Stu Thompson is a 35-year-old American based in Zürich, Switzerland — an IT manager before the trip, a programmer after it — who took a round-the-world trip in 2005.
The Snapshot
- Departure: 2005
- Age at departure: 35
- Nationality: USA
- Location: Zürich, Switzerland
- Duration: Not specified
- Occupation: IT manager (programmer after the trip)
- Original budget: USD 8,000 (approximately USD 13,500 in 2026 dollars)
- Regions: Asia, Southeast Asia
The Route
In Their Words
Here's what Stu Thompson shared about their RTW journey:
Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
There were a couple of factors that led to my decision to make the trip. I’ve been traveling on shorter term trips for years and living abroad for eight years. For the previous year I had been considering going back to university and maybe slipping an Asia trip into it. Five months before leaving I was laid off from my job as an IT manager and was strongly considering a career change of some sort. (I was definitely not happy with how things were going.) While searching for a job last summer I came across a charity in Thailand that needed the help of a programmer. So last summer I just said ‘fuck it’ and bought tickets with the intention of working for the charity, contemplating my career in IT, considering going back to Uni for a master’s degree, and other career options like travel journalism. (I put a lot of effort into a blog during my trip.)
What was the best moment of your trip?
The 120km motor scooter journey.
What was the worst moment?
Making ‘what if’ plans when my travel buddy was nearly arrested in Wa clan-controlled Shan State for not having the correct travel documents.
What was your favorite piece of gear?
My laptop.
How did your round-the-world trip change your life? How did it affect and change you as a person?
The trip opened up the possibility of working and living in a non-Western country. It has also made me a much calmer person…something many people have remarked on since I’ve been back.
If you had to sum up your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be?
A well timed sabbatical.
2026 Context
- Budget inflation: This traveler's original budget of USD 8,000 would equate to approximately USD 13,500 in 2026 purchasing power, reflecting roughly 69% inflation over the intervening years.