We Recreated ‘Around the World in 80 Days’—See Our Unexpected Journey

Gary Lowe, 66, and his wife, Pam, 69, have been adventurous travelers for years. Two years ago, they took on the ultimate challenge: circumnavigating the globe solo. Their inspiration came from Jules Verne’s Around The World in 80 Days , the book that inspired the reality show The Amazing Race. Published in 1873, Verne’s novel follows eccentric protagonist Phileas Fogg and his valet, Jean Passepartout, as they attempt to win a wager and demonstrate that modern transport can span the globe in under three months. The Lowes, who live between rural England and Cataluña in Spain, spent about $85,000 on their journey, traveling via planes, trains, and buses, creating extraordinary memories.

This is their story.

They dreamed up their ambitious adventure on a whim, sitting in a restaurant in Italy one winter day, yearning for warmer climes.

We thought about the trip in January 2022 and departed on October 2 the same year. There wasn’t much time for detailed preparations. With a general idea of the route, we sketched our itinerary in a restaurant. Although we aimed to honor Verne’s novel by going around the world in exactly 80 days, we incorporated modern air travel, unlike Fogg. We sought a balance between not suffering and not opting for an overly luxurious experience, so air cruises were out of the question.

We opted for business class for most flights. Qatar Airways stood out for its cleanliness and the helpfulness of their staff.

The first leg of the trip: Europe and the Middle East, with a detour to North Africa.

Like Fogg, we started in London and proceeded to Paris and Turin. Unlike him, we decided to stay longer in cities like Rome. My belief is that walking offers the best way to experience a place, so we walked extensively in all our stops.

Our journey also took us to Jerusalem, Cairo, and Alexandria. Cairo, however, was probably Pam’s least favorite city: it was big, dirty, and hard to navigate. Despite an uncomfortable experience in Cairo, the train ride to Alexandria cost only £5 for a first-class trip, which is just $7. Alexandria was rich in history but lacked the captivating vibe of Istanbul. We were disappointed by the Four Seasons hotel there, which was under construction, making many amenities unavailable.

Both Gary and Pam treated India as the crown jewel of their trip.

India was the central focus and the driving force behind the whole trip. We traveled on the Maharajas Express, covering the Golden Triangle. It was an extraordinary experience and we highly recommend it. We traveled at night, moving at low speeds, making overnight trips quite pleasant. This approach helped us reach Bombay. While Fogg traveled to Bombay via the Suez Canal, we opted against this given the current conflicts in Yemen.

Lingering pandemic-era restrictions forced the Lowes to deviate further from Fogg’s journey.

From Bombay, Fogg went to Calcutta, Singapore, and Hong Kong. COVID-19 made China a risky destination, so we chose Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, instead, where we stayed with friends. Traveling in Malaysia was comfortable, and we enjoyed playing golf and the beautiful local scenery.

From Kuala Lumpur, Fogg’s journey took him to Japan and then San Francisco. We went south of the equator, staying with friends in Sydney, Australia. We enjoyed visiting family in Perth, cycling along Sydney’s beautiful coastline, and renting a bike to ride to Wollongong.

Our journey continued to Santiago, Chile. We persuaded Pam to drive over the Andes from Santiago to Mendoza, Argentina. Although the trip was long, the luxurious coach made it comfortable. Surprisingly, the 10-hour trip included a three-hour stop at the border, but that’s known to happen.

After time in Lima and California, plus a brief stop to see Chicago’s skyscrapers, the couple was on the home stretch.

In New York, friends hosted us and threw a memorable party, where we celebrated my birthday on December 17. We flew home the next day, just in time for Pam’s birthday on December 19. We built in a two-day buffer for any unforeseen issues, which we did not need. On our 80th day, we celebrated with lunch and Champagne at the Reform Club, just like Phileas Fogg did on the same date.

The two biggest tips from Lowe: cutting costs on laundry, and a need-to-read book in prep.

Efficient packing and laundry management were crucial. With two hard suitcases and a backpack each, air travel posed no issues, but trains were challenging. We sent a suitcase of warm clothes ahead to our friends in Los Angeles, switching wardrobes when we arrived. Pam expertly navigated laundromats worldwide, avoiding expensive hotel laundry services.

Books were also a vital part of our journey. In addition to Verne’s classic, I recommend Nellie Bly’s Around The World in Seventy-Two Days , an account of her solo round-the-world trip in the 1880s.

This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.