Planning your first world tour : the complete checklist

TL;DR: a 6-12 month world tour isn’t prepared in 1 month. This checklist structures 12 months of preparation in 5 phases. For a French traveler, 2026-2027 departure, classic 6-12 month format. Based on 15 years of observation and 3 personal world tours.

Phase 1 : T-12 to T-9 months: decision and big picture

Decide scope

Duration: 6 months (intense), 9 months (balanced), 12 months (slow). Our tip: 9 months for first world tour. 6 months = too short to absorb. 12 months = possible mid-trip fatigue.
Direction: east or west? West (Americas → Pacific → Asia → home) is easier for managing progressive jet-lag. East (Asia → Pacific → Americas) is also classic.
Continents covered: 3-4 maximum. E.g., SE Asia + Pacific + Americas. Add East Africa if time.
Season: align with each major destination’s “best of”.

Calculate budget

6 months: €8,000-12,000 / person all-in.
9 months: €12,000-18,000.
12 months: €15,000-25,000.
Add 15% contingency.

Decide financing

Savings: €10-25K for 1 traveler.
Remote income: freelance, coaching, online training. Aim €500-1,500/month.
Passive income: apartment sublease, dividends.
Sabbatical funded by employer (rare in France, more common USA, Germany).

Resign / negotiate?

Private CDI (open-ended contract): 12-24 month legal sabbatical notice (Labor Code), employer can refuse. Often resigning is easier and look for new job on return.
Public CDI: 3-12 month renewable leave possible.
Self-employed / freelance: pause or continue remotely.

Main housing

Rental: sublease with landlord’s consent, or termination 3 months before departure.
Owned: AirBnB hosting (but requires remote management : delegate to concierge), 6-9 month furnished long-term rental.
Storage: €80-150/month for 5-10 sqm.

Phase 2 : T-9 to T-6 months: major formalities

Passport

Check validity 6 months after estimated return.
If renewal needed: do now (4-8 week delays in France).
2 digital + paper photos to keep for visas.

Visas

List all visas needed on your itinerary. For a Frenchman in 2026:

Visa-free / simple e-visas: Thailand (60d), Vietnam (e-visa $25), Cambodia (e-visa $30), Indonesia (visa on arrival $35), Peru (90d visa-free), Bolivia (90d visa-free), Argentina (90d), Australia (ETA $20), New Zealand (NZeTA NZD 17), USA (ESTA $21).
More complex visas: India (e-visa but heavy formalities), China (traditional visa + dense file), Russia (suspended for most).

Anticipate long visas 6 months ahead. Short e-visas 2-4 weeks before the relevant country.

Vaccines

Consult international vaccination center (CVI) : Bichat Hospital Paris, Pasteur Institute, etc. Expect €100-300 in consultation + vaccines.

Common vaccines for Asia + Americas + Africa world tour:

Yellow fever (mandatory Amazon, sometimes required to enter neighboring countries, lifelong validity since 2016).
Hepatitis A (1 dose, booster 6-12 months).
Hepatitis B (3 doses over 6 months : anticipate).
Typhoid (1 dose, 3-year validity).
Rabies (3 doses, especially SE Asia and India with stray dogs).
Boosters DTP, meningitis, MMR, etc.

Antimalarial: by zones (Amazon, tropical Africa). Discuss with CVI.

Travel insurance

Chapka Cap Aventure or World Nomads = world-tour standards. See our travel insurance comparator.

Unlimited or minimum €1M cap. Adventure activity coverage. Subscribe 6 months ahead if possible to activate cancellation.

Phase 3 : T-6 to T-3 months: finance and gear

Banking

Open Wise Account (multi-currency, local IBANs 50+ countries).
Open Revolut Premium (daily fee-free payment).
Keep 1 active French account for tax and emergencies (free BoursoBank recommended).
Secondary card Boursorama Ultim as backup. → See travel credit card comparator.

eSIM / connectivity

Airalo for ad-hoc eSIM destination by destination. Holafly unlimited if heavy data. → See travel eSIM comparator.

Keep French line active at €4-5/month (roaming option off) to preserve number.

Buy gear

Backpack 50-65L: Osprey Atmos, Deuter Aircontact, Lowe Alpine Cerro Torre. €200-300.
Day pack 25-30L.
Hiking shoes: Salomon X Ultra, Hoka Anacapa type. Buy and break in 3 months ahead (minimum 50 km walked).
Quick-dry technical clothing: 3-5 merino t-shirts (Icebreaker, Ortovox) + 2 shorts + 1 zip-off pant + 1 fleece + 1 light raincoat.
Sandals Teva / Bedrock type.
Petzl headlamp.
TSA padlock (€4-6).
First aid kit: €50-80.
Power bank 10,000-20,000 mAh + cables + international chargers.

Critical bookings

Departure flight: 3-5 months ahead. Either Star Alliance/Oneworld RTW ticket (€3,500-5,500), or independent tickets per leg.
First 2-3 nights on each major destination.
Machu Picchu Inca Trail: 6+ months ahead (limited slots).
Peak-season African lodges: 6-9 months ahead.

Administrative decisions

International driving permit (free in France, 6-12 week delays).
Carte vitale + ALD: check if you have chronic treatment.
Powers of attorney: for a trusted person handling your mail, paperwork in your absence.
Taxes: if > 6 months abroad, switching to non-resident tax may be worth studying (depends on situation).

Phase 4 : T-3 to T-1 month: finishing touches

Phone and apps

Essential world-tour apps:

Google Maps + download offline destination maps.
Maps.me (more complete offline alternative on some zones).
WhatsApp (90% of world, except China).
Booking.com / Hostelworld offline-friendly.
Currency Converter (XE).
Splitwise if traveling with others.
Wise + Revolut apps.
Airalo + Holafly apps.
Google Translate + download offline languages.
Smartraveler (gov FR) or France Diplomatie notifications.

Digital documents

Secure cloud (encrypted Dropbox / Google Drive):

Passport scan (all pages).
ID card scan.
International driving permit scan.
Health card + supplemental scan.
International vaccination record scan.
Travel insurance scan.
Emergency phone list (embassies).

Mental

Family and friends discussions: they’ll worry. Plan call schedule (1× weekly minimum).
First doubts: normal. 1 month before, urge may dim. Hold steady.
Reading: 1-2 travel-writer books (Bruce Chatwin, Sylvain Tesson, Cédric Gras). Not just practical guides.
Physical shape: moderate training from now. Carrying 18-23 kg pack 6h/day demands prepared back.

Phase 5 : T-1 month to departure

D-30

Finalize first country’s visa.
Confirm travel insurance and send emergency contact number to 2 people in France.
Test all devices (phone, batteries, chargers) at home for 7 days.
Visit doctor for personal medication prescription (3 months) + English medical letter explaining treatment.

D-15

Pack complete bag for 2-3 days. Carry it 30 min. Remove 15-20% of content.
Departure cash: €300-500 in euros + equivalent €200 in first country’s local currency.
Lock housing: final cleaning, inventory if applicable, active sublease, automatic-debit utilities.

D-7

No last-minute disposal (full fridge, beers, etc.). Deliberately calm.
Check passport, tickets, visas, insurance in digital AND paper folder.
Sleep rebuilt: early bedtime, avoid alcohol.
First doctor appointment if long trip with chronic treatment.

D-1

Confirmed flight + online check-in 24h ahead.
Carry-on: papers, spare battery, charger, medications, 1 change, mini hygiene.
Checked: the rest. TSA padlock.
Full meal, hydrate, sleep 8h.

D-Day

3h advance airport for international flight.
Paper AND digital boarding pass.
Before takeoff: set watch to arrival time.

Common first-world-tour mistakes

Over-packing: 80% return with 20% of belongings unused. See our 5 rookie travel mistakes article.
Over-planning: leave 30-40% of trip flexible.
Underestimating visa and formality costs: count €300-500 of “administrative fees” over 9-12 months.
Mid-trip fatigue: months 4-5 = emotional dip. Plan 1 real week of rest in one place.
Not communicating enough with family: generates anxiety and return conflict.

Useful Site tools

Travel budget calculator : quantify each leg.
When to travel? : refine optimal periods by destination.
Timezone converter : manage successive jet lags.
Long-term travel : hub page for this profile.

World tour FAQ

What does a 9-month world tour cost?

€12,000-18,000 for 1 person in moderate travel (hostels + guesthouses + 1-2 meals/day, local transport). €25,000-35,000 for 2 people. More for hotel comfort or USA/Australia included.

Should I do my world tour as a couple?

60-70% of couples last 6 months, 40-50% last 1 year. Key variables: agreement on pace, common budget management, ability to be alone. Tip: 1-2 days per month where each does what they want separately.

What to do with my CDI?

Resigning is healthiest : often less risky than thought (the French job market on return absorbs your profile). 6-month renewable sabbatical possible under conditions (Labor Code), employer can refuse.

What if I don’t like my world tour?

It happens. Plan B: adapt pace (slower), come back earlier (1 modified flight costs €200-500), shift to soft expat (settle 1-3 months in 1 city rather than chain).

World tour with kids: possible?

Yes from age 8-10 (under that, fatigue and schooling complicate). See our long-term travel and family travel hubs.

Conclusion

A world tour is prepared 12 months ahead, not 1. Phase 1 (T-12 to T-9) is most critical: decision, scope, budget. Phase 5 (D-30 to departure) is most tense but the essentials are done. In between, the mechanism unfolds.

The trip itself is simpler than its preparation. And it’s largely worth the 12 months of prep.

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Article written by Thomas B., 15 years of long-form travel experience + 3 personal world tours. Last updated: May 22, 2026.