Modern round-the-world travel

image courtesy of s.stone
image courtesy of s.stone
Written by Linda Hohnholz

Since people realized that our Earth is round, they have sought to travel worldwide. To do this, they chose a variety of routes and modes of travel. Most of these adventures failed. However, some daredevils achieved their goal.

Nowadays, traveling around the world is available to everyone. It allows people to independently choose the appropriate mode of transport, prioritize directions, and choose places to stop. It is enough to plan the trip correctly or trust the travel company that organizes it, after which you can enjoy the adventure.

Ways to make a round-the-world trip

Unlike in the recent past, a modern person has complete freedom to choose the method of making a round-the-world trip. This process often comes down to finding the optimal type of transport, which will become a priority option on your journey. The choice of transport determines what the round-the-world trip will be like and how long it will take.

Air travel

The easiest way to cross the globe is to use air transport. It is the fastest and most convenient so that you can count on a short and comfortable trip. To do this, you should choose a suitable airline whose planes fly to all points of our planet. This will significantly simplify each flight and make it less expensive from a financial point of view.

Many of the most prestigious airlines offer the opportunity to purchase a so-called RTW ticket. It allows you to fly worldwide without excessively high costs and long airport waits. Plan to use the services of different airlines. You will have to independently plan a route, considering the possibility of flying to a particular point of the globe.

Traveling by plane is the fastest and most comfortable, but in terms of excitement; it will be much inferior to other ways to travel around our planet. This is explained by flying from one airport to another. You will be able to see only the most significant cities, which are not much different from each other. At the same time, unique settlements and the best attractions will remain far from you, and you are unlikely to want to spend much time getting to them from the airport.

Water travel

One of the most popular ways to travel worldwide is using water transport. It is less convenient than airplanes and can create problems even for well-prepared travelers. But this option allows you to enjoy magnificent landscapes and see the coasts of many countries most of the time.

An essential advantage of traveling by water is the ability to make stops in any port city. This will help you see life on other continents, explore the sights of many countries and immerse yourself in the culture of residents. Another significant advantage of sailing on a yacht is the lack of need to look for hotels and other places to stay overnight.

For a round-the-world trip by water, it is best to choose RTW cruises. They are pretty expensive but always exciting. Only a few companies organize such adventures, so they always have many people willing to travel around our planet. If you use your yacht and travel worldwide, you must prepare for it for a long time. The main problem in this adventure will be logistics and safety.

Rail travel

The most unique atmosphere is during a round-the-world trip, during which the train is the preferred transport. This option is ideal for people who love communication and can spend hours enjoying the landscapes flying past the window. At the same time, the railway is far from being the fastest way to travel so that the time costs will be very high.

To make a round-the-world trip by train, it is best to choose the most famous international routes. Many stretch for thousands of kilometers and pass through the territory of dozens of countries, allowing you to see each one from the train window.

The main disadvantage of the railway is strict adherence to the existing train schedule. In this regard, during stops, you will have very little time and will not have time to see all the most exciting things this or that city offers. Another disadvantage is that you must look for ways to cross oceans. In this case, you must transfer from a train to water or air transport.

Car travel

If you like complete freedom of action, the best way to travel worldwide is by car. You can rent a car long-term or buy one on Autobidmaster and similar online platforms. In both cases, you will have to plan your trip yourself, choose routes, places to refuel, stop for the night, etc. However, in return, you can go wherever you want and stop where you see fit.

A trip worldwide by car will allow you to see many large and small cities, their attractions, people, and cultures. Such a trip will also open access to many natural locations and various places of entertainment. In general, you will get the opportunity to have a good time and get unique emotions from being in a particular country.

Among the disadvantages of a car trip around the world are the lack of security guarantees, difficulties with crossing borders, and the need to pre-register many documents permitting entry into the territory of certain countries. You will also always have to remember the availability of gas stations and places to spend the night (unless you choose a motorhome for your trip).

How much time will it take to travel around the world?

The first round-the-world trip was made in 1519-1522. Then, the famous Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan could travel around our planet in 1082 days. Much time has passed since then, and people have learned to cover large distances faster. Today, a round-the-world trip can vary from several days to 6-12 months. The fastest option is air transport. Theoretically, it will help you go around the globe in just 2 days. However, in reality, this figure will be about 2 times more. If you do not just fly from one airport to another but also explore various cities and their attractions, the trip can stretch out for several weeks or even months.

With the help of water transport, you can travel around the Earth in less than 43 days. This is the current world record, which was set in 2017 by the Frenchman Francois Gabart. An ordinary traveler will spend much more time on this. If you choose not to sail on a yacht alone but to go on an organized round-the-world cruise, you will have to spend at least 6 months. The travel time will be longer if you make stops to visit port cities, explore their attractions, etc., during the trip.

You won’t be able to travel around the entire planet by rail because you have to cross oceans. However, even if you leave this part of the trip for air transport, you must travel by land by train for at least 4-5 months. Everything depends on the chosen route and the time allocated for stops. The situation will be approximately the same with a car. It will not be able to take you across the ocean, so you will have to look for alternative transport. The time spent will depend not only on the choice of route but also on the pace of travel. Your curiosity and desire to pay attention to the various locations encountered along the way will also impact you.

A round-the-world trip is the dream of many people. To make it a reality today, you do not need to spend much money and risk your life, as in the distant past. It is enough to plan each stage of the trip carefully, choose the priority mode of transport and find the most intriguing route. Having done this work, all that remains is to enjoy the journey and be proud that you managed to travel around our entire planet.

About the author

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Newest
Oldest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x
Share to...