While many of us would prefer to travel the world, explore distant countries and learn about new cultures in person, unfortunately currently, with the COVID-19 still hitting the world, safety measures and limited movement, this is more difficult than usual. However, as often, things need to be seen from a different point of view – the imagination is limitless and there are so many beautiful documentaries to watch that will take you to hidden corners of the world and allow you to experience things you didn’t think were possible. Learn about the places you have never visited, see areas that are difficult the reach, meet people you otherwise wouldn’t have a chance to or just get some inspiration to prepare for your next trip – all from the comfort and safety of your home which, conveniently is also the title of our first recommendation.
1. Home
In an almost meditative-like experience you will travel through over fifty countries in a very special way. Directed by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, world-renown artist known for his aerial photography, the film is made mostly of aerial footage – from untouched nature of volcanoes, waterfalls and endless forests to man-shaped landscapes of crop fields, oil plantations and cities. The documentary narrated by Glenn Close has a very strong message on biodiversity and shows how the environmental problems are interlinked and connected to human activity. Truly inspiring film that will remind you how amazing the world is and how lucky we are to call the Earth our home.
2. Sacred Planet
The title of the film already gives you the first hint on what to expect – this documentary will definitely leave you in awe. From deserts of Namibia to white beaches of New Zealand, the documentary takes you to remote corners of the world, not just to see the magnificent surroundings and exceptional animals but also to meet indigenous people who live in harmony with the nature. Beautiful imagery is complemented by extraordinary combination of contemporary acoustic and world music and narration of Robert Redford, which all together make it a special experience that will once again, convince you on the need to preserve the nature and biodiversity of our planet.
3. A Map for Saturday
If you wish to go backpacking around the world, we definitely recommend to watch this one! They say that when you go backpacking, every day is like Saturday so hey – hence the title of the film. Bringing the stories of trekkers in four different countries, it doesn’t only show beautiful landscapes and sceneries but also gives true insights into the world of a backpacker, including the interviews with other backpackers on the road. It is not just a way of travel, it is the whole mindset that counts for this different way of life.
4. Dark Tourist
To add a bit of different flavour, we had to add this docu-series. If you are up for some unconventional stories and sightseeing, ’Dark Tourist’ is definitely for you. Presented by journalist David Farrier, the 8-episode New Zealand series takes you to some very interesting places in the world, known historically for death and tragedy and overall, dark historical events. From investigating the spots connected to a legacy of Pablo Escobar in Medellin, over Los Angeles where he follows the tour of the Manson Family Murders to discovering more about voodoo in Benin, David takes us to the darker side of the history and places involved making us also think how many of the places we visited also had this component of ‘dark’ that we were not aware of.
5. March of the Penguins
While not exactly a travel documentary, though actually it is about the travel of the emperor penguins 😉 , this beautiful nature documentary offers mesmerising landscapes of Antarctic. If, like me, you are a travel addict and animal lover but Antarctic may be a bit too cold for you, you will immensely enjoy this film. The white of the ice landscape and blue of the sea, the shimmering surfaces with the amazing animals is enough to warm anyone’s heart. And if this beauty is not enough, there is also a direct sequel. Enjoy!
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