by Hannah Meltzer, The Daily Telegraph, February 3, 2017
If you’re planning the trip of a lifetime but need some inspiration, read on. Dane Henrik Keppesen has visited every country in the world - and the lucky so-and-so is only 28 years old.
Henrik’s world-crossing odyssey began in 2006. In the 10 years that followed he completed 3,000 days of travel in a journey that took in all 193 US-recognised nations. He finished up in Eritrea in April last year, just before his 28th birthday.
Speaking to Telegraph Travel, Henrik said he believes his desire to see the world came from growing up in “a remote place in Denmark, where there isn’t much to do.” His lust for adventure was first sparked by watching foreign films. He decided that “instead of just looking at the countries through a screen, it would be much more interesting to experience them first-hand.”
“First I wanted to do 50 countries, then 100 and then I felt comfortable doing them all. Why? I think because I could,” he said. Seems like solid logic.
But he is not satisfied yet. The young adventurer now wishes to set a world record by adding all the world’s territories to his list, as defined by the Traveler’s Century Club. If achieved, this will amount to a total of 325 countries, territories and unique destinations. This will be more difficult than “just” visiting the 193 countries, as it includes the remotest parts of the world and hard-to-reach uninhabited islands. He has 36 left to conquer, and he hopes an ever-growing internet and media profile will help to give him the means and access to acheive his goal.
Keppesen has over 100,000 combined social media followers, a profile which gives him access to sponsorship from airlines and some of the world’s most luxurious hotels. However, he insists that financial backing isn’t necessary to embark on an adventure such as his, and says he had very little money behind him to begin with.
At a glance | Henriks favourite...
He told Telegraph Travel that he budgeted very carefully and for much of his journey spent less than five dollars a day. He saved money by staying with locals via couch-surfing platforms, bought cheap food in supermarkets instead of eating out, used public transport where possible, or hitchhiked. “It’s much cheaper to visit every country in the world than people think - but you must be willing to live like a local on a budget, not like a tourist,” he said.
His epic 10-year journey has taken him to places and given him access to people he could never have imagined, including Khalifa Al-Ghawi, then prime minister of Libya, whom he met via a foreign press official in Tripoli, who also sorted out his visa and air travel.
A photo posted by Henrik Jeppesen (@henriktravel) on Feb 27, 2016 at 8:17am PST
Having visited so many countries, it is hard for him to choose a favourite, but he says South Africa stands out for “the diversity, for the people, the food, the cities, the countryside, nature, the animals and the affordability.” His favourite European nation is Italy, for its “fantastic food and culture” and beautiful countryside, while other world favourites include Denmark, New Zealand, the Seychelles, the Maldives, France, Namibia, Fiji, Vanuatu, Thailand, Laos, Brazil, the USA and Canada.
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On his travels, Jeppesen has stayed in more than 1,000 hotels, including many of the world’s finest, but he says Singita Grumeti Reserves in Tanzania is “definitely one of the best”. His favourite meal was at &Samhoud places in Amsterdam, a hip two Michelin starred establishment known for its contemporary and creative dishes.
With Danish as his mother tongue, the young traveller was able to get by in Norwegian and Swedish easily, but he said it was his English skills that really gave him the key to communication throughout the world: “In general it's easy to travel the world just with English. Even in French-speaking African countries, you'll find people that speak at least a bit of English.”
He acknowledges that it is easier for a man to travel alone than a woman, but encourages anyone to be bold, and suggests getting into adventuring in stages. “I was afraid to travel as a teenager. It took some time to get comfortable with it. The best tip is to start in your comfort zone.” He suggests first taking trips in your home country before and then venturing further afield with the help of a tour operator. The next step after that, he suggests, is travelling to far-off countries with “a great infrastructure for travellers” before “more adventurous, but safe countries, such as an overland trip in a safe part of Africa” before moving onto the final stage of becoming a bonafide “world traveller”.
“The world is a very hospitable place. We care for one another. If I needed help on my travels, I got it,” he told us, adding: “I don't think the world will be more divided. As we can see on social media, we stand together against the powers that are trying to divide us. We care for one another and we fight together against injustice. I am very optimistic about the future on this beautiful planet.”
You can follow Henrik's travels and get his tips on Facebook, Instagram and his blog .
A photo posted by Henrik Jeppesen (@henriktravel) on Feb 28, 2016 at 12:25pm PST
This article was written by Hannah Meltzer and Travel writer from The Daily Telegraph and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network.
