Writing a travel guide or article isn’t just about putting pen to paper – it starts long before you sit down to write. The best guides are born from curiosity, deep knowledge and a genuine love for a place. Whether you’re crafting a book or a feature article, this step-by-step framework will help turn your idea into a compelling travel guide.
How to write a travel guide
1. Start with a strong travel idea
Great travel guides come from passion, experience, and insight, not just ticking off the top tourist spots.
Ask yourself:
- Which places have you explored thoroughly?
- Do you have a fresh perspective on a popular destination?
- Is there somewhere you’d love to discover if you weren’t already a specialist?
At Wild Things, we focus on lesser-known destinations, adventurous activities and authentic food and culture. Your guide should reflect your unique perspective and excitement for the subject.
2. Make sure your travel guide idea is unique
Before you invest time in writing, ensure your idea hasn’t been done – or that your angle is clearly different.
- What does your guide offer that others don’t?
- Could your focus be a niche activity, a slower travel approach, or a deeper cultural perspective?
Do thorough research: review competing books and articles, make lists and identify gaps in the market. Publishers will expect this kind of analysis to see that your guide fills a real need.
3. Pitch to the right travel publisher
Look for a publisher whose books you already love and admire, and where your idea would genuinely fit.
- Read their catalogue carefully.
- Understand their voice and audience.
- Think carefully about how your guide complements their existing titles.
- Compare to other publishers
- Read and follow their submission guidelines
4. Research thoroughly (the fun part!)
Once your pitch is accepted, immerse yourself in the destination. Great travel guides are built on first-hand experience and accuracy.
- Walk the paths, talk to locals, visit places in different seasons.
- Take detailed notes, record stories and plenty of good, diverse photographs
- Build content that’s original, engaging and not easily found elsewhere.
- In an age of AI info overload, make sure your content is fresh and unique.
Creating high-quality, distinctive material that can’t be found elsewhere not only stands the test of time, but also spreads naturally through word of mouth, boosting your guide’s reach and impact.
Pro tip: Desk research matters. Use Ordnance Survey maps, Google Maps, spreadsheets with coordinates and public domain or Creative Commons images to plot and collect ideas accurately.
5. Start writing your travel guide
Create a distraction-free space, stock up on tea and biscuits and enjoy the process.
- Focus on clarity, personality and usefulness rather than perfection.
- Let your voice and passion shine through in every chapter.
Your first draft doesn’t have to be flawless; focus on clarity, personality and usefulness for the reader
6. Enjoy seeing your book come to life
From edits and design to holding the finished book in your hands, publishing is a collaborative and rewarding experience. Seeing your knowledge turned into something tangible, something that inspires others to explore, is a special kind of magic.
Submitting Your Travel Guide Idea
If you have a compelling travel guide idea, Wild Things Publishing would love to hear from you. Here’s what to include:
- Proposed title and subtitle
- Short synopsis (like a jacket blurb)
- Chapter outline or full chapter plan
- Sample photos
- Sample writing (a chapter or excerpt with notes on structure, maps, tables or data)
- Marketing ideas or promotional plans using your own network
If you’ve got an idea that feels exciting, original and rooted in real experience, give us a shout! Send us a mail at hello@wildthingspublishing.
