World Tour Without Planes: A Detailed Itinerary and Cost Analysis for a TV Show

Imagine taking an offer of $2 million to travel around the world without aircraft in just 90 days. The challenge lies in planning a journey that covers multiple continents and involves various modes of transportation. This article delves into the logistics, including an exciting rail journey, ocean crossings, and the use of passenger liners to achieve the goal.

Selected Regions and Modes of Transport

Considering the offer is for a trip around the globe, the Americas present an ideal starting point. As a Canadian, I could easily start the journey with rail or driverless long-haul buses, making it a feasible option. Rail journeys are also available, which can be a scenic and comfortable choice.

However, crossing oceans poses a challenge. Regular shipping lines are no longer common for connecting continents, but the provided funds could enable the hire or purchase of a vessel. Another interesting option is taking a passenger liner. A company named Phnix operates three ships, completing the journey at least twice a year. The trip takes about three months and visits around 36 ports.

Itinerary and Cost Analysis

Let's look at a detailed itinerary and cost analysis, focusing on a rail journey and ocean crossings:

Itinerary

Departure from San Francisco: Rail journey to New York City (5 days) Transatlantic Crossing: Queen Victoria (7 days to the UK) UK to Moscow: Train (2 days) Moscow to Shanghai: Train (14 days) Shanghai to San Francisco: Freighter (around 25 days) Total travel time including connections: 60 days

The approximate cost including sleeper rooms and meals is about $200 per day, or around $12,000 in total. This does not include potential additional expenses such as transportation during oceanic crossings, visas, and miscellaneous costs.

Variations and Challenges

For the TV show, we need to make the journey more exciting by avoiding air travel. The first leg would begin in Houston, TX, with a drive up to Halifax or St. John's, Canada. From there, I'd board a boat to the British Isles, then take a train to Marseilles. From Marseilles, I'd continue to southern Italy via a boat, followed by a drive to Alexandria, Egypt for a drive to Kuwait and a boat to Indonesia or Malaysia. Next, another boat to northern Australia, then drive to Sydney or Brisbane. The journey would continue with a long ride across the Pacific to Chile, with a drive along the coast of Chile, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia, and the end destination being the Panama Canal. Finally, a smooth ride back to the port of Houston.

This 50 to 70-day journey, while somewhat flexible, should still cover 6 continents, making it a thrilling and attainable condition for the show.

Conclusion

With the right planning and a combination of various transport options, it is possible to complete a 90-day journey around the world without planes. The key lies in creative use of rail, oceanic crossings, and engaging passenger liners. This approach not only makes the journey more exciting for the TV show but also adheres to the show's stipulated conditions.