5 Best Travel Documentaries and Shows to See on Netflix

My next post was supposed to be about a three-week trip to Turkey and Georgia, peppered with pictures of hot air balloons, trains and Mark drinking wine against the backdrop of white-capped Caucasus mountains. That will have to wait. Despite the public health imperative to stay home, there are still options to keep our wanderlust alive. One of my favourites? Travel documentaries and shows on Netflix.

In this post, I’ll be sharing five shows I thoroughly enjoyed. I’m writing this list based on a few episodes I have seen of each show or documentary. I hope you enjoy them too!

Travel Documentaries and Shows on Netflix

Our Planet

Our Planet
Image Credit: Key Art

Genre: Nature Documentary, S1 E1 “One Planet”

Our Planet is a Netflix nature documentary series that highlights the diversity and interconnectedness of nature. The series, narrated by David Attenborough, also talks about the damaging changes of human impact on the environment. However, it isn’t all gloom and doom. Rather, the documentary calls for us to act before it is too late.

The first episode takes us on a journey across the planet. From remote islands in South and North America to the vast and diverse landscapes of Africa, it highlights the delicate relationship between species in the ecosystem. Everything about this episode and the entire series is stunning. Its enthralling cinematic pictures and the soulful soundtrack are just some of the reasons to binge-watch it this season.

Jack Whitehall – Travels with My Father

Jack Whitehall Travels with my Father NetflixGenre: Comedy, S3 E1

I started off with the first episode in the third season of the show and loved it! So, I’m going to catch up with the first two seasons. Going in, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I had never heard of Jack Whitehall before this and I didn’t know he was a comedian. I was just interested in seeing what this father-son duo got up to during their travels in America.

The show got several laughs out of me because when you combine a playful, borderline immature son and a proper Brit of a father, you get comedic genius!

Check out these 5 travel documentaries and shows on Netflix! Share on X

Extreme Engagement

Extreme Engagement Netflix

S1 E5 “Hotbed”

Extreme Engagement follows the story of a long-time engaged couple, PJ and Tim and their one-year-long adventure in the ‘wild’. As soon as I saw that one of these ‘wild adventures’ brought them to Nigeria, I was invested.

I am often on the edge watching television shows portrayed by foreigners about Nigeria. Oftentimes, it is a mix of poverty show, security issues and utter disrespect of culture and norms. It gets tiring. I had to psych myself up so I did not go into this series pre-offended.

The first surprise was that this episode was shot in Sokoto State. I was so delighted to see a different part of the country portrayed beautifully. This episode sees the couple integrate into the nomadic life of a Wodaabe, Fulani family. Their hosts welcome them with a Gerewol, which is more or less a male beauty pageant. There, PJ chooses a ‘suitor’ named Babuli. The couple then spends the next few days (or weeks perhaps) with Babuli, his wives and their community.

In between scenes, as with reality television, there are monologues and voice-overs. I found this to be too scripted in parts. As the episode explores the topic of jealousy, I cannot say if Tim’s overly dramatic responses to certain situations are scripted to fit into the show’s theme or if he is actually that way.

In any case, this was entertaining to watch and I am now looking forward to seeing the other episodes in the series.

Dark Tourist

Dark Tourist NetflixGenre: Documentary, S1 E1 “Latin America”

When I saw ‘Dark Tourist’ pop up on the list of travel shows on Netflix, I completely skipped it at first. I didn’t want to watch any creepy shows. However, it kept coming up so I checked out the reviews. They were quite good, so I gave in and saw the first episode. Spoiler Alert: it wasn’t as creepy as I had initially imagined.

David Farrier, a journalist from New Zealand hosts the show. In it, he explores an area of travel known as ‘Dark Tourism’. Basically, this is when people visit places associated with death and tragedy.

In the first episode, he travels across Latin America, from Colombia to Mexico. He goes on tour with a Pablo Escobar’s look-alike and then hangs out with his trusted hitman in Medellin. And in Mexico, he takes a tour that explores what’s like crossing the US border illegally and spends time with a cult that worships the saint of the dead.

It was quite interesting to watch and when I found myself judging people who’d sign up for tours like these, I remembered that I also go on tours of slave castles and slave trade routes. I guess that falls into the dark tourism category too. What do you think?

Restaurants on the Edge

Best Travel Documentaries and Shows on NetflixGenre: Food Travel, S1 E1 “Malta”

Restaurants on the Edge is a series that sees 3 hosts visit restaurants around the world that are on the edge of failure to help them turn things around. The first episode takes place in Malta. Although, I almost put off the show after one of the hosts said something along the lines of, “Malta is a country positioned between Africa and Sicily”, I’m glad I stuck to it.

I’m not a food critic or restaurant buff so that part of the show did not appeal to me. However, I loved the videos of the fishing village and Valletta, Malta’s capital city. By the time the episode was over, I was ready to pack my bags and head to Malta. You know, after the Corona Virus epidemic is over and I hope that’s sooner, rather than later.

Best Travel Shows on Netflix

Are you watching any travel documentaries and shows on Netflix or elsewhere? Feel free to share them with me in the comment section below. Until this phase passes, stay safe.

4 comments

  1. Ayiii! Thanks for sharing this Amarachi and the fact that Nigeria is in one of these series is totally mindblowing. Definitely got some catching up to do now.

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An Osaka & Himeji photo story ☁️✨️

Details on www.travelwithapen.com this coming Tuesday 💙
An Osaka & Himeji photo story ☁️✨️

Details on www.travelwithapen.com this coming Tuesday 💙
An Osaka & Himeji photo story ☁️✨️

Details on www.travelwithapen.com this coming Tuesday 💙
An Osaka & Himeji photo story ☁️✨️

Details on www.travelwithapen.com this coming Tuesday 💙
An Osaka & Himeji photo story ☁️✨️

Details on www.travelwithapen.com this coming Tuesday 💙
An Osaka & Himeji photo story ☁️✨️

Details on www.travelwithapen.com this coming Tuesday 💙
An Osaka & Himeji photo story ☁️✨️

Details on www.travelwithapen.com this coming Tuesday 💙
An Osaka & Himeji photo story ☁️✨️

Details on www.travelwithapen.com this coming Tuesday 💙
An Osaka & Himeji photo story ☁️✨️

Details on www.travelwithapen.com this coming Tuesday 💙
An Osaka & Himeji photo story ☁️✨️

Details on www.travelwithapen.com this coming Tuesday 💙
An Osaka & Himeji photo story ☁️✨️

Details on www.travelwithapen.com this coming Tuesday 💙
An Osaka & Himeji photo story ☁️✨️

Details on www.travelwithapen.com this coming Tuesday 💙
An Osaka & Himeji photo story ☁️✨️

Details on www.travelwithapen.com this coming Tuesday 💙
An Osaka & Himeji photo story ☁️✨️ Details on www.travelwithapen.com this coming Tuesday 💙
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Help! Why are we losing home and away! 😭🤣 God abeg! I will resume my complaining once we fix our visa process/make it more accessible for other African travellers! Side bar: if you have connections in Vietnam, please DM me! 😭😂 I still want to go!
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Luckily I got to revisit and what a joy! It's magical in every way! ✨️
Oh please, add Gyeongju to your South Korean itinerary! 🇰🇷 It's a charming, beautiful and walkable city that I think is worth visiting. When I visited the country for the first time, I picked Jeonju over Gyeongju. Not much thought went into that decision. I just did it - no regrets. Luckily I got to revisit and what a joy! It's magical in every way! ✨️
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Oh, this charming town! 💙 Beautiful cobbled-stone streets, a gorgeous trail that leads to yet another beautiful well-preserved Edo-period post town, temples and shrines... this is Magome-Juku If you plan to visit, I recommend staying a night or two. Accommodation is quite limited and everything shuts down by 5pm. We stayed at Magomechaya for 2 nights. This place has both hostels and private rooms and our stay was absolutely wonderful. I'd definitely revisit!
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The Kenyan Coast is always a good idea! 😍 Can't wait to return!
The Kenyan Coast is always a good idea! 😍 Can't wait to return!
The Kenyan Coast is always a good idea! 😍 Can't wait to return!
The Kenyan Coast is always a good idea! 😍 Can't wait to return!
The Kenyan Coast is always a good idea! 😍 Can't wait to return!
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The Kenyan Coast is always a good idea! 😍 Can't wait to return!
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📍Tawi Lodge, Amboseli
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𝐉𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡? Why not?! Without the crowds? Absolutely! 🌸🌱⁣
⁣
I've now been to Japan in 𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥 – the Hakone Torii is from my fall trip – and I’ve had amazing crowd-free experiences in both seasons! 🍂🌸⁣
⁣
Yes, I woke up early to visit some places, but I also found places that were calm even in the middle of the day, including in cities like Shizuoka and Nagoya, not just rural Japan. 👀⁣
⁣
✨ Here are my go-to tips to explore Japan without the crowds:⁣
---⁣
⁣
1. 🐦 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 (𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞!)⁣
Mornings and evenings are your best friend. Cooler, quieter, and often more beautiful.⁣
⁣
2. 🏨 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭⁣
Instead of day-tripping, book a stay. I did this in Hakone and around Fuji. Result? No lines. No crowds. Pure magic! 🌤✨️⁣
⁣
3. 🚆 𝐆𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐨𝐤𝐲𝐨, 𝐊𝐲𝐨𝐭𝐨 & 𝐎𝐬𝐚𝐤𝐚⁣
They’re iconic, yes and you should certainly visit. But if you're looking for places with fewer people, you need to venture outside these cities.⁣
⁣
4. 🛕 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐩 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 ⁣
I haven't been to Kinkaku-ji Temple yet. Why? It opens 'late' and is often packed. I think I'll get to it one day though 🥰⁣
⁣
5. ❄️ 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐞𝐭? 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫
An underrated time to visit, so you can expect fewer people.⁣
⁣
6. 🚴‍♀️ 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐞⁣
Hike the Kumano Kodo, walk the Nakasendo Trail, or cycle the Shimanami Kaido. It’s serenity + scenery 💯⁣
---⁣
⁣
📍Save this for your trip planning⁣
📸 Share with someone dreaming of Japan⁣
👇🏾Got questions? Drop them in the comments!⁣
⁣
Happy travels 🇯🇵✨
𝐉𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡? Why not?! Without the crowds? Absolutely! 🌸🌱⁣ ⁣ I've now been to Japan in 𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥 – the Hakone Torii is from my fall trip – and I’ve had amazing crowd-free experiences in both seasons! 🍂🌸⁣ ⁣ Yes, I woke up early to visit some places, but I also found places that were calm even in the middle of the day, including in cities like Shizuoka and Nagoya, not just rural Japan. 👀⁣ ⁣ ✨ Here are my go-to tips to explore Japan without the crowds:⁣ ---⁣ ⁣ 1. 🐦 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 (𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞!)⁣ Mornings and evenings are your best friend. Cooler, quieter, and often more beautiful.⁣ ⁣ 2. 🏨 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭⁣ Instead of day-tripping, book a stay. I did this in Hakone and around Fuji. Result? No lines. No crowds. Pure magic! 🌤✨️⁣ ⁣ 3. 🚆 𝐆𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐨𝐤𝐲𝐨, 𝐊𝐲𝐨𝐭𝐨 & 𝐎𝐬𝐚𝐤𝐚⁣ They’re iconic, yes and you should certainly visit. But if you're looking for places with fewer people, you need to venture outside these cities.⁣ ⁣ 4. 🛕 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐩 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 ⁣ I haven't been to Kinkaku-ji Temple yet. Why? It opens 'late' and is often packed. I think I'll get to it one day though 🥰⁣ ⁣ 5. ❄️ 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐞𝐭? 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 An underrated time to visit, so you can expect fewer people.⁣ ⁣ 6. 🚴‍♀️ 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐞⁣ Hike the Kumano Kodo, walk the Nakasendo Trail, or cycle the Shimanami Kaido. It’s serenity + scenery 💯⁣ ---⁣ ⁣ 📍Save this for your trip planning⁣ 📸 Share with someone dreaming of Japan⁣ 👇🏾Got questions? Drop them in the comments!⁣ ⁣ Happy travels 🇯🇵✨
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9/9
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