Karl Bushby approaches the end of a 27-year walk around the world

Karl Bushby is closing in on the final stretch of a journey that began before smartphones, streaming platforms or social media existed. The British walker, now 56, is less than a thousand miles from Hull, the same city he left in 1998 with a plan that many dismissed as unrealistic. His goal was to walk an unbroken line around the world without using any vehicle and without returning home until the mission was complete.

Nearly 27 years later, that line has carried him through 25 countries, across deserts, jungle corridors, international borders and frozen seas. The route has also taken him through long stretches of uncertainty as he faced political, financial and logistical setbacks that often seemed stronger than the physical challenge itself.

Bushby’s return is expected in September 2026, marking the conclusion of one of the longest continuous walking projects in modern times. What began as a casual challenge among friends has become an odyssey shaped by persistence, isolation, human connection and a sense of duty to finish what he started.

Bushby grew up in Hull and later joined the British Army, serving with the Parachute Regiment. Military life exposed him to harsh terrain, risk and long periods of discomfort. It also shaped his sense of discipline, which became the backbone of his walking project.

The deaths of several fellow soldiers left a lasting influence and pushed him towards the belief that time should not be wasted. At 29, searching for a purpose larger than daily routine, he committed to a challenge that he believed could reshape the limits of what he thought possible.

He decided he would walk from the southern tip of South America all the way back to Hull, and do so without using motorised transport. That idea grew into what he later named the Goliath Expedition.

Bushby set off in November 1998 from Punta Arenas, Chile, with about 500 dollars, paper maps and a plan that had no guarantee of success. The first months took him across Patagonia, the Andes and northwards through Central America. He slept in his tent or in shelters offered by strangers and sourced food as he moved.

By 2002, he had crossed Latin America and entered the United States, continuing north until he reached Alaska in 2005. One year later, he completed what is considered one of the most difficult crossings attempted on foot: the Bering Strait.

Together with adventurer Dimitri Kieffer, Bushby spent two weeks navigating unstable ice between Alaska and Siberia. The crossing took place over a frozen 241km route that broke apart under shifting ice sheets and strong winds. When the pair reached Russia, they were detained for entering at an unofficial point and later released after 57 days.

Russia soon became the greatest source of delays. Strict visa rules meant he could only stay for 90 days at a time. Progress slowed and, by 2012, he was denied another visa. In 2013, Russia imposed a five-year ban on him. Without the ability to continue on land, his global line was effectively cut.

In protest, Bushby walked more than 4,800km from Los Angeles to the Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C. That effort eventually resulted in the ban being lifted in 2014. He returned to Russia and continued through Mongolia, crossing the Gobi Desert with other walkers before the group later split, and he proceeded alone into China.

Throughout the expedition, funding has been uncertain. There were periods when sponsorship disappeared, and Bushby had to pause the walk entirely. At one point, he spent months in Mexico waiting for the resources needed to resume. The COVID-19 pandemic forced another long break, as borders shut and movement became restricted.

What he once believed would take 12 years has expanded into nearly three decades. Of the 27 years since he began, an estimated 13 were spent actively walking, and the rest were consumed by travel restrictions, bureaucracy and emergency detours outside the walking line.

By 2024, the remaining overland route required crossing through Iran or Russia, both of which were blocked due to geopolitical tensions. Returning home meant finding another solution.

Bushby chose to swim across the Caspian Sea from Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan. Despite limited swimming experience, he spent 31 days completing the 179-mile crossing, supported by safety boats where he slept during rest hours. He later said, “I’m definitely not a swimmer, nor do I like swimming,” yet the crossing remained the only way to preserve the unbroken nature of his route.

After reaching Azerbaijan, he continued through the Caucasus, moving across Turkey and into Europe. Along the way he reported frequent support from locals, saying that many invited him into their homes. He described the hospitality in Turkey as consistent and supportive.

By late 2025, he had entered Hungary with roughly 932 miles left before reaching the Channel Tunnel and crossing back into the United Kingdom.

Although most of the journey has been carried out alone, Bushby often states that the walk has never been a solitary experience. Across 25 countries, strangers have offered shelter, meals, medical help and transport during non-walking detours between visa runs. He has spoken of an injury in Peru where he stitched his own wrist, and a stomach infection that forced him to rely on the care of a local doctor.

He frequently emphasises the human element of the expedition. In his words, “99.99 per cent of people I have met have been kind, generous and supportive.”

This sense of connection has grown into a central theme of his updates. On social media, especially TikTok, followers request that he pass through their cities, write a book or record the details of his route. Many respond with admiration for what they call a once-in-a-generation effort.

As he gets closer to Hull, Bushby speaks with a mix of relief and caution. For almost 30 years, he has woken each day with a single purpose: to move forward. That clarity will soon come to an end, and he has acknowledged that the transition may be difficult.

He hopes to turn his focus towards outreach work, science communication and public speaking. He plans to share the lessons he has learnt from long periods of isolation, cross-cultural encounters and a global route that forced him to understand borders, bureaucracy and human relations in unusual detail.

He also recognises that the United Kingdom he left in 1998 is not the one he will return to. “I left when Tony Blair was Prime Minister,” he said. “Since then, we’ve had several more PMs. I might not recognise home when I get there.”

If Bushby completes his walk as planned in 2026, he will be one of the first individuals to complete an unbroken, continuous line around the planet on foot. His route has crossed jungles, deserts, mountain ranges, frozen seas and political boundaries that shifted during the very decades he spent on the road.

For many around the world, his journey has become a long-running study of discipline, focus and endurance. For others, it is an example of how far determination can carry a person when the goal is clear and the rules are held firm.

Bushby’s final steps into Hull will mark the close of a story that began as a casual challenge but grew into a global record. It will also mark the start of a new chapter for a man who has spent nearly half his life walking home.

Chisom Michael is a data analyst (audience engagement) and writer at BusinessDay, with diverse experience in the media industry. He holds a BSc in Industrial Physics from Imo State University and an MEng in Computer Science and Technology from Liaoning Univerisity of Technology China. He specialises in listicle writing, profiles and leveraging his skills in audience engagement analysis and data-driven insights to create compelling content that resonates with readers.

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