I Traveled to Each Nation within the World With out Ever Getting on a Airplane

For Journey + Leisure’s column Touring As, we’re speaking to vacationers about what it’s wish to discover the world by means of their distinctive views. We chatted with Thor Pedersen of Denmark, who spent practically a decade on a single journey to 203 international locations world wide, by no means as soon as getting on a airplane. In the course of the challenge, he detailed his expertise on his weblog, As soon as Upon a Saga, and visited Pink Cross places of work in 192 nations as a Danish Pink Cross Goodwill Ambassador. His e book “The Unattainable Journey” got here out this spring, with a documentary by the identical identify on its means. 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 obtained 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 technique 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 achieve the highest of Mount Everest, for instance, as a result of that was achieved in 1953. The good firsts have 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 excessive vacationers, individuals who’d gone to each nation on the planet. I had no concept this was doable. I believed it might take a lifetime, and also you’d need to be a millionaire. Again then, about 200 individuals had already achieved this, and a few have 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 probably 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 crimson pens, and sat down with my sister to plot out the route. I wished to begin in my dwelling of Denmark, after which cowl about two-thirds of the European international locations, earlier than going over the North Atlantic, North America, Central America, South America, after which up by means of 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 hook up with Asia, after which down by means of and round Australia and the Pacific. Finally, I had a totally fashioned challenge and funding.

On the time I used to be planning the journey, I used to be in a brand new relationship with an exquisite girl I met in 2012, and we began courting in 2013. She wished 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 might keep so long as I wished. Second, I could not return dwelling till I reached the ultimate nation. It needed to be one journey. And lastly, no flying for any motive in any respect. So if I used to be evacuated in an airplane, I would need to reset to begin throughout. 

There have been additionally three aspect guidelines. I could not pay any bribes the entire means. I additionally had a price range of a mean 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 means.

I traveled by public transportation wherever accessible. 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 have been additionally a simple technique to journey. Towards the tip of my challenge, I took a number of container ships as I used to be going by means of the Pacific. 

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

There have been many highlights. Venezuela is such a beautiful 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 searching 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 vastly for a number of days. It was winter and we obtained a report saying there was ice within the water—and we weren’t removed from the place the Titanic sank. It was not scenario. 

However on the finish, a mirror-like situation hit the floor of the water, and it was simply lovely. 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 might see Canada, we might odor its forest because the wind blew pollen out east. It was unimaginable.

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 high 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 challenge. Individuals who would pat me on the again once I had a foul day, or give me a meal, a spot to sleep, or simply level me in the precise path. Folks would assist with translations and connections. I used to be by no means alone—individuals world wide have 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 challenge, it turned difficult. I needed to be in a rustic, whether or not or not I wished it. In most international locations, 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 dwelling was a tricky rule.

For example, Equatorial Guinea is a wonderful little nation with wonderful natural world. But it surely’s additionally in a tough a part of the world, with dictatorships and corruption. It’s modified quite a bit since I used to be there in 2016. Again then, they have been strict about who they wished inside their nation. It took me three months to get the visa. I went from one diplomatic mission to the following to the following, typically going again to international locations I had already been to and having to get visas so I might re-enter these international locations simply to go and get denied a visa.

Once I lastly obtained the visa, the borders have 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 challenge 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 totally different international locations. (She used a airplane each time.)

We had our ups and downs within the first few years. She was finding out to develop into a health care provider, obtained her PhD, after which she began a profession. When she and I have been each preoccupied, and we had an ideal distance between one another, it was laborious making a long-distance relationship work. It virtually fell aside at one level, however we managed to deal with ourselves and construct it up once more.

Then, issues obtained actually good, and I began to suppose, 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 adjustments its coloration within the gentle. I made a decision I used to be going to ask her to marry me on high of Mount Kenya. We began mountain climbing with our information, and it took two to 3 days to achieve the height. 

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

However I obtained on one knee and requested her the query, and she or he stated sure. She virtually danced all the way in which 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 international locations when the worldwide pandemic hit. I used to be purported to spend 4 days in Hong Kong to make transit between two ships. To start with, the nation was tightly closed. I ended up being separated from my fiancé for a 12 months and a half. There was no means I might get her inside Hong Kong except we have been married.

Then, I discovered there was an company in Utah the place you will 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 pals logging on from throughout. As a result of time distinction, we weren’t technically married on the identical day.

We obtained the paperwork, and that was adequate for Hong Kong to permit her to get a visa. She did three weeks in lodge quarantine, after which we have 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, a wonderful island nation within the Pacific. We simply occurred to satisfy a German who had been residing 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 obtained married on the seaside, had cake, and took pictures. However Denmark stated no for a second time, stating it wasn’t an actual wedding ceremony. So we lastly obtained married in metropolis corridor in Copenhagen after I obtained dwelling. It is a humorous factor, we’ve been married 3 times now.

Despite the fact that the journey got here with smiles and laughs, I wished out two years into the challenge. And I pushed for nearly eight extra years to finish it. The 2 years of the pandemic, not understanding how lengthy it was going to be, was mentally very aggravating.

Within the second, I might look again, fascinated 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 can be a lot paperwork concerned. In some international locations, securing a bus or prepare ticket required a marathon of paperwork. Somewhere else, it took a few minutes on the telephone. The longest I spent on a ship was about 10 months. 

Once I was on my technique to my remaining nation, the Maldives, somebody despatched a message saying, “That is the final time in your life you may go to a brand new nation.” However I really like going again to international locations. There’s all the time stuff I have never seen. It is enjoyable to return and see how issues change. 

Now I’m engaged on Challenge 773, which has divided the world into extra items, and I’m engaged on making an attempt to go to 773 of them so I might be Denmark’s most traveled man.

I hope that from studying about my journey, individuals might be impressed to comply with their targets. We’ve to combat laborious for the issues we maintain expensive and combat tougher for the issues we consider in. Whether or not you wish to end an training, study a language, excel in taking part in an instrument, or one million different issues, keep in mind to combat for it. If you happen to’re unable to acquire it by yourself, then broaden your circle.

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