VOYAGEURS du Monde has published A Manifesto for the New Traveler with Assouline, a 280-page book examining how and why we travel today.
Written by the travel company’s chairman and CEO Jean-François Rial and communications director Nathalie Belloir, with a foreword by British travel expert Melinda Stevens, the book draws on four decades of planning tailor-made journeys. Its central argument is very straightforward, encouraging us to leave room for curiosity, take our time and pay attention to the places and people we encounter along the way.
Voyageurs du Monde: A Manifesto for the New Traveler
The book is divided into four chapters; first up, A Spirit of Freedom considers the pleasures of travelling by train, road or sea and allowing a journey to change course. Against the Tide looks at travelling outside peak season and not the usual beaten paths. The Long Way Around advocates for longer trips with time to explore, and Out of the Box turns to the interests and experiences that inspire travel in the first place. Throughout, the book asks readers to consider their impact on local communities and the environment for richer and deeper experiences.
As with all Assouline titles, the photography is an important part of the publication, with images chosen to show the details of a place as well as its familiar landmarks. At 25 x 33cm, the hardcover is very much a book for the coffee table – although its subject should give readers a few ideas for getting away from it.
The book arrives shortly after Original Travel took the name of its parent company, Voyageurs du Monde, in the UK. The London team continues to plan tailor-made trips under the new name, with a launch dinner for the book and a presentation of the company’s 2027 travel trends to follow.
by Felicity Carter
Voyageurs du Monde: A Manifesto for the New Traveler is published by Assouline and is available from Assouline boutiques, selected booksellers and online. Imagery by Jackie Cole.