Round the World Travel: The Complete Planning Guide
RTW Guides(584)
Philip Bell – Around-the-World Traveler
Philip Weston – Around-the-World Traveler
Plan Your RTW Trip
Planning a round-the-world trip starts with choosing your route and destinations. You'll want to think about how long you're traveling, which regions matter most to you, and what kind of experiences you're after.
Planning
Round-the-world travel planning follows seven distinct steps. Start with your "why," build through budgeting and route planning, handle logistics, gather gear, manage pre-trip details, and prepare for life on the road.
Planning Your RTW Route
Planning your RTW route means starting with 3-5 "pillar" destinations you absolutely want to visit, then building the rest around logistics rather than trying to see everything. Most first-time planners try to visit 20+ countries and end up exhausted; experienced travelers visit 8-12 and go deeper. Consider transportation links between countries (getting from Peru to Southeast Asia is expensive and time-consuming), visa limitations, seasons and weather patterns, and honestly how much you want to move versus stay put.
Portia Bond – Around-the-World Traveler
Post Trip
Returning home from RTW travel brings reverse culture shock and mixed emotions. You've changed. The transition is real. Stay connected to the travel community, process your experiences, and plan your next adventure.
Pre-Trip
Pre-trip preparation separates comfortable RTW travel from stressful scrambling. Six months before leaving, organize documents, visas, finances, and logistics. Three months before, handle travel-specific preparation.
Protect You Medications
Protect your Film
RTW Basics
RTW basics cover documents, gear, preparation, and mindset needed to leave home and stay traveling. Before you go, organize paperwork, get travel insurance, and prepare mentally for change.