The Longest Walk in the World

Discovered in 2019, and still not conquered, the longest continuous walk in the world stretches for 22,387 km (13,911 miles) and begins in Cape Town, South Africa. Ending in Magadan, Russia, the route requires no flights and no boats, as any land masses that are separated by water are connected by bridges.

Walking non-stop, this journey would take approximately 4,492 hours or 187 days. For us mere humans, the more likely scenario would be to walk only eight hours per day. This would give us time to do the things that we need to, you know, survive. Food, water, sleep, restock supplies, and rest would be needed more than ever on such a grueling trip. Plus, traveling through 15 countries, six times zones, and every imaginable season and climate makes digitally documenting the journey a must!

If you were to limit yourself to only eight hours a day of walking, it would take you 562 days, which is approximately a year and a half. But what an amazing year and a half it would be! Imagine the sites on your journey as you traveled north through Africa, past the Suez Canal, through Central Asia, and across Russia!

Cape Town, South Africa

Beginning your journey in Cape Town gives you the option of relaxing while you can on Boulder’s Beach or getting right to the adventure by hiking to the summit of the city’s most recognizable landmark, Table Mountain.

Botswana

The next stop, just north of South Africa is Botswana. The route could take you directly through the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Home to giraffes, elephants, white rhinos, Cape buffalo, hyenas, impalas, meerkats, mongoose, warthogs, cheetahs, jackals, leopards, lions, zebra, greater kudu, wildebeests, and thousands of other species, the reserve can be a majestic adventure after the first six weeks of walking!

Zambia

After traveling through Zimbabwe, time should be allotted at the Zimbabwe / Zambia border, to witness the world’s largest waterfall. Victoria Falls is located on the Zambezi River and while not the highest or longest, its combined width of 1,708 meters (5,604 ft) and its height of 108 meters (354 ft) results in the world’s largest sheet of flowing water. Not to mention the infinite beauty of this world wonder!

Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, and Sudan offer picturesque landscapes with various climates depending on the time of the year. Various geographical features such as forests, volcanoes, mountains, lakes, plateaus, swamps, grasslands, and deserts provide everything a nature lover could wish for in one trip.

Egypt

Egypt is well known for its architecture, more specifically, pyramids. The Great Pyramid of Giza, near Cairo, is on this route and is the oldest and largest in the Giza pyramid complex. The oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, it is the only one to remain mostly intact. Talk about a trip highlight!

Jordan

Continent hopping from Africa to Asia, you wind up in Jordan, along the Mediterranean Coast. While Jordan is largely arid desert, the area near the coast receives more rainfall and has more fertile soil. This area is also home to Petra, a widely famous archaeological city. Adjacent to the mountain of Jabal Al-Madbah, it is described as “one of the most precious cultural properties of man’s cultural heritage”, especially due to its rock-cut architecture and water conduit system.

Turkey

Traveling through Syria to Turkey, your route takes you past Lake Van, the second largest lake in the Middle East. It is also the largest sodium water lake in the world. In addition, you can visit a 10th-century Armenian church on Akdamar Island, one of four in the southern portion of the lake, but for that, you will need to use the boat service.

Georgia

Stop in Tbilisi, Georgia to soak up civilization before trekking through the widespread wilderness of Russia. This capital is described as “The World’s Most Bohemian City”. Pastel homes, wooden balconies, speakeasies, vintage-style cafes, museums, and theaters are full of architectural eclecticism. An artistic paradise, this city provides excitement comparable to major metropolises around the world, with a homey feel.

Russia

Russia may be the final country on the route, but there are still eight more months left in your journey! Not to mention, as climate and environmental factors are concerned, the trip is about to get a whole lot tougher. The further north-east you walk, the temperatures begin to drop, the landscape becomes more desolate, and signs of civilization are few and far between.

You will somewhat follow along the Kazakhstan border and then hover above Mongolia for a while before heading northeast to the Sea of Okhotsk coast. IF you are able to complete the journey and arrive in Magadan, you will have been the first person to have completed the longest world route ever on foot. It has been compared to making 13 trips up and down Mt. Everest!

***Note: This story was original published by the author on Medium.com***