A trip around the world sounds like an unreachable dream, but it is mostly a matter of a good plan and time. Broken into stages, it becomes a series of doable decisions. Here is how to plan a trip around the world without the chaos.
Decide the direction and route
Choose whether you travel east or west, and join the continents into a logical line so you are not flying back and forth. List your priority places and build the rest around them.
Follow the seasons
The key to a big trip is travelling in good weather. Plan the route to hit regions in their best season and dodge the rainy season or extreme heat.
Budget and visas
Lay out costs over long months and check visa requirements for each country in advance. You will find budgeting basics in how to build a travel budget.
Tickets and flexibility
Consider a round-the-world ticket or buying legs separately — check which is cheaper for your route. Leave room for plan changes; on a long trip they are inevitable.
Document the trip as you go
On such a long journey it is easy to confuse places and dates. Save each stage in TRAMFI — the map and photos will come together into the story of the whole loop around the world.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a round-the-world trip take?
Most often from a few months to a year. It can be shorter, but at the cost of pace and a deeper sense of each place.
Round-the-world ticket or separate flights?
It depends on the route. For a classic loop an RTW ticket can be cheaper; for an unusual route separate flights give more flexibility.