The Travel Map

Here’s an experiment. If I had the opportunity to do one round-the-world five month trip and wanted to squeeze in as much interest, novelty, cultural, climatic and geographical variation on a modest budget, what would my route be and which countries would I visit? I’m going to post a first draft here and edit it over time (swapping countries and routes for example, adding points of interest, Vietnam or Cambodia?) hopefully as a result of constructive comments. The end “ideal” backpacker trip should give an amazing and challenging experience for someone who is interested but can’t quite decide where to go.

An Ideal trip

Sept

from London:

• Egypt (Cairo, Luxor)
• Israel (Eilat scuba diving qualification, Jerusalem)

Oct

• India (Delhi, Agra, Varanasi)
• Nepal (Kathmandu, Annapurna or Everest Base Camp Trek, Tibet)

Nov

• Thailand (Bangkok)
• Indonesia (Bali)
• Vietnam (Southern)

Dec

• China (Hong Kong, Yangshuo)
• Australia (Sydney)
• New Zealand (South Island, Queenstown)

Jan

• New year in Sydney (or Auckland)
• Cook Islands (Raratonga, Aitutaki) Timed to allow two New Year’s Days
• Chile (Atacama, you need basic Spanish language skills)
• Bolivia (Uyuni salt flats,  Yungas Trek, La Paz)

Feb

• Brazil (Iguassu Falls, Rio Carnival)
• Optional return via the USA (New York)

back to London.

Unless you know different!

UPDATE 1 Removed  “Jordan (Wadi Rum, Petra)”, too many deserts!

UPDATE 2 Added trek to Annapurna as first choice with the Everest Base Camp trek as 2nd choice.

UPDATE 3 February 2019: I believe prices have at least doubled since I originally wrote this!

OPTION 1
For a cheaper option, miss South America and from the Cook Islands go via USA (LA, Las Vegas, San Franciso) and Canada (Vancouver, Toronto) and USA (New York) and back to London.

OPTION 2
For a more expensive option, when in South America, add a 10 day trip to Antarctica from Ushuaia, Argentina, via Buenos Aires and El Calafate.

(a cheap round the world ticket would still be roughly US $5000)

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Although the author has tried to make the information as accurate as possible, he accepts no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by any person using this site.

It’s not everyday that you see a rat on a cat on a dog:

Not much happening on the veranda,

The Blow Holes are still blowing along the coast

and an underwater volcano erupted on Monday, six miles off the coast throwing smoke, steam and ash 15km into the air!

Update: and there was an earthquake early this morning! (Friday)

Perhaps diving and Whale Sharks (or “Butanding”) are the compelling reasons for visiting the Philippines. I’ll know if I have managed to capture the excitement of snorkeling along with these graceful fish (some eight metres in length) when I develop the film from my disposable underwater camera. Manila is a noisy busy city in complete contrast to the quiet calm of the coastal dive resorts.

Cock-fighting in the Philippines

In Donsol there are Whale Sharks!

100% genuine pictures of parts of Whale Shark as I try to keep up with them:

relaxing with a large shoal of Jack fish.

Diving VIDEO

I have decided that blogs with photos are the modern form of sending postcards. If you feel its cold in the northern hemisphere why not come down south, to sunny Bali? My visit to Indonesia was essentially a diving trip, from Bali to Lombok to a tiny island about a mile across called Trawangan. I’m writing from Kuta, where the shops cater to all backpacker and holiday makers’ needs, staying between “Poppy 1” and “Poppy 2” alleys near the site of the Bali bomb memorial.

This form of volleyball using feet may be popular across Indonesia…

Now just to use up my remaining Indonesian currency on delicious food.