Let's go on a fictional trip around the world – but with entirely plausible experiences...

You've just quit your job and are planning a six-month trip, backpacking around the world. You have a yearning to travel and a thirst for adventure and want to experience new cultures. Where is your journey going to take you?

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Where are you headed?

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Peru

You arrive at Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima. You're still suffering from the long flight. Hungry and exhausted you wait for your luggage. After a small snack, you go through customs and think about the best and quickest way to get to your hotel:

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Italy

You stroll past cypress groves and through the romantic streets of Florence, the aroma of espresso from a nearby café in the air. You end the unforgettable day in a small but excellent osteria with good wine and a plate of hearty pasta. As wonderful as your stay in this dynamic, lively city has been, you long for some peace and quiet away from the crowds of tourists:

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Thailand

You've already been in Thailand for a month. You find it fascinating how the country is a blend of energy and tranquillity, cities and white sandy beaches, as well as culture and nature. Your visa is about to run out in a few days. But you would like to stay for another two weeks. What do you do?

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Tanzania

You reach Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's economic hub. You're captivated by the lively and colourful atmosphere of the place. You try out the local street food, stroll through Mwenge market and admire the unmistakable Tanzanian style of painting at the Tingitanga Art Center. After a few days, you've had enough of life in the city and want to discover the flora and fauna the country has to offer. What option do you choose?

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Taxi ride

A friendly chauffeur picks you up at the counter, takes your luggage and leads you to the car. Relaxed you sit on the back seat while the driver expertly manoeuvres the taxi through rush hour to get you to the hotel within an hour.

After visiting Machu Picchu, wandering along the shores of Lake Titicaca and trying cuy chactado, you continue on your world trip to:

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A detour to the seaside

You're sunbathing on the beach. The sun shines down on you and the sound of the waves relaxes your body and mind. Jumping into the cool water does the rest. You feel refreshed and ready for your next adventure, setting off for:

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Extend your visa with an agency

The friendly lady at the counter, who promised a fast, cheap and efficient service, turns out to be right. Your new visa is ready the next day. You rebook your flight without further ado. But when you go to leave the country, you get a rude awakening. You're stopped by the authorities. You discover that some visa agencies engage in illegal practices.

Now you're facing a prison sentence. The Swiss embassy can help you with a list of lawyers.

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A wilderness adventure – safari in the Serengeti

Armed with your camera and mosquito spray you get into a jeep. It takes you to the never-ending plains of the Serengeti. Thousands of zebras, gnus, lions and elephants are romping around on the plains. The guide explains there’s no guarantee you’ll see the animals. You're lucky and can take some great snapshots. You're so impressed you want to take a memento to remind you of this amazing experience before you leave:

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Zanzibar – turquoise beaches

You love the sea. You go on long adventurous diving tours discovering untouched coral reefs and shipwrecks. You eat something at a beach restaurant before your long journey back to the hotel. It's pitch black.

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Back home

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The holidays are over. You've had a lot of unforgettable experiences that will leave a lasting impression on you. Notwithstanding some of the strains, your mind and body are refreshed and you're ready to jump back into your day-to-day routine.

Key points in brief:

Read the FDFA's travel advice and find out what you can about security issues, safety and the local culture where you're going.

Leave enough time to find out what travel documents you need for the places you're planning to visit and if you need a visa.

Find out about health risks and preventive measures you can take (such as vaccinations) on the Save Travel website. Get advice from a specialist.

Contact your health insurance company to make sure you have adequate cover for the places you want to visit.

Keep your travel documents safe and make a copy.

Register your trip with the FDFA via the Travel Admin app or online. This way the FDFA can contact you if there is a significant change in the security situation where you are.

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Further information

FDFA travel advice

The FDFA provides clear and structured information on more than 176 countries. Its travel advice contains information on the security situation in relation to crime and politics in more than 150 countries.

https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home/representations-and-travel-advice.html

Travel Admin app

Travel safe and worry-free with Travel Admin, the FDFA's travel app. Travel Admin replaces itineris. The new app helps you prepare for your trip, and provides useful information and services on the go – not just in the event of an emergency.

FDFA Helpline

The FDFA Helpline is the single point of contact for enquiries about consular services.

Forward Back

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The nice man

You sit in the front seat and have a lively conversation with the driver during the journey. But after looking out of the window you start to feel uncomfortable. The car stops in a dark side street. The apparently nice man pulls out a knife and demands the contents of your backpack. You hand over what he wants to avoid any further danger. You're left standing on the street while the car speeds away – with your passport, cash and credit cards too.

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Your hands shake as you get your smartphone out of your pocket. You open the Travel Admin app and contact the FDFA Helpline. They promise you’ll be issued with an emergency passport. But first you have to report the theft to the local police, notify your credit card company and travel insurer, and try to get hold of some cash. Once you've got your emergency passport from the Swiss embassy, you carry on with your journey or fly back to Switzerland.

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Discovering picturesque villages

You set off for the Abruzzo region because of a tip from a friend. A small charming village takes your fancy and you plan to spend a few days there. Tired after a long bike tour you go to bed. But you're woken up by a strange feeling. Was it just a dream? No, it's an earthquake.

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Luckily, the earthquake's epicentre is several kilometres away so there's only broken glass where you are. You take a look at your smartphone the next morning and see that the effects of last night's earthquake have been devastating. Your quickly open the Travel Admin app and tell your loved ones at home that you're alright. You leave the region with a strange feeling and continue on to:

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Leave the country regretfully

You enjoy your final day in Bangkok, let yourself to be bedazzled by this metropolis one more time, and tuck into your last pad thai. You pack your bags and continue on to:

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I take a stone back home as a souvenir

The stone in your suitcase is very heavy. You've even parted with your hiking boots so that your luggage doesn't go over the weight limit. But something else also weighs heavily on your mind – your decision to take the stone with you in the first place. Just as you're about to board the plane, two uniformed officers lead you into an interrogation room.

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You've unknowingly violated the ban on exporting cultural goods. This category includes the stone you've taken.

You get off lightly. You pay a hefty fine but you could have been arrested. In the end, you're allowed to leave the country and continue on to:

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I take a taxi

A friendly driver picks you up from the restaurant. They get you back to the hotel within a quarter of an hour. You enjoy the rest of your time there, visiting a spice plantation and exploring in detail the history of Zanizibar in Stown Town before continuing on to:

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Shuttle bus

The bus for the hotel leaves on time. But after a few minutes you're already stuck in traffic. The air conditioning goes on strike and sweat starts dripping from your forehead. You get to the hotel three hours later, check in and look forward to a well-deserved shower and soft bed.

After visiting Machu Picchu, wandering along the shores of Lake Titicaca and trying cuy chactado, you continue on your world trip to:

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Hiking on Vesuvius

You take the train from Florence to Naples. Arriving in Naples, the first thing you do is treat yourself to a piece of UNESCO World Heritage – probably the best pizza in the world. Fortified, you make your way to Europe's most famous active volcano and climb all the way to the top. The view of the gulf from the summit is breathtaking. Exhausted but fulfilled by this experience, you look for a place nearby to spend the night.

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At the hotel early next morning, you learn that Italian geologists have recorded seismic activity on Vesuvius. The authorities have imposed a restricted zone. You follow the instructions of the Italian authorities and continue on to:

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Report in person to the migration authorities

Thanks to the FDFA's travel advice, which you read on the internet or in your Travel Admin app, you know there’s a risk of a heavy prison sentence because of unfair business practices used by certain visa and travel agencies. You decide to take the safe approach and report in person to one of the Thai government's official immigration offices nearby. You enjoy another two weeks in Thailand and continue on to:

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I walk back

After a relaxing evening in the restaurant, you fall down an embankment on your way home and break your leg. It hurts like hell. There isn't a person in sight for miles around. You get out your smartphone and call your travel insurer, who advises you where to get medical treatment. After some time in hospital, you go back to Switzerland.

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Let's go on a fictional trip around the world – but with entirely plausible experiences...