Do you know that feeling? You’re watching some TV and your favorite TV personality asks if you join her for a trip to Africa. Or Australia. Or the Amazon. You get sucked into a TV program, you’d normally not watch and before you know it, you are inspired that you too want to discover the Amazon by boat. Why? Because this celebrity inspired you to do so! I give you a rundown on the top celebrities who inspire me to travel the world.
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Floortje Dessing- TV personality from the Netherlands
This is my personal favorite. Floortje Dessing is a Dutch woman, who travels all over the world and makes travel-related TV programs.
She started out on the radio and slowly developed her own travel program on Dutch TV.
In recent episodes, she visited people, who live “at the end of the world“.
Sometimes she travels for 2 days to get to them. She then stays with them for a day or 3 to get to know them and their motivation to live there. She inspires me because she is very down-to-earth, very genuine and the love to travel radiates from her face.
Jamie Oliver- restaurant owner and TV-chef from Britain
“If it ain’t smoked, it ain’t bacon.”
One of Jamie’s standard quotes. I love Jamie Oliver.
He keeps things simple in the kitchen and loves to travel around Europe to find inspiration for new dishes. I especially love his book Jamie’s Italy and the series on Italy.
He travels to the land of pasta and grandma’s kitchen and tries to find new variations on dishes. Jamie is one of the celebrities who inspire to travel because he is not afraid to leave things behind and steer his own course.
He is enthusiastic, he is British and honest. He inspires me to try more local foods when I travel and I love him for that.
Check out @gennarocontaldo post update hilarious
Een foto die is geplaatst door Jamie Oliver (@jamieoliver) op
Dalai Lama- Spiritual leader of Tibetan
What isn’t inspirational about the Dalai Lama?
His quotes, his way of life, and the hardship he and his people have suffered will motivate you to be a better person.
The Dalai Lama lives not in the Potala Palace in Lhasa, but he lives in exile in Dharamsala in India.
He travels the world to teach Tibetan Buddhism, raises awareness for the Tibetan cause, and spreading compassion for every human being on this earth.
I know my travel to Tibet is selfish, but the Dalai Lama does not travel for himself. He travels for the Tibetans and to spread Buddhism.
Clara Hughes- Canadian Olympic Cyclist and Speed Skater
As I love ice speed skating, my heart goes out to Clara Hughes from Canada.
She won 6 Olympic medals in her career.
She won 2 in the Summer Olympics on the bike and the others, a GOLD one among them, at the Winter Olympics on speed skates.
But she is also an ambassador for Right to Play and travels to Africa. There she stimulates African children to develop themselves by playing and sports. She is also an ambassador of Bell’s Let’s Talk campaign, where she raises awareness for mental health issues.
She traveled across all states and territories of Canada on the bike. She’s also a true hiker and walked both the Pacific Crest Trail and the Appalachian Trail.
Read more about this amazing athlete and woman in her book, Open Heart, Open Mind.
Anthony Bourdain- celebrity chef and TV host.
Another one of the celebrities who inspire to travel. And another foodie.
What is it with the masters of food that they travel so much? I guess because everywhere in the world, you need to eat.
Did you see or hear about the 6$ Vietnamese noodles Anthony Bourdain shared with Barrack Obama? You haven’t? This picture was liked by over 52k of the two of them having dinner in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Een foto die is geplaatst door The White House (@whitehouse) op
I love Anthony Bourdain’s book, No Reservations: Around the World on an Empty Stomach.
And his TV show “the layover”. He travels the world and searches for the best local foods. And he is not afraid to really stuff his face with delicious foods.
He is also very raw and honest. It’s not all unicorns and rainbows with Anthony. He is sarcastic, skeptical, and very honest. He makes you want to travel, just so you can taste the delicious foods of the world!
Mr. Fredricksen – Character in Disney/Pixar Animation movie UP!
Ok, ok. Mr. Fredricksen is not a real person.
But I remember watching the movie UP! with my nephews in the movie theatre and I felt inspired. Inspired to go travel to South America. And inspired to travel.
Mr. Fredricksen is being picked up to go to the retirement home, but instead, he embarks on an epic journey across the world to follow his dreams! What is more inspiring than that! Always follow your dreams.
Check this amazing replica of the scene from UP:
My photo was Featured on Disney: blogs.disney.com/oh-my-disney @ohmydisney
Een foto die is geplaatst door Margaret Malandruccolo (@mmfoto99) op
Looking for more inspiration? Check out this list with 200 inspiring travel books or unusual travel words with beautiful meanings.
This is my list of celebrities who inspire to travel.
But which celebrity inspires you to travel? Who is on your list of celebrities who inspire to travel? Please share in the comment section below.
Oooh this gives me so many good travel inspirations to seek out! What a unique post, thanks for sharing!
Love this! So unusual. I love Bourdain and I constantly follow his food recommendations!
Exploring by eating is the best!
Ooh good list, some unexpected inspiration in there! I completely agree about the chefs inspiring me to travel, I love to eat my way around the places I visit so this is a huge draw for me!
I think it’s mainly because of the travelling chefs that people are much more aware of the foods of a culture and country, don’t ya think Katie?
What a great way to cheer on celebrities for doing something actually worthwhile! Absolutely love this article, some were surprised like Clara Hughes!
I am a huge speed skating enthusiast and I find her one of the most inspiring persons around!
Great post to get us all thinking! Chefs who explore food culture definitely inspires me to travel!
This is such a great read. More than celebrities, pics of places make me want to travel all the time
Totally agree Khansa! When you see beautiful pictures and think: where is that? I have to see that for myself too!
Love it, now I’m even more inspired to travel!
I like how you included Mr Fredricksen in your post, haha. I was actually following Jamie Oliver a couple of weeks ago in his trip to Brazil. I’ll be going there soon so I did take in some of his recommendations for a good meal 🙂
Awh that is great Joanna! It is always nice if other people visit places right before you go there too!
This is such a unique post – so many things inspire me to travel, but I never thought of celebrities! Also, I love that you included Mr Fredricksen on this list – inspiring movie and such an inspiring character!
We love mr. Fredricksen, don’t we Kelly?!
What a fun post Naomi! Anthony Bourdain inspired me to travel as well, I love how he’s no BS and enjoys a good cocktail. Will have to look into Floortje Dessing!
Anthony is so raw isn’t he Flo? I sometimes think: did he just really say that.. beeb…
Interesting take on travel. Thanks for sharing.
Such an interesting group of people who inspire you to travel! I have to say though I’m not so much inspired to travel by celebrities as much as I am by fellow travel bloggers like Brooke Saward (World of Wanderlust) and Sabina (Girl vs Globe) 🙂
Chefs are the best, getting to travel the world and eat! Perfect!
Great list! I don’t think I have one for myself but from this list, I think my favorite is Clara Hughes. Her hiking and biking experience are goals, now if only I’m an outdoor-sy type of person. 🙂
cool that you know her Noemi! She inspires me in general for her outlook on the world and our nature.