5 Movies That Capture The Adventurous Spirit

There is nothing better than a good travel film that gives you the inspiration and motivation to take on a new adventure. These movies truly capture what the adventurous spirit is all about. They also do a great job of showing how travel and adventure can help shape oneself. If you are looking for a little travel inspiration, I recommend that you check out one of these five videos.

1) Into The Wild (2007)

Plot: After graduating from Emory University, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless abandons all of his possessions, including his entire $24,000 savings that he gives to charity. McCandless then hitchhikes to Alaska to live in the wilderness. Along his journey, Christopher encounters a series of characters that shape his life.

This movie is great because it is filled with random adventures and experiences, and you get to listen to some incredible stories along the journey. The movie truly captures what travel is all about. Experiences, both good and bad, that shape your trip and make you who you are.

2) The Way (2010)

Plot: A father heads overseas to recover the body of his estranged son who died while traveling the “El Camino de Santiago,” and decides to take the pilgrimage himself. Driven by his profound sadness and desire to understand his son better, Tom decides to embark on the historical pilgrimage, leaving his “California bubble life” behind.

This journey captures the importance of travel in terms of discovering oneself. It can be easy to close yourself into experiences you are comfortable with, instead of opening yourself up to new places and people. Each person walks the path for their own personal reasons, but regardless of the reason, these people are able to discover themselves through their experiences on the walk and with each other.

3) Wild (2014)

Plot: A chronicle of one woman’s 1,100-mile solo hike undertaken as a way to recover from a recent personal tragedy.

This movie does an amazing job of capturing a story of self-discovery and healing. Through the story, you learn just how important putting yourself in nature and testing yourself in the elements can really help you learn about yourself and the world as a whole. Wild shows just how important it is to take a step away from reality to realize what is truly important. When you cut out all the distractions from the outside world, you can gain a better understanding of yourself.

4) Encounters at the End of the World (2007)

Plot: Filmmaker Werner Herzog travels to the McMurdo Station in Antarctica, looking to capture the continent’s beauty and investigate the characters living there.

This documentary does an excellent job of capturing the lives of the individuals that work at the National Science Foundation research station. Most of these individuals are permanent world travelers, giving them a unique outlook on life. This is much different than a typical documentary because it is more than just learning about a place, as you get the opportunity to learn about the life of those who dedicate their lives to capturing these places as well.

5) The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)

Plot: When his job along with that of his co-worker are threatened, Walter takes action in the real world embarking on a global journey that turns into an adventure more extraordinary than anything he could have ever imagined.

All too often, people dream of taking on an adventure, but there is something holding them back from taking the leap. This movie follows the journey of a man that breaks down these barriers and learns just how spectacular traveling is and what the adventurous spirit is all about.