After months of intensive planning, the abstract lines on our map have solidified into a tangible route. Our 108-day sabbatical will be a global transect, taking our family across diverse ecosystems, cultures, and hemispheres.

Leg 1: The Andean Cordillera and Patagonian Steppe Our journey begins in South America. After Brazil and Argentina, we fly south to Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city, historically a remote penal colony and now a gateway to Antarctica. We’ll witness the immense glacial power that shaped this continent at El Calafate before concluding in Chile. There, we’ll explore the Atacama Desert, the driest non-polar desert on Earth. Its extreme aridity and altitude (averaging 2,400 meters) create the clearest skies on the planet, making it a global hub for astronomical observation.

Leg 2: A Transect of the Australian Continent From Santiago, we cross the Pacific to Sydney. Our Australian leg is a study in climatic adaptation. A flight to Perth positions us for a major road trip. Our route—north to the Ningaloo Reef or south to the temperate forests of Margaret River—will be determined in real-time by the behaviour of the monsoonal "wet season," which can bring cyclones to the north. This leg concludes with a drive along the Great Ocean Road, a coastline carved by the wild Southern Ocean.

Leg 3: Journey Through Aotearoa New Zealand, or Aotearoa, will be a 29-day immersion in a land shaped by fire and ice. In the South Island, we’ll visit Fiordland National Park, where colossal glaciers carved out dramatic sounds like Milford Sound, one of the wettest places on the planet. In the North Island, we will explore the geothermal heartland of Rotorua, part of the volcanically active Taupō Volcanic Zone.

Leg 4: An Interlude on Volcanic Isles After the intensity of New Zealand, we decompress in French Polynesia. Here, we will experience the life cycle of a volcanic island, staying on islands like Bora Bora, a classic example of an atoll. The central volcanic peak is sinking back into the earth’s crust, leaving behind a protective ring of coral that creates the iconic turquoise lagoon.

Leg 5: The Metropole of the Rising Sun Our final destination is Japan, a nation that offers a profound study in contrasts, where ancient Shinto shrines stand in the shadow of neon-lit skyscrapers. It serves as the perfect cultural bookend to our journey—a hyper-modern, deeply traditional society. It is here we will visit friends, decompress from our long journey, and prepare for our return to Geneva.

The logistics are nearly complete. The plan is set. This is more than a trip; it is a deliberate act of inquiry—an exploration of the world, and of our place in it as a family. The expedition is ready to launch.