I traveled to each nation on the earth with out flying and survived on a $20 each day price range for 10 years. It was a nightmare.

• It took me about 10 years to journey to each nation on the earth on an unbroken journey with out flying.
• The expedition required sponsorship, fundraisers, and two loans to be financially attainable.
• Throughout my time away from Denmark I skilled wealthy cultures, residing with strangers, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

This as-told-to essay relies on a dialog with 44-year-old Denmark native Torbjørn “Thor” Pedersen. It has been edited for size and readability. Though world journey is not well-documented, record-keeper Harry Mitsidis informed Condé Nast Traveler that about 199 folks had traveled to each nation; claims look like primarily based on the distinction system, the journal reported. Pedersen spoke to Insider whereas he was nonetheless on his journey. He lastly returned dwelling to Denmark on July 26.

I’ve labored on delivery logistics in quite a lot of completely different locations all over the world, so I’ve all the time had this curiosity in cultures.

In January 2013, my dad despatched me the hyperlink to an article about world vacationers, and this was the primary time it dawned on me that you may go to each nation on the earth.

At 34 years previous, I might been to 50 international locations. That had value a ton of cash, so I figured you needed to be a millionaire, or spend your complete life touring, to have the ability to go to each single nation. Again then, solely about 200 folks had achieved this, however nobody had completed it fully with out flying. That struck a chord with me.

Today, it appears like the whole lot has been completed — and there is nothing left for the remainder of us. I began toying round with the concept, and I believed I might spend one week in every nation for a complete of 4 years of touring.

It turned an concept I could not shake off, so I discovered sponsorships, set a date, and got here up with a mission identify. I left Denmark pondering I might be again after 4 years.

This has, for probably the most half, been considerably of a nightmare. I have been desirous to go dwelling since 2015.

The price range was about $20 per day

I am a business-oriented man, and I did not need to do that if I used to be going to should pay for it. I wanted to work out one thing financially.

The mission price range has been 20 US {dollars} per day. Over the course of the three,576-day mission it quantities to about $71,520.

It has lined transportation, lodging, meals, and visas, and it has been sponsored by Ross Power — a Denmark-based geo-thermal power firm. The price range did not embrace extra prices of medical checkups, new passports, a brand new laptop computer, and repairing or changing objects, which might’ve made the mission value twice as a lot.

This has under no circumstances been a vacation. This has been a hardcore logistics, hardcore forms. Just about from the get-go, I have been behind the timeline. I have been pushing, and saying, “I’ve to get this completed. I’ve to get paperwork. I’ve to go, go, go, go.”

Though I am not restricted to solely spending $20 — as visas can value $150 — I am continuously in search of the most affordable choices for journey and lodging. If there is a VIP bus with home windows, air-con, WiFi, and hardly any stops between A and B, then it is too costly.

I’ve primarily stayed in hostels with different roommates, used couch-surfing apps, and eaten road meals for a similar cause.

I traveled throughout the North Atlantic on a number of various kinds of ships — fishing boats, delivery containers, and whatnot. I have been on 40 container ships, and I’ve constructed relationships with these firms. I might inform them, “This can be a historic mission. You’re taking half in historical past. In the event you assist me board your ship, you’re part of one thing greater.”

Typically that labored. Different occasions, they did not care, and I relied on ferry boats, banana boats, sailboats, and cruise ships.

I traveled for a yr and-a-half or so, then I misplaced my earnings for the mission. So, I depleted what I had in my very own checking account, which wasn’t part of the plan.

I bought a tiny previous sail boat I had, I took out a mortgage, and a second mortgage. Then, I requested the few followers I had and stated, “I am operating out of cash right here. In the event you like what I am doing and also you need to pay, this is an choice.”

The crowdfunding coupled with cash I earned from talking engagements and writing articles was sufficient help till Ross Power resumed my sponsorship with 75% of the price range.

Then, in 2020, I bought caught in Hong Kong because of the pandemic. After 11 months, immigration compelled me to take a job, so I bought one servicing container ships that paid a bit, however gave me a free place to remain.

This most likely will not occur ever once more

Two years in, I did not really feel that there was any actual respect for what I used to be doing. I believe most individuals simply noticed it as a extremely lengthy vacation on my half, however I used to be working my ass off.

There was actually no cause for me to proceed. On the time, I used to be recovering from cerebral malaria, I might misplaced monetary sponsorship, and my long-distance relationship to the girl who’s my spouse at present wasn’t doing nicely.

It went from being 99% journey and 1% work, to being 99% work and 1% assembly folks, journey, and the good things.

I used to be in bodily and psychological ache. There was lots of hardship. I simply did not need to quit on the title. I could possibly be the primary in historical past to do one thing. I figured if I simply push tougher, I’ll ultimately get via to some extent the place it will get a bit bit simpler, and it’ll get higher and each step can be a step nearer to the aim.

I needed folks to see elements of the world and see what was happening, and simply sort of see the world in a unique mild — not a destructive one. I am a goodwill ambassador of the Danish Crimson Cross. I’ve met with the Crimson Cross in 199 international locations all over the world.

Inside a decade or so it’s going to be 1,000 individuals who have been to each nation. It will get simpler so long as you’ve got all types of transportation open to you. In the event you restrict your self so that you just can not fly — particularly if you cannot go dwelling in between — it is extremely unlikely this may ever occur once more.

I hope there’s nonetheless time for extra

During the last 10 years, my spouse has come out to see me in varied locations all over the world about 27 occasions. My household has come to see me, and I’ve met tens of hundreds of individuals alongside the way in which. I’ve lived with strangers in alternate for tradition and companionship, and I turned a model ambassador for sports activities gear firm Salomon.

I am working with some filmmakers on a documentary set to return out in 2024, and I am engaged on a e-book that I hope can be prepared in the identical yr. I need to see if I nonetheless have an opportunity to start out a household with my spouse or if it is too late.

I have been gone for practically a decade, so I’ll have a tough time returning dwelling. Some days are going to be higher than others, however I am now among the many most traveled folks on the earth.