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 by way of their distinctive views. We chatted with Thor Pedersen of Denmark, who spent almost a decade on a single journey to 203 nations around the globe, by no means as soon as getting on a aircraft. Throughout the undertaking, he detailed his expertise on his weblog, As soon as Upon a Saga, and visited Purple Cross workplaces in 192 nations as a Danish Purple Cross Goodwill Ambassador. His e-book “The Inconceivable Journey” got here out this spring, with a documentary by the identical title on its method. 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 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 option to the North and South Poles, and made it to the moon. 

Finally, I noticed 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 achieved in 1953. The nice 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 electronic mail about excessive vacationers, individuals who’d gone to each nation on this planet. I had no thought this was attainable. I assumed it will take a lifetime, and also you’d should be a millionaire. Again then, about 200 folks had already achieved this, and a few have been of their 20s, in order that was fairly inspiring. 

However, I noticed, nobody had traveled to each nation with out flying. I used to be 34 and figured I used to be doubtless 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 pink pens, and sat down with my sister to plot out the route. I needed to begin 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 way 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 will connect with Asia, after which down by way of and round Australia and the Pacific. Finally, I had a totally shaped undertaking 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 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 might 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 cause by any means. So if I used to be evacuated in an airplane, I would should reset to begin throughout. 

There have been additionally three facet guidelines. I could not pay any bribes the entire method. I additionally had a price range 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 method.

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 lot of connectivity. There have been additionally taxis, shared bikes, mini buses, and metros. The place it was attainable, I took sailboats. Ferries have been additionally a simple option to journey. Towards the tip of my undertaking, I took a lot of container ships as I used to be going by way of 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 comply with the principles, 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 difficulty. 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 concerning the mountains, vegetation, and the scale 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 historical 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 a superb scenario. 

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 might see Canada, we might 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 lightweight 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 concerning the folks. My motto was, “A stranger is a buddy you’ve by no means met earlier than.” Hundreds of individuals had their arms on this undertaking. 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 fitting path. Individuals would assist with translations and connections. I used to be by no means alone—folks around the globe have been useful, humorous, and beneficiant.

I knew it was going to be enjoyable. I used to be going to satisfy folks and eat nice meals. All that occurred, however a few years into the undertaking, 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 difficulty. Not returning residence was a tricky rule.

As an example, Equatorial Guinea is a good looking little nation with superb natural world. However it’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 have 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 subsequent to the subsequent, usually going again to nations I had already been to and having to get visas so I might re-enter these nations 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 capable of take me contained in the nation. 

The undertaking 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 nations. (She used a aircraft each time.)

We had our ups and downs within the first few years. She was finding out to change into a physician, 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 nearly fell aside at one level, however we managed to concentrate on ourselves and construct it up once more.

Then, issues obtained actually good, and I began to assume, that is the lady 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 high of Mount Kenya. We began mountain climbing 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 a good looking 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 he or she stated sure. She nearly 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 all the way down to the final 9 nations when the worldwide pandemic hit. I used to be speculated 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 method I might get her inside Hong Kong except we have 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. Because of the time distinction, we weren’t technically married on the identical day.

We obtained the paperwork, and that was ok for Hong Kong to permit her to get a visa. She did three weeks in resort 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 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 obtained 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 obtained married in metropolis corridor in Copenhagen after I obtained residence. It is a humorous factor, we’ve been married thrice now.

Regardless that the journey got here with smiles and laughs, I needed out two years into the undertaking. 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 anxious.

Within the second, I’d look again, desirous about all of the folks 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 notice there can be a lot paperwork concerned. In some nations, securing a bus or practice ticket required a marathon of paperwork. Elsewhere, it took a few minutes on the cellphone. The longest I spent on a ship was about 10 months. 

Once I was on my option to my closing nation, the Maldives, somebody despatched a message saying, “That is the final time in your life you’ll be able to 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 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, folks might be impressed to comply with their objectives. We’ve got to struggle laborious for the issues we maintain pricey and struggle more durable for the issues we consider in. Whether or not you need to end an training, be taught a language, excel in taking part in an instrument, or 1,000,000 different issues, keep in mind to struggle for it. For those who’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 way of 18 states and greater than 6,500 miles. Hopefully, she will even be taught to pursue her objectives with some willpower—and I hope she’s going to journey. Truly, I hope everybody will journey and cross extra borders to satisfy extra folks.