British explorer Bushby enters Türkiye on 26-year walk around the world
British wanderer Karl Bushby, who has been walking around the world, enters Türkiye through the Sarp Border Gate at the Georgian border in Artvin, Türkiye on February 6, 2025. (AA Photo)
After crossing the world’s most treacherous terrains and swimming across seas for over a quarter century, British adventurer Karl Bushby has entered Türkiye through the Sarp Border Gate, marking another milestone in his extraordinary journey home entirely on foot.
Bushby, 55, who began his global expedition in 1999, plans to traverse Türkiye in three months, starting from the Kemalpasa district of Artvin. On his first day in Türkiye, he covered approximately 20 kilometers to reach the Hopa district, maintaining his strict no-transportation policy that has defined his 26-year journey.
“It’s been 9,584 days,” Bushby told reporters. “I believe that means I’ve been walking for 26 years and three months. This has been an incredibly challenging journey.” He acknowledged that social and financial crises, visa restrictions, and pandemics have occasionally forced him to pause his ambitious trek.
The seasoned explorer, who has traversed the Arctic ice from Alaska to Russia and recently swam across the Caspian Sea, faces a new challenge in Istanbul. “The Bosphorus crossing will be interesting,” he said. “I’ll need permission to either swim across or walk over the bridge. This might present some difficulties.”
His Türkiye itinerary includes following the Black Sea provinces to Samsun before heading south toward Istanbul. From there, he plans to continue to Greece through Edirne, eventually making his way across Europe toward his final destination: home in Britain.
Bushby’s unconventional lifestyle includes sleeping outdoors, often along roadsides. “Finding places to sleep can be very challenging,” he explained. “I’ve slept on ice while crossing the Bering Sea from Alaska to Russia, and on support boats while crossing large water bodies.”
Currently facing the raw beauty of Türkiye’s Black Sea coast, Bushby remains optimistic despite the weather conditions. “The road conditions are quite good,” he said. “I take it day by day. The weather isn’t perfect, but it’s not bad either. As long as I can find a place to sleep, I’ll be happy.”
