The most economical way to travel around the world is to purchase an RTW ticket through an airline alliance. In theory, any route is possible, but familiarity with the RTW booking system will help you save money. For example, the Star Alliance , which includes nearly 30 airlines, offers RTW tickets with up to 15 stopovers.

There are a few rules: you must determine the direction of your trip (east or west – no going back); departure and arrival must be in the same country; finally, all flights must be booked before departure, although it is possible to change them later (which may incur additional costs). Of course, you can also travel the world without taking a plane: on foot, on horseback, hitchhiking, and even on a scooter! Recently, a very adventurous person did it on a Vélib ‘…

How long should I plan for a world tour?

By flying non-stop, you could complete your round-the-world trip in a weekend. Phileas Fogg did it in 80 days, and we explained how to do it in a previous article . However, the minimum duration of most RTW tickets is ten days —which is still a frantic race. Consider combining availability, adding public holidays, or even taking a sabbatical to give you two months—or ideally six to twelve. The maximum validity of an RTW ticket is one year. Some round-the-world travelers travel for several years before returning home. The Great Traveler’s Bible published by Lonely Planet offers tips for traveling with almost no money, so you can travel… longer. Couchsurfing is a well-known example. Here are also some frequent traveler jobs to help you get back on track and get back on the road.

When to go on a world tour?

Logically, the weather can’t be ideal during all your stops, so focus on the destinations that are most important to you and find out about the weather there. If the highlight of your trip is trekking in the Himalayas, don’t land in Nepal during the monsoon season. Similarly, if you want to swim with whale sharks off the coast of Western Australia, aim to arrive between April and July.

Generally speaking, city tourism is possible year-round (you can always escape extreme conditions—heat/cold/rain—in museums and cafes). Outdoor exploration, on the other hand, is more dependent on the climate.

Where to go? Choosing your destinations for a long trip

The most common (and advantageous) RTW tickets connect certain major cities, for example London – Bangkok – Singapore – Sydney – Los Angeles .The cost of the ticket is calculated based on the total distance traveled or the number of countries visited.

Remember that you don’t have to go from one point to another. In Australia, you can land in Perth, travel by road, and then take off from Cairns; another example is to arrive in Moscow, take the Trans-Siberian Railway, and then take off again from Beijing.

 For example, if you’re a hiking enthusiast, combine a Peru (Inca Trail) – New Zealand (Milford Track) – Nepal (Everest Base Camp) itinerary with Brazil (Rio is a good gateway to South America), Australia, and northern India.

If money is tight, spend more time in less expensive countries. Your daily budget will be significantly higher in Western Europe and North America than in Southeast Asia. Indonesia, Bolivia, and India are particularly cheap.

Tips, tricks and pitfalls

Contact an expert before booking: You may have an itinerary in mind, but an agent familiar with RTW tickets will be able to tell you which routes work best and cost the least—a few adjustments can add up to big savings.

Be flexible: Delaying your departure can save you money. Midweek flights are generally cheaper, as are flights on Christmas Day.

Plan ahead for domestic connections: Booking domestic flights when you purchase your RTW ticket may be more affordable. However, with the proliferation of low-cost airlines, you may find it more convenient (and less time-consuming) to purchase them separately as you go.

A word of warning: if you don’t honor one of your booked trips (say, on a whim, you decide to go from Bangkok to Singapore by road instead of by