Welcome to Sab's Gap
My 2023 one-year world itinerary, travel philosophy, and what to expect from Sab's Gap
Happy new year! and welcome to Sab’s Gap!
I’ve spent the past couple of weeks spending ample time not only with friends and family, but also with myself, cooped up in my favorite cafes and hotel lobbies, planning the crazy year of adventure I’ve envisioned for 2023.
In the spirit of accountability and being bold this year, I’m sharing how I’m structuring my long-haul travels, my travel philosophy, and what you can expect from Sab’s Gap.
The 2023 Plan
🌍 25 countries, 5 continents, 300 days!
So far, I’ve planned 30% of the trip, booked 10 flights and stays, and have a couple of north stars guiding the rest of the trip. I don’t know exactly what every day will look like, but I do have a rough sense of where I want to go and when. No return flight yet!
Italicized = a new country
No marker = <1 week / * = 1-2 weeks / ! = 2+ weeks / (?) = still deciding how long.
Phase 1 (Skiing in the US + 50 days in SE Asia):
The 2-year-late postgrad trip that never happened! SE Asia is notoriously cheap, somehow simultaneously hectic and serene, and abundant in nature, food, history, and culture. Here I plan to explore like a backpacker, adventure, scuba dive, embrace island life (read, yoga, surf, repeat), and of course, eat all the street food and tropical fruit I can get my hands on.
USA! (Skiing), Thailand!, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam*, Indonesia*, Philippines, Singapore = 8 countries
Phase 2 (60 days in East Asia):
Though I’ve been to 4/5 countries on this list, these are places I’m excited to revisit during cherry blossom season and do untraditionally touristy things: Workaways, WWOOF, volunteering, pilgrimages, bike trips, alps, language immersion, see old friends, homestays, explore cafe culture, culinary pursuits.
Japan!, South Korea!, Hong Kong, Taiwan(?), China! = 5 countries
Phase 3+ (4 months across Europe, Africa, South America):
Now for the unplanned part of the trip. All I know is I want to live in Europe this summer, luxuriating in spending time slowly, going wherever in Europe my heart desires; and I want to visit countries in Africa and South America for the first time. Leaving some room for spontaneity in the itinerary for now.
Spain*, Portugal*, France*, Switzerland, Italy(?), Somewhere in UK(?), Morocco(?), Peru(?), Country 22, 23, 24, 25 = 12 countries
Behind-the-scenes look at my organized chaos!
💰 $15k USD budget
After doing a ton of research and considering my personal financial goals, this was the number I landed on. The target is $50/day (or $1.5k/month) all-in on average, with variability depending on location (hence average!).
Though I have a budget, this will not be a budget trip. It also isn’t a luxury trip; rather something in between. There will be no compromising on safety, comfort, and fun, but the constraint will force me to ask why and be intentional and creative with every dollar.
✅ Check off 80% of my travel bucket list
For the first time, I’ll be traveling purely on my own terms. Here is a screenshot of some of the things I’d like to do this year ft. a ton of adventure, food, and learning:
“Adventure! In the air, on land, on water, under water, going fast, going slow, physically, mentally, spiritually, rest” —Sab’s Gap
Travel philosophy
Planning this trip was different from planning the travels of the last 25 countries I’ve been to. For one, it’s significantly longer. It’s also very open-ended. Before I put pen to paper, it was necessary that I reflect on the type of traveler I am, the types of trips I’ve had (good and bad), and the type of trip I want this around-the-world trip to be. Here are some of the principles that guided my thought process and decision-making.
❶ I can’t go everywhere, and not every place will be suitable for this trip.
At the thought of a year without responsibilities, my mind went crazy with the possibilities. However, I quickly realized I had finite resources (time, money, energy), and needed to choose, so I prioritized locations based on the following criteria:
Suitable and safe for a solo, female traveler. The reality is, some places / activities are easier, cheaper, and more enjoyable for trips with large groups, girlfriends, family, or a significant other. It doesn’t mean I can’t do them, but it’s important to consider what I might rather do instead and be honest with myself.
Fulfills a personal goal / niche interest. When I visited Bali for a week with a group of 5 friends, no one wanted to volunteer at a coffee farm with me. Activities like this are perfect for solo trips because I get full say — I don’t have to go to another temple if I don’t want to; I can spend a whole day at a coffee farm instead.
❷ Optimize for core memories, cultural immersion, and interesting company
When I reflect on my most memorable and rejuvenating travels, they often featured great people (old and new!), learning, and a strong, usually positive emotion (awe, pride, surprise, etc). This principle guides how I’ll be splitting my time (depth vs breadth), where I decide to stay, types of activities I choose, etc. Some examples:
Choosing to sacrifice proximity to attractions to experience how the other side of the world lives: Staying a rice paddy farm with a local family in Cambodia instead of a centrally-located, generic hotel.
Carving out time to be a complete beginner again: Surfing, cooking, farming.
❸ I will be alone but not lonely
I’m not new to solo travel; I’ve lived in 5 different countries and have done plenty of weekend trips alone. That said, this will be the first time I’ll be traveling full-time, for months straight, solo — an undertaking that’ll make feeling lonely inevitable. As a result, my travel plans prioritize human interaction and being intentionally bold.
Find places to meet other travelers. Ask for mutual friends. Do activities that build bonds. Find teachers and community. Avoid couple-y activities if I can. Coordinate travel schedules. Find time to keep in touch with family and friends at home. Talk to strangers. Share on the internet.
What’s next?
To wrap up my first ever post, I wanted to share what’s in store for Sab’s Gap, this little corner of the worldwide web:
Behind-the-scenes travel planning and learnings: Tactical tips on planning affordable but self-aligned travel. Helpful resources. Cost breakdowns. Nifty hacks I find on the internet / learn on the road / hear from fellow travelers.
Stories and inspiration from places I go and people I meet: Some itineraries, mostly experiences, observations, and encounters. Playing with the idea of interviewing people I meet and know too.
Gap year thoughts and musings: How I rationalized this gap year. Traveling as a lifestyle. Framing my twenties. Notable books I’ve read. Personal reflections on life, relationships, identity, education, work.
If this sounds interesting, I hope you’ll stick around. Thank you so much for being one of my first 18(!) readers. I’m grateful to have you here. I’d love your thoughts, recommendations, and feedback.
To an adventure-filled 2023! 🎉
Sabrina
If you enjoyed this, comment on Substack or reply to this email directly! Find me on Instagram @sabsgap for more frequent travel updates.