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

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

My mom was nice at instilling in me journey and creativeness as a toddler. I’d image I used to be part of Robin Hood’s gang, Ivanhoe, or Indiana Jones. Once I acquired older, I grew to become 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 method 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 completed 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 electronic mail about excessive vacationers, individuals who’d gone to each nation on the earth. I had no thought this was doable. I assumed it could take a lifetime, and also you’d must be a millionaire. Again then, about 200 individuals had already completed 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 crimson pens, and sat down with my sister to plot out the route. I wished to begin in my house 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 via 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 might connect with Asia, after which down via and round Australia and the Pacific. Finally, I had a completely shaped 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 lady I met in 2012, and we began relationship in 2013. She wished to do the Berlin Marathon that yr, 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 wished. Second, I could not return house till I reached the ultimate nation. It needed to be one journey. And lastly, no flying for any cause in any respect. So if I used to be evacuated in an airplane, I would must reset to begin throughout. 

There have been additionally three facet guidelines. I could not pay any bribes the entire means. I additionally had a funds 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 instances. 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 had been additionally a straightforward method to journey. Towards the top of my challenge, I took a number of container ships as I used to be going via the Pacific. 

The entire expertise was wild. However the humorous factor is, it did not have that sort of gravity in 2013. I assumed, if I observe 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 nations all needed to join. Not getting a single visa could possibly 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 concerning 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 significantly for a number of days. It was winter and we acquired 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 may see Canada, we may scent 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 mentioned he hadn’t seen it earlier than. 

However at its coronary heart, my journey was concerning the individuals. My motto was, “A stranger is a buddy you’ve by no means met earlier than.” Hundreds of individuals had their fingers on this challenge. Individuals who would pat me on the again after I had a foul day, or give me a meal, a spot to sleep, or simply level me in the proper path. Individuals 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 challenge, it grew to become difficult. I needed to be in a rustic, whether or not or not I wished 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 house was a troublesome rule.

For example, Equatorial Guinea is a good looking little nation with wonderful wildlife. But it surely’s additionally in a tough a part of the world, with dictatorships and corruption. It’s modified so much since I used to be there in 2016. Again then, they had 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 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 acquired 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 capable of 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 instances, which corresponds with 27 totally different nations. (She used a aircraft each time.)

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

Then, issues acquired actually good, and I began to assume, that is the girl I need 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 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 mountain climbing with our information, and it took two to a few days to succeed in the height. 

In my head, it was going to be like The Lion King with a good looking dawn and animals bowing. In actuality, it acquired 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 acquired on one knee and requested her the query, and he or she mentioned sure. She nearly 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 nations 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 yr and a half. There was no means I may get her inside Hong Kong until we had been married.

Then, I realized 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 pals logging on from throughout. Because of the time distinction, we weren’t technically married on the identical day.

We acquired 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, a good looking 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 acquired married on the seaside, had cake, and took photographs. However Denmark mentioned no for a second time, stating it wasn’t an actual wedding ceremony. So we lastly acquired married in metropolis corridor in Copenhagen after I acquired house. It is a humorous factor, we’ve been married 3 times now.

Though 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 realizing how lengthy it was going to be, was mentally very nerve-racking.

Within the second, I’d look again, fascinated by all of the individuals I would met, locations I would been, and issues I would realized. It was additionally good to look ahead, like sometime I’ll be in Japan. However typically it was nightmarish.

I didn’t notice there could be a lot paperwork concerned. In some nations, 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 method to my last 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 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 Venture 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 will likely be impressed to observe their objectives. We have now to battle laborious for the issues we maintain pricey and battle more durable for the issues we consider in. Whether or not you need to end an training, be taught a language, excel in enjoying an instrument, or one million different issues, keep in mind to battle for it. Should you’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 via 18 states and greater than 6,500 miles. Hopefully, she may also be taught to pursue her objectives with some willpower—and I hope she is going to journey. Truly, I hope everybody will journey and cross extra borders to satisfy extra individuals.