Extreme travel – The challenge of visiting every country on earth

The innate impulse to explore has been woven into the human story since day one. For some, it has evolved into the mission of a modern nomad – those driven by a compulsion to visit every country on earth – a mission now termed “extreme travel.” While these travellers might collect the physical markers of their journey, like magnets and ink-heavy passport stamps, their true pursuit is much deeper: the acquisition of indelible experiences that remain long after the borders are crossed.

This panel of three extreme travellers will explore this growing segment of travel, where these modern-day explorers travel to countries like Afghanistan, Libya, Haiti, and others. Why do they pursue this audacious quest? What counts as visiting a country? How do they get the most difficult visas? How do they assess security and risk factors? What were their most dangerous situations? What were their most cherished and least favorite countries? And finally, what were some of their unforgettable culinary experiences?

Speakers:

Ric Gazarian is the founder of the Extraordinary Travel Festival and a globe-spanning explorer, storyteller, and community builder whose work has centred on the pursuit of understanding the world through travel. Since 2009, Ric has been on a mission to visit every country on earth, a journey defined by deep curiosity, human connection, and unguarded experiences in places both extraordinary and overlooked.

Shigeki (Shagg) Makino worked for 20 years for investment management companies in Tokyo, Hong Kong, London and Boston. He has been to 164 countries so far, with extensive time living in 10 of them. He is focused on visiting the remaining UN member nations over the next few years.

Jenna Pava was born in Russia and moved to the United States with her family when she was six. She became a teacher, a career she loves for the impact she makes in the classroom, as well as the freedom it gives her to travel during school breaks. In 2023, she moved to Bangkok. Jenna has visited 188 UN countries and continues her pursuit of reaching all 193, blending her love of teaching with her passion for global exploration.

Moderated by Imtiaz Muqbil, executive editor of Travel Impact Newswire.

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