labuznik

Several years ago, I got a National Geographic Expedition catalog in the mail. Up until then, I didn’t even know the world-renowned company did travel excursions. At the back of the catalog was a trip called Around the World by Private Jet. A 24-day trip that visited places like Machu Picchu and Petra, Jordan (a bucket list destination for me).

Over the following years, I kept receiving the catalogs. I filed the Around the World trip in the back of my head as something that would never happen. But a girl can dream.

In May of 2021, my brother and I closed the estate of our late Father. It took us three months from start to finish. Due to a toxic home environment and poor childhood memories, we were motivated to move quickly, as neither of us wanted to relive the past any more than was necessary. As we were getting close to closing the estate, I vowed that any compensation I received would go towards things that would bring great joy, improve health, or increase happiness.

After the estate had been settled, I told my husband that I now had enough to pay for my half of the Around the World trip. As it turns out, his father had left him some money as well, so we agreed that by October 2025, we would go on the trip.

In October of 2023, my husband and I took a National Geographic Expedition to Egypt. Our first trip with NG. This tour was inspired by my growing interest in ancient Egypt and the longest-reigning female ruler Hatshepsut. Due to the popularity of the Egypt trip, we needed to book it a year in advance. However, after coming home from Egypt, we booked the Around the World trip for February of 2025.

I feel obligated to defend or explain my good fortune and how I am able to go on such an amazing trip. Even though it is unnecessary, however, some context may soften the judgment of the haters.

We will embark on this trip in about a year. We will leave for Washington, DC, around late February 2025. The trip starts and ends in DC. We’ll visit 11 destinations across 6 continents and 9 time zones. 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, 3 New Seven Wonders of the World, and 3 locations with moderate or high elevation. We will need to bring Malaria medication and not only get a Yellow Fever vaccination but bring certified proof for entry into Fiji, Australia, Cambodia, Nepal, Bhutan, India, Tanzania, and Jordan. In some of the locations, we will be able to choose between two excursion options. We stay an average of two days in most locations.

The itinerary:
 
US, Washington DC
 
Peru: Machu Picchu or Trujillo  
                         
Chile, Easter Island
 
Cross International Date Line
 
Fiji

Australia: Great Barrier Reef or Daintree Rainforest
 
Cambodia: Angkor Wat temple complex or Beng Mealea jungle temple

Nepal, Kathmandu

Bhutan: Tigers Nest or Thimphu (capital city)
 
India, Taj Mahal
 
Africa, Tanzania: Serengeti National Park or Ngorongoro Crater
 
Jordan, Petra
 
 Morocco, Marrakech
 
US, Washington DC

Not long ago, we were emailed our first round of information on the trip. We have already started preparing, even though it’s still a year out. I have secured our live-in cat & house sitter. I have made an appointment with my physician to secure the necessary medications and vaccinations. I have saved every location we will be visiting in the weather app on my iPhone. I will take screenshots of the weather exactly a year from when we visit each destination in order to track what kind of weather we can expect and pack accordingly. I have made a rough packing list that will undoubtedly go through many revisions. I have already sought training suggestions for doing the 3-mile climb to the Tiger’s Nest (photo above, a sacred Vajrayana Himalayan Buddhist monastery) at 10,200 feet in Bhutan.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime trip . . . on a private jet no less . . . with National Geographic experts accompanying us. I will use this experience to broaden my worldview and spread compassion and gratitude to all I encounter. I am immensely grateful for this opportunity and am beyond excited.