Axel Grafmanns is a 29-year-old broadcast engineer from Berlin, Germany, who set off on a round-the-world trip in 2003.
The Snapshot
- Departure: 2003
- Age at departure: 29
- Nationality: Germany
- Location: Berlin, Germany
- Duration: 6-12 months
- Occupation: Broadcast engineer
- Original budget: EUR 25,000 (about USD 28,750; approximately USD 51,600 in 2026 dollars)
- Regions: Oceania, South America
The Route
Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and South America.
In Their Words
Here's what Axel Grafmanns shared about their RTW journey:
Why do you think people should go on round-the-world trips? Why not just take a regular old one- or two-week vacation instead?
Because this time is not enough, that you get the feeling for different cultures and different people. Two weeks vacations are not enough, to realice that we live as world-citizens, and that nationality is not so important.
Are your family, friends, co-workers, etc., supportive of you? What is their opinion of your going around the world?
Yes, they support me. It was a long process. And they know, that traveling is a part of my live. It’s important for me. I had already monthly trips to Thailand, India, USA, Mexico….
How do you think your round-the-world trip will change your life? How do you think it will affect and change you as a person?
I don’t know…it’s not my first trip far away. But maybe I find out, what I will do the rest of my life, after my dreamn and what is important for me….
What is the biggest myth that people have about round-the-world traveling?
Everybody ask me five questions: 1) What will you do after the trip? 2) What is with your occupation? 4) You do it alone? 3) You have enough money for it? 4) What the opinion of your parents to this?
Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
Well, an old dream comes true. I am now close to the 30, and it’s time to realise from what I talked my whole live. You have ever a reason that you don’t do it.
Why do you like to travel?
It’s a part of my live, of my dreams and it’s important to stop war and fighting each other. If you ever have a friend in a foreign country, you don’t like to shoot him.
2026 Context
- Budget inflation: This traveler's original budget of EUR 25,000 (about USD 28,750) would equate to approximately USD 51,600 in 2026 purchasing power, reflecting roughly 80% inflation over the intervening years.