We're going on a World Trip!
No, not tomorrow, but sooner than you think...
Mapping Memories is a free, weekly newsletter full of travel tips, global inspiration, and fun personal stories from our adventures of exploring the world. Sign up for your weekly dose of humor-filled escapism here:
Hello fellow explorers and dreamers!
Can you believe we're already dreaming about 2026? Well, as you read from the title, we have some big news to share.
We are currently saving every penny we have, gearing up for what might just be the most exciting chapter in our lives yet:
A year-long world trip in 2026!
Yes, you read that right. A whole year to travel the globe, explore new cultures, and make memories to last a lifetime. In this blog we’re taking you through our current plans for the adventure and the places we can’t wait to visit.
But, before we start, we’d love to know something about you:
And watch out, by answering “yes” we might come knockin’ on your door for your longer-term travel tips and wisdom before we head off.
Luckily we still have a while to prepare and soak up all the necessary knowledge 😉
Our Dream Itinerary 🌏
Mike absolutely loves to dream and plan his upcoming travel, so this is just the first version of the itinerary. We did agree, however, to not map out everything in advance, but to also see where the journey takes us.
Our adventure begins in the vibrant landscapes of Argentina.
South America is the only continent that we both haven’t been to, and what better place to start than the land of passionate tango, stunning landscapes, and rich wines?
We both really want to visit Patagonia and then we plan to spend a couple of months exploring South America's wonders, slowly making our way up to Mexico.
Which countries in South America should we really not miss out on? Let us know in the comments below! 💃
Next, we’ll hop over to New Zealand, immersing ourselves in its lush greenery and exciting landscapes. Maybe we’ll rent a campervan again if our adventure in Canada proves to be a success. Fingers crossed for that 🤞🏻
But why stop there?
The Pacific calls!
We’re thinking of visiting island nations like Tonga, Samoa, and Fiji. These countries are so far away from us, and this might be our best chance to visit them without flying for multiple days from the Netherlands. (Hopefully, Hannah learns to dive before the trip, so she can join Mike’s diving adventures in these beautiful parts of the world).
As the trip continues, we'll make our way through Asia, stopping in countries that promise a blend of tradition and modernity.
We want to see more of Japan since we’ve only explored Tokyo so far (which we loved). And new destinations on our list include the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Laos, to name a few. Each destination has its unique features, from serene temples to bustling street markets and we’re very excited to enjoy the unique mix these countries have to offer.
We’re also considering a detour through Central Asia and the Middle East. From Mike’s recent stories about his trip to Oman, you might know that he loves visiting unique and less common places. Imagine the stories from places like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, or Pakistan!
Our trip will then hopefully take us to Africa (if both time and our budget permit), where we’d love to go on safari and tap into these new, vibrant cultures (new for us at least). But, if everything ends up getting too expensive, we might have to come back here another time.
Finally, we'll end our grand tour in Europe, our home continent, and visit some countries that we haven’t been to yet in Eastern Europe, such as Montenegro, Georgia, Albania and Romania.
So many countries and so little time…
Perhaps it’ll end up being more than a year? Who knows, let’s start out with this rough draft of an itinerary at least and let the rest unfold as we go 🙌🏻
What’s Next? 🤔
So, what do you think of our travel plans? Are there destinations you think we should add to our itinerary? Maybe some hidden gems you loved yourself? Or have you already done such a trip and have some great tips for us?
Let us know in the comments below - we’d love to include your insights in our journey!
Oh, and before you go, a little teaser: next week, we have another exciting announcement to make! Trust us, you won't want to miss it 🤫 See you then!
If you enjoyed this post, you might also like these:
I love your itinerary and can't wait to read about your adventures!
Would love to see you if you pass through Bosnia and Herzegovina 🇧🇦