Brit who started walking around the world in 1998 is almost finished after 27 years

Karl Bushby is approaching the final chapter of his 36,000-mile walk around the world, a journey that began in 1998 and has become the longest trek ever recorded.

Starting on foot in Punta Arenas, Chile, Bushby set out with the goal of walking back to Hull, UK, without using transport.

His strict rules, limited resources, and shifting global events turned the idea into a 27-year commitment.

He is now preparing to complete the final leg in 2026.

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How Karl Bushby’s 36,000-mile walk around the world has unfolded

The early stages of Karl Bushby’s 36,000-mile walk took him through South and Central America, then north into the United States.

He crossed the Darien Gap in 2001 and reached Alaska (relatively) shortly after.

In 2006, he crossed the Bering Strait into Russia on foot, navigating unstable ice with a rifle for polar bear protection.

That section marked a major milestone in what would become the longest trek of its kind. But it also led to problems. Bushby was detained by Russian authorities and issued a five-year visa ban.

He returned to the route in 2014 and resumed his walk through Siberia and China. In 2022, the war in Ukraine shut down his planned European entry.

Iran was not an option either. Instead, he swam 186 miles across the Caspian Sea in 2024, with support from the Azerbaijani coastguard and two national swimmers.

The decision allowed him to maintain the integrity of the 36,000-mile walk without breaking his no-transport rule.

Bushby entered Turkey in February 2025 and continued walking until another visa restriction paused his progress after 180 days.

He has since been in Mexico while waiting to re-enter Europe. His aim remains clear. He will not return to the UK unless he can do so on foot.

The next step begins in August 2025. If everything stays on schedule, Karl Bushby will arrive in Hull in September 2026, completing his journey around the world.

What it takes to finish the world’s longest trek on foot

Covering the longest trek on foot has required daily consistency.

Bushby averages about 30 kilometers a day, often sleeping in tents, shelters, or local accommodations.

He has faced interruptions from the global financial crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and complex visa rules across multiple countries.

The 36,000-mile walk was self-funded at first. Equipment support came from The North Face. A book deal later helped fund travel across Alaska and into Russia.

A production company in Los Angeles joined as a sponsor for parts of Central Asia.

Karl Bushby has spoken openly about the emotional strain. Communication with his family has been infrequent. He estimates they have only visited a handful of times across the 27 years.

Maintaining relationships has also been difficult due to the unpredictable nature of the route.

He considers three moments as turning points in the 36,000-mile walk around the world. Crossing the Darien Gap, the Bering Strait, and the Caspian Sea each tested different aspects of the journey.

These segments, both physically and politically complex, have come to define his longest trek.

If his final leg proceeds as planned, Karl Bushby will walk back into Hull next year.

That finish would complete a full journey around the world by foot, with all 36,000 miles walked under his own power.

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