After years of dreaming and planning, it was finally time. From February 2022 to August 2023, we set off on a 17-month journey around the world as a family. With four backpacks, a loosely plotted route, and open minds, we embarked on the adventure of a lifetime.
In the end, here’s what our journey looked like:
• Duration: 529 days
• Countries: 21
• Continents: 6
How did we decide where to go?
Our itinerary was shaped by a deep love of wildlife and a desire to see animals in their natural habitats. Many of our destinations were timed to match the best seasons for exploring, like choosing Southern Africa’s dry months for our self-driving safari.
To stretch our budget, we focused on slow travel, aiming to spend about a month in each country. Fewer international flights meant lower costs and more time to settle into a rhythm. We also balanced our route by spending longer in more affordable regions, like Asia and Africa, while keeping our time in higher-cost areas, like North America and Europe, more brief.
Vancouver, Canada: February 23
We boarded our first international flight with wide eyes, huge smiles, and some nerves. Here we go!
Portugal: Feb 24 to March 2
We chose Portugal as our first stop—a soft landing to ease into this new lifestyle. It felt familiar enough to be comforting, yet new enough to spark excitement. It gave us time to adjust: to the time change, to the reality of being far from home, and to the strange idea of “world schooling.” We based ourselves in Costa da Caparica, a laid-back coastal town just outside Lisbon, and took a few easy day trips.
Places Visited:
• Lisbon
• Sintra
Morocco: March 3 to March 29
We planned a month-long road trip around Morocco, starting in Marrakech. Driving across the country was an incredible way to experience its striking diversity—from exotic cities and snow-capped mountains to breezy beaches and golden desert dunes.
Places Visited:
• Marrakech
• Essaouira
• Setti Fadma (Ourika)
• Imlil, Atlas Mountains (Ourika)
• Aït Benhaddou (Ouarzazate)
• Dadès Gorge (Tinghir)
• Merzouga, Camel Trek in the Sahara Desert
• Meknes / Volubillis
• Chefchaouen
• Casablanca
Egypt: March 30 to April 26
Our time in Egypt was spent discovering the incredible wonders of the ancient world. We travelled around the country by plane, car, and train, taking in the sights of Cairo, Giza, Aswan, Luxor, and Alexandria. But the most unexpected highlight came when we ventured into the White Desert for a camping trip—an unforgettable experience that revealed a quieter side of Egypt.
Places Visited:
• Cairo
• Giza, Saqqara, Dashur, and Memphis
• Aswan
• Luxor
• Alexandria
• White Desert & Whale Valley
South Africa: April 27 to May 10
We made Cape Town, South Africa our home base for two weeks before heading out on Safari. While there, we enjoyed the city life and had the chance to explore at a slower pace.
Places Visited:
• Cape Town
• Robben Island
• Cape of Good Hope
Southern Africa Camping Safari: May 11 to June 30
Our 51-day self-driving camping safari exceeded every expectation. We set off from Cape Town in a fully equipped 4×4, sleeping in rooftop tents and embracing the wild as we made our way up the coast of Namibia, across the Caprivi Strip into Zambia, down through Botswana, and finally into Johannesburg. It was an ambitious route that offered some of the best safari experiences in Southern Africa. It wasn’t always easy, but it was also one of the most rewarding chapters of our journey. The weeks were packed with unforgettable moments that brought us closer together.
Places we Visited:
South Africa
• Namaqua National Park
Namibia
• Fish River Canyon National Park
• Sossusvlei National Park (Sesriem)
• Solitaire
• Walvis Bay
• Skeleton Coast (Mile 8)
• Etosha National Park
• Okonjima Game Reserve
• The Caprivi Strip: Bwabwata National Park and Nkasa Rupara National Park
Zambia
• Victoria Falls
Botswana
• Chobe Riverfront
• Chobe National Park: Linyanti and Savuti areas
• Moremi National Park
• Nxai Pan National Park: Baines Baobabs and South Gate
• Elephant Sands (Nata)
Paris, France: July 1
From Johannesburg, we took a redeye to Paris and decided to make the most of our long layover. We stashed our bags in an airport locker and set off for a whirlwind five hours in the City of Light.
Croatia: July 2 to July 30
Arriving in Zagreb, we made our way south to Split, where we boarded a sailboat for a two-week sailing trip through the Croatian islands.
Places we visited:
• Zagreb
• Poreč
• Zadar
• Split
• Croatian Islands
Greece: July 31 to August 23
We were welcomed to Greece by familiar faces—friends from home who came to visit. Our time here was a string of lazy beach days on sun-soaked islands, intertwined with the captivating stories of Greek mythology.
Places we visited:
• Athens
• Cape Sanuion
• Naxos Island
• Milos Island
• Paros Island
• Patras
Italy: August 24 to October 2
Over six weeks, we soaked up Italy’s rich history, culture, and cuisine. Italy was an anchor in our trip—one of the few places with set dates—as we planned our route around being in San Benedetto for a family reunion. Meeting multiple generations of Italian relatives and visiting Ascoli, the hometown of Derek’s grandmother, was a memory we’ll cherish forever.
Places we visited:
• Venice
• Murano and Burano Islands
• Bologna
• San Benedetto & Ascoli
• Rome
• Vatican City
• Florence
• Pisa
• San Gimignano
• Pompeii
Croatia: October 3 to Nov 30
While in Italy, we decided to slow down. Rather than heading to Turkey and Asia as originally planned, we returned to Croatia and spent two months living abroad. Aside from short trips, our days were spent living a regular, day-to-day life.
Places we visited:
• Split
• Krka National Park
• Plitvice Lake National Park
• Dubrovnik
Vancouver, Canada: December 1 to January 3
We unexpectedly found ourselves back home for December. It was a welcome change of pace and the perfect chance to reconnect with friends and family over the holidays.
Vietnam: January 4 to February 1
After our time in Split and a month back home, we felt refreshed, reenergized, and ready to begin the next chapter in Asia. We took off from Vancouver and arrived in Vietnam. We made our way from the top to the bottom, starting in Hanoi, travelling south to Ho Chi Minh City.
Places we visited:
• Hanoi
• Cat Ba Town & Lan Ha Bay
• Ninh Binh
• Ho Chi Minh City
• Hue
• Hoi An
• Da Nang
Southern Thailand: February 2 to February 19
We broke up our time in Thailand to support the logistics of a tiger safari in India, spending two and a half weeks in the south before flying to Jaipur.
Places we visited:
• Bangkok
• Krabi/Au Nang
India: February 20 to March 3
Once in India, we travelled north from Jaipur to Ranthambore National Park for a week-long tiger safari, then detoured to Agra, visiting the stunning Taj Mahal, before ending in Jaipur once again.
Places we visited:
• Ranthambore National Park
• Jaipur
• Agra
Cambodia: March 4 to 18
We spent two incredible weeks in Cambodia, starting in Phnom Penh, where we visited the Killing Fields, learning about Cambodia’s tragic history and the resilience of the Cambodian people. Next, we headed deep into the jungle for another amazing wildlife adventure at the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Reserve. Finally, we ventured to Siem Reap and explored the ancient temples of Angkor Wat.
Places we visited:
• Phnom Penh
• Phnom Tamao Wildlife Reserve
• Siem Reap
• Angkor Wat National Park
Northern Thailand: March 19 to March 28
Back in Thailand, but this time exploring the fascinating temples in Chang Rai and Sukhothai, and visiting an elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai.
Places we visited:
• Chiang Rai
• Chiang Mai
• Sukhothai
Indonesia: March 29 to April 26
Our time in Indonesia was full of “must-see” wildlife adventures. From Bangkok, we flew to Medan (Sumatra), then travelled to Bukit Lawang National Park to trek with orangutans. From there, we travelled to Flores Island and took a day trip to Komodo Island to see the ancient Komodo dragons and swim with giant manta rays. Our final two weeks were spent relaxing and snorkelling in Gili Trawangan and exploring Ubud in Bali.
Places we visited:
• Bukit Lawang National Park, Sumatra
• Kuta, Bali
• Flores Island: Padar Island & Komodo Island
• Gili Trawangan
• Ubud, Bali
• Mt. Batur National Park
Sydney, Australia: April 27 & 28
We had a quick stopover in Sydney to break up the long journey from Bali to Florida, USA.
United States: April 29 to May 11
An extended layover put us in Honolulu for a few days before boarding another redeye flight to Orlando. Once there, we explored the Wizarding World at Universal Studios and swam with gentle manatees in Crystal River.
Places we visited:
• Honolulu
• Orlando
• Crystal River
Panama: May 12 to June 9
From Florida, it was a quick flight to Panama City, where we would head out on a three-week road trip. Panama’s famed canal was impressive, but the country offered so much more. We travelled to Boquete, a charming town in a lush valley, then headed to Boca del Toro, where the beaches left us in awe.
Places we visited:
• Panama City
• Soberania National Park
• Taboga Island
• Boquete
• Boca del Toro
Bolivia: June 10 to July 12
Our month in Bolivia turned out to be the biggest surprise of our entire trip—and quickly became one of our favourite destinations. From soaring over La Paz in the teleférico and wandering the otherworldly Moon Valley, to exploring the lush Amazon basin, tracking dinosaur footprints in the hills, and marvelling at the sparkling landscape of the Uyuni salt flats, every region felt like stepping into a completely different world.
Places we visited:
• La Paz
• Valley de Luna
• Amazon: Madidi Jungle and Pampas
• Toro Toro National Park & Cochabamba
• Santa Cruz
• Jaguarland Nature Reserve
• Sucre
• Uyuni & Bolivian Salt Flats
Mexico: July 13 to August 5
Our last stop was Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Here, we explored the remnants of ancient Mayan civilization and checked off another Wonder of the World—Chichén Itzá. We swam in the crystal-clear cenotes of the Yucatán Peninsula, snorkelled vibrant reefs in Cozumel, and capped it all off with our final “must-see” of the trip: swimming with whale sharks.
Places we visited:
• Playa del Carmen
• Chichen Itza National Park & Valladolid
• Cozumel Island
• Isla Mujeres (Whale Sharks)
• Tulum & Coba Ruins
Arrival Home: August 5
We arrived home filled with excitement to see family and friends. The transition back to “normal” life began as Derek and I returned to work and the boys settled back into school. It came with a mix of gratitude, a touch of nostalgia, and sometimes even a deep longing to be back on the road. We often find ourselves reflecting on how profoundly this journey shaped us and reminiscing about the simplest moments we shared together.
The travel bug is still very much alive, and we’re already dreaming of our next adventure.
Ready to Get Started?
Check out these related posts to help plan your World Trip:
• Around the World in 17 Months
• How much does a World Trip cost?
• Building a World Trip Itinerary
• This or That? Saving to Make it Happen
• How to Involve Your Kids in Planning a World Trip?
