My 1 Year World Trip Itinerary as a Solo Female Traveller (2026)
Planning a 1 year world trip itinerary for solo female travel comes with many considerations. Not every corner of the world is equally easy to navigate alone as a woman. Also, the order in which you visit places is important to help you manage costs, seasons and jetlag. This is the exact itinerary I took during my career break, starting and ending in London, to help you plan your trip.
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Quick Overview
- This itinerary covers 12 months of solo female travel starting and ending in London.
- My route ran as follows: London → Goa → Thailand → Malaysia → Bali → Australia → New Zealand → South America → London
- I stayed at least a month in most destinations and I was backpacking on a budget so mostly staying in basic guesthouses and hostels
- My transportation was a mixture of pre-booked round the world flights, internal flights and overland travel by bus and train
Why this route worked
The biggest mistake people make when building a 1 year world trip itinerary is trying to cover too many places. More countries does not mean a better trip. What this route does well is to allow enough time in each place to actually settle in rather than just pass through.
It also front-loads the cheaper destinations – India, Thailand, Malaysia, Bali – which is useful when you’re still finding your travel rhythm and want to keep costs down before hitting Australia and New Zealand, which will eat more of your budget.
Month 1: Goa, India
Goa is an underrated first stop for a long trip. It’s cheap, the pace is slow, and the infrastructure for long-term stays is well set up. You’re not navigating the full complexity of India from day one, but you’re also not in a tourist bubble. I spent a month here and it was the right call — it gave me time to decompress from London life and ease into travel mode.
The north and south of Goa have very different vibes. North Goa is busier, better for meeting other travellers, and has more going on at night. South Goa is quieter, better beaches, and skews older. I’d suggest spending time in both rather than committing to one base.
Months 2–3: Thailand and Malaysia
I came to Thailand first before spending the bulk of this stretch in Malaysia, and in hindsight that sequencing worked well. Thailand was a relatively brief stop — a few weeks — before I settled properly into Malaysia for the remainder of the two months.
Thailand works as an introduction to Southeast Asia. The food, the temples, the ease of getting around — it’s well-trodden but for good reason. Don’t try to see everything. Pick a region and go deep.
Malaysia is where this leg really opens up. Kuala Lumpur is a brilliant city base — cheap, well-connected, and more interesting beyond the obvious landmarks than most people expect. Penang deserves at least a week; the food scene alone justifies the detour. For something completely different, the Perhentian Islands are the kind of place that makes you rethink the rest of your itinerary. I spent more time in Malaysia than Thailand on this leg and I’d make the same choice again.
Months 4–5: Bali, Indonesia
Two months in Bali sounds indulgent until you realise how many distinct areas there are and how differently they each feel. Canggu and Uluwatu suit surfers and people who want a social scene. Ubud is for those who want yoga, rice paddies, and a slower pace. Amed is almost entirely different again — quiet, volcanic, excellent for snorkelling and diving.
Bali is also very easy to base yourself in while making day trips and short excursions, which makes it ideal for the mid-point of a long trip when you want to feel settled without being static. Two months here never felt too long.
Month 6: Australia
One month in Australia means making hard choices. Cairns, Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide were my four stops, and that itinerary gives you a good cross-section of what the country is actually like — the tropical north, the two big east coast cities, and a slower, more underrated city in Adelaide that most travellers skip entirely.
The honest truth about Australia on a backpacker budget: it’s expensive. Accommodation, food, transport — it all costs more than anywhere else on this route. Build that into your planning rather than being surprised by it in month six. The Great Barrier Reef from Cairns is worth doing once; book through GetYourGuide to compare operators and check reviews before you commit.
Australia also has some of the best hiking and national park access in the world, so if that’s your thing, factor in extra time around whichever cities you choose.
Months 7–10: New Zealand
Four months in New Zealand is the longest single stretch of this 1 year world trip itinerary, and it earned every week. New Zealand is one of the most spectacular countries I’ve ever been to — but the reason to stay long is not just the scenery. It’s the pace, the access to the outdoors, and the fact that slow travel here rewards you in a way that rushing between highlights never would.
The North Island and South Island are different enough that they feel like two separate countries. The North is warmer, more culturally layered, and has the volcanic landscapes around Rotorua and Taupo that you won’t find anywhere else. The South Island is where the mountains, fiords, and glaciers are — Queenstown, Milford Sound, the Routeburn Track.
If you can, hire a campervan for at least part of your South Island time. It changes the experience entirely and is often more cost-effective than booking accommodation nightly. Stay22 is a useful tool for comparing accommodation options across the country as you plan — it aggregates listings across platforms so you can see what’s available before you commit to a route.
Months 11–12: South America
South America as the final leg of a long trip is a strong choice. By this point you’re a confident traveller, you’re used to navigating unfamiliar cities, and you’re ready for somewhere entirely different to everything that came before.
My month covered Chile, Rio de Janeiro, Iguazu Falls, and Buenos Aires — which is ambitious for four weeks but doable if you’re comfortable moving quickly by the end of a long trip. Budget more time here if you can.
Chile is undervisited relative to how extraordinary the landscapes are. Rio is electric and requires no introduction, but do your research on which neighbourhoods to stay in. Iguazu Falls is one of those places that exceeds every expectation — go to both the Argentine and Brazilian sides if you can. Buenos Aires is a brilliant city to end on; good food, good wine, and a pace that lets you decompress before the long flight home.
Packing for a year of travel
Packing for a 1 year world trip itinerary that spans tropical heat, mountain cold, and everything in between requires real thought. You’ll be crossing radically different climates — from Goa’s humidity to New Zealand’s unpredictable weather to the heat of Rio in summer.
The most important thing is to pack less than you think you need. A 40-litre backpack is manageable for a year; a 70-litre one will ruin your back and your mood. Lightweight merino layers, a compact rain jacket, and a solid pair of walking shoes that double as going-out shoes will serve you across every destination on this route.
I keep an updated packing list on Amazon with the specific items I’d take again — everything from my travel towel and packing cubes to the neck pillow that saved my long-haul sanity.
Practical considerations
Check entry requirements for each country well in advance. India requires an e-visa. Australia requires an ETA. New Zealand has recently introduced the NZeTA. Most of Southeast Asia is visa-on-arrival or visa-free for UK/EU passports, but this changes, so verify before you fly.
Travel insurance is a non-negotiable for a trip of this length. Make sure your policy covers adventure activities if you’re planning to hike, dive, or ski.
A Wise card is the most cost-effective way to manage money across multiple currencies. Notify your home bank before you leave regardless.
Book long-haul flights early (3–4 months out at minimum). Regional flights within Southeast Asia and domestic flights in Australia and New Zealand can often be booked closer to the time.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a good route for solo female travellers?
It’s the route I did alone as a woman, so yes — but with some nuance. Goa, Southeast Asia, and Bali are all well-established solo female routes with large traveller communities and good infrastructure. Australia and New Zealand are straightforward. South America requires more research and awareness, particularly in cities like Rio. Saving it for the end of the trip, when your confidence and instincts are well developed, is part of why the sequencing works.
How much does a 1 year world trip itinerary cost?
This varies enormously depending on your travel style, but a realistic mid-range budget for this specific route — Goa, Southeast Asia, Bali, Australia, New Zealand, South America — is somewhere between £20,000 and £30,000 for the full year, including flights. Australia and New Zealand will be your most expensive legs by a significant margin. Goa, Southeast Asia, and Bali can be done very cheaply if you’re careful.
When is the best time to start a round-the-world trip?
It depends on your route. For this specific itinerary, starting in Goa between November and February gives you the best weather in India and sets you up to hit Southeast Asia in its dry season before arriving in the Southern Hemisphere for the Australian and New Zealand summers.
Do I need to book everything in advance?
No, and over-planning is a real risk on a long trip. Book your first few nights in each new country in advance so you’re not arriving without a plan, and book long-haul flights well ahead. Beyond that, leaving room for flexibility makes for a better trip.
What’s the hardest part of planning a 1 year world trip itinerary?
Most people struggle with the time allocation more than anything else. It’s tempting to spread yourself thin. The advice I’d give is to halve the number of countries you think you want to visit and double the time in each one.
Do I need vaccinations for this route?
Yes. Hepatitis A and B, typhoid, and tetanus are standard for this itinerary. You may also want to consider rabies if you’re spending extended time in rural India or Southeast Asia. See a travel health clinic at least 8 weeks before departure.
Can I work remotely on a trip like this?
Many people do. Bali in particular has excellent infrastructure for remote workers, and New Zealand has good connectivity even in rural areas. Check visa conditions carefully — most tourist visas do not permit paid work.
Final thoughts on planning a 1 year world trip itinerary
This 1 year world trip itinerary was the best year of my life. It took me to places that I had only dreamed about and it boosted my confidence. Once I had done this, I knew I could handle anything.
My adult gap year took me from Goa to Southeast Asia, through two months in Bali, across Australia and four months in New Zealand, and ended in South America. This route worked for me and if you’re planning something similar, I hope it gives you a good starting point.
