Travel documentary

A travel documentary is a documentary film, television program, or online series that describes travel or tourist attractions without endorsing specific commercial package deals or tour operators. A travelogue is an early iteration of this genre, often serving as an exploratory ethnographic film. According to film scholar Alison Griffiths, early ethnographic films functioned as a "spectacle of difference," allowing spectators to relate to a globalized world by viewing cultures beyond their own geographic boundaries. While documentary films had limited visibility within the Hollywood studio system prior to the 1930s, the decade marked a significant shift in film history as independent filmmakers gained popularity and established the travelogue as a viable cinematic form.

The genre has been represented by television shows such as Across the Seven Seas, which showcased travelogues produced by third parties, and by occasional itinerant presentations of travelogues in theaters and other venues.

The British comedian and actor Michael Palin has made several series in this genre beginning with Around the World in 80 Days (1989). PBS has several travel shows including those hosted by Rick Steves and Burt Wolf.

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