WHEN to go?
Lock in the stops where the season makes or breaks the trip, such as Nepal in October or November after the monsoon, and fit the rest around them. Book 6 to 11 months ahead if you can. AirTreks puts 3 months as about the latest that still works.
WHEN to go around the world
The weather will never be ideal on all your stops. So, focus on what you want to do most and research conditions there: if a Himalaya trek is your highlight, don't land in Nepal mid-monsoon; if you want to swim with whale sharks off Western Australia, be there April-July. Then accept you'll be in some regions at the "wrong" time, though this might offer unexpected benefits (for example, Zambia in the wet season means lush landscapes and cheaper prices).
In general, city sightseeing can be done year-round (escape extreme heat, cold or rain in museums and cafés) but outdoor adventures are more reliant on, and more enjoyable in, the right weather.
Fix the one or two dates that matter
Pick the stops where the season really makes or breaks the trip, lock those dates, and build the rest of the route around them. A few that catch people out:
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Nepal. The monsoon runs from about June to September. October and November are the classic trekking months, with clear air after the rains.
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Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. Whale sharks turn up from March to October, and April to July is still the peak, just as this page said in 2012.
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Zambia. The green season runs from about November or December to April. Rates drop, but many remote bush camps close and the animals are harder to spot in the thick bush.
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Australia and New Zealand. The seasons are reversed, so their summer is December to February, when much of Europe and North America is in winter.
Everything else can fit in around those. If one stop falls in its rainy season, that's often where you'll find empty sights and low prices.
When to buy the ticket
Timing the purchase matters almost as much as timing the trip. The AirTreks guide on when to buy RTW tickets says 6 to 11 months before departure is the best window, and 3 months is about the latest that still works. Airlines only publish their schedules 10 to 11 months ahead, so booking earlier than that means booking flights that may change. Peak-season legs (June to August, and December) cost 15% to 100% more, and are worth booking 8 to 11 months out.
For the climate region by region, see WHEN to go where? and WHEN to Travel?. Which way round you go makes a difference too: see RTW East or West?
Planning a round-the-world trip? AirTreks has built multi-stop itineraries since 1987. See sample routes or ask a specialist.