Richard Taylor – Around-the-World Traveler

Richard Taylor is a 29-year-old IT support worker from Amersham, England, who set off on a round-the-world trip in 2004.

A feeling that life is passing me by, which it largely is.

The Snapshot

• Departure: 2004
• Age at departure: 29
• Nationality: England
• Location: Amersham, England
• Duration: 1-2 years
• Occupation: Jaded IT support geek
• Original budget: GBP 6,000 (approximately USD 16,800 in 2026 dollars)
• Regions: Southeast Asia, Asia, Oceania

The Route

London to Thailand on a one-way ticket, ending up in Australia for a year on a working-holiday visa, with flexible half-baked plans to take in countries in between, such as Vietnam, Laos, and China.

In Their Words

Here's what Richard Taylor shared about their RTW journey:

What is your advice for other travelers?

Not to spend too long convincing yourself to do it, like I have.

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

Haven’t thought about packing, will leave that to the last week before I go. But undoubtedly too much stuff.

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

That you can drop everything and go. Very wrong.

2026 Context

• Budget inflation: This traveler's original budget of GBP 6,000 would equate to approximately USD 16,800 in 2026 purchasing power, reflecting roughly 75% inflation over the intervening years.