Skip to main content

72 Dangerous Places to Live, Dark Tourist, and more: Sate your wanderlust with the best travel shows and documentaries on Netflix

You'll love these amazing travel documentaries

A person sitting in the living room with their feet up watching Netflix.
Mollie Sivaram / Unsplash

Traveling is something that many people wish they could do more of. Whether you lack the time, money, or know-how to travel the world, though, it can be comforting to watch others do it from the comfort of your couch. A great travel show or documentary can be a wonderful escape and a reminder that the world is much bigger than the tiny slice of it you live in every day. What’s even better is that many great travel documentaries on Netflix, if you’re willing to go looking for them.

These documentaries will deliver stunning panoramic shots of the U.S. National Parks, as well as plenty of international wonders, and a little bit of good food as well. If you like all kinds of docs, travel or not, we’ve got you covered with Netflix documentaries (or maybe you’re just really into crime docs and action flicks). We also have an overall guide on the best Netflix movies and the best Netflix shows.

72 Dangerous Places to Live (2016)

72 Dangerous Places to Live
1 Season
Genre Documentary
Cast Mitch Ryan
There’s nothing like a thrill to spice up your life and get the adrenaline pumping. 72 Dangerous Places to Live details the experiences of folks who live in some of the most frightening locations on the planet. Natural disasters such as tornadoes and man-made dangers like pollution in rivers are just some of the examples of threats to people in these episodes. Countries all over the world are targeted, from Australia to Indonesia, so the virtual travel to different regions should make viewers more worldly. This gives the show an exotic feel that everyone will enjoy.

Down to Earth with Zac Efron (2020)

Down to Earth with Zac Efron
60 %
8/10
tv-pg 1 Season
Genre Documentary
Cast Zac Efron, Darin Olien
If you’re looking for a combination of travel and health tips, Down to Earth is exactly what you need. Zac Efron travels around the world with wellness expert Darin Olien to highlight different ways to live sustainably. By shining a light on solutions to problems rather than the problems themselves, this docuseries manages to wring an optimistic message out of some fairly dire material. And Efron’s doofy, bro-like charisma only makes it more enjoyable.

The Chef Show (2019)

The Chef Show
8.2/10
tv-ma 2 Seasons
Genre Documentary
Cast Jon Favreau, Roy Choi
Created by Jon Favreau
This wonderful show all began during the filming of director and actor Jon Favreau’s hit movie, Chef. Roy Choi had been brought on as a consultant for the film and the two ended up bonding over the cooking process. Throughout the series, the lighthearted duo travels around the country cooking with celebrities and famous chefs. They also showcase a variety of delicious recipes, taking you step-by-step through the process of making some truly delectable-looking dishes. The Chef Show is also one of our top picks for the best cooking shows on Netflix right now.

Street Food Collection (2020)

Street Food Collection
8.0/10
tv-pg e Seasons
Genre Documentary
Cast David Gelb, Brain McGinn
Created by David Gelb
This Netflix series from the creators of Chef’s Table explores a different region of the world each season. We start off on the streets of much of Asia — Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, and more — to see the carts, stalls, and markets that folks visit as part of their everyday routines. Subsequent seasons visit Latin America and the US, and unlike other food shows, Street Food spends each episode highlighting the intense personal connection between the meals and the people who make them. Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds, then pretend you can smell all the smells.

Tales by Light (2015)

Tales by Light
8.3/10
tv-14 3 Seasons
Genre Documentary
Created by Abraham Joffe
All of the most potent documentary films, in-depth magazine features, and stirring nonfiction works have someone to thank: The person behind the camera. Photographers are often left out of the spotlight because they’re too busy searching for the next perfect shot (and, you know, taking it). Tales By Light, which began as a short series from Canon and evolved into a partnership with National Geographic, introduces you to one amazing photographer in each episode and takes you along his or her next journey to capture elusive wildlife, unique communities, and stunning landscapes. The almost metaphysical look through the lens at another person looking through a lens encourages you to see the subject matter in a slightly different light (no pun on the show’s name intended).

Dark Tourist (2018)

Dark Tourist
60 %
7.5/10
tv-ma 1 Season
Genre Action & Adventure, Documentary
Cast Sebastián Treviño, David Farrier
Created by Carthew Neal, David Farrier, Polly Fryer, Mark McNeill
Cults, rituals, gangs, war zones, crime scenes, and ancient ruins. In this documentary, our host, David Farrier, travels the world in search of the dark, the devious, and the dastardly. Unlike the other shows on this list, this series will show you a whole new side of tourism, where the darkest aspects of humanity are also the center of attention.

Midnight Asia: Eat Dance Dream (2022)

Midnight Asia: Eat Dance Dream
6.8/10
1 Season
Genre Documentary
Cast Darice Chang, Kathy Cheng, Brian Hioe
In an original series from Netflix, Midnight Asia: Eat Dance Dream details the exciting and ever-changing night life of multiple Asian countries. With each episode, we see a different, thriving Metropolis that comes alive for travelers as well as locals. The camera crew will follow a few quirky individuals who are either a part of the entertainment or simply choose to take part in it on a regular basis.

Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father (2017)

Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father
7.6/10
tv-ma 5 Seasons
Genre Comedy, Reality
Cast Jack Whitehall, Michael Whitehall
Created by Jack Whitehall
Would you travel through foreign countries with your dad? Comedian Jack Whitehall drags his father, Michael, around on unlikely adventures that force them both out of their comfort zones. Their difference in tastes causes some interesting (and often funny) disagreements. For example: One of them wants to stay in a hostel. The other wants to stay in a five-star hotel. Who do you think wins?

Lorena, Light-footed Woman (2019)

Lorena, Light-footed Woman
7/10
tv-g
Genre Documentary
Cast Lorena Ramirez
Ultrarunners and marathoners are notoriously gear-obsessed. Who doesn’t want the latest technology in shoes, clothes, and snacks? Lorena Ramírez bucks that trend completely. The Mexican native competes in her indigenous garb: Sandals and skirts, and sees places all over the world as she runs distances that exhaust most of us when we’re just thinking about them.

The World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals (2021)

The World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals
2 Seasons
Genre Reality, Documentary
Cast Jo Franco, Megan Batoon, Luis D. Ortiz
Sometimes, all a show needs to be is what its title suggests it will be. In World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals, three travel experts unite to visit some of the most amazing vacation rentals all over the world. There’s a little bit of travel porn happening here, to be sure, but it’s mixed in with a few budget-friendlier places, and it maybe just the show you need to gain a greater appreciation of a world that is mostly for the fabulously wealthy.
The World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals | Official Trailer | Netflix

Our Planet (2019)

Our Planet
tv-g 1 Season
Genre Documentary
Cast David Attenborough
Although it’s not explicitly a show about travel, Our Planet is a pretty comprehensive look at the natural world and its often breathtaking beauty. The series is explicitly about the way that climate change is destroying the world around us, but it’s also a stark reminder of all of the wonders of the natural world. Whether Our Planet makes you want to travel or not, it’s worth watching if only to appreciate how much is at stake when we talk about the future of the place we all call home.
Our Planet | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix

Salt Fat Acid Heat (2018)

Salt Fat Acid Heat
1 Season
Genre Documentary
Cast Samin Nosrat
Spinning off of her book of the same name, Salt Fat Acid Heat follows Samin Nosrat as she travels the world in an attempt to dispel the mysteries behind what makes great food so great. Nosrat’s travels take her to Japan, Israel, and the Yucutan peninsula as she breaks down what makes the food she’s eating so good. It’s the ideal show for travelers who make food one of their main objectives, no matter where in the world they’re headed.
Salt Fat Acid Heat | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix

Editors' Recommendations

Movie images and data from:
Joe Allen
Contributor
Joe Allen is a freelance culture writer based in upstate New York. His work has been published in The Washington Post, The…
Black Mirror, The 100, and more: The 12 best sci-fi shows to stream on Netflix right now
These are our favorite sci-fi series on Netflix to binge
Stranger Things

The best sci-fi shows are able to capture the imagination of audiences with the perfect amount of realism, while also dissociating from reality enough to entertain and thrill. There are plenty of sci-fi movies on Netflix that are well worth checking out, but if you’re in the mood for something that will take a little bit longer to consume, you may be looking for a series. To find the best show for you, we've done the hard work of looking through all of Netflix's many options to find the best options. Below are the greatest sci-fi TV shows on Netflix. Once you’re done watching any of these sci-fi TV shows, you may want to check out the best sci-fi movies of all time.

Dark (2017)

Read more
The Cloverfield Paradox, Stowaway, Awake, and more: The 14 best sci-fi movies to stream on Netflix in 2024
These sci-fi movies are sure to make even the most skeptical viewer pay attention
Poster for The Mitchells vs. The Machines

Have you ever found yourself looking through all the movies on Netflix, only to find that actually choosing one to watch is very taxing? That's not even mentioning all the Netflix shows to dig through. If you know you're looking for a particular kind of movie, that can help, but even then, there can be too many movies to choose from. Luckily, we've been watching tons of great sci-fi movies and have already determined which ones rise to the top of the pile on Netflix. So if you're looking for the best sci-fi movies on Netflix this year, you've come to the right place.
If you're looking for Netflix movies that will keep you occupied for a whole weekend or an evening, you can also check out our list of the best sci-fi series on Netflix right now.

65 (2023)

Read more
The Irishman, Extraction, The Gray Man, and more: The 10 best action movies on Netflix
These action movies are full of heart-pumping explosions, fights, and more
The Irishman

What is the definition of an action movie? Can there even really be a complete explanation of the genre? Some feature the kinds of stunts that no mere mortal would ever dare to attempt, while others attempt to be more grounded. Still, others have outlandish premises that take us to new, far-off worlds.
It's a genre that contains multitudes, but what makes an action movie great is its ability to thrill and captivate its audience. Over the course of its history as a streaming service, Netflix has been home to a number of great action titles. Some are funny, and others are deadly serious. The only thing we know for sure, though, is that the best action movies on Netflix are sure to please. We've also rounded up some of the best action movies on Amazon Prime worth watching if you've seen all these, as well as a few great action movies available on Hulu.
Looking for even more films to stream online? We've found the all-around best Netflix movies, Amazon Prime movies, Disney Plus movies, and movies on Hulu to watch this month.

Uncharted (2022)

Read more