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How Much Does a Trip Around the World Cost?
A round the world trip is one of the most exciting things you can do — and one of the most expensive to plan if you don't know where to start. The good news is that with the right budget and a bit of research, a year travelling the world is more achievable than most people think.
The cost of a round the world trip varies enormously depending on how long you go for, which regions you visit, and your travel style. A budget backpacker in Southeast Asia can get by on as little as £30–40 per day; a comfortable traveller mixing cheaper and pricier destinations might spend £80–100; while a luxury trip can cost £150 or more per day before flights.
In this guide, we break down every major cost category and give you realistic figures to plan your trip.
How much does a round the world trip cost?
The total cost depends primarily on trip length and travel style. As a rough guide:
| Trip Style | 3 months | 6 months | 12 months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | £3,500–£6,000 | £6,000–£10,000 | £10,000–£18,000 |
| Mid-range | £6,000–£10,000 | £10,000–£18,000 | £18,000–£28,000 |
| Comfortable | £10,000–£15,000+ | £18,000–£28,000+ | £28,000–£45,000+ |
These figures include flights, accommodation, food, transport, activities, travel insurance, visas, and spending money. They exclude what you leave behind at home (storage, bills, subscriptions) and the costs of returning to normal life.
Flights
Flights are often the biggest single upfront cost, and how you book them makes a significant difference.
Round the world (RTW) alliance tickets
The three major airline alliances — Star Alliance, Oneworld, and SkyTeam — sell RTW tickets that let you visit multiple continents on a single fare. These are priced by either number of continents visited or total mileage flown, and typically allow 3–16 flights within 12 months.
From the UK, expect to pay roughly:
| Ticket type | Economy cost from UK | |
|---|---|---|
| Budget RTW (3 continents, fewer stops) | £1,500–£2,500 | |
| Standard RTW (4–5 continents) | £2,500–£5,000 | |
| Full RTW (6 continents, many stops) | £5,000–£8,000+ |
Booking flights yourself
Booking individual flights using multi-city tools on Skyscanner or Kiwi.com can often work out cheaper, especially if you include budget airlines. It also gives you more flexibility. A DIY approach mixing budget carriers and direct long-haul flights can cost £1,500–£3,500, though you lose some of the convenience and rebooking flexibility of an alliance pass.
RTW ticket or DIY — which is better?
RTW tickets suit travellers with a fixed itinerary covering many continents in one trip. DIY booking is usually better for budget-conscious travellers, those focusing on one or two regions, or anyone who wants flexibility to change plans on the road. For a true round the world trip crossing multiple continents, the two approaches are often comparable in price once taxes and fees are included.
Accommodation
After flights, where you sleep will likely be your second biggest cost — and it varies hugely by region and travel style.
| Region | Budget (hostel dorm) | Mid-range (private room) | Comfortable (hotel/Airbnb) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast Asia | £5–12/night | £15–30/night | £40–80/night |
| South Asia (India, Nepal) | £4–10/night | £12–25/night | £30–60/night |
| Central/South America | £6–15/night | £18–35/night | £40–90/night |
| Australia/New Zealand | £18–30/night | £50–90/night | £90–180/night |
| Japan | £20–35/night | £50–90/night | £90–200/night |
| USA/Canada | £20–35/night | £60–120/night | £100–250/night |
| Western Europe | £18–30/night | £50–100/night | £80–200/night |
The biggest factor in your total accommodation spend is how long you spend in expensive regions. Spending six months in Southeast Asia is dramatically cheaper than the same time split between Japan, Australia, and the US.
Slow travel — staying in one place for a week or more rather than moving every two days — significantly reduces accommodation costs, as you can negotiate better rates and spend less on transport between destinations.
Food
Food costs vary more than almost any other budget item. In cheap regions you can eat well for £3–6 per day on street food and local restaurants; in expensive destinations like Japan, Australia, and Western Europe, eating out regularly can cost £30–50 per day or more.
Budget travellers cook in hostel kitchens where possible, eat at local markets, and avoid tourist-priced restaurants. At mid-range, expect to eat out for most meals at local restaurants, with the occasional splurge.
A realistic daily food budget:
- Budget: £8–15/day (global average across a mixed itinerary)
- Mid-range: £18–30/day
- Comfortable: £35–50+/day
Ground transport
Internal transport — buses, trains, ferries, local flights, taxis — can easily add up, particularly if you're moving frequently. Budget roughly:
- Southeast Asia: £3–8/day (buses and minivans are cheap; short domestic flights from £20–60)
- South America: £5–12/day (long bus journeys; internal flights add up quickly)
- Australia: £8–20/day (distances are vast; car hire is popular and often necessary)
- Europe: £10–20/day (budget airlines, trains; a Eurail pass may suit heavy users)
As a rule of thumb, slower travel = lower transport costs. One of the best ways to cut your overall budget is simply to move less often.
Activities and experiences
Activities are one of the easiest line items to underestimate. Common bucket-list experiences and their approximate costs:
- Safari (Kenya/Tanzania, 3 days): £500–£1,500+
- Scuba diving course (PADI Open Water): £250–£400
- Machu Picchu entrance and Inca Trail: £200–£600
- Bungee jumping/skydiving: £100–£250 per jump
- Temple entrance fees, museum tickets, guided tours: £5–£25 each
Budget £10–20/day for activities on a mid-range trip, or £30–50/day if you're doing a lot. Over a year, this can easily reach £5,000–£10,000 on an activity-heavy itinerary.
Travel insurance
Travel insurance for a round the world trip is not optional — it's essential. Medical emergencies abroad can cost tens or hundreds of thousands of pounds without cover, and repatriation to the UK alone can exceed £50,000.
For a round the world trip, you'll need a backpacker or long-stay policy rather than standard single-trip insurance. These cover trips of 12–18 months, multiple destinations, and often include working holiday cover.
| Trip length | Worldwide excl. USA/Canada | Worldwide incl. USA/Canada |
|---|---|---|
| 3 months | £70–£150 | £120–£250 |
| 6 months | £120–£250 | £200–£400 |
| 12 months | £200–£450 | £350–£750+ |
Key things to check on a backpacker policy:
- Medical cover: At least £5 million for worldwide cover, including repatriation
- USA/Canada: These destinations significantly increase premiums — exclude them if you're not visiting
- Adventure activities: Many policies cover 50–100 activities as standard; check trekking altitude limits and diving depth limits
- Working holiday cover: If you plan to work abroad (e.g. on a WHV in Australia), confirm your policy covers this
- Return home provision: Allows a short trip home mid-trip without invalidating your policy
- Gadget cover: Standard baggage limits are often too low for smartphones, cameras and laptops — consider an add-on
Visas
Visa costs are easy to overlook but can add a surprising amount to your budget. UK passport holders get visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to many popular destinations, but some require advance applications with associated fees.
Common visa costs for UK travellers:
- USA ESTA: ~£17 (valid 2 years, multiple entry)
- Australia ETA: ~£17
- India e-Visa: ~£17–£25 depending on duration
- Vietnam e-Visa: ~£17–£25
- Brazil: visa-free for UK passport holders
- Japan, Thailand, most of Southeast Asia: visa-free for short stays
Budget £50–£200 for visas on a typical round the world itinerary, more if you're visiting regions with stricter entry requirements. Always check current requirements via the FCDO travel advice pages and each country's embassy website — visa rules change.
Vaccinations and health prep
Pre-trip health costs are often forgotten entirely until the last moment. Budget:
- NHS travel health consultation: vaccinations for hepatitis A, typhoid, and some others may be available on the NHS
- Private travel clinic: £40–£60 per consultation
- Yellow fever vaccination: ~£60–£85 (required for some countries, recommended for others)
- Japanese encephalitis: £100–£200 for the course
- Rabies: £150–£250 for the course (recommended for remote or rural travel)
- Anti-malarials: £1–£5 per tablet depending on the drug; a 3-month supply can cost £30–£150+
A realistic budget for vaccinations and health prep for a full round the world trip: £200–£600, depending on destinations.
Travel gear
One-off kit costs are a pre-trip expense many first-time long-haul travellers underestimate. You don't need to buy everything new, but a well-fitted backpack and solid footwear are worth investing in. Budget roughly:
- 60–70 litre backpack: £80–£200 (Osprey, Deuter, and Gregory are popular brands)
- Day pack: £20–£60
- Walking/hiking boots or good sandals: £60–£150
- Lightweight clothing (quick-dry, merino wool): £100–£300
- Travel accessories (padlocks, packing cubes, first aid kit, adapter, power bank): £50–£150
Total pre-trip gear: £300–£800 for a well-equipped setup from scratch, less if you already own suitable kit or shop second-hand.
What people forget to budget for
A few costs that regularly catch round the world travellers off guard:
- Costs at home while you're away: Storage unit, phone contract, subscriptions (streaming, gym, etc.). If you're not cancelling your UK phone contract, a basic SIM will run £5–£15/month; storage units from £30–£80/month. These small costs add up over a year.
- Emergency fund: Unexpected costs — a lost passport, a delayed flight causing a missed connection, an uninsured medical expense — do happen. Keep a minimum £500–£1,000 accessible as a buffer.
- Coming home fund: Often overlooked entirely. If you're returning to rented accommodation, you'll need a deposit and first month's rent before you have income again. Budget at least £1,000–£2,000 that you don't touch while travelling.
- Airport taxes and surcharges: RTW alliance tickets often quote before taxes, which can add £200–£800 to the headline fare.
- Laundry: Small cost individually, but it adds up. Budget £1–£5 per wash depending on destination.
Daily budget by travel style
This table shows a realistic all-in daily budget (excluding international flights) by travel style for a round the world trip mixing cheaper and more expensive destinations:
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfortable | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | £12–20 | £25–45 | £60–100 |
| Food | £8–15 | £18–28 | £35–50 |
| Ground transport | £5–8 | £8–15 | £15–25 |
| Activities | £5–10 | £12–20 | £25–50 |
| Incidentals | £3–5 | £5–8 | £8–15 |
| Total per day | £33–58 | £68–116 | £143–240 |
These are averages across a balanced itinerary. Days in Southeast Asia or South Asia will come in well below these figures; days in Japan, Australia, or the US will exceed them.
Cheaper vs more expensive destinations
Choosing your regions wisely is the single most effective way to extend your budget. As a rough guide:
Budget-friendly destinations (under £40/day on a basic budget): Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos), South Asia (India, Nepal, Sri Lanka), Central America, Bolivia, Peru, parts of Eastern Europe.
Mid-range destinations (£40–80/day): Mexico, Colombia, Morocco, South Africa, Portugal, parts of Southeast Asia (Singapore, Bali peak season).
More expensive destinations (£80–150+/day): Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Iceland, Scandinavia, Switzerland, USA and Canada.
Many round the world travellers balance the trip by spending more time in cheap regions and shorter periods in expensive ones — for example, two months in Southeast Asia followed by two weeks in Japan, then continuing west.
How to fund a round the world trip
Saving before you go
The most straightforward approach. Most solo budget travellers aim to save £8,000–£15,000 before departing; couples can often do the same trip for 1.5x rather than 2x by sharing rooms and costs. Give yourself 12–24 months of dedicated saving if you're starting from scratch.
Working holiday visas
Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Japan all offer Working Holiday Visas (WHVs) to eligible UK citizens, allowing you to work for extended periods to fund your travels. The Australian WHV is especially popular, with many travellers spending 6–12 months working in Australia and using the earnings to fund the wider trip.
Age limits apply: Australia, New Zealand and Canada are up to age 35; Japan up to age 30. Check current eligibility requirements via the respective government websites.
Remote work
If your job can be done remotely, a round the world trip can be partly self-funding. Many countries now offer digital nomad visas specifically for this. Income while travelling obviously reduces the total savings required, but you'll still need a substantial buffer before departure.
Travel credit cards
Using a fee-free travel credit card for purchases abroad eliminates foreign transaction fees, which typically run at 2–3% on standard debit and credit cards. Over a year-long trip this saves meaningful amounts.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I save before a round the world trip?
Most solo budget travellers on a 12-month trip save £10,000–£18,000 before departing. This covers flights, day-to-day living costs, insurance, and a buffer — but assumes some cheaper destination weighting and no long periods in expensive countries like Australia or Japan. Mid-range travellers typically need £20,000–£30,000 for a year.
Is a round the world ticket worth it?
It depends on your route and travel style. RTW alliance tickets work well if you have a fixed multi-continent itinerary with many stops and want the convenience of booking it all at once. If your route is simpler, focused on one or two regions, or you want flexibility, booking flights individually is often cheaper. Compare both approaches using Skyscanner multi-city mode before committing.
What is the cheapest round the world route?
Routes that concentrate on Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Central/South America are significantly cheaper per day than those focused on Japan, Australia, New Zealand, or the US. The cheapest full round the world route typically flies London–Southeast Asia–Australia–South America–London, spending the bulk of time in cheaper regions.
How long does a round the world trip take?
There's no fixed answer — trips range from three months to two or more years. Most people take between six and twelve months. Shorter than three months doesn't really allow for true round the world travel; longer than 18 months typically means working along the way, as most backpacker insurance policies cap out at 12–18 months.
Do I need travel insurance for a round the world trip?
Yes, absolutely. Standard travel insurance won't cover a round the world trip — you'll need a specialist backpacker or long-stay policy. Medical emergencies abroad are extremely expensive without cover, and you'll also want protection for your flights, accommodation deposits, and belongings. See the travel insurance section above for indicative costs.
Can I do a round the world trip for £10,000?
Possibly, depending on how long you go for and where you travel. A budget-focused 3–4 month trip concentrating on Southeast Asia and other cheap regions could come in around £5,000–£8,000 including flights. A six-month trip on a tight budget is more realistic at £10,000. A full year almost certainly requires more, unless you supplement with working holiday income.