As of January 2021, I’ve journeyed to 112 countries and I’m aiming for 125 by year’s end. Despite ongoing travel challenges, my determination to visit every country (all 197 of them) remains unwavering. The question that often lingers: How long does it realistically take to travel to every country in the world while maintaining a full-time job?
The Pace Matters: Different Travel Strategies
Many travelers share this ambitious goal, and their approaches vary. Here are three common strategies:
-
Maximizing Countries in Minimum Time: This involves whirlwind tours, hitting up to 12 countries in 14 days with only a day or two in each. While efficient, it sacrifices in-depth exploration. I am not a big fan of this strategy, because I want to see the world, not only visit as many countries as possible.
-
Focusing and “Passing By”: This strategy prioritizes immersive experiences in select countries (10-14 days), with brief side trips to neighboring nations. I personally chose this method. For example, I traveled to Ethiopia for two weeks, but I also added Somalia and Djibouti to the trip.
-
Extended Exploration: This involves spending significant time in each country to experience it fully. While rewarding, it’s the most time-consuming and potentially requires extended breaks from work.
The number of vacation days also plays a significant role. I have 30 days, plus 11 national holidays plus 52 weekends. Moreover, my company allows to purchase up to 15 additional vacation days per day. Travelers with fewer days off will naturally require more time.
The Remaining Countries
As of this writing, 85 countries remain on my list:
- Europe: 3 countries
- South America: 8 countries
- Oceania: 9 countries
- North America: 15 countries
- Asia: 21 countries
- Africa: 29 countries
Having averaged 16 countries per year over the past four years, I estimate roughly 5 years to complete my journey, potentially before my 40th birthday.
The Plan of Action
My plan involves targeted trips focusing on specific regions:
- Europe: I plan to complete the European countries.
- South America: I aim to complete South America with 3-4 trips.
- Oceania: All 14 countries in Oceania in 3-4 long trips.
- North America: Despite 15 countries remaining, this continent should be completed after 4-5 trips
- Asia: Asia will take 7-8 more trips.
- Africa: Africa presents the greatest challenge due to visa requirements, accessibility, and cost. I may need to adopt a faster-paced strategy here.
Estimating the Total Time: How Long Does it Take to Travel to All of Them?
Realistically, completing the remaining 85 countries will take approximately 5 years. Factoring in the 6 years already spent, the entire journey should span 10-11 years while working full-time.
This timeframe reflects my chosen strategy. Focusing solely on “ticking off” countries could shorten the duration by 2-3 years. Revisiting favorite destinations also extends the overall timeline.
My personal goal is to finish in 10 years. I might reduce my travel pace as family obligations arise, aiming to have visited at least 150 countries before then. This would allow for completing the remaining countries with family or solo.
Therefore, my immediate priority is to accelerate my progress, pandemic notwithstanding. My goal for this year is to reach 125 countries.
I have to hurry. Pandemic or not. This year, I have to reach country #125. Next year, I have to reach at least country 140, and I have to hope that Australia and the South Pacific countries will be open again by then.
