What we can learn about travel from travel writer Tony Wheeler

Few people have shaped independent travel as profoundly as Tony Wheeler, co-founder of Lonely Planet. A conversation about curiosity, responsibility, slowness – and why meaningful travel is always a form of education.

Tony Wheeler, born in 1946 in England, founded Lonely Planet together with his wife Maureen in the early 1970s. What began as a self-published book about a journey through Asia evolved into the world’s most influential travel guide publisher. The ​“Lonely Planets” shaped generations of travellers and changed the way the world is explored and perceived. Today, Wheeler is no longer involved in day-to-day operations, yet he continues to travel with passion. We meet him in Melbourne – deeply relaxed, a glass of white wine in hand.

Tony, you are 79 – are you not slowly growing tired of travelling?

No, not at all! When I look back on a year, I almost always realise it was a very good year for travel. I especially enjoy places I have never been to before – it feels like mentally ticking off a new country.

Where have you been recently?

Algeria. I had wanted to go for years, but for a long time the country was considered unsafe – an image that still persists. I spent several weeks there, and people kept telling me how much things have improved over the past decade. I was truly impressed.

What impressed you most?

Algiers is a fascinating city. After Haussmann reshaped Paris, he also worked in Algiers, which is why you find remarkable French architecture there. Add to that outstanding Roman ruins – among the best in the Mediterranean – and, in the south, extraordinary prehistoric rock paintings in the Sahara. The country offers tremendous diversity.

Is there a kind of happiness you find only when travelling?

Perhaps more a sense of clarity. Travel puts things into perspective. You realise that your own view of the world is just one among many. I’ve felt that since my earliest journeys. For me, travel is a form of education – not theoretical, but experiential.

Many people keep lists of countries they have visited. Do you do that as well?

I try not to think in terms of ticking boxes, but of course I know where I haven’t been yet. This year, besides Algeria, I visited Jamaica, Mauritius, the Seychelles and Réunion for the first time – although Réunion is technically not an independent country. What matters, however, is not the number of places, but the depth of the encounter. A place rarely reveals itself fully on a first visit.

Do you still travel with guidebooks?

Yes, absolutely! Mostly digital, sometimes printed. A good guidebook doesn’t replace personal experience – it provides context. History, background, interpretation – things you don’t always find reliably online.

Are guidebooks still relevant today?

There was a period when their quality declined because people assumed everything could be looked up online. But readers made it clear that well-founded information was missing. Guidebooks have changed, but they remain valuable: they offer curated knowledge, independent of technology and battery life.

When did you realise your books were more than just practical tools?

Very early on. Even in the first years after we founded the company, readers told us they felt truly understood. A community emerged of people who wanted to travel in a similar way: open, curious, respectful. With that came responsibility.

Were there places significantly influenced by your books?

Yes, especially Vietnam and China. When Vietnam opened up, almost everyone used the same guidebook. If we recommended a restaurant, it would immediately be overcrowded. We realised how much influence we had and became more cautious and selective. China was perhaps even more complex. The first China guide appeared in 1984. Travel was complicated, permits confusing, much was informal. Orientation was especially important there.

Did travel change for you once it became work?

Yes, but in a positive way. Even difficult places were interesting because you had to observe and document them closely. Many of our authors still say it was the best job of their lives.

Which book was the greatest challenge?

The Soviet Union. As soon as the book was finished, the country no longer existed. In China, a new edition was published just before the SARS outbreak, and tourism collapsed entirely.

What role does slowness play in travel?

A crucial one! Travelling on foot or by bicycle changes your perception. Slow travel creates proximity – to landscapes, but also to people. In an accelerated world, it is almost a counter-model.

Overtourism is a major issue today. Which places concern you?

Venice, Barcelona, Amsterdam – and surprisingly Albania. Within a few years, it went from a hidden gem to an overcrowded destination. The best approach is not to focus only on the coast. The interior has much to offer, and it deserves time.

What advice would you give young travellers today?

If possible, travel early! A longer journey teaches you more about the world than many years of formal education. Travel fosters independence, empathy and composure.

What kind of travel do you hope for in the future?

Travel that does not merely consume, but understands. For me, reading and travelling belong together. Those who prepare and reflect don’t just travel further – they travel deeper.

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