Long-term travel: 3+ month guide
Traveling 3, 6, 12 months is another craft. More baggage, less fixed itinerary. The question is no longer “where to go” but “how to live.” This page covers the 4 main formats: world tour, sabbatical year, digital nomad, soft expatriation.
Direct answer
6-12 month world tour: classic SE Asia + Pacific + Americas + Africa circuits. 1-year sabbatical: 1 continent in depth OR 3-4 regions. Digital nomad: 3-12 months between Bali, Mexico City, Lisbon, Chiang Mai, Medellín. Soft expatriation: long-stay visa (Portugal D7, Spain non-lucrative, Mexico, Thailand LTR).
Top 12 long-stay destinations
| Destination | Long-stay visa | Local cost/month | Nomad community | Climate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bali (Canggu, Ubud) | E33G nomad visa (5 years) | €1,200-2,500 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Tropical |
| Chiang Mai | DTV (5 years) | €1,000-2,000 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Tropical/sub-tropical |
| Mexico City / Tulum | Tourist 180 days | €1,500-3,000 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Temperate/tropical |
| Lisbon | D7 / Digital Nomad | €1,800-3,500 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Temperate oceanic |
| Medellín | Tourist 90 + ext | €1,200-2,500 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Temperate spring-like |
| Tbilisi (Georgia) | Tourist 1 year | €1,000-2,200 | ⭐⭐⭐ | Temperate continental |
| Buenos Aires | Tourist 90 + ext | €1,500-3,000 | ⭐⭐⭐ | Temperate |
| Da Nang (Vietnam) | E-visa 90 days | €800-1,500 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Tropical |
| Marrakech / Essaouira | Tourist 90 days | €1,000-2,000 | ⭐⭐ | Mediterranean |
| Cape Town | Tourist 90 + Remote Work Visa | €1,800-3,500 | ⭐⭐⭐ | Mediterranean temperate |
| Tokyo / Osaka | Tourist 90 + Digital Nomad | €3,000-5,000 | ⭐⭐⭐ | Temperate |
| Tarifa / Andalusia | Schengen | €1,500-3,000 | ⭐⭐⭐ | Mediterranean |
World tour : typical 6-month itinerary
Months 1-2: Southeast Asia (Thailand + Vietnam + Cambodia + Laos + Bali). Months 3-4: Pacific (New Zealand + Australia + possibly Fiji). Month 5: Latin America (Peru + Bolivia OR Mexico + Guatemala). Month 6: Return via US West Coast (optional Hawaii + Los Angeles + San Francisco).
Flight: Round-the-World ticket Star Alliance or Oneworld, €3,500-5,500 depending on number of stops and carriers.
Sabbatical year : 3 options
Option A : Deep Asia
12 months Asia: 4 months Thailand/Cambodia/Laos + 3 months Indonesia + 2 months Vietnam + 2 months South India + 1 month Sri Lanka.
Option B : Americas
12 months Americas: 3 months Mexico + 2 months Guatemala/Costa Rica/Cuba + 4 months Colombia/Peru/Bolivia + 3 months Argentina/Chile.
Option C : Slow world tour
12 months 4 continents: 3 months SE Asia + 2 months Pacific + 3 months Latin America + 2 months East Africa + 2 months Mediterranean Europe back.
Digital nomad : base choice
Criteria
- Cost of living: €1,000-3,000/month in comfort.
- Internet: fiber available and reliable.
- Coworking: density, quality, atmosphere.
- Community: nomads, locals, meet-up opportunities.
- Long visa: 90+ days, ideally 1+ year.
- Time zone: compatible with your market (Europe vs USA vs Asia).
Top 6 nomad bases 2026
- Bali Canggu / Ubud : world reference. Dense coworking, OK internet, huge community.
- Lisbon : Europe, real rents climbing but high quality of life.
- Chiang Mai : cheap, calm, long-standing community.
- Mexico City : Roma Norte / Condesa: vibrant, US-friendly time zone.
- Medellín (El Poblado, Laureles) : spring climate year-round.
- Tbilisi : Caucasus, 1-year visa, underrated.
Soft expatriation : long-stay visas
Portugal : D7 / Digital Nomad
D7: passive income (rents, dividends, pension) min ~€870/month. Digital Nomad: income €3,480/month min. Both grant residence + path to citizenship in 5 years.
Spain : Non-Lucrative / Digital Nomad
Non-Lucrative: capital ~€28,800/year for a single person. Digital Nomad: €2,760/month min. Residence access.
Mexico : Temporal Resident
Show ~€2,500/month bank balance or ~€3,700/month income. Renewable 4 years, then permanent resident.
Thailand : LTR (Long Term Resident)
4 categories. Work-from-Thailand Professional: $80,000/year income + foreign employer. Wealthy Global Citizen: $1M assets + $500K Thailand investment.
Indonesia : E33G Nomad Visa (2024)
Income $60,000/year, valid 5 years. More structured than old KITAS/B211 visas.
Long-stay logistics
Before departure
- Visa(s) anticipated 2-3 months.
- Vaccines complete (Pasteur Institute, travel doctor).
- Banking: Wise + Revolut (no conversion fees).
- Long-term travel insurance: Chapka Cap Aventure, World Nomads, SafetyWing, Chapka Cap Working.
- Phone: global eSIM or local plan per destination.
- Home housing: sublease, AirBnB hosting, storage for belongings.
During
- Light bookkeeping: SumUp, Wave (sole traders), Excel.
- Lodging: combination AirBnB long-stay (4+ weeks = 30-50% off), Booking, coliving platforms (Selina, Outsite).
- Routine: day structure (morning sport, work/explore blocks).
- Family connection: weekly call with parents/friends (no pressure).
- Budget tracker: YNAB, Trail Wallet, Bankin’.
Long-stay health risks
- Digital nomad burnout: personal monitoring fatigue/sleep/stress.
- Tropical diseases: dengue, malaria (in zones), chronic stomach issues.
- Mental: chronic week-4-8 loneliness for many. Plan structured social activities.
Long-stay budget
3 months SE Asia
€3,000-4,500/person: Paris-Bangkok-Paris flight (€700-1,200), 90 days × €30-50/day (transport + housing + meals + activities), visa, insurance.
6-month world tour
€8,000-12,000/person: RTW flight (€3,500-5,500) + 180 days × €30-50/day depending on regions.
12-month sabbatical
€12,000-25,000/person depending on regions chosen. Asia + Latin America: low end. USA + Pacific + Europe: high.
Permanent digital nomad
€1,200-3,000/month depending on city. Bali, Chiang Mai = low. Lisbon, urban Mexico City = mid.
Long-haul FAQ
How much money for a 6-month world tour?
€8,000-15,000 for 1 person, RTW flight included, excluding contingency. €15,000-25,000 for a couple. Moderate travel (hostels + guesthouses + 1-2 restaurants/day). More for comfort or USA/Australia included.
How to finance a sabbatical year?
3 main sources: savings (€12-25K), remote work during the trip (freelance, training, consulting), passive income (subletting your home, dividends).
Long-stay visa for Europeans : where is it easy?
Georgia: 1 year tourist. Portugal D7: low passive income. Thailand DTV: 5 years for digital nomads. Indonesia E33G: 5 years for $60K/year. Mexico: easy for temporal.
What to do with my French home during a long trip?
Sublease: possible with landlord’s consent (tenant) or directly (owner). AirBnB hosting: if you stay 6+ months, host deposit via platform. Storage: €80-150/month for 5-10 sqm. Family / friends hosting: economical option.
Long-haul travel as a couple: does it hold?
60-70% of couples last 6 months. 40-50% last 1 year. Key variables: agreement on pace, common budget management, ability to be alone occasionally. Tip: plan 1-2 days per month where each does what they want separately.
Continue elsewhere
- Three-week trips
- Solo travel
- Adventure travel
- Asia hub
- Americas hub
- Travel budget calculator
- Best travel insurance
- Best travel credit card
Page written by Marie L., 12 years of long-term travel. Last updated: May 22, 2026.