Which Continent first?

I'm in my late 40's, have done a bit of travelling but only for 2 weeks to 1 month at a time. Lived out in Malaysia for 2 years. Anyway, looking at travelling for about 10 years with pit stops back to the UK - really for insurance purposes and to see my family and friends once every 2 years or so. I keep relatively healthy albeit for a bit of arthritis, but still manage to climb, though nothing strenuous, I guess a gentle hill is my limit. I walk about 12 kms twice weekly.

I'm looking at going to Africa, Central America, The Caribbean, Asia and SE Asia with certain countries identified in these continents. I have done some research on fco website re visas in particular duration and costs etc and also with embassies of countries, though, all are subject to change. I'll be backpacking of course!

Anyway, what I'm thinking is............

Africa - would envisage travelling for 2-3 years and hopefully from north to south or vice versa. (mostly using land borders where possible)

Central America - 12 months to 18 months - Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala - (possibly Belize and Mexico but only for 2 weeks each country). ( again - using land borders)

The Caribbean - 12 months to 18 months- Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Rep, Puerto Rico, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago. Still to research costs of flights.

Asia - India and Nepal - 18 months - (will use flights between countries)

SE Asia - Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia and Indonesia - 2 years.( travel overland and flight/ferry to Indonesia)

I would appreciate peoples thoughts and any advice, in particular which continent to travel to first and so forth. I haven't been to South America as yet. Would folks recommend S America as opposed to The Caribbean? I can't afford both. I am aware of the travel, accommodation, food and beer costs in most of the countries. Some much less expensive than others which will hopefully off set the total expense.

My main interests are people, culture, music and photography. I enjoy seeing wildlife but not in a 'truck' load of foreigners. I do enjoy seeing the 'touristy' sights, but not too much into them and don't like being overloaded with them either ie. temples, monuments etc. I enjoy experiencing as much as is possible, traditional ways of life in whatever country I visit, also picking up the basics of the local language.

Given my age and physical health, though I'm possibly fitter than some 20 ish year olds, which continent would folks go to first and then which order?

Looking forward to any thoughts/advice. Thanks.

Is it South america vs Caribbean or all the others?

If its only those 2 I would go to SA every time......far more interesting than the Caribbean IMHO(though Cuba is worth a trip for sure)

If its all of them (that is a BIG plan,even if you have given yourself a good amount of time) I'd probably start with SE Asia.For reasons of cost and ease...it makes sense to do the easiest places first to me.I'd also fit in a few more countries-2 years for those 4 is a lot of time,unless you plan to stay in one place for a long period rather than constant travelling around...

Anyway I'd do the first trip....on a one way flight.......see how it goes-you may not like it after all ;-)
Keep travelling until you get bored,and then either go home for a bit or change continent.

This is assuming you've got the funds to keep going without working of course!

Agree with Jim on a trip across/around Africa last........that's the toughest trip on your list (particularly if you do central or west coast route).

I would start with SE asia as it is abit more familiar to you and is a very easy place to get accustomed to the backpacking lifestyle. I personally would go to south america it can be very cheap and that would also be another good place to start your journey. If you plan on backpacking africa i would leave that until you are abit more experienced.

I would be interested in what your budget is. Your statement about Caribbean vs SA seems abit odd for someone who has enough $$$ to travel for 10 years.

I have just typed out a lengthy reply to both lucapal and JimBurns and it wasn't added. AAagghh!
Give me 5, no, better 10!

#1 lucapal I was thinking The Caribbean v SA AND all the others. I haven't researched into the costs in SA, visas etc but, yes, The Caribbean will be more expensive, though I'm not going to the islands for the 'exclusive'. I plan to stay for months, possibly up to 6, or longer in the SE Asian countries. I have a friend who stayed in Cambodia for a number of years.

#2 JimBurns - It's not possible to write everything in one post and as verbal communication goes, there are usually questions or statements made. So here it is - more info - I have travelled overland in 6 West African countries and have also been to Kenya, The Rep of Congo, Zimbabwe and Zambia. All with my rucksack.

You both are of the opinion that Africa will be the toughest out of them all, and I agree, but, it's my fitness levels that I'm thinking about and wonder if I could still do Africa in say, 6 years time. All ifs and buts eh! It's been my dream for some 15 years now to travel North to South or vice versa, taking in East to West if possible. Again, it all depends what's happening in some countries at the time.

My budget is £8,000 per annum and I'll also rent out my flat for which should give me an income of approx £550 per month. I plan to use the rental money to live on and if needs be, use my savings. I also have TEFL experience to fall back on, if I want to get involved in that area. Who knows? I plan to travel with flexibility in mind and should I feel I need to stay longer or move on, then that's what I'll do - within reason re funds.

Thanks for the advice from both of you. More is most welcome.

If I could travel for 10 years I`d aim to travel to every continent and every country(Well, almost.) on Earth, no less!

Yes, I had thought about that but it's pretty expensive to travel in Europe and would like to visit more than the main cities. The bulk I guess would be accommodation costs. Also there's Russia and other countries in Asia. Maybe in the next 10 years!

There have been similar posts to this in the past few days...

You are still in your 40's meaning your still able to work properly, and do a good job about it.

If you go off for 10 years, spend your savings, then come back when your nearly 60, do you honestly think you can get a job? If you were a employer wouldn't you hire the younger, easier to teach applicant?

Remember, when you are younger, you pick things up faster, your output is greater. Before you say, "Oh but I'll have experience that younger people won't have" Lots of things change in 10 years. Look back 10 years ago from today, everything has changed since 2001/2002. How much more are things going to be different in 2022?

Older people have a harder time getting a job because, they are simply "older" harder to teach things because they think they know everything already. Don't learn new things as fast as a younger person, and don't have as big of an output as someone who is 20-30 years younger then them.

This in no way is mean't to damper your dreams of traveling. Its just a helpful post to bring you back to reality. Wouldn't you rather work when you are 'young' then enjoy life in your old age later on?

Good luck!

Wouldn't you rather work when you are 'young' then enjoy life in your old age later on?

LOL, that sounds so American!

When I was in the Egyptian Museum I had trouble to distinguish the genuine mummies from the 100 year old American lady tourists who probably worked when they were young. :)

He wants to do things while he is still fit and healthy enough to get the most out of the places, in 10 years of travel he will probably live more than most people do in a life time.

OP When i suggested you save africa until your a bit more experienced that was because you didnt seem like you had traveled much before... if you have done some of africa before and its what you are most passionate about it seems a no brainer to start there... probably a good philosophy for the subsequent sections of your trip also.... go to the next place you are most interested in.

Traveling for someone who is in the late 50's to late 60's is not a problem. Working however is more of a difficult task.

I personally do not know this, but from people who I have talked to e.g grandparents, elderly people that is what they have said.

Anyways its not what you or I think is best, its the decision of the OP. What ever his choice, I'm sure he will enjoy the traveling part regardless.

There is always good reasons to put off extended travel that is why so few people do it. Its always going to be a trade off at any age. Dont find that many people who come back from extended travel wishing they had just stayed home and worked till they were 60.

Given your time and budget, I would also go to South America as well as The Caribbean and Africa, Asia, etc. In general, S. America is reasonably cheap, sp. if you travel slowly, take it easy and backpack.

Back in mid-2005 I travelled overland from Santiago de Chile to Caracas, through northern Chile, all around Bolivia, southern half of Peru, across Bolivia again, into Brazil and down Rio Madeira to Manaus, and into Venezuela, in about 6 months. In about 10 weeks in Bolivia I spent 500€; in Chile and Venezuela I spent about 20-30US$/day; and in Brazil I paid 35$ for a 4-day/4-night trip (meals incl.) in a cargo boat down Rio Madeira (though in general travel in Brazil is indeed more expensive).

So I think you do have the budget to travel around South America and the Caribbean: you may only skip those more 'exclusive' islands... Plus, from places like Venezuela you can find cheap-ish flights to Cuba, Aruba, Trinidad and Tobago, and many other places in the Antilles.

As it's been suggested, I'd buy one-way flights most of the time, and travel overland as much as possible: saving eg. 2,000 quid on flights can let you travel those extra months in SA! ;)

Given your interest and previous experience in Africa, you could start your trip by getting there overland from the UK: just cross France and Spain to Morocco and there you go! If you 'exit' the continent by travelling up the east coast and into the Middle East, you'll be able to get a cheap flight to S./SE. Asia from places like Istanbul, Dubai, etc.

I wouldn't worry too much about the 'exact' route to take: you'll see after months and years of travels which places on Earth seduce you the most at each particular time...!

Pau

#9 Updownallaround7 I hope I don't spend too much of my savings. For instance I know I could live on an average of £13/$20 per day in West Africa, even cheaper if I stay for a prolonged period in an area, say 6 months where I can rent a room or a house. For SE Asia £11-£12/ $16-$18 per day for accommodation and food - I would be able to rent a house for 1 month in for example Cambodia @ £47/$70 should I decide to stay there for a prolonged period. I would expect India, probably £10/$15 daily. As for Central America and The Caribbean OR South America, these will be more expensive, and if I should happen to travel to TC or SA, then I'll play it by ear and maybe stay in a country for 1 month instead of 3. I have no intention on staying in 4 and 5 star accommodation, just somewhere I can get my head down with a firm clean bed, water, be it a shower or a bucket for washing, fan, and good security.

So, with rental from my flat @ £550/$825 per month which I intend to use to live on, and as an example, 1 month in West Africa @ £414/$620, I'll have extra left over, and as I do here, if money is not banked or used in one month, I carry it on to the next month. Voila!

When I'm almost 60, yes, I agree I won't be able to get a job as easy as someone much younger. However, the type of job I do, which is a professional one, is not one which has many employees, if any, at that age. Dare I say I will be due a small pension which will keep me ticking over nicely, and no I'm not a banker. It wouldn't be a small pension if I was!. Moving on..........That's one reason why I want to leave and do what I need to do now, while I'm relatively fit and sort of healthy given my arthritis. But, thanks for your thoughts and opinion.

#11 JimBurns Here's hoping I'll do more in the 10 years than most folks do in a lifetime. So far I have been to some amazing places and experienced things that I would never in a whole lifetime experience in the UK...................... and there is more out there!

#7 bristolnewbie Should I have enough money left after the 10 years, and I'm still relatively healthy etc, every country in the world......Hmmmm!

#4 JimBurns- What is your view of my budget? Is it sufficient?

#14 paudeviatge Thanks for the tips. Yes, I am planning to take my time. You make SA sound quite appealing, it's just that I'm not familiar with any of them given that I've never been to the continent. When I was in SE Asia I used to purchase one way tickets. I think the initial flight from the UK may need to be a return?? Not sure on that one? Maybe it depends on the destination. I have read a bit on Central America and for instance, I understand it's not possible to fly into Panama without a return/forward ticket.

Have you been to The Caribbean? I need to do some research, re accommodation and getting from one island to another in particular with regards to costs. I don't want to bog myself down with searching for too much too soon as I'll be away for approx 2-3 years at a time, popping back for visits to see family and friends and arrange more travel insurance. It's during these times that I can prepare for the next continent.

My first trip to West Africa - I flew from Spain to Morocco then on to Senegal. Missed out Mauritania! When in Senegal, I met a Dutch guy who had crossed from Spain to Morocco with his car. However, he was carless in Senegal. Yip, and it was the border police who took it! It would be great to travel all down the west coast and back up the east. However, all depends on what's happening politically both in the UK and in certain countries.