Our family left Canada almost a year ago on a trip around the world. So many great memories and experiences shared as a family. Exploring new places, going back to a few familiar spots, visiting family and making new friends. A journey of a lifetime that our family will cherish forever.
Early on in the trip, I found it difficult to keep up with the blogging about all the places we were going to; the choice came down to either blogging or enjoying the moments with my husband and kids. From the lack of blog posts, you can see I choose to enjoy the moments! So as we get settled (somewhat) into a regular life I hope to share all our stories and update the below World Trip Itinerary.
In case you didn’t follow us from the beginning, here is our World Trip Itinerary:
What You'll Find in This Post
- United Kingdom – July 1-7
- France – July 7-23
- Spain – July 20
- Croatia – July 23 – August 9
- Italy – August 9-23
- Vatican – August 10
- Czech Republic – August 23-26
- Austria – August 26-29
- Hungary – August 29 – Sep 1
- Malta – September 1-14
- Bulgaria – September 14-17
- United Arab Emirates – September 17-28
- South Africa – September 28 – October 17
- Vietnam – October 18 – November 16
- Singapore – November 16-19
- Malaysia – November 19 – December 3
- Indonesia – December 3-29
- Thailand – December 29 – February 18
- Cambodia – February 18-23
- Australia – February 23 – March 28
- Vanuatu – April 2
- New Zealand – April 9 – May 13
- United States of America – May 13 – June 1
- Canada – June 1 – July 1
- Facts & Numbers:
United Kingdom – July 1-7
- London – 5 nights
- Cambridge – 2 nights
France – July 7-23
- Biarritz – 14 nights
- Toulouse – 2 nights
Spain – July 20
- San Sebastian – 1 day
Croatia – July 23 – August 9
Find out more details about our 16 days in Croatia with our itinerary here.
- Dubrovnik – 5 nights
- Split – 7 nights
- Hvar Island – 1 day
- Brac Island – 1 day
- Trogir – 1 day
- Krka National Park – 1 day
- Plitvice National Park – 3 nights
Italy – August 9-23
- Rome – 3 nights
- Civitanova del Sannio – 11 nights
Vatican – August 10
- Vatican City – 1 day
Czech Republic – August 23-26
- Prague – 3 nights
Austria – August 26-29
- Vienna – 3 nights
Hungary – August 29 – Sep 1
- Budapest – 3 nights
Malta – September 1-14
All the things we did in Malta!
- Bugibba – 14 nights
- Gozo – 1 day
- Valletta – 1 day
- Golden Bay – 1 day
- Blue Lagoon – 1 day
Bulgaria – September 14-17
- Sofia – 3 nights
United Arab Emirates – September 17-28
- Dubai – 5 nights
- Arabian Desert – 2 nights
- Abu Dhabi – 4 nights
South Africa – September 28 – October 17
- Cape Town – 12 nights
- Kruger National Park
- Ndabushi Safari Lodge – 4 nights
- Kambaku Safari Lodge – 2 nights
Vietnam – October 18 – November 16
- Ho Chi Minh City – 5 nights
- Hanoi – 4 nights
- Halong Bay – 2 nights
- Hue – 3 nights
- Hoi An – 2 nights
- Da Nang – 1 night
- Mekong Delta – 2 nights
- Phu Quoc Island – 10 nights
- Check out our 4-week Vietnam Itinerary here
Singapore – November 16-19
- Singapore – 3 nights
Malaysia – November 19 – December 3
- Langkawi Island – 14 nights
Indonesia – December 3-29
- Sanur, Bali – 26 nights
- Ubud – 1 day
- Kuta – 2 days
- Seminyak – 1 day
Thailand – December 29 – February 18
- Bangkok – 8 nights
- Phuket Island
- Kamala – 20 nights
- Karon – 9 nights
- Phi Phi Islands – 5 nights
- Krabi – 8 nights
Cambodia – February 18-23
- Siem Reap – 4 nights
Australia – February 23 – March 28
- Gold Coast – 5 nights
- Hervey Bay – 1 night
- Fraser Island – 2 nights
- Sunshine Coast – 3 nights
- Airlie Beach – 8 nights
- Whitsundays – 1 day
- Great Barrier Reef – 1 day
- Melbourne – 3 nights
- Great Ocean Road – 4 nights
- Lorne
- Apollo Bay
- Port Campbell
- Torquay
- Bondi Beach – 4 nights
- Sydney – 4 nights
Vanuatu – April 2
- 11-night South Pacific cruise leaving from Sydney – March 28 – April 8
- Vanuatu – 1 day
- Lifou, Loyalty Island – 1 day
- Noumea, New Caledonia – 1 day
New Zealand – April 9 – May 13
- 33-Day Campervan trip
- South Island
- Christchurch – 1 night
- Lake Pukaki – 1 night
- Mount Cook – 1 night
- Wanaka – 2 nights
- Queenstown – 3 nights
- Milford Sound – 1 night
- Fox Glacier – 1 night
- Motuek – 3 nights
- Nelson – 1 night
- Picton – 1 night
- North Island
- Wellington – 1 night
- Greytown – 2 nights
- Taupo – 1 night
- Rotorua – 2 nights
- Waitomo – 1 night
- Hobbiton – 1 day
- Coromandel Penisula – 3 nights
- Russell – 3 nights
- Orewa – 1 night
- Auckland – 2 nights
United States of America – May 13 – June 1
- Houston, Texas – 19 nights
Canada – June 1 – July 1
- TBD
Facts & Numbers:
- International Travel Dates – July 1, 2017 – June 1, 2018
- Countries Visited – 23
- Cities Visited – 81
- Continents Visited – 5
- Europe
- Africa
- Asia
- Australia
- North America
- Days Out of Canada – 336 days
- UNESCO sites – 28
- Transportation we took:
- Flights – 37
- Ferries – 7
- Trains – 4
- Car Rentals – 4
- Cruises – 2
- Campervan Rentals – 1
- Taxi/Uber/TukTuk/Trams/etc – Too many to count
- Places we slept:
- Apartment Rental – 154
- Hotel/Resort – 82
- Campervan – 33
- Family & Friends – 32
- Boats – 13
- Safari – 6
- Planes – 5
- Cabin/Cottage – 8
- Hostel – 3
- Quirky Information:
- Broken Glasses – 2
- Worn out Shoes & Sandles – 10
- Teeth Lost – 3
- Haircuts – 16
- Lost Wallet – 1
- Lost Luggage – 0
- Total Avg Weight Luggage – 62kg / 137lbs
Wow! What a journey! It is a lifetime experience for the kids for sure! Interesting to know what were their favourite places and the most memorable moments of the trip.
Hi Nat – An amazing lifetime experience for our entire family. Everyone has their favourite or special moments it is tough to pick just one. I think for me it had to be the safari in South Africa… it was everything that I imagine and more. Just so different than anything like our typical lives in Canada and I am a wilderness gal :) I am going to be getting more blog posts up about our trip now that we are getting back to a “regular” type life and we will share more about our moments! Thanks for following along!
Such a leap of faith to do this. And I am glad you chose not to blog while on the trip and just experience it. A year of travel is a lifetime of experiences. Please do let me know what’s the best age to do this. My son is 3 and I would love to do if not a year then 6 months of travel.
Thanks so much for the support and understanding. To me, it was about enjoying the moments… I won’t ever get those moments back and will never regret that decision. To be honest, any age is the best age. I think it would be different experiences with every age, the most important part is really to just go and do it! You’ll know in your heart when the right time is, but regardless spending time with your son and exploring the world will be remarkable! Best of luck and please let me know when you go! I would love to hear when and where :)