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LONELY PLANET
About LONELY PLANET & its products
 
Lonely Planet By Region
THE AMERICAS
Canada
The United States
Latin America
 
THE CARIB-BEAN
 
AFRICA
 
EUROPE
Central & Eastern
Western
 
ASIA
Northeast
Indian Sub-continent
Southeast
The Middle East  & Central
 
THE PACIFIC
 
POLAR CAPS
 
Lonely Planet By Series
 
REFERENCE
 
ACTIVITIES/
INTERESTS
Cycling
Hiking-Trekking-Walking
Diving & Snorkeling
National Parks
Wildlife
 
ARMCHAIR TRAVEL
Literature
Pictorials
 
ABOUT LONELY PLANET
& ITS PRODUCTS

Lonely Planet founders Tony and Maureen Wheeler wrote their first book after an overland trip from England to Australia in 1973. So many people asked them where they went and how they did it that they decided to write a book about it. That book, Across the Asia on the Cheap, became an instant local bestseller and Lonely Planet was created.

Lonely Planet publications are designed for adventurous, independent travellers. The guides assume travellers know how to get their luggage off the carousel and follow the philosophy "don't worry about whether your trip will work out. Just go!" The guides cover the must-see spots but also encourage travellers to get off the beaten-track and really get to know the place and people they are visiting.

Lonely Planet built its reputation covering Asia, Africa and Latin America yet today it covers the entire globe with over 400 publications. These include guidebooks, phrasebooks, walking guides, videos, travel literature and atlases and maps. And while the company started out producing guidebooks for budget travellers, the books today include a range of options so that travellers can get the most out of their time and money, whether they're travelling on a shoestring or an expense account.

One more bit of Lonely Planet history -- where the Lonely Planet name came from. It's from a line in "Space Captain," a song by Joe Cocker and Leon Russell from the album "Mad Dogs and Englishmen." The actual words from the song are "lovely planet" but Tony Wheeler heard "lonely planet" and liked it and the rest is history.

LONELY PLANET REFERENCE GUIDES

Know before you go - these pre-departure guides answer questions, alleviate concerns and educate all travellers.

  • Healthy Travel guides - take two and call your travel agent in the morning. These pocket-sized books are nothing to sneeze at.
  • Travel Reference - advice about when and how to plan your own worldwide adventure.
LONELY PLANET DESTINATION GUIDES
Shoestring Guides Country, Multi-Country & Regional Guides Discover Guides City Guides
At a Glance
Continent Country, multi-country and regional Country and multi-country City
An extensive range of sights, activities, accommodation, restaurants and nightlife designed for practical use while travelling on the road An extensive range of sights, activities, accommodation, restaurants and nightlife designed for practical use while travelling on the road Highlights-based for shorter trips or one trip only ("trip of a lifetime"), with accessible off-the-beaten track experiences Comprehensive detail about the history, major sights, best places to eat, nightlife, accommodations and shopping
LONELY PLANET ACTIVITY/INTEREST GUIDES

From hiking & biking to diving & dining, these specialized guides complement the guidebooks and connect you with the things you most enjoy.

LONELY PLANET ARMCHAIR TRAVEL

Dreaming of your next holiday? Lonely Planet's travel literature, DVDs, calendars and vivid pictorials will keep your travel bug buzzing.

  • Literature - a travel literature series that captures the spirit of a place, illuminates a culture, recounts an adventure or introduces a fascinating way of life. Written by a diverse group of authors, these books are tales to read while on the road or at home in your favorite armchair.
  • Pictorials - just the ticket for both travellers and dreamers. Quirky tales and vivid photographs bring the adventure of travel to life both before the journey begins and long after it is over.
LONELY PLANET LANGUAGE GUIDES
Chat with locals or order dinner in over fifty languages with these practical, pocket-sized phrasebooks.
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