Torbjørn C. "Thor" Pedersen, a Danish traveler and adventurer, gained fame through his project "Once Upon a Saga," which involved visiting every country on Earth without flying. The journey took him 9 years, 9 months, and 16 days. His adventure began on October 10, 2013, at 10:10 AM in Dybbøl Mølle, Denmark. The Maldives were his final stop.
How Many Countries Did "Thor" Visit? He Traveled 223,000 Miles, or 358,883 Kilometers
Before embarking on his journey, Pedersen set a few rules for himself, including spending at least 24 hours in each country and keeping his spending to a minimum. His budget was $20 a day, which is around 77.81 PLN. He could have flown back to Denmark at the end, but he wanted the project to be completed entirely by land and sea.
There’s a historical sense of returning home by ship. People see me on the horizon, standing and waving. It seems like the right way to finish the project
- he said in an interview with CNN Travel. In total, he visited 203 countries. The UN recognizes 195 sovereign nations, but Torbjørn also included partially recognized states.
He Was on the Road for a Decade. Along the Way, He Became Seriously Ill and Got Married
During nearly 10 years of traveling, the Dane faced many challenges. He contracted cerebral malaria, survived an intense four-day storm while crossing the Atlantic, and crossed closed land borders in conflict zones. Additionally, ships frequently broke down: one had a hole in the hull, and another never set sail. The COVID-19 pandemic stranded Pedersen in Hong Kong for two years.
It was the worst time of my life, and yet somehow the best. I had to cope with the situation
- he recounted.
While he was in China, his fiancée visited him. The couple had a virtual wedding and later got married in person in Vanuatu. When Torbjørn reached the Maldives, the final stop on his planned route, he wasn’t feeling well.
I was mentally exhausted. It was an emotional rollercoaster
- he admitted. Despite that, he looks back on the experience positively.
The journey helped me identify my strengths. There was always a solution. Sometimes, I just had to try really hard
- he added.
