Our Itinerary (the plan)
Planning a trip around the world with three kids can be a challenging task but the excitement of choosing the countries that will be part of our travel route far outweighs any concerns we may have. With so many destinations to choose from, the process of selecting the perfect itinerary has been an exciting and collaborative effort, as each member of our family has their own preferences and desires. In this blog article, we will share our strategies for choosing an itinerary for a 12-month travel trip with three kids. We will cover everything from selecting destinations that will be fun for both kids and adults, to outlining our rough itinerary and discussing our expectations. So if you're dreaming of taking your family on an epic trip around the world, join us on this adventure and discover some helpful guidance on how to plan the perfect itinerary.
How did we come up with the itinerary?
Planning a one-year family trip around the world can be both exciting and overwhelming. There are so many destinations to choose from and factors to consider, including budget, interests and practicalities. As a family, we knew that we wanted to embark on this adventure together but we also wanted to ensure that everyone's needs and wishes were taken into account.
To start the process, we sat down together and created a list of countries we've always wanted to visit. This list was influenced by Andrea's bucket list and Alpay's childhood memories of movies he had seen. We also considered our desire to meet up with friends from Tanzania, India, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand which we had made during previous travels.
We then researched each destination thoroughly. Factors such as visa requirements, safety, health risks, weather conditions and travel logistics were taken into consideration. We read travel blogs and forums, watched documentaries and chatted with other families who had taken similar trips to get ideas and recommendations.
We also reevaluated our budget, as we plan to homeschool our kids during the trip and do not plan to work during those 12 months. This means that we have to be mindful of our spending and find affordable ways to travel and experience each destination. We look for budget-friendly accommodations, transportation options and activities that would be both educational and fun for the kids.
When we visited the Serengeti in 2021, our kids loved to experience firsthand what they had watched in documentaries before so we want to make sure to include destinations that would provide these kinds of experiences more often and give opportunities to learn about different cultures.
2. What is our itinerary?
After much research, discussion and planning (and that’s still ongoing!), we came up with an itinerary that included destinations in Africa, Asia, Australia as well as South and Central America. We will spend different amounts of time explore and immerse ourselves in each culture and visit some of the must-see sights. However, we also recognize the importance of building in some downtime, so we can relax and recharge as a family. Additionally, we have to make sure that we allocate enough time for homeschooling which is an integral part of our trip.
Our itinerary includes a mix of cities, towns and mostly natural landscapes in different parts of the world. We'll be starting our journey in Africa, where we plan to visit Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Ethiopia.
From there, we will be traveling to India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Korea, Japan, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore, and Indonesia in Asia.
Our plan then takes us to Australia and New Zealand before we head over to South America where we will be visiting Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Costa Rica and Mexico if time and money allow.
We expect time to fly by but we are excited about every minute of our upcoming experiences and can't wait to share our adventures with you!
3. What are our expectations?
Our main goal for this journey is to spend quality time together as a family. With the kids growing up so quickly, we realize that by the time they turn 18, we will have spent around 93% of our time with them. Hence, it is essential for us to create unforgettable memories and make the most of our time together.
We also want to expose our kids to different cultures and lifestyles with the hope of expanding their and our knowledge, experiencing different cuisines and exploring unfamiliar territories. Our goal is to instill a sense of adventure and excitement in them, teaching them to embrace discomfort as a means to grow and develop. We strongly believe that such experiences will equip them to navigate the world with open-mindedness, resilience and adaptability.
Our kids are especially excited to see many animals like kangaroos and parrots in the wild and experience the beauty of landscapes ranging from African savannas to jungles and beaches. We plan to visit various beaches and swim in the sea as well as enjoy pools at different locations. Our itinerary includes traveling by different vehicles, such as planes, cars, RVs, and safari vehicles which will make the journey even more exciting for the kids.
Our trip will also prepare us for life in an international world where tolerance, understanding and acceptance of differences as well as communication are key. Overall, we're excited for the adventure ahead and look forward to sharing our experiences with others.
What topics would you be interested in hearing about in our future reports?
