Gregory White is a 37-year-old photographer from Seattle, USA, who set off on a round-the-world trip in 2005.
The Snapshot
- Departure: 2005
- Age at departure: 37
- Nationality: USA
- Location: Seattle, USA
- Duration: 6-12 months
- Occupation: Photographer
- Original budget: USD 12,000 (approximately USD 20,400 in 2026 dollars)
- Regions: Oceania, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Middle East, Africa, Europe
The Route
In Their Words
Here's what Gregory White shared about their RTW journey:
Is this job one that you actually like, or are you only doing it to pay for the trip?
It’s my career.
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?
Girlfriend of 5 years dumped me, and I finally got paid a bunch of money I was owed from 3 years ago from a client.
What is your biggest fear about this trip?
My 14 yo cat being mistreated or dying or someone in my family getting sick while I’m away. Getting my photo gear ripped off.
How much planning and preparing have you done?
Winged it a lot.
What are you packing? What do you consider your most indispensable item(s)?
Photo gear and laptop w/dvd burner – still not sure how to best carry it. Otherwise, the basics. Most indispensable item: my brain.
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?
It will open my eyes, fill me with passion, feed my art, and make me feel alive.
If you had to sum up your thoughts/feelings about your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be?
Life is either a daring adventure, or it’s nothing. – Helen Keller
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?
Getting out of one’s comfort zone is the best way to grow, and that just isn’t going to happen on a 2 week vacation. It takes at least 2 weeks just to get in the groove, and the last week you are thinking about going home and all you have to do when you get back.
2026 Context
- Budget inflation: This traveler's original budget of USD 12,000 would equate to approximately USD 20,400 in 2026 purchasing power, reflecting roughly 70% inflation over the intervening years.