Trip Itineraries & Travel Plans for Adventurers

Keen to travel abroad but short on time? Buckle up, and saddle in: These trip itineraries and travel plans are just what you need…

I get it. You’re probably sick of getting bombarded with the idea that you need to quit your job to travel the world or live out of a backpack if you want to be a “real” traveller.

Fortunately, we both know it’s a load of *expletive deleted*.

Truth is: Travel is not all-in or nothing—despite what the broke-but-Instagram-happy blogger crowd will peddle. You can see the world without giving up your life or your career or leaving your loved ones and friends behind.

Below, you’ll sift through a wide assortment of itineraries & travel plans designed with the time-crunched mid-range luxury traveller in mind.

In the end, though, these itineraries are not about me; they’re about you.

The itineraries below are based on my travels to over 50 countries in the past decade and a half. These are not personal travelogues or detailed play-by-plays.

Instead, I’ve flipped the usual travel blogging paradigm on its head, replacing selfies and self-aggrandizing details with practical information that’ll help you plan your dream trip better.

Enjoy!

City itineraries

Let’s start with the most time-crunched of all travel plans: city itineraries.

Perhaps it’s because I grew up in Northern Ontario, but I absolutely love visiting cities. (The more urban, the better.) You’ll notice that many of the city itineraries I’ve laid out here focus on an extremely short timeframe: one day.

Skyline from Shanghai World Financial Center in Shanghai, China

Now, don’t get me wrong: It’s hard to see a city in a day. I mean, it’s next to impossible. And I don’t necessarily recommend it unless it’s your only choice.

But with travel being a dynamic crapshoot of layovers and bad transportation connections, spending just 24 hours in a city is a real possibility. (And it probably happens more often than we might want.)

Think of these city itineraries less as a be-all-end-all travel plan and more as a starting point. Even when you only manage to get in a quick run through a city, it’s usually enough to inspire a return visit with a little more substance. (Or otherwise, scare you off for good.)

Asia

China

Night @ Bell Tower in Xi'an, China

Hong Kong

Victoria Peak Hong Kong

Japan

Sakura Heian Shrine Kyoto

Korea

Seoul Grand Park

Macau

Skyline

Malaysia

View @ Penang Hill

Singapore

Masjid Jamae

Taiwan

Taxi and Taipei 101 in Taipei, Taiwan

Thailand

Grand Palace

Vietnam

Ta Hien Street in Hanoi, Vietnam

Europe

Austria

Evening in Vienna, Austria

Bulgaria

Vitosha Boulevard in Sofia

Croatia

Ploce

Czech Republic

Panorama of Old Town Prague from Prague Castle

Estonia

Viru Gate

Finland

Cityscape

Germany

Nikolaiviertel, Berlin, Germany

Hungary

Aerial View of Andrassy Avenue

Italy

Vernazza

Poland

Rynek Glowny in Krakow, Poland

Russia

Nightfall at Church on Spilled Blood in St Petersburg, Russia

Slovakia

Hlavne Namestie in Stare Mesto (Old Town)

Slovenia

View from Skyscraper (Neboticnik)

Spain

Cityscape Seville, Spain

Switzerland

Colourful Houses in Old Town Altstadt

United Kingdom

View from Calton Hill

North America

Canada

Grouse Mountain

United States

Arizona

Cathedral Rock

California

Venice Beach Boardwalk

Colorado

Denver Capitol Summer

District of Columbia

Cherry Blossoms Washington April

Florida

Miami Beach

Georgia

Savannnah

Hawaii

Honolulu

Illinois

Chicago River

Louisiana

Bourbon Street at Night

Massachusetts

Boston Summer

Nevada

Las Vegas Strip

New York

Autumn in Central Park

North Carolina

Asheville Skyline

Oregon

Portland Skyline

Pennsylvania

Ben Franklin Bridge in Philadelphia

South Carolina

Broad Street in French Quarter

Tennessee

Lower Broadway in November

Texas

South Congress Avenue

Washington

Pike Place Market in December

Central America

Panama

Street in Casco Viejo

Oceania

Australia

Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia

New Zealand

Wellington Cable Car

Country & region travel plans

Unless your travels consist only of direct flights and layovers, you’ll probably want to visit more than one city at a time. These country and region itineraries reflect the whole purpose of Treksplorer as a guide to helping you travel better in less time.

Fall Colours in Slovenia

Most of the country itineraries below cover 10-day trips. The number isn’t just arbitrary but based upon the standard two-week North American vacation. (Europeans: Please save bragging about your long vacations for another day! ;) )

Once you take into account return long-haul flights, time zone changes, a healthy dose of jet lag, and a little rest upon return, most itineraries in that two-week vacation involve just ten nights in your destination.

(But, of course, the more days you can squeeze in, the better!)

Asia

Ang Thong Marine National Park in Koh Samui

Europe

Cityscape in Granada

North America

Canada

Peyto Lake

United States

Pacific Coast Highway

Central America

Bocas Town Panama

Oceania

Lake Wanaka

Ryan O'Rourke

Ryan O'Rourke is a Canadian traveller, food & drink aficionado, and the founder & editor of Treksplorer. With over 20 years of extensive travel experience, Ryan has journeyed through over 50 countries, uncovering hidden gems and sharing firsthand, unsponsored insights on what to see & do and where to eat, drink & stay. Backed by his travel experience and in-depth research, Ryan’s travel advice and writing has been featured in publications like the Huffington Post and Matador Network. You can connect with Ryan on Twitter/X at @rtorourke.