How to Plan a Round-the-World Trip: Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide

How do you plan a round-the-world trip? With careful planning, a realistic budget, and a taste for adventure.

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure page for more information. Thanks! This post was originally published January 2020 and updated January 2025.

On January 2, 2019, my husband Dylan and I set off on a six-month round-the-world adventure.

We said goodbye to family, jobs, and possessions and embraced life as backpackers. We arrived in Cusco, Peru to begin our journey as The Nomadic Fitzpatricks.

We feel incredibly grateful to have turned this dream into reality. We recognize not everyone can take this path, and we were fortunate to make it work through saving, planning, and prioritizing travel.

If you have celiac disease like me, know that you can travel safely. Gluten-free options exist worldwide, and with planning you can eat without worry when traveling with celiac disease.

Read on for practical details from our trip and tips to help you plan your own long-term adventure.

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page.”
– Saint Augustine

How To Plan A Round The World Trip

Round The World Trip: Take A Sabbatical

Planning a round-the-world trip takes time. For us the idea began in January 2017, and by mid-2017 we were taking concrete steps toward making it happen.

We requested sabbaticals from our employers. I asked a year in advance to give my school district time to find coverage. Dylan secured six months off from his employer. With that approval we scheduled travel to maximize our time away and chase warmer weather by leaving in January.

Storing Your Belongings For A Round The World Trip

One major task was vacating our long-term apartment and placing possessions in storage. We lived in a two-bedroom rental for six years, so packing and moving into a 10×10 unit took two weeks.

Canceling the lease eliminated monthly expenses like rent, utilities, and renter’s insurance. If you rent, breaking the lease and storing essentials can lower ongoing costs. If you own, consider renting your place to cover expenses.

Cars, Phones & Insurance For Round The World Trips

Decide what to do with vehicles and insurance before you go. Because our cars were paid off, we paused auto insurance for six months. For rentals, my credit card provided coverage on the few occasions we rented cars.

We purchased travel insurance for emergencies, cancellations, hiking incidents, and stolen property. It cost $1,137 and proved to be one of our best investments. We kept phones in airplane mode and used WiFi; when needed we used international plans or local SIM cards for connectivity.

Round The World Trip Packing List

A key to long-term travel is not overpacking. We started with too much and gradually pared down, sending items home with family. Adopting a minimalist, backpacker mindset made life easier; by the end I was comfortable with just a few outfits.

Pack versatile gear you can find abroad—hiking poles, warm socks, toiletries, basic medicine—and bring essential personal items like emergency prescriptions and a small pillow. A sturdy backpack is essential; it becomes part of your travel life.

Many items can be sourced locally, but plan ahead for anything medically necessary or specialty items you rely on.

Round The World Trip Transportation

You can book all flights in advance through agencies that specialize in round-the-world tickets, or assemble your own routing. We booked many flights ourselves after careful price comparisons, which saved money and gave us flexibility.

Before leaving we planned the first two months in detail, then shifted to slow travel—staying longer in fewer places to get to know them. Beyond long-haul flights, we relied on buses, trains, and lots of walking—typically at least five miles a day. Offline maps and Google Maps are invaluable when navigating public transit abroad.

Here’s a fun chart that shows how much we walked during our travels. Make sure to look for the barrier!

Travel Hacking For Your Trip

Using travel credit cards and rewards saved us money. Perks like Priority Pass airport lounges made layovers easier. We redeemed points for three flights and saved roughly $1,800 USD. Travel hacking, combined with frugal habits—cooking, free activities, and budget lodging—kept costs manageable.

If the expense of a long trip worries you, start saving at least six months ahead and consider a dedicated travel savings account.

Lodging While Traveling The World

We stayed mainly in hostels, guesthouses, and Airbnbs, with a few hotel nights using points. Hostels are great for meeting other travelers, sharing tips, and forming quick friendships. They can be noisy or crowded, so balancing shared dorms with occasional private rooms helped keep us comfortable while staying on budget.

Always read reviews for cleanliness, location, and host responsiveness. Do what keeps you safe and happy—sometimes paying a bit more for comfort is worth it.

Round The World Trip Itinerary

We scheduled our route to stay in summer months as much as possible while crossing hemispheres. We packed warmer gear specifically for treks in Peru, Patagonia, and Nepal, and pared down gear when we reached Europe.

Some places we hoped to visit—South Korea, Morocco, Tanzania—didn’t fit our budget or timing. Those remain on our list for future trips.

Here’s how our itinerary looked month by month:

Final Itinerary

January 2019
1/2/19 – 1/12/19: Cusco, Peru & Inca Trail
1/12/19 – 1/17/19: Buenos Aires, Argentina
1/17/19 – 1/30/19: Patagonia, Chile & Argentina

February 2019
2/1/19 – 2/10/19: South Island, New Zealand
2/11/19 – 2/18/19: Sydney & Blue Mountains, Australia
2/18/19 – 2/28/19: Bali, Indonesia (Ubud & Nusa Islands)

March 2019
3/1/19 – 3/21/19: Thailand (Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Koh Lanta)
3/22/19 – 3/27/19: Hong Kong

April 2019
3/28/19 – 4/20/19: Nepal (Kathmandu, Pokhara, ABC Trek)
4/21/19 – 5/4/19: Croatia (Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar, Zagreb)

May / June 2019
5/5/19 – 5/27/19: Italy (Venice, Rome, Capri, Milan, Tuscany, Cinque Terre, Genoa)
5/28/19 – 6/20/19: Spain (Bilbao, Camino de Santiago, Madrid)
6/20/19 – 6/30/19: USA road trip and Canada back to Boston

Countries and destinations in bold link to travel guides and detailed posts.

Total Trip Expenses

How much does a round-the-world trip cost?

We saved aggressively for months, reduced monthly spending, and travel hacked flights. We gave up our apartment and minimized belongings to two backpacks each. Because our sabbaticals were unpaid, we relied on savings and kept expenses low.

We estimated roughly $20K for six months of daily expenses plus about $10K for flights. Our final travel expenses matched those estimates closely.

Bottom line: Living costs exist whether you stay home or travel. The difference is where you allocate that spending.

Using budgeting tools and researching typical costs by country helped us plan. Visiting a mix of inexpensive and pricier countries kept our average costs reasonable.

Round The World Trip Expenses Charts

Your costs can be lower or higher depending on choices. Below are charts and a breakdown of our expenses to offer one example of a mid-range budget for two people.

Six Month Travel Budget Normalized

Travel Expenses By Country

Flights

TOTAL TRAVEL EXPENSES

Expense Type	Amount
Flights	$8,039
Lodging	$6,737
Transportation	$2,681
Food	$4,817
Excursions/Hikes	$4,908
Miscellaneous	$1,024
Travel Insurance	$1,137
Storage Unit	$750
Grand Total	$30,093

Our travel expenses totaled about $28,206, with insurance and storage bringing the grand total to just over $30,000. Expensive countries like New Zealand, Australia, and Hong Kong required tighter budgeting; inexpensive stops such as Bali and Nepal helped offset costs.

If we had focused on one or two continents, flight costs would have been lower and the total would have dropped significantly. For future long-term travel we’d focus on slower, more sustainable travel to reduce costs and deepen experiences.

Questions For Jen & Dylan About Our Trip

Below are common questions we’re asked after returning from our trip, along with our answers to help you plan and prepare.

General Questions

How long was your round-the-world trip?

About six months. We left January 2, 2019 and returned to the U.S. on June 20, 2019, arriving back in the Boston area by July 1.

What was your most common method of travel?

We flew between countries but relied heavily on buses, trains, and walking—at least five miles a day on average.

How many countries did you visit?

Technically twenty; we spent significant time in about twelve.

Where did you go?

Peru, Chile, Argentina, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Nepal, Croatia, Italy, Switzerland, and Spain.

Individual Questions

What was your favorite country?

Jen
I loved Indonesia, Thailand, and Croatia.

Dylan
I don’t have a least favorite—each place had something special.

What was your favorite city?

Jen
Madrid or Chiang Mai.

Dylan
Chiang Mai.

Best part of the trip?

Jen
Total freedom and time together—learning about ourselves and the world every day.

Dylan
The moment of realization in Cusco that we were fully disconnected from our old routines and living the adventure.

Worst part?

Jen
Having to come home.

Dylan
The ending.

Funniest memory?

Jen
Trying Vegemite in Australia and discovering the source of a mysterious chirping in SE Asia was a gecko. Plus Dylan’s accents and songs.

Dylan
Carol & Larry on a Capri ferry—an amusing older couple we overheard and admired.

Best travel tip?

Jen
Bring a reusable water bottle and consider a Priority Pass membership.

Dylan
Priority Pass—worth it.

Longest travel day?

Jen
Nepal to Croatia.

Dylan
Nepal to Croatia.

We had multiple flights and a long layover which left us exhausted on arrival.

Best hiking or bonding experiences?

Jen
The Camino de Santiago and the Inca Trail group we hiked with.

Dylan
The Camino group and the Inca group—both created lasting friendships.

Favorite trek?

Jen
The Inca Trail in Peru.

Dylan
Annapurna Base Camp in Nepal.

Best food?

Jen
Pad Thai in Chiang Mai and gelato in Italy.

Dylan
Momos in Nepal and a memorable lamb sandwich in Patagonia.

Best gluten-free food?

Jen
Italy, Spain, and Chiang Mai offered excellent gluten-free options—pizza, pasta, gelato, and more.

Dylan
Asia generally offered many naturally gluten-free dishes like rice and curries, which helped a lot.

Did you experience culture shock?

Jen
Yes, particularly in Nepal; it required time and strategies to adapt.

Dylan
Yes, Kathmandu was sensory overload but unforgettable.

Did you get homesick?

Jen
Not much—maybe my pillow a few times.

Dylan
I only felt uneasy about returning home; otherwise I didn’t get homesick.

Would you do this trip again?

Jen
Absolutely—I’d go longer or even adopt this lifestyle permanently.

Dylan
Yes—I’d go again tomorrow without hesitation.

That sums up our feelings: we’d happily live as nomads again.

Round The World Trip: Final Thoughts

Traveling the world is a privilege. We are grateful for the chance to save, plan, and turn a bucket-list dream into reality.

“Travel is not a reward for working, it is education for living.”

Have you ever taken a round-the-world trip?

Tell me about it in the comments!