Cover Image: Jack Whitehall: Travels With My Father/Netflix
These Netflix shows will satisfy your wanderlust from the comfort of your couch

1. Tales By Light

You can’t make a list about the best travel shows without saving a spot for Tales By Light. The inspiring documentary follows a group of world-renowned photographers and filmmakers who are dedicated to finding the best story-telling shots around the globe. Not only you’ll be to get a fascinating glimpse into the lives of locals in the remote corners on Earth, but also treated to some beautiful scenery and even some photography tips along the way.

Watch it here

(Related: All-Time Favourite TV Shows To Binge-Watch on Netflix and Amazon As You Stay Home)

2. Jack Whitehall: Travels With My Father

If you’re looking for a solid dose of humour with your travel docs, this one’s for you. Featuring British comedian Jack Whitehall and his conservative father, Travels With My Father follows the duo’s adventures across Southeast Asia, North America and Europe, where they experience everything from dancing lessons to kayaking and adrenaline sports. With tons of funny, heartwarming father-son bonding moments, this show is sure to put you in a good mood.

Watch it here

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Courtesy of IMDb

3. Expedition Happiness

As the name suggests, the young German filmmaker sets out on a road trip across North America in a refurbished school bus with his musician girlfriend and their beloved dog in search for a state of pure bliss. What’s great about the show is that the couple used an intimate, straightforward approach to capture their journey from Alaska to the southern tip of Mexico on camera, which makes it a truly compelling narrative to watch. This show is also a wonderful reminder to live in the moment and expend your comfort zone to pursue meaningful adventures.  

Watch it here

4. Dark Tourist

Join journalist David Farrier for some thrilling travel experiences in the unusual—and sometimes dangerous—destinations around the world. Whether it’s visiting the haunted forests in Japan, having a swim in the Kazakhstan lake that formed by a nuclear blast, or witnessing the ceremony of cleaning corpses in Myanmar, Dark Tourist will keep you at the edge of your sofa throughout.  

Watch it here

5. Somebody Feed Phil

Warning to all food lovers: Do not watch this documentary on an empty stomach! Starring the creator of Everybody Loves Raymond, Phil Rosenthal, the show takes armchair travellers around the world from Morocco to Ho Chi Minh City and London to explore scrumptious authentic local cuisines, meeting inspirational people and learning lesser-known food cultures.  

Watch it here

6. The Kindness Diaries

If lockdown has got you feeling a bit down, we’ve got just the cure for you. The host of The Kindness Diaries, Leon Logothetis, travels the globe in a vintage sunshine-yellow motorcycle, relying solely on the kindness and generosity of strangers to offer him food and shelter to survive. Inspirational and heartwarming, the show will have your faith in humanity restored and teach you a lesson or two about gratitude and self-compassion. 

Watch it here

7. Our Planet

Yes, Our Planet is technically a nature documentary, but there’s plenty of breathtaking visuals to fuel your wanderlust—think the diverse jungles in South America, grasslands in North America and the Arctic wilderness. Narrated by the famous nature storyteller Sir David Attenborough, the programme also addresses the impacts of climate change on living creatures, make it informative yet entertaining to watch. If this series doesn’t get you itching to see new places on our planet, we don’t know what will. 

Watch it here

8. Extreme Engagement

At first glance, Extreme Engagement may seem like another run-of-the-mill romance reality show, where the young couple has put their rocky relationship to test and explore ideals of their “perfect partner”. Yes, that’s kind of what it’s about but it’s also so much more.

Couple PJ Madam and Tim Noonan are going on a year-long trip to learn about different marriage customs in some of the world’s most remote places, revisiting past challenges and discuss what marriage means to them along the journey. More than just focusing on the relationship dynamics, the programme offers viewers a glimpse of the most mind-blowing once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences—from insects eating to aquatic adventures.

Watch it here

9. Restaurants On The Edge

Restaurants On The Edge combines all the best things about travel, interior design, and food shows. Restaurateur Nick Liberato, Chef Dennis Prescott and designer Karin Bohn are on a mission to transform falling eateries with amazing views around the globe, inviting audiences to join a fun culinary adventure exploring the traditions of various beautiful destinations from Tobermory to Finland and Hawaii. Oh, and did we mention that Tai O Banyan Tree in Hong Kong is the only Asian restaurant that featured and undergone a revamp in the show?

Watch it here

Topics