Best Travel Documentary

Long Way Round chronicles a motorcycle expedition undertaken by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman. The journey spanned approximately 19,000 miles, beginning in London and concluding in New York City via routes through Europe, Asia, and Alaska. The series was initially broadcast on Sky One and subseq...

Raghubir Singh was a pioneering Indian photographer known for his immersive color documentaries. His work, particularly *Ganga: Sacred River of India*, significantly advanced the field by demonstrating color’s potential in documentary storytelling. He focused on capturing authentic moments within co...

Globe Trekker is a British television series created by Pilot Productions that originated from Lonely Planet travel guides. Beginning broadcasts in 1994, the show documented journeys across more than 40 countries and six continents. It garnered over 20 international awards, including multiple Americ...

Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown is a CNN documentary series offering intimate explorations of global food cultures. Hosted by Bourdain from 2013 to 2018, each episode journeys to unique locations revealing local traditions and culinary practices. The show’s focus on authentic experiences and diverse...

An Idiot Abroad is a British documentary series following Karl Pilkington’s involuntary travels around the world. Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant orchestrate these trips from the UK, documenting Pilkington's often bewildered responses to unfamiliar cultures and situations. The show consists of te...

Ikko Narahara (1923-2017) was a Japanese photographer whose work documented postwar Japan. He is particularly recognized for his extensive exploration of rural communities, notably through the influential "Human Land" series of 1956. His documentary style and use of black-and-white photography offer...

Inge Morath was a pioneering documentary photographer associated with Magnum Photos. She gained recognition for her impactful travel assignments particularly within Austria, alongside powerful portraiture capturing literary figures and everyday life. Her work offered intimate observations of individ...

National Geographic is a global leader in nature and exploration content. Known for its stunning visual aesthetics and high-budget expeditions, it provides unparalleled access to the world's most remote environments. Their documentaries combine breathtaking cinematography with scientific expertise,...

For over two decades, 'Ghost Adventures' has been a dominant force in paranormal television. Zak Bagans and his team relentlessly pursue alleged hauntings across the globe, utilizing a blend of scientific equipment and intense personal experiences. While often criticized for its sensationalism, the...

California’s Gold was a public television series examining California’s landscapes, culture, and history. Running for twenty-four seasons from 1991, it was created by Huell Howser with KCET, Los Angeles. Production concluded following Howser's retirement in 2012, though episodes remain available thr...

Ugly Delicious is a Netflix original documentary series created by chef David Chang that premiered in 2018. The show examines how culturally significant dishes, such as pizza, tacos, and fried chicken, evolve and are adapted across different global communities. Each episode combines travel, culinary...

RealLifeLore specializes in weaving together history, geography, and cultural context to explain how the world we live in came to be. The videos are highly narrative-driven, often focusing on the 'why' behind modern customs or geopolitical realities. The storytelling is engaging, making complex cult...

"Grass: A Nation's Battle for Life" is a 1925 silent documentary film directed by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack. The film documents the annual migration of the Bakhtiari tribe across the Zagros Mountains in Persia (modern-day Iran) as they search for grazing land for their sheep. It is c...

Locked Up Abroad, titled Banged Up Abroad in the United Kingdom, is a documentary and docudrama series associated with National Geographic. Episodes reconstruct first-person accounts of people who were arrested or imprisoned outside their home countries, frequently in cases involving drug smuggling,...

Somebody Feed Phil is a Netflix travel and food documentary series hosted by Phil Rosenthal, the creator of Everybody Loves Raymond. First released in 2018, each episode follows Rosenthal as he visits a city or region, samples local dishes, and speaks with cooks, restaurateurs, residents, and other...

A Cooking Channel series that travels across the United States to profile bakeries and pastry shops producing inventive or regionally distinctive desserts and confections.