Hilary Thain is a 29-year-old marketing assistant from Bathgate, Scotland, who set off on a round-the-world trip in 2003.
The Snapshot
- Departure: 2003
- Age at departure: 29
- Nationality: Scotland
- Location: Bathgate, Scotland
- Duration: 1-2 years
- Occupation: Marketing assistant
- Original budget: "A fair bit" (not specified)
- Regions: Asia, Southeast Asia, Oceania
The Route
In Their Words
Here's what Hilary Thain shared about their RTW journey:
Is this job one that you actually like, or are you only doing it to pay for the trip?
I’ll come back if they’ll have me.
Have you traveled around the world before?
No.
Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
I’m fed up with the 9-5 lifestyle. Want to experience some of what the world has to offer and hopefully figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life before I come home!
What is your biggest fear about this trip?
Creepy crawlies!
Are your family, friends, co-workers, etc., supportive of you? What is their opinion of your going around the world?
Everyone is very supportive. Everyone wants to come with me and they all say that I’ll never come back! I’m not sure if that’s a hint!
How much planning and preparing have you done?
Just enough.
What are you packing? What do you consider your most indispensable item(s)?
I’ve got a 55l rucksack and I’m hoping to have less than 10kg in it. I’d like to leave space for shopping along the way!
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?
Hopefully I’ll come back more confident and less materialistic. I take a lot for granted just now and I’m sure this will change. I also hope I can make up my mind about what to do with my life after my travels!
2026 Context
- Budget inflation: This traveler described her budget only as "a fair bit," but early-2000s round-the-world costs are substantially higher in 2026 (roughly 70–80% cumulative inflation).