Michael Hickmon is a retired traveler from the USA who circled the globe in 2004 on a "Global Scavenger Hunt."
The trip was a "Global Scavenger Hunt" organized by The Great Escape Foundation. They made all of the plans, which were kept secret from all of the participants. It just sounded like fun.
The Snapshot
- Departure: 2004
- Age at departure: 65
- Nationality: USA
- Location: USA
- Duration: Not specified
- Original budget: USD 11,000 (approximately USD 19,200 in 2026 dollars)
- Regions: Asia, South Asia, Middle East, Africa, Europe, North America
The Route
In Their Words
Here's what Michael Hickmon shared about their RTW journey:
What is your advice for other travelers?
Don’t wait, do it now. You never know what next year will bring.
What is the biggest myth people have about round-the-world travel?
People hear too many stories about bad things happening to people in far off places, and they get scared. The most dangerous part of the trip was the drive to the airport.
2026 Context
- Budget inflation: This traveler's original budget of USD 11,000 would equate to approximately USD 19,200 in 2026 purchasing power, reflecting roughly 74% inflation over the intervening years.