Joe Lyon is a 25-year-old temp worker from Lancashire, England, who set off on a round-the-world trip in 2006.
Disillusionment with the ‘real’ world after University and a brief period thus far of working life — that there’s much more to life than slogging your guts out just so you can buy a house and fill it full of junk. “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans” (John Lennon). Time to see how amazing the world actually is.
The Snapshot
- Departure: 2006
- Age at departure: 25
- Nationality: England
- Location: Lancashire, England
- Duration: 6-12 months
- Occupation: Temp worker
- Original budget: GBP 7,500 (approximately USD 19,600 in 2026 dollars)
- Regions: Southeast Asia, Oceania, North America
The Route
In Their Words
Here's what Joe Lyon shared about their RTW journey:
What is your biggest fear about this trip?
Running out of money, being bitten by anything with more or less legs/wings/eyes than myself, having to come home eventually and start work again…
Are your family, friends, co-workers, etc., supportive of you? What is their opinion of your going around the world?
Family are very supportive having put me up in their home once again for the last 6 months, friends are mainly supportive and/or bewildered at the fact that I’m going on my own.
2026 Context
- Budget inflation: This traveler's original budget of GBP 7,500 would equate to approximately USD 19,600 in 2026 purchasing power.