Can You Travel Full-Time and Homeschool? Here’s the Proven Way We Do It
When we first started travelling full-time as a family, one of the questions I was asked most frequently was, “How do you travel full-time and homeschool when moving from place to place?” For many people, the idea of educating children without a fixed home base can seem overwhelming, if not completely unrealistic.
But the truth is, when you travel full-time and homeschool, it doesn’t have to mean sacrificing structure, routine, or academic progress. In fact, for many families like ours, it opens the door to an entirely new way of learning—one that is richer, more flexible, and deeply connected to the world around us.
Travelling full-time and homeschooling is a lifestyle choice that combines freedom with intention. It means our children are just as likely to be learning maths in a café in Chiang Mai as they are to be studying marine life after snorkelling in Koh Tao. It also means we’re not tied to the rigid schedule of a traditional school, which allows us to prioritise experiences, family time, and curiosity-led learning.
Of course, choosing to travel full-time and homeschool comes with its challenges. Internet issues, finding a balance between work, travel, and education, and navigating new environments weekly can all impact our routine. But over time, we’ve developed a system that works for us, and we’re constantly adapting as our children grow.
In this post, I’m breaking down exactly how we homeschool our children while travelling full-time. I’ll be sharing the educational resources we rely on, how we plan our days, and what this lifestyle really looks like behind the scenes. If you’ve ever wondered how families manage to travel full-time and homeschool successfully, or if you’re considering this path yourself, I hope this gives you some clarity and inspiration.
Why We Chose to Worldschool Our Kids
We began our full-time travel journey in January 2024, with our two boys who are currently 3 and 6 years old. One of the key reasons we chose to homeschool was flexibility. We wanted the freedom to travel without being tied to a traditional school calendar, while also providing our children with a meaningful and personalised education.
Homeschooling while travelling gives us the opportunity to integrate real-world experiences into learning. From studying marine life after snorkelling in Thailand to learning about history at ancient temples, our children learn not just from books, but from life itself.
Worldschooling How We Travel Full-Time and Homeschool
When you travel full-time and homeschool, flexibility becomes your best friend. Our family uses a hybrid model of homeschooling, blending formal learning with child-led exploration to make the most of wherever we are in the world.
Our six-year-old is enrolled in a virtual school programme that runs Monday to Thursday. He has live afternoon classes in a group setting, led by a qualified primary school teacher. These sessions cover core subjects like literacy and numeracy, are interactive and structured, and follow the British curriculum which helps give us a sense of consistency as we travel full-time and homeschool.
Outside of virtual school, we lean into more flexible learning opportunities. This includes play-based education, nature walks, hands-on cultural experiences, and educational games that bring local environments to life. This balance is key when you travel full-time and homeschool, allowing us to adapt based on where we are, what’s available, and what sparks our children’s interest.
For our three-year-old, we keep things playful and age-appropriate. We focus on early literacy, motor skill development, and plenty of creative exploration whether that’s building castles in the sand or painting on the balcony of an Airbnb.
We don’t have a traditional classroom setup. Instead, learning happens wherever we are that day. It might be on the floor of an apartment, at a kitchen table, in a café, or even on the beach. All we really need to travel full-time and homeschool successfully is a stable internet connection, a tablet or laptop, and a few basics like books, pens, and paper.
Our Favourite Homeschooling Resources
Over the past year, we have found a handful of resources that work really well for us while we travel full-time and homeschool. Here are some of the tools we rely on regularly:
Online Learning Platforms:
- Twinkl – great for worksheets, topic packs, and lesson plans aligned with the UK curriculum.
- Khan Academy Kids – perfect for early learners and completely free.
- Reading Eggs – helps build phonics, comprehension, and early reading skills in a fun and engaging way.
- BBC Bitesize – a brilliant source of short, informative lessons in every subject.
Educational Apps and Websites:
- Duolingo – our son uses this for basic language learning.
- Nat Geo Kids – for science and geography inspiration.
- Yoto Player – a source of audiobooks and classic stories, bake along, draw along and music.
Offline Tools:
- Workbooks from book stores or Amazon UK (we stocked up when we left and have collected along the way).
- Sketchbooks and travel journals.
- Dice games and card games for maths and logic.
- Nature identification books and field guides for local wildlife.
We keep our resources minimal due to space and weight limits, but choose high-impact tools that can be used flexibly across different settings.
How We Keep Learning Fun and Flexible
One of the best things about homeschooling while travelling is that learning doesn’t have to feel like school. We try to make education engaging and relevant to where we are. If we’re exploring a rainforest, that becomes our science lesson. If we’re visiting a local market, we’ll use that as an opportunity to practise maths and language skills.
We also encourage our boys to follow their interests. Whether it’s Muay Thai, sea creatures, or space, we find ways to incorporate those passions into their learning. Not everything has to be scripted. Some days we do structured lessons, other days are more spontaneous and focused on exploration or play.
We also take breaks when we need them. Travel days, jet lag, or illness are all perfectly good reasons to pause and reset. Homeschooling on the road requires flexibility and grace, both for your children and yourself.
A Peek at Our Weekly Worldschool Schedule
Every family’s routine will look different, but here is a rough idea of what a typical week looks like for us:
Monday to Thursday:
- Morning: Free play, meet up with other homeschoolers, reading together, or local outing
- Afternoon: Virtual school sessions for our 6-year-old (1-2 classes each day)
- Early evening: story time, discussions or a family game
Friday:
- More hands-on learning: science experiments, we are currently enrolled into a fun class, cultural excursions
- Project-based learning or topic work
Weekends:
- Family time, exploring, relaxing
- Occasional educational videos or podcasts
We keep weekends free from structured learning unless there’s something the boys are particularly excited about. Screen time is limited to around 30 minutes per day (excluding classes that are delivered online).
Worldschool Hubs – Building Community While You Travel Full-Time and Homeschool
One of the biggest concerns parents have when they choose to travel full-time and homeschool is whether their children will miss out on friendships and social development. The good news? The rise of worldschooling has brought with it a growing number of worldschool hubs destinations around the globe where like-minded families gather to learn, connect, and build community.
These hubs often offer co-ops, forest schools, enrichment classes, meet-ups, and social activities for children and parents alike. You’ll find everything from beach playgroups and science clubs to mum meetups and teen hangouts. For families who travel full-time and homeschool, these hubs can provide a sense of grounding and connection, even if you’re constantly on the move.
Popular worldschool hubs include places like Bali, Chiang Mai, Koh Phangan, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Portugal. These destinations tend to have affordable living costs, a family-friendly vibe, and a high concentration of worldschooling families. Spending a few weeks or months in one of these places allows your children to form friendships and get involved in consistent learning opportunities, even while maintaining the flexibility that comes with this lifestyle.
We’ve personally spent time in several of these hubs and found that they not only enrich our children’s education but also give us a sense of belonging while on the road.
Best Worldschool Destinations for Families Who Travel Full-Time and Homeschool
When you’re looking to travel full-time and homeschool, the world truly becomes your classroom but some destinations make learning on the move a whole lot easier (and more magical). Whether you’re drawn to nature, culture, or affordability, choosing the right location can have a big impact on your homeschooling experience.
Here are a few of our favourite worldschool-friendly destinations that tick all the boxes for education, lifestyle, and community:
1. Thailand (Chiang Mai, Ko Lanta, and Koh Phangan)
Thailand has become a hotspot for worldschooling families, and for good reason. Affordable accommodation, excellent food, rich culture, and established worldschool hubs make it ideal for families who travel full-time and homeschool. There are meetups, workshops, and even alternative schools open to short-term enrolment.
2. Portugal (especially the Algarve and Lisbon)
Portugal offers a wonderful quality of life, beautiful weather, and a growing homeschooling community. It’s also relatively easy to navigate bureaucratically, making it a great base for longer stays.
3. Mexico (Tulum, Sayulita, and Oaxaca)
Mexico is vibrant, affordable, and full of hands-on learning opportunities. Think ancient ruins, biodiversity, art, and a fast-growing network of worldschoolers.
4. Bali, Indonesia
Bali is a dream destination for many families who travel full-time and homeschool. It has a large expat and homeschooling community, alternative education options, and endless opportunities for cultural learning and outdoor adventures.
5. Costa Rica
Nature is the curriculum here. With lush rainforests, sustainable farming communities, and a focus on eco-living, Costa Rica is ideal for nature-based learning and families who want to immerse themselves in a slower pace of life.
When you travel full-time and homeschool, picking destinations that offer enriching experiences and like-minded community can make all the difference—not only for your children’s education but for your own wellbeing as a parent too.
The Challenges of Travel Full-Time and Homeschool
While there are many benefits to this lifestyle, it’s not without its challenges. Internet connectivity can be unreliable, making virtual school sessions tricky at times. It can also be difficult to find quiet, distraction-free spaces in hotel rooms or Airbnb rentals.
There are moments when motivation is low, tempers are short, or someone is unwell, and on those days, we just do our best. One of the most important things I’ve learned is to let go of perfection. Some weeks are more productive than others, and that’s okay.
Socialisation is another common concern. We try to meet other travelling families or join local playgroups whenever possible. The boys also meet children at playgrounds, beaches, and cafés, and these spontaneous interactions are often just as valuable as classroom friendships.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you follow a formal curriculum?
We follow the British curriculum loosely through our virtual school and supplement it with our own resources. We focus more on skill-building than ticking boxes.
Will your children take exams or gain qualifications?
Yes, we plan to follow recognised routes as they grow older, whether that’s through GCSEs, online schooling programmes, or rejoining a traditional school later.
What about socialisation when we travel full-time and homeschool?
Our children socialise daily through meetups, travel families, local kids, and group experiences. It’s different from school, but still valuable.
Do you need to register with UK authorities?
This depends on where you’re officially based. Because we travel full-time and are not UK residents, we’re not currently registered with a Local Education Authority, but families based in the UK would need to follow their local guidelines.
Can You Travel Full-Time and Homeschool Your Kids
Homeschooling while travelling isn’t about having the perfect lesson plan or a Pinterest-worthy school setup. It’s about learning through life, nurturing curiosity, and giving your children a broader view of the world.
If you’re thinking about worldschooling or homeschooling while travelling, know that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. What matters is finding what works for your family, being flexible, and enjoying the journey together.
Got questions? Leave them in the comments or send me a message on Instagram. I love hearing from fellow parents on this path.
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