BootsnAll Travel Community

So, I've had this on going fantasy of traveling from Ireland to Tibet. I don't know why Tibet, perhaps there's just something lovely about it. But what I'm wondering is, and I'm asking all you experienced vagabonds, how possible is that? I mean, I know there is no specific 'estimated time' for... well, anything, when it comes to vagabonding, but how long would a 'minimum' be? And what sort of costs would I be looking at?

How much do you want to see of Europe? How much money do you have?

My time estimate would be:
- Central Europe: 2-3 months
- Eastern Europe: 3 months
- Central Asia: 3 months
- China / Tibet: 2 months

This way you'd actually see it. Of course the whole trip would be feasible in about two months time. But it would be stressful and you wouldn't really see anything.

That's just it, this fantasy of mine has just now started to become something that can realistically happen. If someone asked me about a month ago if I ever thought of vagabonding through Europe or anything of the such, I would have said that all too popular line, "If I only had the money." Because it wasn't until a couple weeks ago, I started doing some research; reading books like 'Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel' or finding sites like this that made me realize that I don't need to be an upper-class savant, or an extremely lucky son or grandson w/ well-off parents to actually go through with this sort of thing. So here I am, becoming completely intrigued and dangerously curious with the thought of fulfilling this 'toyed around' fantasy.

So, according to those that have done this before me- how much would I need to get me by? Excluding passports, visas, and airline tickets.

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So, according to those that have done this before me- how much would I need to get me by? Excluding passports, visas, and airline tickets.

This is where you really have to know yourself. There've been people who've posted here who literally left home with a plane ticket and $100 and years later are still travelling.

I have no desire to do that. I like to work and save at home, and then spend my trip without a care in the world.

If you're more interested in my sort of a trip, you'll have to do up a budget. Again, you have to know yourself, and whether you're interested in a bare minimum trip, or if you'll want the occasional meal that didn't come from a street stand, and never to have to worry about an entrance fee blowing your budget.

You'll also have to have some kind of estimated itinerary. How much time in which countries. Ireland to Tibet can be done by several different routes. Russia is probably your most expensive, the central asia route presents more visa hurdles (since you have to go through so many countries), but will be cheaper overall.

Once you've got an idea of where you're going and how long you plan on being there, the Lonely Planet website is a good resource for cost estimates. I usually plan my budget based on low-end accomodation and midrange food. I also tend to pad my budget a bit because I'd rather come home with extra money, instead of going broke before I'm finished. In the most general terms, on my last trip I averaged $2000 per month, including flights and visas, and was reasonably comfortable, but still had to pass on some of the more expensive activities.

I wouldn't travel quite as slowly as elAdi, but I'd still expect to spend about 7 months on such a trip, and I'd probably rush Europe a bit because it's easy to get back to on a short vacation, and everything until you get east of Budapest is a budget killer on a long trip.

food from a vendor would suit me just fine, if the hostels are fair enough, I suppose I might find myself in one. I know the goal is to travel light, perhaps carrying a tent along would seem probable. Though, as an American- I should expect myself to stop from time to time to check out certain tourist attractions, so I suppose that would be one of the few unnecessary expenses I would have to save up for. I suppose the hardest thing for me is planning out the itinerary. I don't want to be just another passing tourist who doesn't get the chance to take it all in, but I agree that it just wouldn't be logical to not have one, simply because of the financial matters...

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food from a vendor would suit me just fine

Say that again after eating nothing but kebab and donaire for 3 weeks.

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I don't want to be just another passing tourist who doesn't get the chance to take it all in, but I agree that it just wouldn't be logical to not have one, simply because of the financial matters...

Itineraries are a budgetting tool, they're not set in stone. And all you really need is a really rough idea. Which countries, how many days. I only guess at how long I'm going to be in an individual city if its prices are out of whack with the rest of the country (I budgetted for Istanbul and Budapest separately on my last trip), and even then I certainly don't guess at when exactly.

If you feel rushed, you slow down.

Sounds brilliant! Do it!

My brother went from Germany to China using trains. Said it was great but he never wants to see another train again. He did quite fast though. Take your time and it should be fine.

Trains are the best thing in the world! I did around 19'000 km in Russia alone and never got bored of it (during it, maybe, yes).

But the route I'd take for this trip would not go through Russia and would be much more diverse concerning mode of transport.