A round-the-world trip becomes a reality if you plan your itinerary and calculate the cost. See the sunrise on Mt. Fuji in Japan, enjoy the scenery of the Dallol volcano in Ethiopia, see Machu Picchu in Peru, and all is in one trip.
What Counts as a Round-The-World Trip
To not just visit many countries, but to proudly call yourself a world traveler, you need to meet a few conditions.
For overland travel, there are two more requirements. First, the route should pass through six continents and parts of the world: Europe, Asia, Africa, South and North America, Australia (over 1,000 kilometers on each continent). Second, include at least two antagonistic (opposite) points. If you aren’t strong in geography, there is a site antipodesmap.com, which determines the necessary coordinates.
ExplorersWeb ambassador, world record holder Erden Eruch believes that a round-the-world trip should start and end at one point and pass in one direction through at least a couple of geographical antipodes, i.e. two opposite points of the Earth.
So, you have made a real round-the-world trip if you have crossed the equator and all longitudes and traveled more than 40,075 kilometers, which is equal to the length of the equator.
Which Mode of Transportation to Choose
The most difficult thing about a round-the-world trip is its organization. Plan the route, buy tickets, make visas — preparing for such an adventure is much harder than hitting the jackpot at betlabel. But this stage can be delegated, fully or partially.
First, decide on the mode of transportation and choose the dates of your trip. All-inclusive trips are usually available on ocean liners. Cunard Line, Viking cruises, Royal Caribbean’s, Princess, Silversea and other companies offer cruises on a wide variety of itineraries. All of them start overseas. Check the itinerary carefully, as the declared Round World Trip doesn’t always meet the criteria of a round-the-world cruise — sometimes it’s just a transatlantic sea cruise. The advantages of such a trip are obvious: you don’t need to find and book accommodation, meals are included in the price of the cruise.
Air travel is the easiest and fastest way to visit as many countries as possible. Some airlines offer all-inclusive round-the-world tickets. For example, Oneworld and Star Alliance websites have an itinerary planning interface available. But keep in mind that there are restrictions on the number of stops and the total number of kilometers.
Of course, you can make a route on your own without being bound to an airline alliance. You should plan your trip in advance: flexible dates and time to spare will allow you to buy tickets cheaper.
How Much It Costs to Travel Around the World
The cost of traveling around the world varies greatly depending on the amount of time and countries you wish to visit, as well as the level of comfort you expect.
Someone is ready to fly with several connections, spend the night in airports and hostels, look for accommodation with the help of couchsurfing, or do volunteer work for accommodation and food. And some are used to staying in hotels with good service. If you prioritize independent travel, then estimate the preliminary cost of tickets and accommodation, and later expand the route.
One thing should be firmly learned: a round-the-world trip isn’t the most affordable type of travel. For example, one of the most popular fares on the Star Alliance website is RTW (Round The World). The itinerary starts in Frankfurt. It includes Paris, New York, San Francisco, Tokyo, Singapore, and then return to the point of departure. The journey lasts 35 days. A general economy class ticket costs about $3,250 if you fly in July. Accommodation and meals, of course, are not included. Another important nuance: the number of kilometers in the air does not reach the required mark according to the criteria of the round-the-world trip and is only 34,000.
Another alliance route for the same money starts and ends in Athens. It passes through Cairo, Beijing, Miami, Chicago, Brasilia, and Barcelona. The total length of the route — 40,700 kilometers — fits the requirements for a round-the-world trip. Travel time is 42 days and the cost is $3,275. Of course, if you book tickets independently and in advance, buy them on sale and choose more budget destinations, you can get within a smaller amount. But, again, accommodation and meals are paid additionally.
Sea circumnavigations are much more expensive and last longer. For example, a one hundred-day cruise on the liner Arcadia will cost $14,500 per person with double occupancy in an inside cabin at the early booking rate: the start of the trip is scheduled for January 2025. This price already includes meals, drinks, and entertainment programs on board. The list of countries on the itinerary is impressive: England, Portugal, Barbados Island, Netherlands, Panama, Mexico, USA, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Philippines, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, UAE, Egypt, Malta, and Spain. But first, you will have to buy tickets to the English city of Southampton, from where the trip starts, and get visas. You can also book a transfer to the starting point from the airport or another city when paying for the cruise.
How Much Time Is Needed
Of course, you can go around the earth and in a few days, see nothing and tick it off. But why? According to the experience of circumnavigators, for a comfortable trip, it’s necessary to allow at least 2-3 full days for each point of the route, not counting the day of departure.
Travel Tips
- You can save a lot on airfare at sales. In order not to miss the best fares, subscribe to airline newsletters. The main thing is to read them, and not to save them in a folder of unread messages. For example, Turkish carrier Pegasus sends personalized offers to each member’s email. And AirAsia sells zero-fare tickets to Asia a couple times a year, when only fuel surcharges of around $10 are paid.
- Don’t skimp on health insurance. You can buy an annual policy with worldwide coverage. Pay attention to the maximum number of days it’s valid in one country.
- If you plan to visit exotic countries, study the list of recommended vaccinations in advance.
- It is better to take adapters for sockets with you, so that you do not have to run in the middle of the night in an unfamiliar city in search of a 24-hour equipment store.
- Take into account that on different continents the seasons don’t correspond to our usual “schedule.” For example, in Australia and New Zealand, winter comes in June, and summer arrives at the end of December.
