Melanie Rae – Around-the-World Traveler

Melanie Rae is a 34-year-old navigator from Scarborough, England, who set off on a round-the-world trip in 2002.

Talked about doing something like this for the past 15 years, though it’s about time I got round to doing it.

The Snapshot

• Departure: 2002
• Age at departure: 34
• Nationality: England
• Location: Scarborough, England
• Duration: 1-2 years
• Occupation: Navigator
• Original budget: GBP 10,000 (approximately USD 29,300 in 2026 dollars)
• Regions: Europe, Asia, South Asia

The Route

From England: Moscow and St Petersburg, then the Trans-Mongolian Railway to Beijing, teaching in Changchun for six weeks, overland into Tibet and on to Nepal, trekking in the Annapurna region, then India — after that, who knows.

In Their Words

Here's what Melanie Rae shared about their RTW journey:

What is your advice for other travelers?

Save a bit of money and just do it.

What are you packing? What do you consider your most indispensable item(s)?

I plan to pack as light as possible but will definitely take my sleeping bag, head torch, camera and walkman.

What is the biggest myth people have about round-the-world travel?

Everyone is doing it.

2026 Context

• Budget inflation: This traveler's original budget of GBP 10,000 would equate to approximately USD 29,300 in 2026 purchasing power, reflecting roughly 83% inflation over the intervening years.