A year around the world seems like a myth; an infeasible adventure, especially with children. Believe it or not families have successfully done it! Let’s take a look at these few who have had fascinating world journeys, crossed various landscapes and how it was all done.
Image Source: continents-insolites.com
Image Source: enfants-autour-du-monde.fr
The family of Perrine and Cyril, parents to Amelia (5) and Alix (3), have crossed 11 countries including: China, India, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Australia, Tahiti, Easter Island, Argentina, Chile and Peru. The family project, 10 months around the world, aimed to showcase how the family took a complete loop around the world. Transportation for the journey included: Planes, cars, bikes and public transit.
Perrine, the mother, who is also a nurse, wanted to bring a cultural touch to the trip by introducing the family to a variety of interesting dishes from all the countries they travelled.
Preparation: Before venturing on the journey the family made a strict budget which included: Buying air plane tickets and detailed luggage. Their budget is a good example, of any family can economic travel together.
A year in a camper in India
Image Source: petit-tour.com
In 2003-2004, Angelique and Yann, and their two children Leah and Simon, who where 4 and 7 at the time, participated in a beautiful adventure that took them from Massy, France to Pondicherry, India. Their complete journey was done with a mobile home, where they drove from Europe to East Asia to North Africa. The journey was about 30, 000km in total for the year.
For this family the goal was to discover “ethnic traditions, unexplored magical places, and strange encounters at the end of the world.” There was also a humanistic side to the project that involved the children learning and playing beyond the normal boundaries.
The Massy family’s route was bold, and focused on the Mediterranean countries, all with a mobile home equipped for four people with everything they could need. One point they really focused on was finding different housing in the countries, and cooking briefly throughout the journey.
Interesting fact: The list of equipment carried is particularly interesting and nothing was omitted such as medicine and toys!
Image Source: 5sur5continents.com
In 2010-2011, Eric and Mary from Gaspe, QC travelled five continents with their three children, Florence (11), Felix (9) and Aurelia (7). Their adventure took them to Chile, Polynesia, China, Botswana, Thailand and Laos. Their focus for the project was educating their children, and it involved shorter stays and light travel.
Preparations for the long and detailed trip, which focused on discovering new horizons beyond the contemporary comforts of the modern western society, included a very strict budget and intense school material. Mary, the mother, wanted to make sure the children kept up with their studies while travelling.
The family’s blog makes anyone want to try the courages adventure! They talk about the landscape of their exotic and unusual journey – something some of us can only dream about.
Take away: The co2 offsetting committed by the family travel is part of Boreal Carbon, a project that focuses on planning tress in the boreal forest of Quebec to help with research at the UQAC (University of Quebec at Chicoutimi).
These are just some of the stories that families have shared about their worldly adventures together. If you’re looking for more inspiration take a look at the World School Adventures list of family travelling blogs. Always remember: Nothing is impossible if it’s planned properly.
