Torbjørn “Thor” Pedersen, a Danish adventurer who set off on his journey in 2013, was faced with an array of issues, including conflicts, visa problems, convincing ships to give him passage, and, notably, a global pandemic
Torbjørn “Thor” Pedersen initially thought the gargantuan task would take only three or four years(Image: Courtesy Thor Pedersen / SWNS)
A man who visited every country on Earth without boarding a single plane has revealed the one destination he truly yearns for. Torbjørn “Thor” Pedersen, a Danish explorer who embarked on his quest in 2013, originally believed the mammoth undertaking would require just three or four years, but it turned into the beginning of an almost decade-long odyssey.
Throughout his expedition, Torbjørn reached all 197 nations acknowledged by the United Nations plus several with limited recognition, totalling 203 destinations visited.
What distinguishes Torbjørn’s accomplishment from other globe-trotting endeavours is his commitment to reaching every nation without air travel, though predictably, this came with considerable obstacles.
Despite his professional background in logistics and shipping, “nothing quite prepared” Torbjørn for the hurdles that awaited, including conflicts, visa complications, persuading vessels to grant him passage, and crucially, a worldwide pandemic.
During this challenging time, with borders shuttered due to the Covid crisis, Torbjørn found himself marooned in his most cherished location for two years, yet this allowed him to develop “real friendships”.
Speaking to Business Traveller Middle East recently, when pressed to identify the destination he’d “return to tomorrow” given the chance, he responded: ” Hong Kong. I was there long enough to form real friendships and get a deep understanding of (the place) – its culture, its landscape, and everything it has to offer.
“And then the project had to continue, and I was yanked out of it. I miss Hong Kong.”
Hong Kong isn’t classed as a sovereign country, but rather a special administrative region of China, a status the former British colony acquired in 1997 following the end of the UK’s 99-year lease of the New Territories.
Its governance falls under the concept of “one country, two systems”, which involves China consenting to grant the territory a “high degree of autonomy”, according to the BBC.
Hong Kong is renowned for its bustling markets, shopping, temples, dim sum, and East-meets-West culture, alongside sights such as Victoria Peak, The Big Buddha (an enormous bronze statue on Lantau Island), and its spectacular skyline.
The territory also boasts the 800m-long Central-Mid-Levels escalator and walkway system, which has the reputation of being the world’s longest outdoor escalator system.
Discussing his quest previously, Torbjørn explained: “I got wind that no one in history has gone to every country in the world completely without flying and I was caught up in the idea that I might have my shot at doing something remarkable.
“The idea was to do it with public transport wherever possible so that means hundreds of buses, trains and ferries then you ask if you can get on someone’s fishing boat or a container ship.
“I have to spend a minimum of 24 hours in a country. What I do isn’t tourism, it’s like running a marathon or going to the moon, it’s an accomplishment.”