I Traveled to Every Country in the World Without Ever Getting on a Plane

For Journey + Leisure’s column Touring As, we’re speaking to vacationers about what it’s prefer to discover the world by their distinctive views. We chatted with Thor Pedersen of Denmark, who spent practically a decade on a single journey to 203 nations all over the world, by no means as soon as getting on a airplane. Throughout the venture, he detailed his expertise on his weblog, Once Upon a Saga, and visited Red Cross places of work in 192 nations as a Danish Purple Cross Goodwill Ambassador. His ebook “The Impossible Journey” got here out this spring, with a documentary by the identical title on its manner. Right here’s his story…

My mom was nice at instilling in me journey and creativeness as a baby. I might image I used to be part of Robin Hood’s gang, Ivanhoe, or Indiana Jones. Once I bought older, I turned fascinated with correct adventures of those that had gone contained in the deepest, darkest jungles and adopted the longest rivers, circumnavigated the planet, discovered their strategy to the North and South Poles, and made it to the moon. 

Finally, I spotted I used to be born too late. I couldn’t be the primary to succeed in the highest of Mount Everest, for instance, as a result of that was carried out in 1953. The good firsts had been gone. I felt a bit unhappy, like there was nothing left for the remainder of us.

Then, in 2013, my dad despatched me an e mail about extreme travelers, individuals who’d gone to each nation on this planet. I had no thought this was doable. I assumed it might take a lifetime, and also you’d should be a millionaire. Again then, about 200 individuals had already carried out this, and a few had been of their 20s, in order that was fairly inspiring. 

However, I spotted, nobody had traveled to each nation with out flying. I used to be 34 and figured I used to be seemingly on a path like everybody else my age: Begin a household and proceed my profession. However I simply couldn’t go away the thought, so I began planning.

I purchased a map and blue and purple pens, and sat down with my sister to plot out the route. I needed to start out in my residence of Denmark, after which cowl about two-thirds of the European nations, earlier than going over the North Atlantic, North America, Central America, South America, after which up by the Caribbean. Then, I’d come over the Atlantic and go from West Africa to North Africa, end the remainder of Europe, after which go to the Center East. That may connect with Asia, after which down by and round Australia and the Pacific. Finally, I had a completely shaped venture and funding.

On the time I used to be planning the journey, I used to be in a brand new relationship with a beautiful lady I met in 2012, and we began courting in 2013. She needed to do the Berlin Marathon that 12 months, so we accomplished that collectively in September, and I set my departure date on Oct. 10 at 10:10 a.m. because the 4 10s had a pleasant ring to it.

I set three cardinal guidelines. First, I needed to be in every nation a minimal of 24 hours, however I may keep so long as I needed. Second, I could not return residence till I reached the ultimate nation. It needed to be one journey. And lastly, no flying for any purpose in any respect. So if I used to be evacuated in an airplane, I would should reset to start out throughout. 

There have been additionally three aspect guidelines. I could not pay any bribes the entire manner. I additionally had a funds of a median of $20 a day. So if I needed to pay $50 or $100 for a visa, I didn’t spend any cash different occasions. The third rule was I couldn’t eat McDonald’s the entire manner.

I traveled by public transportation wherever out there. The majority of that was buses—351 in complete. I took 158 trains, particularly in Europe, the place there’s a number of connectivity. There have been additionally taxis, shared bikes, mini buses, and metros. The place it was doable, I took sailboats. Ferries had been additionally a straightforward strategy to journey. Towards the tip of my venture, I took a number of container ships as I used to be going by the Pacific. 

The entire expertise was wild. However the humorous factor is, it did not have that type of gravity in 2013. I assumed, if I observe the foundations, then there’s a transparent definition of what it means to go to each nation with out flying. However not with the ability to fly meant the nations all needed to join. Not getting a single visa may very well be a problem. If there was one nation blocking me, I could not transfer ahead. 

There have been many highlights. Venezuela is such a stunning nation—I could not consider my eyes. There’s one thing in regards to the mountains, vegetation, and the dimensions of the valleys, plus the coast and islands. I additionally went to Machu Picchu within the afternoon and had it to myself, since all of the excursions come within the morning. That was cool—standing within the mountains, seeing the clouds in between peaks, and looking out on the historic city. 

There was additionally the time I used to be on a container ship between Iceland and Canada throughout a four-day storm. The ship shook enormously for a number of days. It was winter and we bought a report saying there was ice within the water—and we weren’t removed from the place the Titanic sank. It was not an excellent state of affairs. 

However on the finish, a mirror-like situation hit the floor of the water, and it was simply stunning. Any time the floor broke, it was a whale or a dolphin. At night time, we noticed the northern lights. 4 hours earlier than we may see Canada, we may odor its forest because the wind blew pollen out east. It was unbelievable.

Once I was within the Pacific, the place the water was a light-weight turquoise blue, there was a second the ship headed towards an enormous rainbow. I used to be on prime of the bridge and requested the officer, “Is that this regular?” He stated he hadn’t seen it earlier than. 

However at its coronary heart, my journey was in regards to the individuals. My motto was, “A stranger is a pal you’ve by no means met earlier than.” Hundreds of individuals had their palms on this venture. Individuals who would pat me on the again once I had a nasty day, or give me a meal, a spot to sleep, or simply level me in the suitable path. Folks would assist with translations and connections. I used to be by no means alone—individuals all over the world had been useful, humorous, and beneficiant.

I knew it was going to be enjoyable. I used to be going to satisfy individuals and eat nice meals. All that occurred, however a few years into the venture, it turned difficult. I needed to be in a rustic, whether or not or not I needed it. In most nations, it wasn’t an issue. But when I went to a spot with armed battle or was unable to get a visa, then the 24 hours turns into a problem. Not returning residence was a troublesome rule.

As an illustration, Equatorial Guinea is an exquisite little nation with superb wildlife. But it surely’s additionally in a tough a part of the world, with dictatorships and corruption. It’s modified loads since I used to be there in 2016. Again then, they had been strict about who they needed inside their nation. It took me three months to get the visa. I went from one diplomatic mission to the following to the following, usually going again to nations I had already been to and having to get visas so I may re-enter these nations simply to go and get denied a visa.

Once I lastly bought the visa, the borders had been shut. It was rumored there had been a coup try and that it had failed. I solely had 30 days to enter earlier than my visa expired, so I used to be determined. I attempted so many issues. Three days earlier than its expiration, I met a French expat working in Equatorial Guinea, who was in a position to take me contained in the nation. 

The venture was estimated to take lower than 4 years, nevertheless it ended up taking 9 years, 9 months, and 16 days. This meant I used to be in a long-distance relationship for nearly a decade. My now-wife got here 27 occasions, which corresponds with 27 completely different nations. (She used a airplane each time.)

We had our ups and downs within the first few years. She was finding out to turn into a physician, bought her PhD, after which she began a profession. When she and I had been each preoccupied, and we had an incredible distance between one another, it was exhausting making a long-distance relationship work. It virtually fell aside at one level, however we managed to concentrate on ourselves and construct it up once more.

Then, issues bought actually good, and I began to assume, that is the girl I wish to spend the remainder of my life with. I discovered a hoop in Tanzania, with a Tanzanite stone, which is exclusive to the nation. Relying on the way you twist it, it modifications its shade within the mild. I made a decision I used to be going to ask her to marry me on prime of Mount Kenya. We began mountaineering with our information, and it took two to 3 days to succeed in the height. 

In my head, it was going to be like The Lion King with an exquisite dawn and animals bowing. In actuality, it bought chilly as we approached the highest. The flowers and rocks had been frozen, and there was ice and snow. On the prime, there was no view—it was a whole whiteout.

However I bought on one knee and requested her the query, and he or she stated sure. She virtually danced all the best way down the mountain. On the backside, we had some popcorn and tea. There have been even monkeys on the rooftop.

I used to be right down to the final 9 nations when the worldwide pandemic hit. I used to be purported to spend 4 days in Hong Kong to make transit between two ships. At first, the nation was tightly closed. I ended up being separated from my fiancé for a 12 months and a half. There was no manner I may get her inside Hong Kong until we had been married.

Then, I discovered there was an company in Utah the place you may get married on-line. She was in Copenhagen at 10 p.m., I used to be in Hong Kong previous midnight, and we had household and mates logging on from throughout. As a result of time distinction, we weren’t technically married on the identical day.

We bought the paperwork, and that was ok for Hong Kong to permit her to get a visa. She did three weeks in lodge quarantine, after which we had been collectively. However after that, we couldn’t get the paperwork previous Denmark. 

So after I left Hong Kong, we met once more in Vanuatu, an exquisite island nation within the Pacific. We simply occurred to satisfy a German who had been dwelling there for a very long time. He had a resort and organized many weddings. So we determined to get married there.

In a brief span of time, we bought married on the seaside, had cake, and took photographs. However Denmark stated no for a second time, stating it wasn’t an actual wedding ceremony. So we lastly bought married in metropolis corridor in Copenhagen after I bought residence. It is a humorous factor, we’ve been married 3 times now.

Although the journey got here with smiles and laughs, I needed out two years into the venture. And I pushed for nearly eight extra years to finish it. The 2 years of the pandemic, not realizing how lengthy it was going to be, was mentally very irritating.

Within the second, I might look again, desirous about all of the individuals I would met, locations I would been, and issues I would discovered. It was additionally good to look ahead, like sometime I’ll be in Japan. However generally it was nightmarish.

I didn’t understand there could be a lot paperwork concerned. In some nations, securing a bus or practice ticket required a marathon of paperwork. Somewhere else, it took a few minutes on the cellphone. The longest I spent on a ship was about 10 months. 

Once I was on my strategy to my closing nation, the Maldives, somebody despatched a message saying, “That is the final time in your life you possibly can go to a brand new nation.” However I really like going again to nations. There’s at all times stuff I have not seen. It is enjoyable to return and see how issues change. 

Now I’m engaged on Project 773, which has divided the world into extra items, and I’m engaged on attempting to go to 773 of them so I will be Denmark’s most traveled man.

I hope that from studying about my journey, individuals might be impressed to observe their targets. We’ve got to struggle exhausting for the issues we maintain expensive and struggle more durable for the issues we consider in. Whether or not you wish to end an schooling, study a language, excel in taking part in an instrument, or 1,000,000 different issues, bear in mind to struggle for it. If you happen to’re unable to acquire it by yourself, then increase your circle.

Now, my spouse and I’ve a daughter. We simply did a 40-day RV journey throughout the nation, touring by 18 states and greater than 6,500 miles. Hopefully, she can even study to pursue her targets with some willpower—and I hope she’s going to journey. Really, I hope everybody will journey and cross extra borders to satisfy extra individuals.