school in Guatemala. Max and Nono travel from Berlin to Beijing for about 15,000 whopping kilometers. The documentary is one of the best depictions of how, as people, we’re all so different yet so similar. It captures the highs and lows in a way that warms your heart and makes you root for these two friends.

5. The River Runner (2021)

• Genre: Exploration, Travel & Adventure, Nature
• IMDb Rating: 6.9

For those who love the perfect shots that capture the world at its rawest, the River Runner is meant for you. Like the documentary wherein the camera rolls long after the credits, the story will stay with you long after you shut the screen. The River Runner follows Scott Lindgren, one determined kayaker who sets out to be the first man to paddle over the four great rivers that flow from Tibet’s sacred Mount Kailash. Need we say more? This documentary is dedicated to those who dream big and aspire to achieve the impossible. 

6. Expedition Happiness

• Genre: Intimate, Heartfelt, Travel & Adventure
• IMDb Rating: 5.9

If packing up and leaving everything behind for a brand new start is something you like to ponder about, then Expedition Happiness should be next on your watchlist. Chronicling the journey of a filmmaker and his musician girlfriend, this documentary portrays how they explore the world with their dog and a refurbished school bus. With jaunty tunes and everlasting landscapes, this heartwarming tale takes us through the roads of North Carolina, Alaska, and South America.

7. Chasing Coral

• Genre: Controversial, Investigative, Scientific
• IMDb Rating: 8

For those who enjoy watching mysteries and have a weakness for the wondrous views of the world, Chasing Coral is a tale you shouldn’t miss. A team of scientists, divers, and photographers join forces to understand how coral reefs around the world are vanishing at unprecedented rates. The cinematography of this film is off the charts, and you can’t help but marvel at the wondrous nature of underwater life. The mysteries of life beneath us are unravel and captivate you like nothing else.

8. Home 2 Home

• Genre: Inspiring, Lifestyle, Travel & Adventure
• IMDb Rating: 7.4

What makes you happy? – A simple question that you might need to take a second to answer. Home 2 Home tries to answer it and how! The documentary follows Dennis Kailing, a young man, who embarks on a 27,000-mile journey to find the answer to the question we asked you. He bikes across 41 countries, spanning over 6 continents, in 761 days. 

While chasing sunrises, this 24-year-old meets people from every imaginable walk of life in hopes of answering the most elemental question of life. Although the subject is personal and might differ from person to person, the story offers a new perspective on life and stirs romance within you.

9. Longest Third Date

• Genre: Intimate, Lifestyle, Reality TV
• IMDb Rating: 6.4

Everybody knows that the third time’s the charm, and for Matt and Khani, this couldn’t be more true. With the simple thought of telling a good romantic story to their grandkids, Matt and Khani fly to Costa Rica for their third date. As fate would have it, the pandemic brings the world to a standstill, and the two lovebirds are forced to stay in a foreign land. They capture the different parts of their life and showcase how their journey evolves over time. This intimate documentary depicts how people function on an elemental level and how the most beautiful places on Earth can feel like a dungeon if you take away people’s choices.  

10. Guatemala, the Heart of the Mayan World

• Genre: Inspiring, Lifestyle, Social & Cultural
• IMDb Rating: 6.6

As immersive as its title sounds, this documentary literally delves into the heart of the Mayan world, exploring its cultural and geological wealth. With mesmerizing visual treats, the documentary instantly pulls you into the ancient Mayan cities built by our ancestors. We see the natural wonders of the Earth being rediscovered and their impact on people living in that region.

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That’s a wrap on our top Netflix travel documentaries. Stay tuned for more, and be sure to leave a comment on which one was your favorite!

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30 Best Travel Documentaries & Series To Watch

• by Jonny Duncan
• October 20, 2023 December 7, 2023

We all need a bit of travel inspiration and these are some of the best travel documentaries that will give you some wanderlust, and understanding, of the regions of the world involved.

These are my favourite travel documentaries and series that have inspired my travels.

Disclaimer: I own none of the images in this post, they are used under fair-usage terms to discuss the travel documentaries.

Himalaya With Michael Palin (2004)

Michael Palin is my all-time favourite travel presenter, writer, and hell, just an awesome person in general and his travel documentaries are some of the best you can watch.

His sense of humour, interest in the places he visits, how he interacts with the local people, and the way he presents himself is what makes this travel journey one of the best.

Add to that epic Himalayan scenery and adventure and you have the perfect combination for the best travel documentary.

You can watch it here as well as some of his other travel documentaries.

The Endless Summer (1966)

Surfs up! And also lots of fun, fun, fun, in the sun.

Set in the mid-sixties it follows two surfers from California as they travel around the world, including countries like South Africa, Australia, and Ghana, in search of the ‘perfect wave’. 

It’s very laid back to watch and entertaining and a good insight into surfer travels in the sixties.

I would love to hit up some of the waves they found! If you want one of the best travel documentaries based around surfing and beaches then watch this.

Watch it online here .

Encounters at the End of the World (2009)

Want some cold weather viewing, beautiful scenery in the vast expanse of Antarctica, and some fun with scientists? This is it.

Filmmaker Werner Herzog tackles this perfectly, exploring the desolate and vast wilderness of Antarctica around the US base of McMurdo Station, and the people who live and work there.

This will make you want to go to a remote and cold place.

Watch it here .

Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown (2013 – 2018)

Anthony Bourdain was one of my travel heroes. He died in 2018. His style of reporting and meeting the people he visits around the world and coming together around a common theme worldwide, food, brought a personal approach to the travel genre.

Parts Unknown is one of the best travel documentaries to watch for food. 

The other series with Anthony Bourdain exploring world cuisine, such as No Reservations is also worth watching.

See it on Netflix here .

Under An Arctic Sky (2017)

This is a short travel documentary coming in at only 40 minutes, but worth the watch for sure.

I had been recommended this by a fellow travel blogger and was glad about it.

It’s beautifully shot in Iceland in winter, following a group of surfers looking for (as usual) the perfect waves. 

But a storm comes through during this time and they have to outrun it.

The first time surfers have been filmed under the Northern Lights.

This has made me want to return to Iceland again to explore more of the country in the Arctic darkness.

See what it’s like surfing under the Northern Lights !

Sahara With Michael Palin (2002)

Yes, another Michael Palin travel documentary. I can’t help it his journeys are just so good.

This time he’s out exploring the Sahara Desert, getting into remote adventures with tribal nomads, and so much more.

This will inspire you for a desert adventure.

Watch the epic Sahara journey here .

180° South (2010)

180° South follows Jeff Johnson, an adventurer who travels across South America to Patagonia to visit the places that Yvon Chouinard and Doug Tompkins had visited in 1968, two people who had inspired him.

Easily one of the best travel documentaries about South America to see.

Chasing Coral (2017)

Chasing Coral is a documentary for anyone interested in the ocean and, given the title, especially coral reefs.

It follows scientists and divers who explore the coral areas to see why they are disappearing and to explain it all to you. A good conservationist documentary as well as one for travel to these beautiful parts of the world.

Billy Connolly’s World Tour of Australia (1996)

Billy Connolly is one of the great all-time stand-up comedians.

He also travels a lot and his ‘world tour’ series has taken him to lots of different countries around the world, with Australia being the best.

It’s a combination of him exploring Australia and what is there, with a great sense of humour for everything, as well as some short clips of his stand-up performances in each area he visits with views and opinions about his experience in Australia.

A must-see travel documentary for anyone interested in Australia with a very amusing outlook on travel there.

It ain’t cheap but if you’re a Billy Connolly fan, or want to give a gift to someone who is, this is the Billy Connolly box set of all his world tours.

Dark Tourist (2018)

For some people (myself included) there’s a strange and weird fascination with some of the ‘darker’ tourist spots to visit and dark tourism has become more popular.

From nuclear disaster zone tours to death-worshipping cults, this travel documentary covers them all.

It can be disturbing given the tragedy behind some of the events, but it is history, and it is part of humanity. 

To escape the ‘normal’ tourist spots this will give you an idea of an alternative travel experience.

Right or wrong it is fascinating.

See it on Netflix .

Given (2016)

This is such a unique and refreshing take on a travel documentary as it’s narrated by a six-year-old boy.

It follows a family from Kauai (part of Hawaii) on a journey through 15 countries around the world.

This a really good insight into family travel and the life-teaching experiences travel can have on young children.

Watch their website for the documentary.

Stephen Fry In America (2009)

Stephen Fry is one of my favourite comedians and in this travel series, he travels across the U.S. in search of what makes America.

Just like Billy Connolly and Michael Palin, there is lots of humour involved.

It gives a great insight into American culture.

This is one of the best travel documentaries to watch if planning a trip to the United States. 

Watch here .

The Eagle Huntress (2016)

One of those interested in Central Asia travel, this documentary is about a 13-year-old Kazakh girl called Aisholopan who wants to be an eagle hunter, the first female in her family for twelve generations to do it.

Beautiful scenery and an inspiring story make this a spellbinding travel documentary to watch.

Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2010)

Have an interest in sushi and Japanese food? Then this is the ultimate travel documentary for you.

It follows an 85-year-old sushi master called Jiro Ono and how he makes some of the best sushi in the world and tries to teach his son the way and the family business.

It’s one of the best documentaries about Japan to watch.

Baraka (1992)

Out of all the travel documentaries, this is one of the older ones but it has aged well. It’s also one of the most beautiful travel documentaries to watch.

The tagline is “A world beyond worlds”, and after watching it you will see why.

There is no narrative, just epic films from all over the world showing natural environments, cities and everything else.

Personally, I remember watching this in the 90s and being inspired to see the places it showed.

Happy People: A Year in the Taiga (2010)

Happy People: A Year in the Taiga is another Werner Herzog travel documentary that is absolutely brilliant if you have an interest in cold places and Siberia in particular.

It follows the people in a remote village in the Siberian Taiga region and shows the repeated way of life in how they deal with living in a harsh cold environment. It includes footage of some of the native Ket people as well.

Tawai: A Voice From The Forest (2017)

Out of all the travel documentaries, this is one of the best ones taking a look at indigenous people around the world.

Adventurer Bruce Parry explores the forests of the Amazon and Borneo, as well as the Isle of Skye in Scotland where he looks at the ways the native people get on with the nature around them.

Nomad: In the Footsteps of Bruce Chatwin (2019)

Nomad is yet again another one with Werner Herzog and this time it’s a much more personal one.

His good friend Bruce Chatwin, who was a well-known travel writer, died of AIDS in 1989 he left Werner his rucksack as a parting gift. Thirty Years after his death Werner heads out to explore places inspired by his friend’s travel life.

Maidentrip (2013)

Maidentrip will make you want to get a yacht and go on an adventure around the world! It’s about a 14-year-old sailor who leaves home for a 2-year journey around the world alone to become the youngest person to ever achieve such a task.

This is one of the best travel documentaries not just about yachting and boats but also about the determination of the human spirit to achieve something great.

Travel Man (2015 Onwards)

Travel Man is a great travel documentary series where each episode host Richard Ayoade visits a new city with a different celebrity to explore what the city has to offer in the way of tourist attractions and other things.

Lots of fun to watch and one of the best recent travel documentaries to see.

Fishpeople (2017)

Fishpeople is a group of stories about various individuals who have dedicated their lives to the sea. It includes a long-distance swimmer, surfers, and many more.

This is one to watch if you have an interest in anything related to life with the ocean.

Grand Tours of the Scottish Islands (2013 – 2016)

If you love Scotland or really want to go there then this is the ultimate Scottish travel series for you. The presenter is Paul Murton and he explores all around the Scottish Isles.

He also has other shows such as the Grand Tour of Scotland and Grand Tour of Scotlands Lochs. He really gets into the culture of Scotland.

Backpackingman note: I am of Scottish ancestry with my great-grandfather being a proper Scotsman from Aberdeen and I have visited Scotland a few times now and can highly recommend this series.

Rick Steves’ Europe (2000 – Onwards)

Rick Steves’ Europe is one of the longest-running travel documentary series out there, if not the longest.

Given the title of the show, it follows Rick as he travels around Europe showing everything the place has to offer. The series from 2018 focuses on Scotland so goes nicely with the Grand Tours of the Scottish Islands mentioned above.

Desert Runners (2013)

Desert Runners is the ultimate documentary about people who run in some of the harshest environments and in this case the desert.

But the twist to this story is that it explores a group of people who join the hardest ultra-marathon race series on the planet and none of them are professional runners.

Watch this one if you have an interest in deserts and running.

Down To Earth (2020)

Down To Earth is a travel documentary series on Netflix that follows actor Zac Efron to different parts of the world where he looks at the sustainability efforts of each destination.

For example, in Iceland, he learns about the efforts to use the natural energy of Earth for power.

Magical Andes (2020 – Onwards)

Magical Andes a travel documentary series is set in South America and takes a look at the Andes Mountain range, from the mountains themselves to the deserts, forests, and everything else that surrounds them

Highly recommended if you’ve ever wanted to visit South America and in particular the Andes region.

Expedition Happiness (2017)

Expedition Happiness follows a couple who get an old school bus and then drive throughout North America with their dog.

The couple is so lovely it’s worth watching just to see them and their life.

Free Solo (2018)

Free Solo follows Alex Honnold, a professional rock climber, as he attempts to be the first person to free solo climb El Capitan’s rock face.

It’s set in Yosemite National Park and is thrilling to watch not just for the action but also for the scenery. Watch this documentary if you are interested in mountain travel and rock climbing as a sport.

The Dawn Wall (2017)

Following on from Free Solo, The Dawn Wall is also set in Yosemite National Park, and this time follows Tommy Caldwell, a free climber, who tried to climb the Dawn Wall of El Capitan.

As with Free Solo, watch this one for mountains.

Mountain (2017)

The Mountain is one of the best travel documentaries about mountains and is breathtaking to watch.

It explores mountains around the world and tells at the same time the history between humans and mountains.

Notable Mention: BBC Planet Earth 1+2 (2006 + 2016)

The BBC Planet Earth series is absolutely beautifully filmed and epic to watch.

In each episode, they explore different parts of the planet, such as deserts, mountains, oceans, forests, etc.

There are also other travel documentaries by the BBC, like The Blue Planet, Frozen Planet, and a lot more. Each one shows a different side of our planet.

These will get you wanting to get out and see the world!

The Best Travel Documentaries

And that’s the list of the best travel documentaries that will hopefully give you some inspiration for your own travels.

Interested in more travel-related movies? Check out 10 movies to watch before travelling to Japan .

You can find some of the older travel documentaries on places like YouTube. In fact, YouTube is a great place to find new and old travel documentaries in general.

And for some travel reading 20 books to read set in the Arctic and Antarctic .

If you liked this article about the best travel documentaries a share would be appreciated :

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Hi Jonny, this is Christian from Germany I pic you up from Zagreb 2008 and we travel to Germany by car. Later I visit you in Amsterdam. My speciality is Africa. Like to contact you again cause I cannot find you anymore on Couchsurfing. May I ask for your PM adress? see you Christian

Dark Tourist is the best part of this post ..

Oh, It’s too good. I like this blog very much I also bookmark this.

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The 20 Best Travel Shows on Netflix to Watch in 2024

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Whether you’ve been missing the thrill of traveling or are currently feeling inspired to pick the destination for your next adventure, travel shows can help. Netflix has no shortage of cool travel documentaries and shows, but we’ve decided to pick 20 of the best travel shows on Netflix.

If you’re traveling right now, or if some of these shows are not available in your country, use a VPN to access them without any restrictions. To play the shows, open up your VPN app and select a server located in a different state. If the show is available in your country, but you’re currently traveling internationally, choose the server of your home country to enjoy the show. 

Now let me tell you why these Netflix travel shows are worth watching and don’t blame me if you get hooked on some (or all) of them.

The best travel shows on Netflix

Before we start, let me tell you that this list is in no particular order. It’s up to you to choose the one you want to watch first, but we recommend watching them all. At home, traveling for a holiday, or at a new destination, these Netflix travel shows and documentaries will set you in the mood for discovering new places, tasting exotic food, maybe even cycling, driving, or just staying at home until you finish all the seasons. Lol 

The list is divided into travel shows or documentaries focused on nature, food, dark tourism, cycling and cars, photography, family travels, and specific destinations. Enjoy it!

NordVPN has great deals! Check them out here!

The best travel and nature Netflix shows 

Arguably one of the most famous travel documentaries on Netflix, Our Planet takes you on a world tour of earth’s fascinating creatures. Narrated by Sir David Attenborough and filmed in Ultra High Definition, this show takes you to over 50 countries and perfectly captures the wonders of the earth. 

Our Planet is the perfect Netflix travel show to give you some new ideas for your bucket list. Trust us!

Untamed Romania

While most seasoned travelers deeply appreciate Romania’s natural beauty, it is still overlooked in the mainstream media. Untamed Romania is a feature-length film celebrating the country’s immaculate wildlife.

Untamed Romania is one of the best Netflix travel documentaries for those who love nature and want to discover a new destination to travel to.

The best travel and food Netflix shows 

Down to Earth

Down to Earth documentary follows Zac Efron, the actor, and wellness expert Darin Olien as they explore healthy and sustainable practices across different cultures. This documentary showcases the diversity and creativity seen across the globe to make the most of one’s resources.

It’s intriguing and can be inspiring, not only about travel but how we think of sustainability and health. 

Street Food Asia

Sometimes the most accessible way to connect to a different culture is food. Asian food holds a special place in the world regarding street food and is probably one of the most universally beloved cuisines today. Street Food Asia takes you on a food journey across Asia and Southeast Asia’s best food cities, including Bangkok, Delhi, Osaka, and Singapore.

Street Food Asia is one of our fave travel shows on Netflix. We love Asia and Asian delights you can only find from street vendors. If you have never visited this part of the world, watch this show, and it will open your mind to a new world of flavors, aromas, and ways of life. If you are craving an Asia trip, watch it and plan international travel soon. 

Also, read our guides and articles about Asian destinations as they have many travel and food recommendations. Read our guides about Thailand , Vietnam , Indonesia , Malaysia , The Philippines , China , Taiwan, India , and Cambodia .

Ugly Delicious

Ugly Delicious is another food travel show where a star chef David Chang is looking for the world’s most satisfying grub with his buddies. Despite being a professional chef, Chang isn’t pretentious with his picks and takes us on a cross-cultural food trip filled with laughter.

Another great travel and food show on Netflix about food culture.

Somebody Feed Phil

In this series, we follow the creator of Everybody Loves Raymond, Phil Rosenthal, as he explores world cuisines and meets the locals. Phil’s upbeat attitude is probably one of the best parts of the Somebody Feed Phil travel show together with a lot of food scenes that will help your plan your future trip to incredible destinations including Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

On this Netflix travel show, you will visit cities like Bangkok , spend days in Mexico City , see Lisbon , and many more. Well-known travel destinations are pictured with flavors and a local touch.

High on The Hog: Culinary Journey From Africa to America

This show explores African American soul food and its long journey from Africa to North America. It has been dubbed the most engaging history of African American cuisine. It traces the process of cultivating, harvesting, cooking, and serving the food that enslaved Africans brought with them to the States.

This Netflix cultural travel and food show will take you on a true gastronomic journey. 

Restaurants on the Edge

As you might be able to guess from the name of the show, these hour-long episodes take us to restaurants that are located in some of the most stunning locations in the world but are struggling with their menus and dishes. They are located on the edge of the world but are also on the edge of closing down.

This travel show on Netflix pictures unique locations and a bit of drama, as you can expect. 

Netflix shows about travel, cycling and cars

Biking Borders

This one is for lovers of slow traveling and less-known countries. Two friends go on a 15,000 km bicycle journey worldwide, including the Balkans, Central Asia, and other countries, to build a school in Guatemala.

Rob and I love cycling, so this Netflix travel documentary series is tremendously appealing to us. Biking Borders is also an excellent travel inspiration for those who dream of traveling by bike or going on a cycling holiday. And if this is you, read our article about cycling on Taiwan’s East Coast and cycling in Spain .

Pedal the World

This is another Netflix travel documentary that portrays a world tour on wheels, but this time our protagonist visits 22 countries during his year-long journey, searching for the meaning in life and discovering something new in each country.

Pedal the World is an inspiring and realistic epic road trip that might give you ideas of how you want to spend your life and what really matters. 

Paul Hollywood’s Big Continental Road Trip

Paul Hollywood studies the ties between popular cars in Europe and their local culture and identity as an actor and a baker. In this short but educational Netflix documentary , Hollywood will visit France, Germany, and Italy.

This isn’t your Netflix show if you are looking for food and baking goods. But if you like cars, speed, a bit of history and traveling in Europe, you will enjoy the ride. 

Netflix travel shows about a specific destination

Katla  

This travel series focuses on Iceland, specifically the volcano Katla , which began constantly erupting just recently. The show has eight episodes and does a wonderful job portraying Iceland’s breathtaking beauty . Katla serves as a great reminder of all that we still don’t know about the earth. 

This Netflix travel show is a powerful trigger for wanderlust, and it will make you want to book a trip to Iceland as soon as possible. 

Magic Andes

A documentary following five characters from the Andes, South America’s breathtaking mountains. It is a fascinating series that highlights real people living in communities located under the mountains and paints a nuanced picture of the region of Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia .

After watching Magic Andes read our Peru travel guides , and for sure, you will want to visit South América. If you are worried about safety, then read our guide to the safest countries in South America , and you will be surprised. 

Guatemala: Heart of the Mayan World

This documentary focuses on Guatemala’s rich landscape and culture, the territory where 2000 years ago, the fascinating Mayan civilization collapsed. The Mayan influence is still all over Guatemala and Central America, and this documentary does an amazing job of connecting the dots between the past and the present.

Guatemala: Heart of the Mayan World is an inspiring Netflix travel documentary that will add interesting facts to your travel knowledge, and it might make you want to explore more of Latin America. 

Zulu Man in Japan

Starring South African rapper Nasty C, this Netflix travel documentary focuses on Japanese culture. The film takes place in Tokyo, where Nasty C explores the city’s go-to places, culture, sounds, and much more.

Zulu Man in Japan was released in 2019. It’s a 44-minute episode, perfect for those days that you want to have just a little dose of wanderlust knowing that you won’t be addicted to long travel series. 

The best Netflix travel show for unusual tourists

Dark Tourist

Filmed by journalist David Farrier, the author of the 2016 hit documentary Tickled, Dark Tourist takes a different approach to tourism. Farrier travels to places associated with death or tragedies that have turned these destinations into tourist attractions. You can expect anything from haunted places, nuclear lakes, and unusual and weird destinations. Those spots might not be on your travel bucket list, but it is interesting to know that they exist so you can avoid them on your next holiday. 

It’s one of the most-watched travel shows on Netflix, so it’s worth trying.

Netflix show for photography and travel lovers

Tales by Light

Created by Abraham Joffe, this show embraces the art of travel photography and film and the people behind them. This is an Australian documentary/reality travel series on Netflix that follows photographers around the globe as they chase that perfect shot.

This Netflix travel documentary is a good match for those who love photography and travel. It’s perfect for inspiring you to travel and photograph more. 

The best Netflix show about traveling with family

Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father

A comedian Jack Whitehall and his uptight father, Michael Whitehall, travel across the world together. The show starts with Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia, with the second season focusing on Eastern Europe. The third season explores the American West, the fourth features Australia, and the fifth is all about the United Kingdom, their homeland. On this last season expect everything from dining with Gordon Ramsay to searching for the Loch Ness monster.

A great Netflix travel show for those thinking of traveling with family. It also sparkes a reflection of our relationships with parents and how travel can be a good way to get together or break apart.

Netflix show that combines travel and design

Cabins in the Wild

This show takes place in Wales and follows engineer Dick Strawbridge and craftsman Will Hardie as they inspect eight unique cabins built for a pop-up hotel in Wales. Their final goal is to construct a cabin of their own.

If you like the British Tv series, chances are you will love Cabins in the Wild as well. If you like architecture and construction shows too. This type of Netflix show combines different elements, from traveling to design, making you want to have a cabin in the wild just for you. 

We end our list of the 20 best Netflix travel shows here. Drop us a comment if you have watched any of them or if you have any other good travel series to recommend. 

Love these Netflix travel shows and documentary ideas? Pin it for later!

4 thoughts on “The 20 Best Travel Shows on Netflix to Watch in 2024”

I’m so glad you mentioned The Latchkees! I’ve been obsessed with their adventures since I saw their episode on Netflix. It’s amazing how they make travel look so effortless and fun. I’m definitely adding some of the other shows on your list to my queue 😍

Such a great show!

I can’t believe I never knew about some of these shows! The Travel Diaries is definitely going on my watchlist. 😍

Glad you enjoyed it!

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Go places from the comfort of your home via these travel documentaries on Netflix

In times like these, there’s nothing better than dreaming about our next adventure to escape the monotony of staying put, no matter how hard the travel bug is biting you. And if you are counting the days until your next trip and are keen to explore the outdoors from the comfort of your space, we feel you. That’s why we have made a list of outstanding travel documentaries on Netflix that you can binge-watch and travel virtually.

Best travel documentaries on Netflix — 

Magical andes (2021).

Magical Andes is akin to taking a virtual trip to the majestic Andes mountains in South America. This six-part docuseries shows the landscape of the region and the ever-changing lives of people residing there. This human-centric Spanish travel documentary features unique stories of five characters who share a deep love for nature and mountains along with gorgeous panoramas, intimate interviews, soothing narrations and unique geological as well as environmental features in the local land.

Moving Art (2018)

Ace filmmaker Louie Schwartzberg captures phenomenal shots while travelling through forests, oceans, deserts and untrodden spots of places like New Zealand, Tahiti, Machu Pichu, Hokkaido, Koh Samui, Iceland and Marques Islands. The breath-taking imagery paired with a soothing background score and time-lapses focus on different locations and weave together mini-stories of peace and tranquillity.

Paul Hollywood’s Big Continental Road Trip (2017)

Master baker Paul Hollywood embarks on a road trip across European countries with proud automotive history, driving supercars like Aston Martin and meeting local celebrities, car experts and motorists on his way. This fun series is all about cars and gorgeous vistas coupled with spectacular cinematography of picturesque European landscape, making it an ideal watch for foodies, travel and auto enthusiasts.

Expedition Happiness (2017)

Expedition Happiness is a travelogue made by a German couple who buys an old school bus and attempt an epic road trip across North America with their dog. Felix Starck, an accomplished filmmaker, and Mogli aka Selima Taibi, a talented singer-songwriter, embark on a search for true happiness with their dog Rudy. They refurbish an old school bus and convert it into a tiny home and plan the ultimate adventure, travelling across Canada and the US while keeping it real — be it border problems, visa issues, awful roads or other difficulties.

Untamed Romania (2018)

Untamed Romania is a fuss-free and pleasant to watch series about wild spots in the European country. The travel documentary educates people about the wildlife of one of the largest and natural habitats in Europe. It spans across desolate mountains, stunning landscapes, the vast wilderness surrounding the Danube River which looks like it comes straight out of a fairy tale.

Tales by Light (2015-2018)

Travel docuseries series Tales by Light is filled with moving portraits, panoramic imagery, eerie music and philosophical narration in pursuit of exploration of the natural world by various photographers and filmmakers. It has some unseen footage from unique angles making it a series ahead of its time. The series was filmed in 6k and 4k and is available to watch in 4K.

Pedal the World (2015)

Pedal the World is a story of a young millennial who sets out to explore the world over one adventure-filled year on an epic 18,000 kilometres bicycle journey across 22 countries. The German-born amateur filmmaker and editor Felix Starck leaves the comfort of his home on two wheels on a Vlog style personal journey filled with extreme circumstances and inspires people to follow their wanderlust as well.

Dark Tourist (2018)

Dark Tourist is one-of-a-kind travel series presented by Journalist David Ferrier who explores dark tourism and travels to some shady corners of the world and often messes things up leading to dramatic consequences. The series is a wild ride depicting bizarre tourist traps and unsociable things with Farrier’s amusing narration that serves as a nice contrast to the inexplicable situations he often finds himself in.

Jack Whitehall: Travels with my Father (2020)

This British reality series stars English comedian Jack Whitehall and his father going on a vacation together. The storyline depicts a valiant journey with season one highlighting trekking across Southeast Asia – Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. The series shows Jack Whitehall in his element with his British humour and quick-witted comments making it a light-hearted travelogue. The duo always seems spirited and do their best to squeeze in as many activities as they can while showing teamwork and father-son friendship.

All images: Courtesy Netflix 

Akriti Sharma

Full-time writer, part-time science nerd, Akriti switched gears to writing when she was at the precipice of her scientific career as a biotechnologist and never looked back. She loves to write every day and believes in pursuing stories with moral force. She is an enthusiastic traveller, photographer, chai aficionado, aspiring minimalist and a strong proponent of the Multiverse Theory.

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LIFESTYLE · January 28, 2020

13 of the Best Travel Documentaries on Netflix in 2020

Netflix, chill… and travel. I’m not going to lie, I enjoy being a couch potato as much as anybody else from time to time. Tucked under a blanket, a not so healthy snack at arms reach, my favorite travel shows, and I feel like I’m on the road again. Here are 13 of the best travel documentaries on Netflix in 2020 for your next couch potato Sunday!

1. Our Planet

Our Planet is a love letter to Earth and a call to save our home. Each episode focuses on a different ecosystem. Jaw-dropping glaciers, majestic forests, high seas, they each have their time in the spotlight. Watch now to fall (back) in love with our planet.

2. Residente

If you’ve ever heard of the Puerto Rican duo Calle 13, then you probably know who Residente is. René Pérez Joglar is a rapper and one of the founders of the band. In this documentary, he takes a DNA test and travels to all of the locations where his ancestors came from, creating music along the way.

3. Dark Tourist

Before this series came out, I had never heard of the term “Dark Tourist”, but it appears to be a global phenomenon! Dark tourists visit places where catastrophes have happened, like Hiroshima, or look for unusual dark experiences such as a simulated illegal border crossing. I’m not sure it’s my cup of tea, but it makes for an interesting series to watch!

4. Street Food

Street Food takes you on a culinary tour around Asia to discover some countries’ iconic local dishes and more. The show is as much about the dishes passed down from generation to generation as it is about the people in the kitchen. There’s only one season so far but hopefully, Netflix will come out with more episodes focusing on other parts of the globe.

5. Under an Arctic Sky

If you have Instagram and love everything travel, chances are you know who Chris Burkard is. Well, this documentary is as amazing as his photos! Under an Arctic Sky tells the story behind his journey to Iceland to surf at the most remote locations under the northern lights. Surfer or not, you’ll love it for the out of this world landscapes and amazing cinematography.

6. Tales by Light

Looking to improve your photography skills?! This series is for you! Following professional photographers traveling around the world, Tales by Light gives us an insight into what makes a great photo. From capturing places to people you’ll learn a trick or two on how to take powerful shots.

7. 72 Dangerous Places to Live

Ok, I guess this one shouldn’t make you want to visit those places?! But bear with me because some of these are also some of the most unique places on Earth! From Antarctica’s extreme cold to Venezuela’s everlasting lightning storm, you may not want to book your next holiday there, but you’ll learn a lot about our world.

A documentary about Conrad Anker, Jimmy Chin, and Renan Ozturk’s attempt to climb Mount Meru via the Shark’s Fin route. More than a story about ascending a mountain, it’s a story about perseverance and a chance to see breathtaking landscapes we will probably never see in person.

9. Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby

At the opposite end of the spectrum… Ever wondered what it would be like to stay at one of the world’s most luxurious and unique hotels? After watching this show, you’ll have a pretty good idea, including what it takes to run such incredible hotels! If your budget allows, it might even give you holiday ideas.

10. Magical Andes

Small disclaimer: I might be biased for this one as I lived in the Andes for two years, and am absolutely under their spell. From Argentina to Colombia, Magical Andes explores the region through 5 people’s connection to the majestic mountain range. Expect epic landscapes and touching storytelling.

11. Chasing Coral

Not your typical travel documentary, but nevertheless important to raise awareness about how fast some ecosystems are changing, and how we can take action to preserve nature. Chasing Corals follows scientists, divers, and photographers as they document the disappearance of the world’s coral reefs.

12. Our planet: Behind the Scenes

I watched Our planet embarrassingly fast. And during the whole series, all I could think about was how great the cinematography is. Who are the camera geniuses who captured these scenes? How was it like to shoot them?! Netflix must have heard me because there’s now a behind the scenes (and it’s everything)!

13. The Dawn Wall

This one barely made the cut because I just recently saw it on the plane… and it’s great! Similarly to Meru , this documentary follows the ascent of The Dawn Wall, this time by Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson. I won’t spoil it for you but they lived on the vertical cliff for weeks and it’s worth your time just for that.

14. [Insert Your Favorite]

Now that you know what I’ve been watching lately, I want to know what are your favorite travel shows! Please leave a comment with your recommendations, and who knows, maybe we can do a part 2 with the best travel movies.

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February 7, 2020 at 11:23 pm

I LOVE Dark Tourist! It’s really fascinating. I haven’t heard of any of the others – I’ll have to check them out! Another one I love (also on Netflix) is Departures. 🙂

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With international travel curtailed, watching travel shows on Netflix inspire us to dream, and there’s a huge list of excellent shows to remind us that is a world out there waiting. Netflix has some of the best content to keep our travel bug fed, from food to travel and nature. The best Netflix travel shows allow you to explore the world from our living rooms, experience new cultures, destinations and food without leaving the comfort of your chair or sofa. 

Watching travel shows will educate you about other countries and their people while introducing you to places you may have never considered visiting before. In addition, watching a travel show on Netflix can often prove just how easy it is to get around the world, and nothing is off-limits as long as you plan well. Watching a travel show on Netflix can be either inspirational or educational, with valuable information to prepare for a trip abroad as well as helpful information on a variety of topics including health and safety, how to pack, what to take and do’s and don’ts in different countries or even on cruises.

Travel shows are fun to watch as the producers often go to great lengths to make them entertaining for anyone interested in the destinations featured. So please sit back and enjoy incredible landscapes filmed with professional equipment by professionals who know what they’re doing. You’ll learn lots and soak up amazing sights and discover new places to travel abroad with the help of today’s technology.

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Travel Shows on Netflix

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1- Magical Andes

2- down to earth with zac efron, 3- zulu man in japan, 4- tales by light, 5- dark tourist, 6- jack whitehall: travels with my father, 7- guatemala: heart of the mayan world, 8- untamed romania, 9- street food asia, 10- somebody feed phil, 11- salt fat acid heat, 12- chef’s table, 13- ugly delicious, 14- high on the hog, 15- expedition happiness, 16- paul holywood’s big continental road trip, 17- pedal the world, 18- biking borders, 19- the kindness diaries, 20- magical land of oz, 21- planet earth i and ii, 22- cabins in the wild, 23- the world’s most amazing vacation rentals, 24- instant hotel, 25- travel man, top travel shows on netflix.

If you love exploring the mountains and people living in between them, this Netflix travel documentary will appeal to your sense of adventure.

Travel to Tierra del Fuego in Argentina’s southern tip, a region with abundant wildlife that thrives on its temperate climate because of its isolation from other continents’ animals.

The terrain ranges from diverse forests with giant trees like Patagonian Cypress, Andean Beech tree or Southern Chilean Myrtle to white-sand beaches washed by turquoise waves as seen in Ushuaia where Magellan landed 400 years ago and named it “Great Land.”

Discover Tierra del Fuego, the southernmost point on Earth in Argentin a, and Torres del Paine Park, one of South America’s most beautiful places.

Follow the Andes through Mendoza up into Bolivia, where you’ll find Uyuni – a large salt flat that holds more than 11 billion tons of sediments left by ancient lakes from 15 million years ago.

Nearby La Paz offers an aerial tram ride for views like no other as it takes off over 2,600 meters above sea level with breathtaking panoramas of The Bolivian Plateau stretching out before you below.

If this isn’t enough adventure in South America , there are the mysteries of Machu Picchu to discover.

Released in: 2019

Down to Earth with Zac Efron is a Netflix travel documentary that follows the journeys of American actor, producer and singer-songwriter Zac Efron.

His travels to France, London , Sardinia, Iceland, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica and Peru cover the serious issue of sustainable ways in a light and easily digestible tone.

Together with wellness expert Darin Olien, Zac searches for the secrets to long life and good health.

The series also addresses attaining a higher level of eco-consciousness, with a good dose of thrills.

Zac explores the birthplace of eco-tourism in Costa Rica and learns how a county is obtaining power from 100% renewable sources.

Another interesting activity is exploring London’s clean eating, green walls and urban beekeeping.

From Calais to Paris and Lourdes in France , the theme of water is another fascinating subject to explore through this travel series.

Released: 10 July 2020

The Zulu Man in Japan is a documentary exploring Japanese culture and is a 48-minute visual experience.

The travel documentary is a collaboration between the award-winning Durbanite and some of Japan’s coolest musicians, including JP The Wavey, Ricky and Yoshi.

Zulu Man explores Japan’s food, culture, life and public transport in this contemporary cultural travel show that fans will love.

Released: 25 September 2020

Tales by Light is an Australian documentary reality television series that originally aired on National Geographic.

It follows several professional photographers worldwide as they capture images that tell a story through their eyes, and behind every powerful image lies a tale worth telling.

The photographers in Tales by Light push the limits of their craft and convey a sense of places and cultures through their art.

Each episode is focused on a different photographer, and the themes focus on protecting beautiful places and cultures around the wider world.

Released: 24 May 2015 and available on Netflix 11 November 2016

From a haunted forest to a nuclear lake and other places where death and tragedy occurred, if quirky and macabre travel spots attract you, make sure you watch Dark Tourist on Netflix.

The series visits Medellin and delves into the legacy of Pablo Escobar and on to Mexico City, where the followers of Santa Muerte spill their secrets.

In Japan, explore Tomioka, which was evacuated during the Fukushima nuclear disaster, a robot hotel, death worshipping cult and a suicide hotspot.

Explore murder locations in Milwaukee, where Jeffrey Dahmer did gruesome deeds, go on tours that investigate the assassination of JFK, meet vampires in New Orleans and take a tour of the Manson murders.

Dark tourism may not be mainstream but it’s an interesting show.

Released: 20 July 2018

Travels with My Father is a series that follows comedian Jack Whitehall and his father across southeast Asia.

Father and son start off by exploring Vietnam , Cambodia and Thailand and move to Eastern Europe in the second series, while the third series is in the American West and the fourth series discovers Australia.

It’s a must-see for Jack Whitehall fams as this travel documentary series is a funny and heartwarming take on life.

Released: 22 September 2017

This documentary explores the rich landscape and culture of Guatemala, featuring the mysteries of ancient Mayan cities.

Guatemala is the heart of the 2000-year-old Mayan civilisation, which mysteriously collapsed.

This Netflix travel series starts in Petén, which has over 50 Mayan archaeological sites.

Maya culture continues to influence contemporary Guatemala, where four million people speak 24 Maya languages and traditions like weaving and counting the days in the Maya calendar still exist.

Watch this show on Netflix, and you’ll be itching to visit Guatemala’s museums, archaeological sites and towns.

Released: 11 December 2019

Untamed Romania is a feature-length film that celebrates the natural beauty of Romania , featuring its wildlife.

The show is narrated by Victor Rebengiuc and was produced through 12 months of his travels around the country.

From the Danube Delta to the Făgăraș mountains, this beautiful travel diary showcases the different seasons in Romania and is a must-see for nature lovers.

If you’re interested in exploring Romania, this series is worth watching.

Released: 18 March 2018.

Food Travel Documentaries on Netflix

Some of the best travel shows are to do with food.

Street Food Asia is a relatable show on Netflix that takes viewers into the kitchens in the backstreets of Asia’s best food cities.

From Bangkok to Singapore, Delhi to Osaka , the American Netflix documentary by David Gelb and Brian McGinn will take you on an exciting exploration of popular dishes.

The show splices in archival footage with interviews and follows street cooks and how street food has played a part in the culture of each country.

It’s one of the best travel documentary series to discover Asian delights.

Released: 26 April 2019

This Netflix original follows the creator of Everybody Loves Raymond worldwide, visiting cities like Dublin, Bangkok, Mexico City, New Orleans, Buenos Aires and Cape Town.

The fourth season goes from Rio de Janeiro to the Mississippi Delta to Hawaii.

Experiences include eating street food in Chinatown and exploring Bangkok’s floating market.

From slurping pho in Saigon and drinking Vietnamese coffee to eating shakshuka and visiting a synagogue-themed hummus shop in Tel Aviv, readers go on a fascinating discovery of delicious recipes

Released: 12 January 2018.

New York Times Magazine columnist Samin Nosrat is the brainchild behind the docuseries, based on the award-winning book.

Salt Fat Acid Heat explores the ingredients at the heart of dishes around the world.

From olive oil and cheese in Italy to soy and miso in Japan, watching this travel show on Netflix is a great way for foodies to experience the world.

Released: 2018

Another famous travel show on Netflix is Chef’s Table, which follows the best chefs in the world, an episode at a time.

From the tranquillity of rural Sweden to the mountains of Peru and temples in South Korea , watching this chef show is a fantastic way to explore the world through its food culture.

Each episode follows a different chef and features each chef’s philosophies to cooking.

Released: 26 April 2015

Awards: 2018 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program and many other awards since 2015.

Another popular chef show follows award-winning chef David Chang on a culinary journey of the popular hotspots.

Accompanied by a bevy of interesting characters, including artists, writers, activists and famous chefs, they use food to break down cultural barriers.

From top-notch kitchens to local eateries, the show is a showcase of food in some of the globe’s best foodie cities, including Copenhagen, Tokyo and Houston.

Released: 23 February 2018.

African-American soul food is the star of High on the Hog, a travel show on Netflix based on the eponymous book.

A culmination of years of work showcases the history of African American cuisine, tracing the journey from cultivating and harvesting to processing and cooking.

It’s a celebration of food that African slaves brought to America, including blackeyed peas, watermelon and okra.

This is one of the best travel shows to help you delve into this aspect of America’s history.

Released: 26 May 2021.

Road Trip Travel Shows On Netflix

Expedition Happiness follows a young German couple, Felix and Mogli, who take off on a road journey in a refurbished school bus.

From Alaska to Mexico, this travel show is about the couple’s search for happiness.

They leave city life in Berlin to feed their souls with their mountain dog.

Various setbacks make this show a riveting watch, and the characters are real people who have fears and hopes.

From worrying about whether soldiers have framed them by planting drugs under their bus to drinking tequila with a drug dealer, you’ll want to know whether they do find happiness in their travels.

Released: 4 May 2017.

Baker and actor Paul Hollywood, a fan of sleek sports cars, discovers how popular cars in Europe are connected with culture and identity.

In Paul Hollywood’s Big Continental Road Trip, Paul visits France , Italy and Germany to drive popular cars such as the £2 million Italian Huayra, a 2CV in France and a German VW Kombi Camper Van.

Released: 28 May 2017

Follow a young millennial as he bicycles around the globe through 22 countries, searching for the meaning in life.

The 20,000 km journey is a year-long bicycle tour through multiple countries, visiting some of the most famous landmarks around the world.

From Germany to Turkey to South east Asia to New Zealand and the USA, Felix Starck has an adventure like no other, documenting his personal experience.

It’s a bucket list journey for cycling fans to watch.

Released: 29 October 2015

Some of the best travel shows are about exploring places while doing something good for humanity.

A 15,000 km bicycle tour around the world raising funds to build a school in Guatemala is a worthy cause to follow.

Follow the adventures of Max and Nono from Berlin to Beijing and be inspired by their Beijing to Berlin.

Released: 2019

The Kindness Diaries is a social experiment that puts the spotlight on generosity and selflessness.

Leon Logothetis goes on a road tour to find compassion from strangers.

This unique travel show is one of the best travel documentaries for an uplifting watch that brings hope in a world where greed is rampant.

Released: 21 February 2017

Nature Travel Shows On Netflix

Discover the magic of Australia while watching the Magical Land of Oz.

Australia is a beautiful country with many natural surprises, from the wild ocean to the highest peaks, from tropical savannahs to lush rainforests.

From wild numbats to giant cuttlefish, there is a myriad of wild creatures to meet.

Barry Humphries is the narrator of this popular show that reveals the challenges animals face in this land of extremes.

Released in: 17 February 2019

Sir David Attenborough narrates both Planet Earth and its sequel.

Both are the best travel shows for lovers of nature to devour.

From learning about flora and fauna to South east Asia’s smooth-coated otters, from Tibetan foxes to endangered Ethiopian ibex, leopards in Mumbai, Jaipur’s monkeys and Southern France’s catfish, these two nature travel documentaries on Netflix are sure to delight.

Released in: 2006 and 2016

Two men follow a competition to create a portable hotel in the wilderness consisting of eight cabins, each with its style and décor.

Competition rounds are based on themes, such as the battle of the dragon where a cabin built to look like the eye of the dragon competes against one that looks like a dragon’s claw.

Cabin designs are creative and watching the show will inspire you to pack your bags and head out into the wilderness.

A luxurious cabin inspired by a Welsh coal pit fights it out with a contemporary slate cabin. Other fantastic creations are a cabin inspired by the legend of King Arthur and a double-storey tepee.

Released: 2017

The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals helps viewers discover unique vacation rentals covering a wide range of budgets.

The show highlights unique options such as a treehouse in Atlanta, a cabin in Hawaii with its own waterfall and a snake-shaped apartment in Mexico City.

There are plenty of luxury escapes to swoon over and some amazing experiences, such as waking up in a bed of marshmallow pillows in a room that costs $15,000 a night and sleeping in a bamboo pod in Bali.

From a private Bahamas island to the Yellow Ferry, which is the oldest surviving wooden ferry on the West Coast, to a cave in the Ozark Mountains, this travel show will wow you with a world of delightful accommodation choices.

Released: 2021

Instant Hotel is a reality show where teams of Australian homeowners stay in one another’s rentals and rate their experiences.

Each team and a judge scores each other based on a set of criteria including the property, location, attractions, value and a good night’s sleep.

The highest-scoring team moves to the Grand Final, and the prizes are impressive, such as $100,000 in cash and a stay at a Californian Instant Hotel.

Released: 7 November 2017

Travel Man follows the comic and his British celebrity guests as they explore cities like Hong Kong, Helsinki and Miami.

Fancy spending 48 hours in Athens with Dawn French or 48 hours in Florence with Rebel Wilson, or 48 hours in Istanbul with Adam Hills?

The programme a 48-hour itinerary in a format that moves fast with plenty of tips and a dash of humour.

The two-times nominated BAFTA show also won Best Factual Programme three years in a row at the RTS Midlands awards.

You can watch Travel Man on Amazon Prime.

Released: 30 March 2015

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Best Netflix Travel Shows | Travel Documentaries to Watch

If you’re like most who have that wanderlust feeling, but aren’t able to fulfill it at the moment, the best you can do is to try and fill those cravings with some travel series. Thankfully, this list of the best Netflix travel series will help you choose an adventure from your living room. Maybe they can ignite the adventurer within and give you inspiration for when you can hit the road again.

If one of these Netflix travel shows does grab your attention and makes you want to follow their lead, make sure to remember some of these adventure travel tips so you’re prepared for everything. You can also check out our list for the best wanderlust inducing travel movies streaming on Netflix !

6 Top Travel Shows on Netflix

Netflix is known to have some of the best travel shows available at the moment. The best travel documentaries on Netflix all have their quirks ranging from the obscure to the outright comical. These travel shows will either make you stare in amazement or have you crying with laughter while being taken on a journey.

Street Food

This one is for all the foodies, who love to travel just to eat their way through their trip and taste as many local dishes as possible. One of the best travel documentaries on Netflix, they take you along for the ride as they explore street food from around the world. This traveling show has a stunning combination of interviews with street chefs, exploring their history.

This is all put within the larger picture of how influential street food is in each chef’s homeland. Each season focuses on a specific region/continent, with Asia and Latin America’s street food being showcased in the first two seasons.

Even though you might not be able to travel to try that food right now, nothing is stopping you from taking some notes and taking a world tour in your kitchen.

Dark Tourist

Have you ever heard of dark tourism? For the more obscure travelers, this series takes you to places and experiences that are not exactly conventional. David Farrier takes you on an adventure to explore the darker and lesser-known cultures and parts of the world.

This is one of those Netflix travel documentaries that will take you on tours ranging from the odd to the totally bizarre and creepy. David visits a full-scale Noah’s Ark, a horror house and even tours La Catedral with Pablo Escobar’s former hitman. This might not be to everyone’s taste, but is definitely worth a watch if you want something a little different and to see the weird and wonderful this world has to offer.

If you like to be different then have a look here if you really want to get off the beaten track . You could also try some dark tourism for yourself and visit the town of Prypiat outside of Chernobyl , exploring the time capsule that remains.

Jack Whitehall – Travels With My Father

Imagine traveling with one of your parents for a road trip documentary, with all your contrasting personality traits and quirks for all to see. If that sounds entertaining – this travel series is full of it! Comedian Jack Whitehall takes a trip with his father to various places around the world while getting themselves into a few awkward situations.

For some lighthearted but also occasionally cringe-worthy family travel escapades, this is one of the best shows on Netflix. They approach all their journeys through South East Asia, Europe and West America with very different perspectives. Although through all the bickering, there are some wholesome moments between the two. That is until a third and unusual member joins their trip.

The Kindness Diaries

Just how far could you travel around the world using kindness as a currency? This again is one of the best travel shows on Netflix with the traveler, Leon, traveling around the world and relying on the kindness of strangers for food, shelter and petrol. Leon is not able to accept money at all on his journey. During all these interactions with locals who help, he learns more about them and their stories.

In return for these strangers’ kindness, he pays it forward by helping those who help him realize their dreams. He travels around with a vintage vehicle in each season, first a vintage motorcycle and then a vintage car. This is one of those road trip documentaries that will immerse you in the local culture and show that there are some truly selfless people in this world. Be warned, this is a bit of a tear jerker.

Tales by Light

Tales by Light is something a bit different from National Geographic on Netflix. This is a travel documentary series that you would probably have never seen before. This thought-provoking series takes you on a journey with professional photographers who travel around the world to capture iconic and powerful images.

This series has stunning imagery that will make you stare in wonderment as these photographers push their limits to capture that elusive image. All while this series answers the question on everyone’s mind, what is the meaning behind that image and how did they do it?

Down to Earth With Zac Efron

For a travel series with a focus on sustainability while traveling around the world (yes the irony is not lost) a journey with Zac Efron is surprisingly light-hearted. The series focuses on Zac as he searches the globe, exploring new countries in search of a healthy and sustainable way to live.

Arguably, this series is somewhat more of a journey of self-reflection with travel as a backdrop. This series will take you around the world and show you how countries are attempting to combat climate change .

Best Travel Documentaries – What are you Adding to Your List?

Travel documentaries on Netflix give you a chance to live vicariously through others. They take you on a personal journey and give an in-depth look that you might even miss yourself. At least you can sit back, relax and go on a visual mind journey with those on the screen and take mental notes for the day that you board the plane to start your journey.

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1 thought on “best netflix travel shows | travel documentaries to watch”.

Loved Jack Whitehall Travels with my Father. Gotta enjoy British Humor. And enjoyed Down To Earth.

Any recommended non-Netflix shows we should be looking out for too?

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The 10 Best Netflix Travel Shows And Documentaries In Asia

With international trips dissipated to pretty much non-existence, for the past few years we’ve had to turn to different forms of entertainment to try and satiate our desires to travel.

Unsurprisingly, consuming online content was one way that many people realized was going to be as close as they could get to experiencing the other side of the world.

Watching as real people explored foreign cities, ate peculiar foods, and interacted with strangers somewhat filled that void that we all wished we could go out and fill ourselves with.

Netflix saw the opportunity and absolutely leaped into the task of spoiling us with huge additions of travel shows and documentaries that were made to engage us in ways that makes us feel like we’re actually there in that moment.

Their best content has helped us keep the travel bug at bay and fed into our wanderlust desires in the best ways possible.

Watching these shows, whether it be about countries we’ve already visited or ones that we’re eager to visit once we’re allowed to, inspires us and gives us insight on how we can better plan the trip when the time comes around (and it will come, hopefully sooner rather than later!).

And to be honest, they’re just super fun and easy to watch!

There is currently a plethora of shows about food, travel, and/or culture – but the best ones are the ones that combine all three.

Let’s look into the 10 best Netflix travel shows and documentaries out right now!

1. Street Food Series – Asia (2019)

The Street Food series is a much-loved global series that’s the perfect viewing experience for foodies around the world. Every episode follows the story of a local chef and shares how their famous street food stall came to be.

If you’re a fan of journeys, this series will take you on some wild rides. You’ll be pretty much learning the origin stories of some of the chefs, some who literally started from the bottom, some of who took over flailing family businesses to completely turn them around.

The first series focuses on Asia, taking you for a tour around popular Asian destinations such as Thailand , Singapore , Delhi, Seoul , and many more. The second season focuses on Latin America.

2. Twogether (2020)

Veteran South Korean entertainer Lee Seung Gi and popular Taiwanese actor Liu Yi-Hao (stage name Jasper) are thrown in the deep end in this fun travel and exploration documentary series.

Basically, before starting filming in Indonesia, they met briefly for the first time when they were told that they would be filming this show. Fast-forward to months later and they’re both stepping off the airplane in Yogyakarta, a foreign Indonesian city neither have ever visited before.

From there, both parties must navigate through ‘missions’ (tasks) as submitted by their various fans across multiple cities around Asia, all whilst trying to overcome their language barrier and adapt to their environment.

From the get-go, you get the strong feeling that this is not scripted, as both parties are as awkward as it gets. Communicating in Taiwanese, Korean, and a sprinkle of English, you can feel them warming up to each other as the show goes on, and eventually they form a wonderful brotherhood you just can’t make up.

Both Seung Gi and Jasper are adventurous, comical and overall, wonderfully likable in this amazing series.

3. Somebody Feed Phil (2020)

In this fun and light-hearted travel, food and culture documentary, Phil Rosenthal, the creator of the classic sitcom “Everybody Loves Raymond” travels the world to indulge in delicious local cuisine and explore more about the culture of the destinations.

Some of the cities that he visits include Bangkok , Saigon , Seoul, and Singapore.

Unsurprisingly, his genuine interest in local customs, openness to trying even the strangest of foods, and amusing dry humour have hooked hundreds of thousands of people around the world. There are currently 4 seasons available to watch on Netflix.

4. J-Style Trip (2020)

Chinese artist Jay Chou is synonymous with legendary music. Many argue that it was he who put C-pop on the global map; if not, then it was he who expanded it beyond its horizons.

On the surface level, this documentary showcases Jay and his crew traveling around different destinations around the world. They perform crazy magic tricks, participate in fun and adventurous activities, and generally have good banter.

However, if you’re a long-time C-pop music lover, you’ll find that this series is much more than what it appears to be.

Whilst there is the glitz and glamor of visiting Paris and globetrotting through Singapore, there are moments of nostalgia as Jay Chou talks about his childhood dreams and inspiration. Certain conversations delve you deeper into the thoughts of the musician and remind you that he is a human before he is an artist.

Regardless of whether you’re a Jay Chou fan or not, this is a great series to binge.

5. The Hungry & The Hairy (2022)

Globally renowned k-popstar Rain and veteran South Korean comedian Ro Hong-chul are a pair of two unlikely friends in their late 30s who get together to traverse the country for light adventure and great food.

The synopsis of the series is basic enough: from Jeju Island to all the way back to Seoul, the two friends dip into various locations with their motorbikes to savour the scenery and sample the local food offerings.

This is a super laid-back, easy-going travelogue show that doesn’t take itself too seriously.  

From the ridiculous outfits to the never-ending banter, you’ll find yourself immersed in the chemistry of the two as well as the gorgeous shots of the areas they go exploring.

One highlight of this show includes the endless drone shots of the long stretches of highways with mountains and beaches flanking the sides, reminding you that there is a whole world out there to explore soon.

Another highlight is the food they devour. When Rain is not showing off his culinary skills and cooking up a storm, they’re stopping into some restaurants that are local favourites to eat until they pass out (literally).

6. Midnight Asia – Eat Dance Dream (2022)

This eclectic show is unique in that rather than show celebrities, it follows the lives of individuals living life in some of the craziest night scenes across Asia.

Brightly lit neon sign boards, big personalities, and stunning drone shots characterize this show. This travel documentary series specifically shoots late at night to really showcase the party vibes of the city it’s highlighting.

The first episode focuses on Tokyo . In Shinjuku, we’re introduced to Sumiko Iwamuro, an 85-year-old DJ.  

We get to know Rogerio Ignacio Vaz, a Brazilian born to Japanese parents, who’s a mixologist.  

We follow Shotaro Komijo, as he drags his bar cart, Twillo, to a random location and then sends an update to his followers via his social media.

These are only a few of the personalities you’ll get to meet.

From Tokyo to Mumbai, Seoul to Taipei , East Asia has its moment in this series.

7. Ugly Delicious (2020)

Part cooking show, part documentary, Ugly Delicious the gold standard for those interested in how food and culture intertwine.

David Chang is a renowned chef who is the owner of the globally popular Momofuku restaurant group. From noodles to fried chicken sandwiches to pastries, his culinary ventures have left little for the imagination.

He starred in both seasons of Ugly Delicious, traveling the world, sampling and breaking down dishes and providing commentary and insight on its concept and history.

Viewers will like how grounded this show is. It isn’t merely just about the food itself; David features guests who sit down over a meal, conversing easily and candidly. There are nostalgic memories brought up, discussions about comfort foods being commercialized, and immigrants opening up shop to provide a taste of home.

David Chang ultimately drives home the message that food is a universal language, and it brings people together.

8. Zulu Man in Japan (2019)

In this short documentary, South African rapper Nasty C takes to the streets of Japan , immersing himself into the local culture, collaborating with local artists, and exposing himself to the vibrant creative arts and music scene.

With only a 48-minute running time, this is a quick and easy watch. You follow Nasty C as he freely and liberally explores the country’s night scene, gets into the thick of the local fashion and arts, attends concerts and more.

For those who have travelled to Japan before, you would know that the vibes in this country are unmatched.

So, to witness an up-and-coming rapper who’s never visited the country before take in the electric scenery, energy, and people the same way you did – in awe and wonderment – it will make you feel things.

9. Flavorful Origins

In this colourful documentary series, Flavorful Origins masterfully takes us through the various traditional cooking techniques of the Chaoshan Cuisine.

The history and culture intertwined with the real individuals in this series provides us with an insight into this relatively unknown branch of Chinese cuisine.  

Each episode focuses on a different dish, some we may have come across before, and others we’ve likely never ever heard about.

The in-depth look at how the chefs, some of whom have had techniques passed down to them from generations before, prepare and cook the food will amaze you.

Frying, grilling, steaming – no cooking method is left off the table.

Whilst there are a whopping 20-episodes, which might seem a tad long for some people, the standardized approach yet fresh content of each episode will have you eating away at the show quicker than you realise.

10. Midnight Diner Tokyo Stories (2019)

The Midnight Diner Tokyo Series is a little bit different from the rest of shows mentioned above. Rather than filming real people traveling the world and exploring food, this show is a work of fiction.

However, it’s not fiction as you know it. Rather, with nuanced characters and clever script-writing, it can be described as a travelogue, a food review show, or even a commentary show on the Japanese lifestyle.

The show itself follows the story of ‘Master’, the owner/chef of a small diner in Tokyo who serves a variety of Japanese dishes to his customers. The diner is open from midnight to 7am, and you quickly find that customers are generally regulars who come for Master’s listening ear and comfort food.

If you’re missing hearing the Japanese language, are looking for something to watch that won’t challenge your thinking too hard, and just want to have a feel-good show on, Midnight Diner Tokyo Stories will introduce you to some unique characters.

I hope you enjoyed our selection of the best Netflix travel shows and documentaries. If you’re looking for some shows to get you out of that (lack of) travel funk, we’re sure that any pick off this list will do the job.

Travel shows and documentaries work wonders in making us feel inspired about the future of travel.

Whether you’re determined to visit your favourite country next year and just want something to tide you over for now, or looking to get some ideas about where you can go next once restrictions fully lift – we hope you find it watching one of these remarkable shows.

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The Best Documentaries on Netflix that Will Satisfy Your Curious Mind

D ocumentaries offer a captivating glimpse into real-life stories, historical events, and fascinating mysteries, satisfying our curiosity and expanding our understanding of the world. With an array of compelling subjects, Netflix boasts a diverse selection of documentaries that are sure to pique your interest and satisfy your curious mind. Here are some of the best documentaries on Netflix that promise to inform, entertain, and inspire.

1. World War II: From the Frontlines

Dive into the depths of one of the most significant conflicts in history with this gripping docuseries. Through vividly enhanced archival footage and voices from all sides of the conflict, "World War II: From the Frontlines" brings the tumultuous era to life like never before. Featuring narration by John Boyega, this series offers a comprehensive exploration of WWII's pivotal moments and enduring impact.

2. MH370: The Plane That Disappeared

In 2014, the world was stunned when Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 vanished from radar, leaving behind a haunting mystery. Delve into this modern enigma with the docuseries "MH370: The Plane That Disappeared," which explores the baffling disappearance of the aircraft and the ongoing search for answers. Through interviews, archival footage, and expert analysis, this series sheds light on one of aviation's greatest mysteries.

3. The Greatest Night in Pop

Step back in time to a historic moment in music history with "The Greatest Night in Pop." This documentary takes viewers behind the scenes of the iconic recording session for "We Are the World," the legendary charity single produced to raise funds for African famine relief in 1985. With archival footage and insightful interviews, this film offers a fascinating glimpse into the making of a pop culture phenomenon.

4. Curry & Cyanide - The Jolly Joseph Case

True crime enthusiasts won't want to miss "Curry & Cyanide - The Jolly Joseph Case," a gripping documentary that unravels the shocking story of Jolly Joseph and the six mysterious deaths in her family. Through in-depth interviews and compelling reenactments, this film delves into the chilling details of the case, exploring the motives and methods behind the crimes.

5. Unknown: The Lost Pyramid

Embark on an archaeological adventure with "Unknown: The Lost Pyramid," a captivating documentary that follows Egyptian archaeologists as they search for a buried pyramid. Uncovering tombs and artifacts dating back over 4,000 years, this film offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of ancient Egypt and the quest to unlock its secrets.

6. Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones

Discover the secrets to longevity and vitality with "Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones." Join author Dan Buettner as he travels the globe to explore five unique communities known as Blue Zones, where people live remarkably long and healthy lives. Through interviews with centenarians and insights from experts, this series offers valuable lessons on how to optimize health and well-being.

7. Ancient Apocalypse

Journey into the past with journalist Graham Hancock as he explores the mysteries of lost civilizations in "Ancient Apocalypse." From submerged cities to enigmatic monuments, this series uncovers evidence of ancient cultures dating back to the last Ice Age. With Hancock's expertise and enthusiasm, viewers are treated to a captivating exploration of humanity's distant past.

8. Mysteries of the Faith

Delve into the world of sacred relics and miraculous phenomena with "Mysteries of the Faith." This intriguing documentary explores the history and significance of Catholic relics believed to possess extraordinary powers. From relics of saints to artifacts of religious significance, this series offers a fascinating look at the intersection of faith, history, and mystery.

9. FYRE: The Greatest Party That Never Happened

Explore one of the most infamous events in recent history with "FYRE: The Greatest Party That Never Happened." This documentary chronicles the rise and fall of the ill-fated Fyre Festival, a luxury music event that descended into chaos and controversy. Through firsthand accounts and behind-the-scenes footage, this film offers a cautionary tale of hubris, deception, and the power of social media.

10. The Deepest Breath

Experience the thrill of freediving and the pursuit of human potential with "The Deepest Breath." This captivating documentary follows a record-setting freediving champion and a heroic safety diver as they attempt a remarkable feat that pushes the limits of human endurance. With breathtaking underwater footage and intimate interviews, this film captures the essence of exploration, determination, and the quest for greatness.

From gripping historical accounts to captivating true crime stories, the best documentaries on Netflix offer a wealth of knowledge, intrigue, and inspiration. Whether you're fascinated by wartime history, unsolved mysteries, or the secrets of longevity, there's something for everyone to explore and discover. So, grab your popcorn and settle in for an enlightening journey through some of the most compelling stories and phenomena of our time.

This Shocking Murder Documentary Is The Top Movie On Netflix Right Now

Senior Reporter, HuffPost Life

“What Jennifer Did” is the most popular movie on Netflix , according to the platform’s public ranking system.

This shocking new documentary explores a murder-for-hire case out of Ontario, Canada in 2010. According to the investigation, a young woman named Jennifer Pan had spun a web of lies for her parents, and after they learned the truth, she took drastic measures.

“What Jennifer Did” premiered on Netflix on April 10 and the total run time is one hour and 27 minutes.

Read on for more trending movies of the moment across streaming services including Max, Apple TV+, Hulu and Peacock. And if you want to stay informed about all things streaming, subscribe to the Streamline newsletter .

“Brandy Hellville & the Cult of Fast Fashion”

The most popular movie on Max at the moment is “Brandy Hellville & the Cult of Fast Fashion.”

Released on April 9, this new documentary dives into the toxic culture around the popular clothing brand Brandy Melville ― from its problematic “one size” marketing to allegations of racism and sexism.

“The Greatest Hits”

According to Hulu’s public ranking system, “The Greatest Hits” is the current top movie on the platform. The romantic fantasy film premiered at South by Southwest on March 14, followed by a limited theatrical release and Hulu debut on April 12.

“The Greatest Hits” follows a woman named Harriet Gibbons (played by Lucy Boynton) who discovers that particular songs can literally transport her to different times in her past.

“Drive-Away Dolls”

“Drive-Away Dolls” is currently trending on Peacock following a disappointing performance at the box office in February.

Directed by Ethan Coen, this lesbian road trip comedy features Margaret Qualley, Geraldine Viswanathan, Beanie Feldstein, Colman Domingo, Pedro Pascal, Bill Camp and Matt Damon.

The top movie on Apple TV+ is “Argylle,” an action comedy about an introverted author who discovers that the new spy novel she’s writing appears to predict future real-world occurrences.

Released on theaters in the U.S. on Feb. 2, the movie was a commercial and critical failure despite its ensemble cast containing Henry Cavill, Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O’Hara, Dua Lipa, Ariana DeBose, John Cena and Samuel L. Jackson.

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What jennifer did: 10 most shocking reveals from netflix's true crime documentary.

Netflix's true crime documentary What Jennifer Did unveils shocking details about the double homicide of Jennifer Pan's parents in November 2010.

This article contains discussions of murder, self-harm, and extreme violence.

• Jennifer Pan was sentenced to life for orchestrating her parents' murder.
• The Netflix documentary revisits the case with interviews from authorities and other people involved.
• A new trial has been granted for all accused, including Jennifer.

Netflix's true crime documentary What Jennifer Did reveals the shocking truth behind the double homicide of Jennifer Pan's parents in Markham, Ontario, Canada. Directed by Jenny Popplewell, this 87-minute film features real footage of the crime scene and Jennifer and her ex-boyfriend Daniel Wong's interrogations by police in the aftermath of the fatal night of November 8, 2010. It also includes interviews with the various police members involved in the case, along with Jennifer's school friend, a family friend of the Pan family, and Jennifer's piano teacher. What Jennifer Did was released on Netflix on April 10, 2024.

The Netflix true crime film opens with the double homicide of the Pan family in which Jennifer's mother, Bich Ha Pan, was killed and Jennifer's father, Hann Pan, was left in a coma , with a gunshot wound in the eye, unlikely to survive. The Vietnamese immigrant family was described as normal and hardworking people who moved to Canada several years ago and were unlikely to have any enemies who wanted to hurt them. The only witness was Jennifer Pan, initially thought to also be a victim of the violent crime. However, as the documentary unveiled, Jennifer was hiding several secrets.

Best True Crime Shows On Netflix Right Now

10 jennifer allegedly orchestrated the double homicide of her parents, she quickly shifted from victim to perpetrator.

While the police initially viewed Jennifer Pan as a victim of the violent crime against both her parents, the investigation revealed that she was the alleged perpetrator who orchestrated the double homicide . On the fatal night, the police found that Jennifer was in touch with Lenford Crawford (alias "Homeboy"), coordinating when he and his accomplices should enter her house. Her father was already asleep. She waited for her mother to return from line dancing, said good night to her, and secretly unlocked the front door before heading upstairs as described in the Netflix documentary .

According to the police, Jennifer then texted "Homeboy" and his associates – Eric Carty and David Mylvaganam – and turned the lights off and on, signaling for them to enter the house. She then returned to her bedroom and waited for her plan to unfold. Finally, Jennifer staged the distressed phone call to 911 , giving the three attackers enough time to escape after shooting her parents. When these revelations came to light, the police arrested Jennifer, whom a jury later found guilty of first-degree murder of her mother and attempted murder of her father through a hire-to-kill plot.

9 Jennifer Allegedly Conspired With Her Ex-Boyfriend Daniel Wong

The two were star-crossed lovers.

Jennifer Pan allegedly colluded with her ex-boyfriend Daniel Wong to plan the double murder of her parents. The police found that "Homeboy" was an associate of Daniel, who also dealt drugs. According to her diary entries found by the police, Jennifer yearned for a fairy tale relationship with Daniel, whom she had dated for seven years but with whom she had to end things two years prior, due to her parents' disapproval. Daniel dealt drugs and held a working-class job, which made him an inappropriate match for the Pans, who felt he would bring their daughter's life down.

Although Jennifer complied with her parents' diktat, she remained in touch with Daniel and continued to have romantic feelings for him . However, Daniel moved on to another woman, Christine, and Jennifer's father caught her maintaining contact with him and issued her an ultimatum: choose between Daniel and her parents. While she chose to keep living with her parents, Jennifer's enduring, forbidden love for Daniel is said to be one of her key motivations for planning the murder. Jennifer, Daniel, and the three co-accused men were ultimately sentenced to life in prison, with no chance of parole for 25 years.

8 This Was Allegedly Not Jennifer's First Attempt At Murder

It seems she had previously paid someone else to kill her parents.

The police found that the November 8, 2010, double homicide was not Jennifer's first attempt to get her parents killed. Instead, it turns out, she had previously approached a friend around 10 months prior, asking him to take her father's life. She even allegedly paid this friend to do so. While this plan didn't materialize, it indicated that Jennifer harbored resentment towards her parents for a long time , enough to want them dead and take tangible steps towards that end. It also demonstrated her continued intent and pre-meditated plan to get rid of her parents.

The police members interviewed in What Jennifer Did interpret this as evidence of Jennifer's evil nature and vicious planning. However, it also reflects her deeply troubled mental state and fractured relationship with her parents, which no one knew much about or paid much attention to before. Although the documentary tends to moralize Jennifer's brutal actions, it works best when it keeps the viewer guessing what is going on and when it examines the circumstances of her life that led her to such an unthinkable step.

7 Jennifer's Mother's Last Words Were "Don't Hurt My Daughter"

Until her dying breath, bich pan sought to protect her daughter.

When Jennifer's mother, Bich Pan, was on her knees with a man pointing a gun at her, the woman's alleged final words were "Don't hurt my daughter." Until her dying breath, it seems, she sought to protect her daughter from harm and ensure her safety. In an interview featured in What Jennifer Did , Bich's friend also talked about how Bich was always worried about her daughter Jennifer's well-being and future . This parental concern continued until her dying breath.

It is tragic that Bich Pan cared so deeply and selflessly about her daughter, Jennifer, who had in fact planned the murder in the first place. This tragic paradox speaks to the misalignment between Bich's well-meaning concerns about Jennifer and what Jennifer actually needed and felt as a young woman. The documentary that Bich always had Jennifer's best interests at heart, even though Jennifer ended up harboring such deep-seated resentment against her own mother.

6 Jennifer's Father Survived and Testified Against His Daughter

He provided the police with the first major indication of jennifer's culpability.

Despite being in a coma induced by a gunshot wound in his eye, Jennifer's father, Hann Pan, survived the attempted murder and went on to provide crucial information for the arrest and conviction of his daughter, Jennifer. Five days after the fatal night, Hann was taken out of a coma and recounted the incident to the police: he had indeed gone to bed early that night, his wife, Bich, had gone line dancing, and his daughter, Jennifer, was at home. Hann recalled being awoken by a man with a gun and seeing his wife hysterical, begging for her life.

Then, Hann saw his daughter, Jennifer, walk downstairs with one of the suspects, with no bindings on her hands as she'd initially claimed to the police, having a friendly conversation with the attacker. This was the first major revelation for the police, suggesting the extent to which Jennifer was lying about the incidents of that night and hinting at her possible culpability in the double homicide. " Use your police techniques ," Hann said to the investigators a few days later, " Use your police techniques to find out what Jennifer did. " This is where the documentary's title What Jennifer Did comes from.

" Use your police techniques, " Jennifer's father, Hann Pan, said to the investigators, " Use your police techniques to find out What Jennifer Did. "

5 Jennifer Lied To Her Parents For 4 Years About Going To College

She forged several documents using photoshop.

It turns out that Jennifer was lying to her parents for four years about going to college. For years, her parents would drive her down to Toronto and think she was attending classes, but she was not. Jennifer's parents had wanted her to study pharmacy, and she told them she was pursuing a Bachelor of Science . She even confessed to forging a false degree from the University of Toronto, along with student loan documents and report cards, using Photoshop. Jennifer later admitted to the police that her parents had caught her lying and demanded back the money they'd invested.

When the police learned about this lie, it was their first clue that perhaps all was not what it seemed in the investigation. It was the first revelation that led them to question Jennifer as an unreliable narrator . They thought: that if she could systematically tell lie after lie to her parents for four long years, she could certainly be lying to them about the incidents on that fatal night of November 8, 2010, as well. It was also the preliminary hint at a motive, an indication of major conflict between Jennifer and her parents.

The Best True Crime Netflix Original Series, According To IMDb

4 jennifer felt pressured and controlled by her parents, this was a central cause of jennifer's resentment towards her parents.

Jennifer's heinous actions largely stemmed from her resentment towards her parents for their interference in her life and the pressure they put on her. Not only do her diary entries show her complaints about the restrictions her parents put on her, but other people also confirmed this information in interviews. A family friend of the Pans confirmed that Jennifer's mother, Bich, was concerned about her daughter not finding a job after apparently graduating from university and that she was preoccupied about her daughter being looked down upon in society.

One of Jennifer's high school friends further added how everyone in the high school was expected to be a doctor, lawyer, dentist, engineer, or accountant. There was no other choice for children of immigrant families from Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Taiwan, all of whom faced varying degrees of familiar pressure to perform academically and pursue these conventional career paths. While most of Jennifer's classmates scored straight As, she was a below-average student and wanted to study kinesiology. Her father, however, forced her to pursue a career in medicine so she could be more successful.

" There was just so much ," Jennifer said to the police, " so much expectation ."

3 Jennifer Claimed to Have Self-Harmed In The Past

She added that the attack was meant to kill her, not her parents.

Jennifer told the police that she'd cut herself in the past, as she was miserable as a result of her parent's repression. She claimed that the plan she'd orchestrated with "Homeboy" and others was actually for them to end her life, not her parents. She insisted that the attackers were only meant to kill her and leave her parents unharmed. However, the police found that the attack was meant to be on her parents. While Jennifer may have lied about this story, the veracity of her claim to have self-harmed remains unknown.

Naturally, Jennifer was not in a good mental state due to her parental pressure, expectations, and control of her life. In an interview for What Jennifer Did , her piano instructor recalls her breaking down during one session and complaining that her parents don't trust her, follow her around everywhere, have forbidden her from seeing her boyfriend, Daniel, and don't give her any freedom. Jennifer's life at the time, she said to the police, consisted of only piano studies and work. Her parents had confiscated her phone and would drive her everywhere.

2 Jennifer's Initial Story Falsely Claimed That The Attackers Were Three Black Men

It needlessly added a racial element to the crime.

In her initial testimony to the police, Jennifer falsely claimed that the attackers were three Black men . She said that one of them had dreadlocks, another wore a hoodie, was even more dark-skinned, and had a thinner build, and the third man had a Jamaican accent. Jennifer's description perpetuated racist stereotypes and added a racial element to a crime that had none. During the initial few days of the investigation, the primary preoccupation of the police was to find these three men.

Jennifer's false information led to panic in Markham. Initially, the Pan family's neighbors worried that maybe the attackers had got the wrong house and that one of them was meant to be the real target. Markham was known to be a safe area with mostly families from diverse cultural backgrounds, including Caribbean, Asian, South Asian, and East Asian people. It was also a quiet neighborhood, and such a violent, gruesome crime shattered the peace and frightened everyone.

1 All The Accused Have Been Granted a New Trial After A Successful Appeal

Jennifer maintains her innocence to this day.

Following a successful appeal against their conviction for the first-degree murder of Bich Ha Pan, the on-screen text stated at the end of the documentary, that all the accused have been granted a new trial . This is scary and confusing information, as What Jennifer Did offers compelling and conclusive evidence of Jennifer's culpability in plotting the murder of her parents with Daniel Wong, Lenford Crawford (aka "Homeboy"), Eric Carty, and David Mylvaganam. This new development is perhaps the reason for the making of the documentary in the first place: to examine old evidence and reiterate Jennifer's guilt.

What Jennifer Did does not go into further details about this appeal and what happened to Jennifer Pan after being convicted of her crimes in 2010 . However, the on-screen texts indicate that Jennifer's father, Hann Pan, was granted a lifetime no-contact order against his daughter. To this date, despite all the evidence, Jennifer Pan maintains her innocence in the double homicide of her parents.

Stream on Netflix

What Jennifer Did (2024)

8 Best Civil War Movies and Documentaries on Netflix

Discover the best Civil War movies and documentaries on Netflix in April 2024.

There is no shortage of compelling Civil War feature films and documentaries to stream on Netflix in April 2024 . While many occur outside the United States, it's worth contextualizing the most memorable cinematic stories of civil unrest with Alex Garland's explosive new dystopian thriller Civil War opening on April 12, 2024. Starring Kirsten Dunst as a war correspondent, Civil War imagines a not-so-far-off future in America where politically divided citizens hash out their differences on the battlefield.

Although all-time great American Civil War movies like Edward Zwick's Glory and Ken Burn's Civil War documentary are no longer hosted on the platform, there are plenty of worthy films chronicling the devastating impact of international countries fighting among themselves in the name of progress and prosperity. Here are the eight best Civil War narrative features and documentaries on Netflix.

8 The Beguiled (2017)

The american civil war is the backdrop of a psychological thriller.

A remake of the 1971 Clint Eastwood classic , Sofia Coppola's The Beguiled is a semi-erotic psychological thriller set during the American Civil War. Although the war itself is more of a backdrop, the story concerns John McBurney (Colin Farrell), a corporal serving in the Union Army in the fight against the Confederates in 1864. When McBurney is injured in battle, he stumbles on an all-female farmhouse, where he begins to sew division among the women as they nurse him back to health.

A Delightful Twisty Civil War Thriller

Featuring terrific performances by its superb cast, including Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst, Angourie Rice, and Elle Fanning, The Beguiled careens toward a soapy Southern Gothic thriller in the end, but the period detail is impeccable and the societal mores of the Civil War era are just as fascinating as the original. Rather than turning McBruney in as a POW to the Confederate Army, they become attracted to his unbridled masculinity, leading to an unpredictably steamy psychosexual affair for the ages.

7 Beasts of No Nation (2015)

A fictional african country serves as a grand allegory, beasts of no nation.

*Availability in US

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Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga from a script he co-wrote with Uzodinma Iweala, Beasts of No Nation is arguably the best Civil War movie on Netflix in 2024. The story follows Agu (Abraham Attah), a young boy in West Africa who becomes a gallant child soldier who protects his parents and leads his people through a bloody civil war. Torn between his devotion to his country and his fear of his ruthless commander (one of Idris Elba's best performances ), Agu is robbed of his childhood as he rises as an unlikely hero.

Unflinching and All Too Real

While not for the faint of heart, Beasts of No Nation was praised by critics for its visceral, uncompromising glimpse of the hyper-violent horrors of war and the resilient ingenuity Agu demonstrates as he fights for his freedom. Fukunaga's stark visual style was also hailed for its immersive tension and suspense, depicting the civil war with an unforgettable flare. By refusing to name the African country at war with itself, the movie becomes an allegory for countless nations that suffer similar fates, doing so with a glint of optimism that promises a better future.

6 Winter on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom (2015)

A prescient account of the ukrainian revolution.

Directed by Evgeny Afineevsky, Winter on Fire: Fight for Freedom is a timely and topical Netflix documentary. The eye-opening account traces the 2013-2014 Revolution of Dignity, also known as The Maiden Uprising and the Ukrainian Revolution. The Maiden Uprising consisted of Ukrainian nationals protesting President Viktor Yanukovych's decision not to join a free trade agreement with the European Union (EU). The result of the revolution led to the removal of Yanukovych from the presidency and a return to the 2004 Ukrainian Constitution.

A Critically Acclaimed Account

Roughly three months after The Ukrainian Revolution ended in February 2014, the Russian invasion of Ukraine took place and the devastating ramifications are still felt a decade later. Winter on Fire is more relevant today than most civil war documentaries on Netflix and is so well-made that it earned a 2016 Oscar nomination for Best Documentary Feature. The film also scored a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking and was listed among the 2016 winners at the Television Academy Honors.

5 The White Helmets (2016)

An unflinching account of the syrian civil defence.

Netflix's first Oscar-winning documentary , The White Helmets , is a must-see 41-minute account of The Syrian Civil Defence. This organization consisted of national volunteers and first responders who risked their lives to rescue victims injured in the war in Syria and Turkey between the locals and the opposition-led Syrian National Coalition. While the focus remains on the medical professionals and the heroic efforts made by the volunteers, the war itself is felt on the periphery.

The Triumph of Human Compassion

By chronicling the selfless sacrifices of the White Helmet members Khalid and Mohammed Farah, Abu Omar, and Raed Saleh, the inspiring doc puts faces to the many nameless, unknown saviors who continue to do charitable work in a wartorn region. Although the violence is disturbing and shocking at times, the overall message of strangers coming together to uplift a country spiritually and emotionally following a protracted war is hard to resist.

10 Most Disturbing Documentaries and Docuseries on Netflix

4 born in syria (2016), a harrowing chronicle of displaced child refugees.

Sticking with the Syrian Civil War, Born in Syria is a heartbreaking chronicle of the lost children displaced in the country following ISIS' takeover of the region and the decisions made by President Bachar al-Assad. Beginning in 2011, the doc depicts the unthinkable displacement of roughly nine million Syrian nationals, with roughly 4 million believed to be children. The sobering tearjerker is difficult to endure but boasts a profoundly important message worth witnessing.

The Impact of War on Children

Beyond the unfathomable acts of violence that separate children from their parents, the doc shows how hard it is for children to find a safe haven even in so-called refugee camps designed for their well-being. As the children long for a better life by fleeing to Europe, the documentary is unafraid to show the futile dead ends at the Syrian border. It may be one of the least-viewed and most unheralded Netflix Civil War documentaries, but it's undeniably powerful.

3 First They Killed My Father (2017)

Angelina jolie tackles the cambodian civil war with grace and dignity, first they killed my father.

Angelina Jolie rarely gets the credit she deserves as a talented director. Case in point, the 2017 historical drama First They Killed My Father tells the remarkable true story of Loung Ung (Sareum Srey Moch), a five-year-old Cambodian girl forced into battle following the death of her father at the hands of the communist Khmer Rouge regime. Much like Beasts of No Nation , the movie shows how age does not matter when protecting one's beliefs, family, and country during international wars. Unlike Beasts of No Nation , the story genuinely happened.

Stunningly Based on a True Story

Following the death of her father and the displacement of her siblings, Loung was conscripted into an army training regiment as the Cambodian Civil War began. As Vietnamese forces attempted to rescue the remaining Cambodians, Loung learned how to fight in hand-to-hand combat, booby-trapping, firearm shooting, and laying landmines. Yet, despite her orders and the propaganda fed to her daily, Loung rose above the chaos and became a civil rights activist as an adult. The film was lauded for Moch's precocious performance and for Jolie's deft ability to tackle a serious subject with grace and dignity.

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2 harriet (2019), a stirring biopic about a true civil war hero.

A rousing Civil War-era female biopic , Harriet tells the story of real-life abolitionist and Underground Railroad leader, Harriet Tubman (Cynthia Erivo). The movie begins in 1849 Maryland, where Harriet toils on the Brodess plantation as an indentured slave despite being married to a freedman. The movie charts Harriet's rise to power as she travels West toward Philadelphia and begins aiding slaves in their escape via the Underground Railroad.

The Story of an Incredible Figure

Beyond Erivo's commanding performance, Harriet drew acclaim for director Kasi Lemmons' decision to spare viewers the ugly horrors of slavery and instead focus on Harriet's indomitable spirit and uplifting agency to help others in her position. Engaging, respectful, and more optimistic than most American Civil War stories, Harriet is more of a heartfelt celebration of Tubman's legacy than it is a grim portrait of America's original sin.

1 The Woman King (2022)

The incredible true story of the kingdom of dahomey, the woman king.

Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, The Woman King recounts the incredible true story of General Nanisca (Viola Davis), the leader of an all-female army in the West African Kingdom of Dahomey. When the Kingdom liberates the enslaved women, the Oyo Empire attacks Dahomey and launches a brutal civil war. Undaunted, Nanisca and her soldiers fight back in an unbelievably brave stand-off using primitive low-tech weaponry.

A Powerhouse Performance from Davis

The Woman King drew near-unanimous praise for Davis' dedicated performance and physically dominating screen presence. The action epic has been compared to Braveheart and Gladiator for its eye-popping size, scope, scale, and spectacle. Unlike many war movies that become mired in the grim aspects of battle, The Woman King delivers intense action sequences designed to make viewers root and cheer for Nanisca and her people to triumph over their captors. Most importantly, the film spotlights a little-known chapter in West Africa's wartorn history.

Best Jeffrey Epstein Documentaries: Filthy Rich, Surviving Jeffrey Epstein & More

By Aayush Sharma

Disclaimer: This article contains mentions of sexual abuse. Reader discretion is advised.

Documentaries on Jeffrey Epstein have always been popular, and there are several reasons why people want to know about him. The entire case involving Epstein has been shrouded in controversy. After the scandal garnered widespread attention, people learned the magnitude of the crimes committed by the convicted sex offender. Additionally, the documentaries on Epstein shed light on the survivors who continued their pursuit of justice.

Furthermore, the documentaries raise questions about how wealth can make someone so powerful. They help spark conversations about broader issues and tackle the scandal through different aspects. So, if readers are looking for Jeffrey Epstein documentaries, here are some of the best projects based on the entire scandal.

Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich

The Netflix documentary series Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich takes a bold approach to discussing the scandal. The four-part series features interviews with several Epstein survivors, including  Maria Farmer , Annie Farmer, and Virginia Giuffre. In the documentary, the survivors reveal how they came in contact with Jeffrey Epstein and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell. The series also showcases how law enforcement did not take action against Epstein for several years.

Survivors also shared their stories about how everything changed when they got to know about Epstein’s connections. Additionally, a few survivors revealed stories about how Epstein trafficked them. The 2017 documentary series received positive reviews and currently holds a rating of 82% on the review site Rotten Tomatoes.

Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich is available to stream on Netflix.

Surviving Jeffrey Epstein

Just like Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich, Lifetime’s 2020 documentary Surviving Jeffrey Epstein primarily focuses on women who endured years of abuse. The four-part documentary  series  provides a platform for survivors to share how Epstein’s actions have made them feel unsafe for decades. It also serves as a medium to seek validation. Their statements make viewers realize they tried everything to send Epstein behind bars. It also makes audiences know the long-term impact of sexual abuse.

Apart from previously known survivors, the documentary series introduces survivors who came forward for the first time. The survivors opened up about how they were recruited to please Epstein and his friends. Although the documentary is uplifting because of the survivors, it ends on a sad note. The survivors never got justice because Jeffrey Epstein died in prison in August 2019.

Surviving Jeffrey Epstein can be streamed on Lifetime.

Who Killed Jeffrey Epstein?

The three-part Investigation Documentary focuses on the death of the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He was found dead in his prison cell in August 2019. The  autopsy  revealed that he died by hanging himself.

However, many forensic experts and media started doubting if it was a suicide. The documentary sheds light on Epstein’s connections, which made him a liability for several high-profile people. It’s one of the reasons why it was believed that Epstein was allegedly murdered.

Who Killed Jeffrey Epstein is available to stream on Prime Video.

Chasing Ghislaine

All the documentaries mentioned above focused on Jeffrey Epstein, but Chasing Ghislaine is different. The documentary talks about Epstein’s associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, and how she assisted Epstein in his crimes, including sexual abuse.

It also opens up about how Ghislaine introduced Epstein to some of the most powerful men in the world. Most importantly, the documentary explores their relationship and how she helped him in abusing young girls.

Chasing Ghislaine is available to stream on Discovery Plus.

Entertainment Journalist by profession and a complete cinephile, Aayush Sharma has been writing about Hollywood movies, US TV shows, True Crime and more from the last 7 years. Previously, he has worked for reputed media outlets such as ANI, International Business Times, and MEA Worldwide.

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