Around the World in 70 Days: A Modern Journey Inspired by Phileas Fogg
In Jules Verne’s 1873 masterpiece, Around the World in Eighty Days, the eccentric Englishman Phileas Fogg wagers his entire fortune that he can circumnavigate the globe in 80 days. It was a feat of engineering, logistics, and sheer nerve. Today, with high-speed rail and long-haul jets, that trip can be done in a weekend.
But speed is the enemy of discovery.
What if, instead of racing against a pocket watch, you gave yourself 70 days—a comfortable, immersive deep dive into the world’s most iconic routes? This is the art of slow travel on a global scale. Here is your guide to completing the ultimate terrestrial loop.
The Spirit of the Victorian Traveler
To understand why the journey matters, you must first look at where it began. In the 19th century, crossing the oceans was a matter of weeks. Crossing continents was a matter of days. The route to success was to minimize the time spent on land and maximize the efficiency of the steamers.
The original route for Fogg looked like this: London to Suez, Suez to Bombay, Bombay to Calcutta, Calcutta to Hong Kong, Hong Kong to Yokohama, Yokohama to San Francisco, San Francisco to New York, and finally, New York back to London.
With 70 days at your disposal, you can follow Fogg’s exact path—but with a crucial difference: you get to stop and breathe.
The Itinerary: Leg by Leg
Phase 1: The European Launch & The Suez Stretch (Days 1–10)
Your adventure begins not in a steam engine, but in a sleek high-speed train departing London. You will glide through the Channel Tunnel to Paris, the heart of the continent. From there, you catch a flight or a southbound rail to Brindisi, Italy, the gateway to the Orient.
A modern cruise or ferry will take you across the Ionian Sea to Port Said, Egypt. Here, you enter the Suez Canal—the artificial lifeline that revolutionized global trade and saved Verne’s hero months of sailing around Africa. You are now in Africa, technically, for just a few hours before crossing into Asia.
Phase 2: The Asian Odyssey (Days 11–40)
You arrive in Mumbai (Bombay), India. This is where the journey slows down. Do not fly yet. Board the Indian Pacific Express or a network of local trains to experience the subcontinent by rail. Marvel at the Rajasthani deserts, the green ghats of the south, and the chaotic vibrant life of the stations.
From Mumbai, a flight (or a long, romantic sea voyage if you have extra days) takes you to Hong Kong. This glittering metropolis represents the new Asia—towering, electric, and hungry. Take a junk ride in Victoria Harbour.
Next, a ferry or flight to Yokohama, Japan. Here, you experience the precision of the Shinkansen (Bullet Train). Zip up to Tokyo, sample the sushi, and then zoom down to the ancient capital of Kyoto to see the geishas and the temples. The contrast between the hyper-future and the ancient past is the very pulse of Japan.
Phase 3: The American Crossing (Days 41–55)
Cross the vast Pacific. You arrive in San Francisco. In Phileas Fogg’s time, this meant a grueling, months-long covered wagon trek across the Sierra Nevada. Today, you board the legendary Amtrak Coast Starlight. It runs from Seattle to Los Angeles, threading through the forests of Oregon, the volcanic peaks of Washington, and the wine regions of California.
If you want to stick strictly to the 70-day plan, a direct flight to New York via Denver or Dallas is the modern equivalent of the famous Transcontinental Railroad. Spend a few days in the city that never sleeps—visit Central Park, see a Broadway show, and feel the weight of the Atlantic Ocean on the horizon.
Phase 4: The Atlantic Return (Days 56–70)
From New York, you board a grand ocean liner. In the age of aviation, this is the ultimate luxury—a return to the pace of the 19th century. The North Atlantic crossing takes roughly five to seven days. You will have ample time to reflect, read, and recover from the sensory overload of the previous two months.
As the ship pulls into Southampton or Cherbourg, and you see the white cliffs of Dover, the loop closes. You step off the boat back into London, having spent 70 days seeing the world, not just flying over it.
Why 70 Days is the New 80
Modern travelers are obsessed with the "bucket list"—a rapid-fire checklist of places. The 70-Day Journey rejects this. It is for the traveler who wants to:
- Take the slow boat. There is a romance and a mental reset that comes with being on the water that planes cannot offer.
- Ride the trains. High-speed rail in Japan and China, and sleeper cars in India and Europe, offer a ground-level view of the landscape that wings will never provide.
- Combat jet lag. By moving gradually east and west, changing time zones only by an hour or two every few days, your body stays healthy.
The Ultimate Challenge
The journey isn’t just about the geography; it’s a test of packing light, managing jet lag, and staying present. In the age of instant gratification and GPS, getting “lost” in a foreign city is an act of rebellion.
So, book your first ticket. Stamp your passport. The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page. With 70 days, you can read the whole thing.