This journey is perfect for solo adventurers, couples, or groups of friends wanting to experience the time of their lives together!

We find that many of our guests enjoy marking major life transitions with a trip of this nature: birthdays, retirements, or commemorating the life of a loved one that has passed.

For our jet-setting couples, this is a perfect way to celebrate an anniversary or a recently emptied nest!

This trip is perfect for those who have been interested in an Around the World journey but were put off by the prices and high guest maximums (50 to 80!) that other companies offer.

This itinerary is ideal for those that want to take advantage of our experience, expertise, and connections, who don’t have the time nor local resources to research and arrange the countless details that go into a trip of this magnitude.

You’ll quickly discover that your fellow travelers are as curious and enthusiastic as yourself; no matter if you arrive with a travel buddy or not, you’ll come away from this journey with some new friends and treasured lifelong memories.

Lauren and BJ are excellent tour guides, organizers, planners, and genuinely good people. Traveling with them is like being “held” in a safe space yet with plenty of opportunities to spread your wings. It’s the best of both worlds in that you are sure of seeing the sites but with cultural knowledge that makes each location memorable. Their pre-trip previewing and work to secure excellent local guides really makes their trips stand out from other group travel that I have experienced. You absolutely couldn’t travel with more thoughtful and caring people who want to offer you the best of everything. It’s more than a job for them and it shows in their kindness and willingness to go the extra mile.  ~C.M.

This trip far exceeded anything I could have imagined. The choices of where to stay, where to eat, and what to see, were the result of BJ and Lauren’s commitment to finding authentic, meaningful, experiences in every location. The trip was filled with small (and large) details that made the trip easy, fun, interesting, exciting and challenging. I LOVED this trip…and I LOVE RetreaTours!   ~N.S.

You start out curious, hoping to see iconic sights. You end up feeling more connected to and understanding of parts of the world you were barely aware of. You feel more nurtured and cared for by your trip organizers than you could have ever hoped for….you feel like you have a new family AND you laugh a lot! You will never regret having committed to this experience of a lifetime. ~A.B.

BJ and Lauren did an excellent job in hosting our tour, managing air flights, lodging, meals, guides and shepherding everyone through all situations. In addition, they were of great help in assisting with our extension to the Galapagos Islands. Would highly recommend them as a tour company. They specialize in small group tours which is the only way to travel. Very special people! It was our second trip with them and both were great. They made you feel as family. ~C.S.

This was a trip of a lifetime, filled with new experiences, stunning sights, delicious–and sometimes strange–food to taste, lovely people in every country with whom to interact. If you have a bucket list, this trip will check off many of those places–and you will want to return again to some of them to dig in deeper. BJ and Lauren are the consummate trip leaders, providing an almost seamless, and always enjoyable, educational, and really fun journey. In every country they curated the most wonderful hotels, sites to visit, restaurants to try out, and always brought in an expert guide from whatever place we were visiting to further explain the culture, the historical significance, the foods, and the customs. This trip opened my eyes to all that and so much more. I would HIGHLY recommend signing up for a trip with them–don’t hesitate–just do it! You won’t be sorry.  ~C.R.

Thank you for every thoughtful, researched, beta-tested detail that made it a unique and incredible ‘RetreaTour.’ You are an amazing team. I never felt like I had hired you to guide me. Rather, it often felt like I was along on your personal vacation just joining you for the great trip you were taking! ~M.C.

We invite you to click here and read more testimonials from our amazing guests!

We require that each guest carries travel insurance that covers emergency medical treatment and emergency evacuation and repatriation.

You may wish to consider trip cancellation insurance, as well, as you never know what obstacles life can toss at you leading up to a trip. However, we do not require this coverage, as we understand it can increase premiums dramatically. Please familiarize yourself with our Around the World journey guest cancellation policy (below).

We ask that you carefully consider your choice of travel insurance. What works for some people may not work for others, particularly if you have any pre-existing conditions. Please do take the time to consider the best policy for your individual needs. If you are considering a ‘Cancel for any Reason’ policy, be aware of the percentage of the trip that is covered (as it is never 100%).

Please see RetreaTours.com/travel-insurance for some ideas of where to start your search!

Cancellation Policy

1. Cancellations prior to 150 days to departure, money will be refunded minus the non-refundable deposit. 
2. Cancellations received 76 to 149 days prior to departure are subject to a penalty of 50% of the total cost of the trip.  
3. Cancellations received 75 days or less prior to trip departure will forfeit the entire cost of the trip. 

Information about flight lengths & upgrading to Business Class, plus flights to Japan and from Spain.

Air travel has made Around the World adventures much more pleasant & efficient than the infamous 80-day trip posited by Jules Verne.

We will be taking commercial flights for each leg of this trip. They have been very specifically chosen to be the most comfortable way of getting from one location to the next at the most reasonable times of day.

Flight lengths, including layovers:

• These times will be posted when they are official. Stay tuned!

What about upgrading flights to Business Class?

If you would like the option to upgrade any of your flights to Business Class, we can help arrange that and you would pay only the exact amount over the budgeted economy flight option. We’ll let you know about those prices a bit closer to the journey. 

Flights to Japan / home from Spain

As we get a bit closer to the trip we will post some popular options here, but we are always available for any specific flight itinerary questions.

A journey of this scope takes some stamina, but we’ve designed this trip specifically so that you can opt to have a rest day in each city (and of course, ALL activities are optional).

It will be a rare case that you will have to stand on your feet for extended periods of time. However, as a guideline, you’ll want to feel comfortable walking for 1-2 miles unassisted at a time. It will most likely not happen that we will ever walk a straight 2 miles, but that is a safe guideline to follow if you are wondering about your fitness levels.

Many of these sites include stairs; as a guideline, please feel comfortable climbing 4 flights of stairs at a time (but at your own pace).

Tiger’s Nest Monastery in Bhutan is an exception to the above recommendations. Please see the notes about those sites below.

If you intend on attending all offerings on the itinerary, you will be participating in 5-8 hours of activity each day (although activity does not mean difficult physical activity, just that we are out of our hotel and exploring).

The key here is to feel comfortable going at your own pace and knowing your limits.

Here are some location-specific notes for you. These photos and descriptions are of the most difficult areas and are presented to inform you, not scare you! Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any specific concerns.

Kyoto

If you wish to fully explore the trails at Fushimi Inari, they include series of steps (intermixed with flat areas). There are plenty of gorgeous flat areas near the entrance if you don’t wish to climb up the hill.

Siem Reap

The worn stone steps inside Angkor Wat (and other temples) have new wooden steps placed over them, although the shorter sets do not feature handrails. Some temples still have worn stone steps if you wish to explore further, but all main sites have more modern wooden steps. The stairs into and out of the central portion of Angkor Wat (pictured here, on the right) are steep but have a handrail. That portion is completely optional, as well.

Bhutan

The most physically challenging portion of this trip (which is totally optional) is making the hike up to Tiger’s Nest. The walk itself is a ~4-mile round trip in total, with an elevation gain of 1,700 feet (518 m), although you can get lovely views of the cliffside monastery without going all the way there.

The path is, for the most part, wide and sandy, with some parts being a bit more rocky. You are able to take a pony almost halfway up if you choose, and there is a delightful tea house halfway up if you choose to stay there to soak in the scenery. The final push to the actual monastery includes ~700 stone steps–first down and then back up (photo in the upper-righthand corner). Many of our guests choose not to go all the way to the actual structure and instead enjoy the iconic view from the beginning of the stairs.

It may sound intimidating, but Bhutanese elders in sandals and toddlers in Crocs regularly pass me by on the trail, so most likely it is totally within your reach! In addition, it’s the same way up and down (as opposed to a circuit), so you can gauge for far you want to go up.

Jordan

The walk into Petra is through a lovely canyon (the Siq) and is a 1.2-mile (2 km) walk to reach the Treasury (the most iconic spot). It is possible to take a horse cart, but the walk itself is actually quite interesting and you can take it slowly.

Petra extends beyond the Treasury and you can see as much or as little as you like. There is a hike to a more remote part of Petra called “The Monastery,” which is a 40-60 minute walk each way (photo on the right). When you read about it online it sounds like a grueling trek, but it’s honestly pretty straightforward!

If you wish to return to the Treasury for “Petra by Night,” the only option is to walk from the entrance.

Madrid

We will be taking food and art tours which will require walking and standing for an extended period, broken up occasionally during the eating portion of the tour.

Still wondering if this is the trip for you? We welcome any questions you have!

What if I don’t like the local food?

Do I have to eat ‘weird’ things?

What about my food allergies?

Let’s face it–you gotta eat. However, culinary experiences while traveling are more than just a necessity; they’re another avenue to learn and appreciate your environment. 

Now to answer your questions:

If you are interested in this trip, we’ll have a conversation that will include any food allergies or sensitivities that you list in your registration. Generally speaking, all but the most severe allergies or austere preferences will not pose any problem.

And the biggie: do you have to eat weird things? There are two answers to this question:  1)  Of course not!  and 2) What do you consider weird? One of the things you’ll learn on this Around the World adventure is that cultural “norms” vary widely, especially in the kitchen. And besides, I know several people who would make a strong case that lima beans are weird (and they are, of course, wrong ;) ). 

We don’t seek out bizarre foods “Fear Factor” style, but if an ingredient is a part of the actual local diet, we’ll often give it a try. If you are feeling adventurous, there are plenty of unique local specialties to try, from interesting fruits (mangosteen, rambutan, and the infamous durian) to insects and critters (tarantulas and grasshoppers).

If you’re not a big fan of a certain region’s cuisine, you’ll always be able to find more familiar substitutes (usually in the form of Italian food/pasta, sandwiches, pizza, and ubiquitous french fries). Even if you love the food in an area, you might still crave familiar comfort food and that is A-OK. We’ve had some of the best Italian food in the world in Southeast Asia! 

Food on this tour is designed to be FUN and you’ll never feel pressured or judged for anything you choose to eat or not eat. But we’re happy to be providing an opportunity to try the best cuisine of each region! 

Almost all of our locations are at or around sea level (or well below sea level, in the case of the Dead Sea at 1,412 feet / 430 meters below sea level). 

Our one destination with a high altitude is Bhutan.

Paro and Thimpu, Bhutan stand at 7,218′ and 7,656 respectively (2200m and 2333m). This is below the typical threshold of altitude sickness (8,000 ft). However, if you choose to walk up to Tiger’s Nest Monastery, you’ll reach 10,240 ft (3120m) for the brief time you’ll be there. 

Some pre-existing medical conditions are known to worsen at high altitudes, so it is imperative that you discuss your pre-existing medical condition/s with your physician. Certain medications are reported to aid acclimatization to high altitude; please discuss these options with your doctor or a local travel physician.

Please read more about preventing altitude sickness over on our blog.

We’re traveling around the whole world–am I going to feel jet lag every time we move to a new location?

The most challenging portion of this trip in regards to jet lag will be your initial flight to Japan (which is why, if you are able, you may choose to arrive early). 

However, the rest of your trip will include much more gentle time changes that will not be difficult. 

For the most part, jet lag actually works in our favor for some of our early mornings on this trip, such as sunrise at Fushimi Inari, Angkor Wat, and Petra. We’ll embrace our inner early birds!

Time differences between our destinations

GMT stands for Greenwich Mean Time, the solar time at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London (0° longitude).

• Kyoto (GMT+9)
• Singapore (GMT +8) (1 hour earlier than Kyoto)
• Siem Reap (GMT+7)  (1 hour earlier than Singapore)
• Bangkok (GMT+7)  (Same as Siem Reap)
• Bhutan (GMT +6) (1 hour earlier than Bangkok and Siem Reap)
• Nepal (GMT + 5:45) (15 minutes earlier than Bhutan)
• Egypt (GMT +2) (3 hours and 45 minutes earlier than Nepal)
• Jordan (GMT+2)  (Same time as Egypt)
• Madrid   (GMT+1)  (1 hour earlier than Jordan)

We will advise you on some methods to lessen jet lag as much as possible before the journey!

Coming soon!

We invite you to check out Lauren’s article about how best to stay healthy on the road and prevent common travel ailments such as traveler’s diarrhea, motion sickness, altitude sickness & more.

Lauren is a Board-certified Acupuncture Physician with an extensive background in Western herbs and natural supplements, along with a passion for teaching!  

Click here or the photo below to scope it out!

Hi! We’re BJ & Lauren!

We have the good fortune to know all of you registered for this journey!! But, for the rest of you we haven’t met yet…

We formally founded RetreaTours in 2012 and moved out of the U.S. in January 2013 to focus full-time on designing amazing itineraries. Living on the road has given us invaluable insight into what keeps our guests happy on tour. Have you ever found travel a bit stressful? That’s where we come in—you’re leaving all the details to us so you can fully enjoy yourself! In fact, it’s not uncommon for our guests to compare us to doting parents or admit that they feel comfortable “turning their brain off” while on tour us! 

From the moment you’re interested in a trip and reach out to us, we’re in direct personal contact with you to answer any questions you have. We can prep you as much as you want with deeply detailed orientations and FAQs, or you can show up and go along for the ride—whichever method is more your style!

While we are supported in every destination by a hand-selected team of awesome locals, we are the ones who put our heart and soul into making these experiences come alive for you. If you’d like to get to know us personally a bit better, please take a click over here. If you’re more interested in the origins and the “abouts” of the company, click over here.

Our Mission: We create itineraries that are authentic, accessible, and affecting. We craft each trip to maximize the greatest good for the greatest number, including our guests, our partners, and the local community.

Listen to what some of our 2018 Around the World guests want to tell you!

Lauren and BJ are excellent tour guides, organizers, planners, and genuinely good people. Traveling with them is like being “held” in a safe space yet with plenty of opportunities to spread your wings. It’s the best of both worlds in that you are sure of seeing the sites but with cultural knowledge that makes each location memorable. Their pre-trip previewing and work to secure excellent local guides really makes their trips stand out from other group travel that I have experienced. You absolutely couldn’t travel with more thoughtful and caring people who want to offer you the best of everything. It’s more than a job for them and it shows in their kindness and willingness to go the extra mile.  ~C.M.

This trip far exceeded anything I could have imagined. The choices of where to stay, where to eat, and what to see, were the result of BJ and Lauren’s commitment to finding authentic, meaningful, experiences in every location. The trip was filled with small (and large) details that made the trip easy, fun, interesting, exciting and challenging. I LOVED this trip…and I LOVE RetreaTours!   ~N.S.

You start out curious, hoping to see iconic sights. You end up feeling more connected to and understanding of parts of the world you were barely aware of. You feel more nurtured and cared for by your trip organizers than you could have ever hoped for….you feel like you have a new family AND you laugh a lot! You will never regret having committed to this experience of a lifetime. ~A.B.

BJ and Lauren did an excellent job in hosting our tour, managing air flights, lodging, meals, guides and shepherding everyone through all situations. In addition, they were of great help in assisting with our extension to the Galapagos Islands. Would highly recommend them as a tour company. They specialize in small group tours which is the only way to travel. Very special people! It was our second trip with them and both were great. They made you feel as family. ~C.S.

This was a trip of a lifetime, filled with new experiences, stunning sights, delicious–and sometimes strange–food to taste, lovely people in every country with whom to interact. If you have a bucket list, this trip will check off many of those places–and you will want to return again to some of them to dig in deeper. BJ and Lauren are the consummate trip leaders, providing an almost seamless, and always enjoyable, educational, and really fun journey. In every country they curated the most wonderful hotels, sites to visit, restaurants to try out, and always brought in an expert guide from whatever place we were visiting to further explain the culture, the historical significance, the foods, and the customs. This trip opened my eyes to all that and so much more. I would HIGHLY recommend signing up for a trip with them–don’t hesitate–just do it! You won’t be sorry.  ~C.R.

Thank you for every thoughtful, researched, beta-tested detail that made it a unique and incredible ‘RetreaTour.’ You are an amazing team. I never felt like I had hired you to guide me. Rather, it often felt like I was along on your personal vacation just joining you for the great trip you were taking! ~M.C.