373 reviews for:

On the Hippie Trail: Istanbul to Kathmandu and the Making of a Travel Writer

Rick Steves

3.91 AVERAGE

lyssrose's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous informative inspiring lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

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I've been watching Rick Steves's travel shows, and using his guide books for years, so this was an interesting peek behind the curtain, at how he cultivated his own travel bug! 

hueby's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous funny inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

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Really enjoyed this quick and easy read! It really sped by; since it's his journal entries at the time it makes sense that he skates through it fairly quickly, but I would have enjoyed reading any additional context or reflections he could add to it now. I liked the epilogue where he talks about how limiting our "have a safe trip" mindset can be now, and how really traveling involves some risk and discomfort. Makes me want to get on the road.

colemach1's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous inspiring fast-paced

gkushla's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous informative inspiring medium-paced

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In the 1970's, Rick Steves and a friend (both fresh out of college) embarked on a backpacking adventure from Istanbul to Kathmandu.  The book is Rick's diary of a simpler and safer time to travel the world.

It's an easy (and fun) read of their exploits and the pictures bring it to life.  Unfortunately, the hippie trail is far too dangerous for today's traveller and we can only reminisce with Rick via his writings.

bri_the_librarian's review against another edition

3.0

adventurous funny informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

kdobbs22's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous informative inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

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This was a fun book! The audiobook was narrated by Rick himself and he was so cheery throughout the entire thing. It was honestly very refreshing given so much stress in the current world. I've never heard of the Hippie Trail before, but this adventure sounded incredible. I loved getting his 23-year-old take on the locations he traveled throughout the Middle East, and I am curious to look into travel to Nepal and parts of India now. To be young, a male, in the 70s, traveling through parts of the world that you cannot do as freely now. 

I appreciated that he acknowledged it wouldn't be as easy for a woman to do the same travels/style/level of travel that he did, at least on the Hippie Trail - which is unfortunate but important/necessary to point out. There are certain "luxuries" afforded to white males (especially from rich countries) that would not be the case for women in some of those situations.

walking_library's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

hollygramlich's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous reflective fast-paced

sarajaneandtall's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

kait_reisch's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous hopeful informative inspiring reflective