20 DOCUMENTARY TO TRAVEL FROM HOME

Like the post I posted about “10 books to travel without leaving home” it's getting quite a few visits lately, I have encouraged myself to compile a selection of 20 documentaries to travel from home. All of them are interesting documentaries that Paul and I have seen or have in store to watch in the coming weeks and that I recommend you watch too!!

Do you want to travel from home without crossing the door of your house? Then look no further and keep this list well!!

NOTE: I recommend that you always see them in the original version with subtitles so you don't miss anything. However, Most of them give you the option of putting them in Spanish or in the original version with Spanish subtitles.

1. Down to Earth (with Zac Efron)

Locations: France, Puerto Rico, London, Iceland, Costa Rica, Peru, and Sardinia.

What's up: If you are looking for a new travel program to enjoy, Down to Earth is exactly what you need. Zac Efron travels through different countries of the world with your partner Darin Olien (writer and super food seeker), in search of different sustainable ways of life. I do not want to tell much more for you to see and think for yourself!!

Where to see it: Netflix

2. Tales by light (o The Light of Stories in Spanish)

Locations: New Guinea, Himalaya, Colorado, Utah, Uganda, Antarctica, Ethiopia, Kenya, Brazil, Bahamas, Namibia, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia.

What's up: All the most powerful and shocking documentaries, just as touching non-fiction works have someone very important behind, that many times nobody remembers: the person behind the camera.

Photographers and Videographers, often, They are left out of the spotlight because they are too busy looking for the next perfect shot. Tales By Light introduces you to an amazing photographer in each episode and takes you along on your next journey to capture elusive wildlife., unique communities and heartfelt themes. The almost metaphysical gaze through the lens of another person looking through a lens encourages you to view the subject in a slightly different light.

Where to see it: Netflix

3. The Dawn Wall

Location: Yosemite Nature Park, United States.

What's up: El Capitan in Yosemite is one of the most famous climbing destinations and the Wall of Dawn, so called because it is the first thing in the valley that lights up in the morning, never freely climbed (that is to say, using the equipment only to protect yourself from falls, not to help climb) until Tommy Caldwell Y Kevin Jorgensen they tried. The documentary explains the years of training and the motivation of each of the climbers to attempt the world record climb.

Where to see it: Netflix, Google Play

4. The Long Way Round (or the World by Motorcycle in Spanish)

Locations: London, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Alaska, NY.

What's up: Two men embark on a motorcycle adventure around the world, starting in London and ending in New York (the longest route in the world). These are Ewan McGregor Y Charlie Boorman, long time friends, they spend several months planning this epic trip around the world, that will take you through places like Kazakhstan, Russia, Mongolia of Alaska, among others.

Although the camera crew follows them, they always go one day behind them, and they come out to meet only at the borders. You can thus see not only the good but also the bad of riding a motorcycle through some beautiful but harsh landscapes.

Where to see it: Netflix, Apple TV+

5. Around The Next Bend

Locations: India

What's up: This documentary, with 12 chapters, follow two young adventurers on a whitewater rafting expedition 2.500 km along the famous Ganges river in India.

Around The Next Bend will show you the colorful side, beautiful and often challenging from India. The two expeditions raft through the Taj Mahal, through Varanasi, across Nepal and in Bangladesh.

Where to see it: Amazon prime

6. He Named Me Malala

Location: Pakistan

What's up: This powerful movie about Malala Yousafzai, the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner in history, recounts their decisions to defend girls' rights and education.

She is extraordinary in every way, like your story. This documentary is an intimate portrait of the Pakistani activist, who had been targeted by the Taliban and suffered serious injuries, attack that sparked protest from supporters around the world.

Where to see it: Amazon prime

7. Street Food

Locations: different countries in Asia.

What's up: Discover the delicacies on offer in Bangkok, Osaka, Delhi, Yogyakarta, Chiayi, Seoul, Ho Chi Minh City, Singapore and Cebu. Each episode comes with a story of the people who prepare the food, including a Bangkok chef who has a Michelin star after spending decades making crab omelettes and the obsession for chicken rice from Singapore's street vendors.

This documentary by 9 parts takes you to a different street market in Asia in each episode of 30 minutes. If one of the things you enjoy the most about traveling is discovering new foods, This series is for you!

Where to see it: Netflix

8. Anthony Bourdain: A Cooks Tour

Locations: Caribe, New Orleans, Brazil, Minneapolis, NY, Hanoi, Singapore, Melbourne

What's up: In this series, the famous gastronomic writer and presenter Anthony Bourdain travel the world indulging his passion for tasting local cuisine. In the path, Bourdain meets several eccentric characters who bring this documentary series to life.

Where to see it: Amazon prime

10. The Long Way Down

Locations: Scotland, South Africa

What's up: Not satisfied with their trip around the world, Ewan and Charlie return for another motorcycle adventure taking the route “Long Way Down” this time, starting from the tip of Scotland, John O’Groats, to the southernmost point of Africa, Cabo Agulhas.

This adventure of more than 24.000 km is an even more difficult challenge than the previous one, with extreme temperatures and severe weather. But just like with Long Way Round, McGregor and Boorman are funny and honest, What makes this series so cool!

Where to see it: Apple TV+, Amazon prime (only in some countries)

11. The Kindness Diaries (o Kindness Diaries in Spanish)

Locations: Europe, United States, Asia (season 1), Alaska, South America (season 2)

What's up: In this series, we follow Leon Logothetis while traveling the world thanks to the kindness of strangers. In the first series, Leon travels from Los Angeles across the United States, Europe and Asia, reaching countries like Italy, Croatia, Greece, Turkey, India, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam, Riding a vintage motorcycle with no money in my pocket. Leon relies on the kindness of strangers to give him food and a place to stay each night.

The Kindness Diaries Series 2 repeat the same idea, but instead Leon travels from Alaska, across the United States, To South America in a classic Volkswagen Beetle.

This show shows the kind hearts of strangers when Leon meets hundreds of people who help him and who have also dedicated their lives to helping others.

Where to see it: Netflix

12. Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father

Location: Southeast Asian

What's up: Follow the British comedian Jack Whitehall in this new documentary series, as he embarks on the journey of a lifetime with his father, Michael. The two set out on a journey through Southeast Asia to participate in a series of adventures., mishaps and escapades with two very different perspectives.

Where to see it: Netflix

13. Chasing Ice (or Chasing the Ice in Spanish)

Location: Greenland

What's up: The National Geographic Photographer James Balog, originally a skeptic about climate change, aims to capture the effects first hand. Set up time-lapse cameras to get a multi-year record of dramatic changes in our glaciers and landscapes. You can see the result in this devastatingly beautiful documentary.

Where to see it: Amazon prime, Netflix (in some countries)

14. Virunga

Location: Virunga National Park, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

What's up: Virunga was one of the first great Netflix documentaries. Transports you on the journey of a small team fighting to protect Virunga National Park, home to the world's last mountain gorillas.

Where to see it: Netflix

15. The Ivory Game (o The Extermination of Ivory in Spanish)

Locations: Tanzania, Kenya, and China

What's up: The Ivory Game exposes the unfortunate reality of elephant poaching and the prolific ivory trade. You will go undercover as two characters work to gather evidence of illegal export and sale, exposing the chinese market, the world's largest ivory trade.

Where to see it: Netflix

16. Figure It Out: On The Hayduke Trail

Location: United States

What's up: This series documents a hike through one of the most challenging routes in America., The Hayduke Trail. The trip is of 1200 km through southern Utah and northern Arizona.

If you like hiking or magnificent landscapes, you will love to follow this trail. Each episode takes you to a new part of the route, covering places like Arches National Park, Moab, Escalante, The Wave, Grand Canyon, Zion and Colorado. The documentary also explores how we can use the lessons we learn while in nature to improve our day-to-day lives..

Where to see it: Amazon prime

17. Salt Of The Earth (or La Sal de la Tierra in Spanish)

Location: South America, Africa and Central Europe

What's up: Oscar nominated documentary 2014 on the life and work of the Brazilian photojournalist Sebastião Salgado. Salgado passed 40 years documenting groups of people in remote corners of South America, Africa and Central Europe.

In this documentary Salgado talks about the stories behind the photographs and offers a fascinating look at some areas of the world that we may never get to explore ourselves..

Where to see it: Amazon prime

18. The Eagle Huntress (o The Eagle Huntress in Spanish)

Location: Mongolia

What's up: The Eagle Huntress follows the life of a young Mongolian, of 13 year old, called Aisholpan. She dreams of competing in an eagle hunting tournament like her father, and is not afraid to break gender roles in rural Mongolia.

Where to see it: Amazon prime

19. Free Solo

Location: Yosemite Park, United States

What's up: this documentary, winner of the Academy Award for Best Documentary of 2019, tells the story of the climber Alex Hannold, climbing without ropes the top of “Captain” (975 m) in Yosemite National Park. A moving story about a man's obsession with doing what has never been done before.

The documentary will keep you on the edge of your seat, with jaw-dropping visuals and heart-stopping moments as you watch Alex attempt to climb El Capitan all alone.

Where to see it: Disney

20. March of The Penguins 1 Y 2 (o The March of the Penguin in Spanish)

Location: Antarctica

What's up: Who doesn't want to spend an hour or two watching penguins make their way through Antarctica? March of the Penguin are two classic documentary films, set in Antarctica, who follow the emperor penguins on their quest to find the perfect mate and start a family.

Where to see it: Youtube, Google Play

Other documentaries or travel series that may interest you:

• Anything by David Attenborough
• The Local Traveller In Thailand – Libby Vincek, solo traveler, explore Thailand staying only with local families.
• Mother India – Impressive documentary showing the life of 25 orphans in India living on the railroad tracks.
• Unbounded – A team of twenty-somethings travels one of the great trails in Patagonia.
• Rick Steves, Europe – In the 7 seasons of this series, Rick Steves guides you through Europe showing his favorite places and some off the beaten track destinations.

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I hope this article has given you some ideas on how to travel without leaving home. If you have other favorite documentaries or travel series that I have not included, Share it in the comments!