Lonely Planet has launched its first-ever series of country guide apps for iPhone and the iPod touch. These apps, according to the company, are the first mobile country guides from a guidebook publisher-- and they can be 100 percent used offline.

Launching with Italy, Ireland, Australia, France, Spain and Costa Rica, Lonely Planet’s country guide apps are available for $9.99 from the App Store or through the Lonely Planet Travel Guides App.

The apps include information on every region that’s covered in Lonely Planet print guidebooks.

The new apps feature expert content and recommendations, along with detailed maps (which allow users to view the entire country, and then zoom in to a particular region, city,  neighbourhood or street, and also quickly pinpoint their location on the map through the GPS capabilities of their iPhone or iPod touch) and works entirely offline, avoiding roaming or data fees.

The apps combine background information on a country, practicalities, suggested itineraries, and thousands of author recommended places to eat, drink, sleep, shop, visit and see.

The country guide apps complement the company’s other travel apps including 70 city guide apps, various audio walking guides, audio phrasebook apps, and offline translator apps.