Indy Nelson’s Unprecedented Journey Across the Globe
In an astonishing feat of endurance and determination, traveler Indy Nelson, who is based in the San Francisco Bay Area, and works in high-tech product management, has achieved a Guinness World Record by visiting every country on Earth. His journey, however, was not without its challenges, as he faced suspicion and detainment on multiple occasions.
Nelson’s odyssey took him to some of the most restricted and volatile regions in the world, including North Korea. He was detained four times on suspicion of being a spy in Iran, Libya, Papua New Guinea, and Russia. Despite these harrowing experiences, Nelson navigated his way through these countries, proving his resilience and determination.
Record-breaking achievement
Upon completing his travels, Nelson now holds the Guinness World Record for flying on the highest number of airlines. He has boarded 170 unique airlines, most of which were during his 18-month trip that began in 2019 when he was just 22 years old. The previous record was held by Ryuji Furusho of Japan, who flew on 156 airlines between 1996 and 2014.
The genesis of a global expedition
The idea to visit every country in the world first came to Nelson during a spring break trip to North Korea, which he described as a “cool country.” After graduating from college, he took an $80,000 loan and set off on his ambitious journey.
Nelson’s travels exposed him to a variety of experiences, including finding himself in an active war zone. “Things happen in 24, 48 hours. You can’t plan those things out. I feared for my life several times. There were definitely several times that I did not think that I was going to get out of that country. By the fourth time, it was like ‘no big deal anymore’,” he recounted.
Highs and lows
While he tried to avoid conflict zones, Nelson found Africa particularly challenging due to the volatile nature of some areas. He was detained four times and interrogated for a total of 24 hours. Despite these challenges, he has fond memories of certain places. His least favorite country was Comoros, a small group of islands off the southeastern coast of Africa, while he loved Cambodia for its “super friendly” locals.
A rollercoaster ride
Nelson’s approach to dealing with adversity is to “think of it like a rollercoaster ride.” He shared, “I’m small, 5 ft 4. I’ll bundle up into a little cocoon and put my feet into the back of the seat in front of me if no one’s there. I close my eyes and don’t get any headaches.”
Indy Nelson’s incredible journey stands as a testament to human curiosity and resilience. His record-breaking achievement not only showcases his adventurous spirit but also highlights the diverse and often challenging nature of global travel.
