Escape room: The Lost Travel Map
A map escape room for teens and adults: use compass directions, follow steps on a grid and find the end of the journey. Free printable kit.
The story
The map for the journey was torn into four pieces. Each piece gives a different direction on the way to the finish.
The hiking team reached the starting point with no idea where to go. Only exact answers will bring the route back.
4 story stations · online you can pick a level that adds more locks.
Run it at home or in class
What to prepare
- A grid map of the room
- Direction cards
- A compass (real or drawn)
- An envelope with the last piece of the map
Tips for the facilitator
- Draw a grid map of the room and mark the starting point.
- In stage two, let players actually walk the steps on the floor.
- Hide the last envelope on the west side of the room; check with a compass first.
Difficulty level for “The Lost Travel Map”
The story clues stay the same on every level; harder levels add more locks in between. You can ask for a hint at every stage.
🗺️ The Lost Travel Map
The map for the journey was torn into four pieces. Each piece gives a different direction on the way to the finish.
0 of 6 stages solved
Stage 1: North first
1/6Facilitator guide: 🗺️ The Lost Travel Map
What the room practises
Compass directions, grid moves and turns.
The 4 stations (without the answers)
- North first: On the map, N stands for north. If you stand facing north, which direction is behind you?
- The grid route: You leave the starting point: 3 squares east, 2 squares north, then 3 squares west. How many squares are you from the starting point now?
- A quarter turn: You stand facing north and turn a quarter turn to the right, clockwise. Which way are you facing now?
- The finish: The last piece of the map says: “The treasure lies in the direction where the sun sets every evening.” Which way do you go?
Preparing and printing
On the easy level the printed kit has 7 pages: a facilitator sheet with the opening story, the setup list and every answer, plus an A4 card for each of the 6 stages. Besides printing, get ready: a grid map of the room and an envelope with the last piece of the map.
Most important: Draw a grid map of the room and mark the starting point.
Age and group size
Best with teams of 4–6 players. With more people, split into two teams racing the clock, each with its own kit.
Giving hints in this room
Online the hints open one at a time; in the printed kit they sit in the facilitator table next to each answer. Give the first hint after a couple of minutes of silence, not at the first wrong guess.
Frequently asked questions
What age is “The Lost Travel Map” for, and how long does it take?
It was written for teens and adults, at advanced difficulty, and usually takes 30–40 minutes. It has 4 story stations, and online you can choose between three difficulty levels that add more locks.
What do I need to run “The Lost Travel Map”?
A printer and these props: A grid map of the room; Direction cards; A compass (real or drawn); An envelope with the last piece of the map. The printable kit includes a facilitator sheet with every answer and a card for each stage.
What if the players get stuck?
Every stage has graded hints. Online they open one at a time; in the printed kit they sit next to each answer on the facilitator sheet. The first hint never gives the answer away.
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