This time last year, I was curled up on my small sofa at home, frantically searching for world travel guides on my laptop. To be honest, just looking at the screen full of preparation items gave me a headache, worried that missing any step would derail my journey. Looking back now, that anxious preparation period has become one of the most memorable parts of the entire journey. Seeing many friends also planning their gap year or long-term travel, I want to share my year of experience and lessons learned, hoping to provide some reference for everyone.
Speaking of document preparation, it was truly a lengthy process that took almost two months. Getting a passport was the easiest part - nowadays, immigration offices in major cities are quite efficient, usually completing the process within a week. However, getting visas was much more challenging, requiring both technical skills and physical effort.
I still remember my first experience applying for a Schengen visa - it was quite embarrassing. Because I planned to visit so many countries, I chose France as my first entry point. My first visa interview was politely rejected by the embassy staff because my itinerary seemed too casual and unconvincing. Later, I spent three whole days replanning my route, booking detailed accommodations, preparing my last six months of bank statements, and even making a beautifully designed itinerary presentation. This time I succeeded, and the visa officer even praised me for my thorough preparation.
When it comes to insurance, this is definitely a key point I want to discuss seriously. Last year while trekking in Nepal, I witnessed a harsh lesson firsthand. A backpacker from Germany, trying to save money, didn't buy insurance and suffered severe altitude sickness during the EBC trek. The situation was extremely critical, requiring emergency helicopter evacuation to a hospital in Kathmandu. In the end, just the helicopter and hospitalization costs alone were nearly 200,000 RMB, almost depleting this German guy's savings.
My one-year global travel insurance only cost a bit over 3,000 RMB but covered up to 1 million USD in medical expenses, plus emergency evacuation, lost luggage, flight delays, and many other protections. Looking back, this might have been the best investment of my entire journey.
To be honest, planning a year-long journey isn't easy. At first, I was completely lost, not knowing where to start. Later, I developed a practical method: list all desired destinations, then sort them based on three dimensions - season, route, and budget.
For example, I arranged Southeast Asia travel from November to February of the following year. This not only avoided the rainy season and had comfortable temperatures but also coincided with some local special festivals. Last December in Chiang Mai, I caught the famous Loy Krathong Festival, where the entire city was filled with brilliant lights, creating a very romantic atmosphere.
For long-term travel, luggage weight is an ongoing battle. After careful consideration, I finally chose a combination of a 35-liter backpack and a small shoulder bag. This combination might seem minimal, but after a year of practice, it proved to be an incredibly wise choice.
Getting an eSIM card before departure was one of my wisest decisions. It not only saved me the trouble of buying physical phone cards in each country but more importantly allowed me to stay connected at all times. You should know that solving unexpected situations abroad often relies on internet access.
Regarding money, this might be the topic everyone cares about most. My year of travel cost a total of 150,000 RMB, including all flights, accommodations, meals, and daily expenses. Some might think this number is high, but actually, renting an apartment in an ordinary Chinese city plus daily expenses for a year would cost about the same.
Safety is always the most important topic in travel. After a year of traveling, I've summarized some practical safety tips.
This year of travel has given me so many unexpected gains. The biggest change might be that I learned to view the world with a more inclusive and open mindset. In Morocco's Sahara Desert, I met a Bedouin with only elementary school education who could speak fluent Chinese.
After this year of travel, I also have new ideas for future plans. Maybe next time, I'll choose to stay in one country for three months to truly deeply understand the local culture and life. For example, learning flower arrangement and tea ceremony in Japan, or cooking and wine tasting in Italy.
I discovered that true travel isn't about how many countries you've visited or how many attractions you've seen, but what you gain and learn on your journey. Sometimes, staying in one place longer allows you to discover more unique perspectives.
So, if you're also planning your travel, don't be too focused on checking off attractions and counting numbers. Give yourself some freedom and space, let your soul truly be on the road. After all, the greatest meaning of travel is to help us become better people.
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