Meet Karl Bushby: The man walking around the world on foot
When 29-year-old Karl Bushby decided to attempt walking an unbroken path around the world, he had only $500. His two rules were not to use cars or go home until he had accomplished his mission. Speaking with the BBC in 2025, Karl reflected on his journey, saying:
On 1 November 1998, I was looking down a 36,000-mile-long road and had no idea how I would do this. Although I have encountered various difficulties, including financial constraints and visa problems, the mission remains uncompromised.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Key takeaways
- Karl Bushby's profile summary
- From Chile to crossing the Bering Strait: An 8-year odyssey
- Hurdle after hurdle: A clash with the Russian authorities
- The second half of the Goliath Expedition
- Unfavourable weather, financial constraints and history-making feats
- Karl Bushby crossed the Russia-Mongolia border in 2017
- One last push: Crossing the Bosphorus Strait into Europe
- Wrapping up
Key takeaways
- Karl Bushby's trek is known as the Goliath Expedition.
- He originally planned to finish the journey in eight years, but it is still in progress due to numerous delays.
- As of 1 September 2025, Bushby had entered Bulgaria and is expected to return home to Hull by 2026.
- His book, Giant Steps, details his walk.
Karl Bushby's profile summary
| Full name | Karl Bushby |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of birth | 30 March 1969 |
| Age | 56 years old (2025) |
| Zodiac sign | Aries |
| Birthplace | Hull, United Kingdom |
| Nationality | British |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Sexual orientation | Straight |
| Marital status | Divorced |
| Children | 1 |
| Profession | Former paratrooper, author |
| Social media |
From Chile to crossing the Bering Strait: An 8-year odyssey
Karl began his walk from Punta Arenas, Chile, and covered over 17,000 miles by 2006. His route involved walking through South, Central and North America.
Maintaining his current speed, Bushby estimated he would cover over 19,000 miles back home to Hull by 2010. Alongside French adventurer Dimitri Kieffer, he walked for 14 days to cross the 58-mile strait from Alaska to Siberia.
Source: Original
Hurdle after hurdle: A clash with the Russian authorities
In 2006, Karl Bushby and Dimitri Kieffer were arrested by Russian border troop officers while entering Russia through the Chukotkan village of Uelen. The authorities threatened to ban them from the country for illegal entry.
On 5 May that year, it was announced that the Russian government had approved Karl's walk through the country after a mediation between then British Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and then Governor of Chukotka Roman Abramovich.
The second half of the Goliath Expedition
On 16 March 2007, Kieffer and Bushby launched the second phase of the journey, walking to Yakutsk.
However, they had to pause and wait for a special visa to be approved, allowing them to pass through the military area. The pair walked from Uelen to Dvoynoye, covering 620 miles, but returned to Alaska in November when his visa expired.
Unfavourable weather, financial constraints and history-making feats
In 2008, Karl barely walked because he was waiting for his visa to be renewed. Upon reaching Bilibino, the snow had disappeared, filling the area with swamps and rivers inaccessible on foot.
Source: Getty Images
From 2008 to 2010, Bushby stayed in Mexico for cost reasons after most of his sponsors withdrew their support due to the 2008 financial crisis. He continued walking across Russia in 2011 but was only allowed to be in the country for 90 days out of every 180 days per visa.
Karl completed his leg for the year after reaching Srednekolymsk and only needed to cover 560 miles before reaching improved roads.
Karl Bushby crossed the Russia-Mongolia border in 2017
Karl was banned from re-entering Russia in March 2013. However, this decision was overruled in October 2014. He reached Uzbekistan in 2019 but paused the voyage due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Busby resumed his journey in August 2024, choosing to swim from Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan through the Caspian Sea as Russia and Iran were unsafe to enter via a British passport.
He swam 179 miles in 31 days (132 swimming hours), accompanied by professional swimmers Abdurrahman Rustamov, Anastasiya Boborikna, and co-swimmer Angela Maxwell.
Source: Getty Images
One last push: Crossing the Bosphorus Strait into Europe
In June 2025, Bushby stayed in Armenia waiting for a visa to enter Turkey and proceed to Europe. He finished crossing Turkey in September 2025 and estimates to return home in a few months. Karl told the BBC about being nervous about linking with his family after over two decades:
Reuniting with my folks will involve getting to know them afresh. Although it will feel strange, I plan to transition into other things to keep my mind and soul moving.
In a 2025 interview with The Mirror, Bushby's dad commented on his son returning home, stating:
His expedition is unique. No adventurer has ever done this without returning home in between stages.
When asked about coping with the worry of something bad happening to his son during his journey, he answered:
I could not spend decades anxious. It is just another day in the office for Karl.
Wrapping up
Walking adventurer Karl Bushby has been attempting to circumnavigate the globe on foot since 1998. If he succeeds, he will be the first person to walk an unbroken path around the world.
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Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.
Source: Briefly News
