The Washington PostThe Washington Post

He visited all 195 countries without flying. It nearly broke him

By Kyle Melnick

07 Aug 2023 · 4 min read

informed Summary

  1. Torbjorn Pedersen has become potentially the first person to visit all 195 countries without flying, a journey that took him 10 years — six years longer than he initially anticipated.

Torbjorn Pedersen packed a suitcase with a few necessities in 2013 — shirts, jackets, shoes, a first-aid kit and a laptop — excited to begin a historic journey.

Pedersen hoped to become perhaps the first person to visit all 195 countries without flying. He figured he would return home to Copenhagen in four years as a record holder.

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