Hello everyone!
How on earth do you start planning a year-long journey across the globe? It’s the question that kept us up for months. Do you try to set foot on every single continent, or do you slow down and do a deep dive into a few specific places? The choices you make change everything—from your daily budget to your ultimate packing list.
As you might remember from our last post, we dropped a little cliffhanger: we are kicking things off in Kazakhstan.
When we first told our family and friends, the reaction was usually a mix of raised eyebrows and blank stares. Why there? Isn’t that a bit random?
When people think of a gap year, they usually picture white-sand beaches in Thailand or road trips through Australia. Don't get us wrong—there is absolutely nothing wrong with those places! In fact, as we mentioned before, we already fell in love with Thailand once and might very well return there, and Australia is a massive permanent fixture on our bucket list. ;)
But we wanted a true, raw adventure right from the start. Kazakhstan drew us in because of its sweeping, untouched nature, its rich history, a touch of mystery, and the fact that it’s completely off the beaten tourist path. We wanted to be pushed out of our comfort zones on day one.
The Backpacker's Dilemma in Central Asia
That said, it’s not exactly the easiest country to navigate with a massive backpack on your shoulders. Our biggest worry? Scale and infrastructure. Kazakhstan is absolutely massive—the ninth-largest country in the world—meaning the distances between destinations are no joke. While trains can get us from city to city, reaching the most breathtaking canyons and alpine lakes requires navigating remote roads.
From our research, getting to these hidden gems on your own can be incredibly tough without booking private multi-day tours—which can quickly punch a hole in a backpacker’s budget. To be completely honest with everyone reading along: we already know that breaking the bank a little bit is going to be necessary here. Some of these landscapes are just too special to skip over to save a few Euros.
However, our goal is to constantly look for budget-friendly alternatives, test the waters, and share the raw, unedited reality of those costs with you. We'll let you know exactly what is worth the splurge and what isn't!
We’re dividing our time into two distinct chapters:
-
The South: We’ll start in Almaty, exploring the vibrant city life and the stunning mountains and canyons surrounding it.
-
The North: Next, we’ll head up to the futuristic capital of Astana, which offers a stark contrast of modern architecture dropped right into the rugged Kazakh steppe.
We expect the contrast between the two regions to be massive, but we promise to share all the honest details with you once our feet are on the ground!
Map data © Google
Balancing a Plan with True Freedom
As our name "Pacific Voyage" suggests, our main focus for the year is Asia and Oceania. We do have a rough route mapped out in our heads, along with a flexible timeline. If we fall in love with a place, we’ll stay longer. If we aren't "vibing" with a country, we’ll pack up and move on.
Finding this balance has been a fun exercise in compromise for the two of us, especially since we have entirely different travel styles. Robin is the ultimate explorer—he wants to see absolutely everything, cross off every sight, and maximize every single day. Liz, on the other hand, wants to embrace the beauty of slow travel. She’d rather slow down, truly experience the vibe of a single place, and connect with the local culture without feeling rushed.
Compromising between "see it all" and "slow it down" is going to be our biggest daily challenge—but finding our happy middle ground is exactly what makes this journey ours.
However, since Kazakhstan doesn’t share a border with our next destination, we had to pre-book a flight out. That means our time in this first country is on a bit of a countdown. After that flight hits the tarmac, though? We want to leave the schedule as open and spontaneous as possible.
Backpacker Reality Check: The Visa Game
How do you travel without a fixed plan when border control wants to know exactly when you're leaving?
We are incredibly lucky and privileged to travel with a Belgian passport. In many countries, we don't need to apply for a visa in advance for short stays (usually 30 to 45 days). We just fill out a form upon arrival, and we're good to go. If you're curious about how powerful your own passport is, you can check out this Passport Index Comparison Tool.
A pro-tip for future travelers: Many countries won't let you board your flight unless you have proof that you intend to leave. To keep our route flexible, we either book cheap, refundable bus/train tickets out of the country, or use specialized temporary ticket services that simulate a return flight. Just make sure you actually cross the border before your visa expires!
Now, We Want to Hear From You!
While we are keeping the exact route after Kazakhstan a secret for just a little longer to keep the suspense alive, we are incredibly curious about your thoughts.
Which countries in Asia and Oceania do you think are absolute must-visits? Are there any places you think we should skip entirely?
-
📸 Follow our daily chaos: Come say hi and check out our latest updates on our Instagram page!
-
✍️ Drop us a message: Have a hidden gem, travel tip, or favorite spot to share? We’d love to hear it! You can leave a comment below or drop us a line directly through our Website Contact Form.
See you on the road, Robin & Liz
0 comments