Travel literature is a broad and ancient genre encompassing guidebooks, nature writing, and travel memoirs, with its roots stretching back millennia. Early examples include the 1st-century Periplus of the Erythraean Sea and Pausanias' 2nd-century Description of Greece, alongside detailed medieval accounts by celebrated travelers like Ibn Battuta and Marco Polo, who meticulously documented their journeys.

In China, "travel record literature" (yóujì wénxué) flourished during the Song dynasty, with writers such as Fan Chengda and Su Shi blending geographical information with philosophical insights. A pivotal shift occurred with Petrarch's 1336 ascent of Mont Ventoux, marking one of the earliest records of travel for pleasure and personal reflection, inspiring later figures like Michault Taillevent to capture their individual experiences.

By the 16th century, accounts of travels to distant lands like India and Persia became so common they were compiled into significant collections, including Simon Grynaeus's Novus Orbis and works by Richard Hakluyt. The genre, often comprising maritime diaries and known as "books of travels," achieved immense popularity in 18th-century Britain, attracting contributions from many renowned writers.