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Forbes
21-05-2025
- Forbes
Travel Wisdom From ‘The World's Most Traveled Man'
Harry Mitsidis, somewhere in the world. nomadmania 'I haven't been everywhere, but it's on my list' is a well-known quote attributed to the late author Susan Sontag. One traveler who has been just about everywhere is Harry Mitsidis, founder of Nomad Mania, an online hub for independent travelers. He's one of a very exclusive group of maybe a few hundred people who have visited all of the world's 193 sovereign (according to the United Nations) countries, and he's visited many of them more than once. This interview is edited and condensed for readability. Lea Lane: When you were growing up did you travel much? Harry Mitsidis: I was born in London, grew up in Athens, and, yes, we did travel quite a lot as a family because my mom is South-African English, so we would go to England, and to South Africa. We also have relatives in the States. I was a reasonably well-traveled child and young man, especially back then in the early 80s. When did you realize that you wanted to achieve this extreme travel goal? Toward my early twenties the idea of having a normal 9 to 5 life was really not me, and then the travel bug just took over. It sure did. How did you manage to accomplish it? How were you able to afford traveling the world? I studied business and sociology and then I got into lecturing in leadership and management. With teaching you get lots of time off. I would use every opportunity to go somewhere, and gradually I had about 100, 120 countries. And then I thought, now I really have to do them all. It was a combination of making sure that the finances were well allocated, combining countries so that I could do a number of them on one trip, and sacrificing things that normal people may see as obvious; I was never really into technical gadgets and such. I still have the same car after 20 years. Did you solo travel, or how did that work? When you're an only child you learn to be independent, so often I choose to travel alone, even though I'm married and even though I could travel with friends. Traveling alone I truly explore and discover the culture of a place, and get to have unique meetings with locals. With someone from back home, I think the experience is diluted. I agree, in fact, I wrote a book called Solo Traveler. Often when you're traveling with someone you're not looking around, you're talking about the stock market. Now, do you stay in most countries longer than just to put your foot down and run out? Back in the day, I might only visit the capital and then say, 'Okay, I've done it, on to the next one.' But I realize that you need to explore countries much deeper to know and understand the regional differences. Nowadays I travel much slower. I'm now on a six-week Japan trip, something that twenty years ago I would probably never think of doing. What's your way of living? Do you eat local foods? I live with a mixture of adventure and caution, so I'm not doing things which could be dangerous. I don't buy street food in places where that could cause problems, for example, but yes, I go local. In terms of accommodation, it varies. One of the things about travel is not to have a rule, to kind of do what you feel like. Sometimes I may stay at a five-star hotel, sometimes a hostel, or an Airbnb, and I may stay with friends or acquaintances. What do extreme travelers have in common? I think it's the curiosity to see and experience more, a form of restlessness, the inability to stay put for very long. Have you taken any cruises? Not in the classical sense, more like expeditions, meaning that they're difficult trips. The boat is comfortable enough, you get some service, but it's not opulent. If you're going, for example, to the Arctic, to the islands above Russia, or to Antarctica, those are demanding trips where you know you need to be physically strong, and often the voyage itself is quite tough. I've taken only a couple of fun cruises like the classic Caribbean thing. Let's talk about a few of your favorite countries. I'll admit that I'm attracted to the countries that are not the most obvious. North Korea is the most bizarre, outlandish, totally different experience, where you often feel everything is staged around you, a little bit like that movie with Jim Carrey. You never know what's real and what isn't. Rwanda is a country that had a terrible tragedy and managed to bounce back, In West Africa, you have places like Benin, with lots of history. Japan is impossible not to mention; the people are so courteous and yet it's exotic at every step. You could leave money lying somewhere and you'll find it after a day. I also like Iran, where you need to separate the people from politics. They will never let you go hungry, they'll invite you to their homes. And then, of course, the history, the culture. In Persepolis you still see the marks on what is left of that ancient town when Alexander the Great burned it down. Is there any country you just didn't care for? For me, everywhere is interesting. Even the bad is good in the sense that you can learn about yourself, how you deal with the difficulties, and I think that's the point of travel: to learn about your limits, to learn about what you can handle and what you can't. So it's definitely educational and there's no country where I really wouldn't go again. Gambia as an example of a country that thought didn't really resonate with me, but maybe I need to give it another chance. How about beauty? Beauty comes in many forms. You've got beautiful towns or villages where you marvel at the architecture: Central European small towns, places like the Czech Republic, Hungary. Then, of course, you've got natural beauty. You can have an amazing beach. Rodrigues island, an hour and a half away from Mauritius off the coast of Africa, has one of the most beautiful beaches I've ever seen. There are the mountains in northern Pakistan, the rugged mountains and lakes within Tajikistan, the mountain range around the Himalayas. Skardu Valley, North PakistanAre there any customs that struck you as particularly strange or interesting? A festival, perhaps? There's a never-ending array of bizarre things everywhere. I recently went for a meal of crab in Japan. I finished the meal and a sort of broth remained from the crab, and then a woman came and took out everything that was in there and added rice and recooked it. I just couldn't think of the function of this. It's a fascinating what goes on in the world, and many people travel with that in mind. They go for the festivals. I love festivals such as the ones in Papua New Guinea, or maybe Gerrelwald festival in Niger. And then, of course, you've got Latin American festivals, with great masks and such. If you go off the beaten track in the States you'll end up with the world's biggest potato or something hilarious. I love that. You've traveled to dangerous destinations such as Somalia, Libya, Syria, you mentioned North Korea. Ukraine now, unfortunately. Afghanistan. What's a scary situation you've been in? I was teaching in Oman and I had this strange idea that going to Yemen was a good thing. A student volunteered to take me, so luckily at least I had an interpreter. And I got jailed with that student, who was in total shock. It wasn't fun. There were cockroaches, mosquitos. We didn't really know what they wanted. In the end what they wanted was the obvious. So the next morning the obvious was settled in a relatively amicable way and we ended up having a big meal to celebrate in a prison area. It's a good story, but it was really scary to feel so vulnerable. And at those moments you just think of the people you love. I assume it was money that they wanted. Yes. I know you've been to Pitcairn island. I was on a cruise in that area and because the waves were so high, the whole island population came on the ship. Pitcairn Islands is the smallest inhabited territory anywhere, only about 50 people living there and a ship only comes by three or four times a year. I've been to Pitcairn twice. The first time it was out of French Polynesia on a yacht with another eight people, and we had three days. And because there's no hotel, they allocate you to a local and you pay them much needed income. I lucked out and got a lady who had a nice house with lots of space and a marvelous view, and she also told me all the ins and outs. Remore Pitcairn island in the South Pacific. getty We should mention that the residents are related to British HMS Bounty mutineers. My hostess was actually a descendant of Fletcher Christian. What are the social responsibilities of travelers like yourself? The purpose, besides racking up these experiences? It's important to travel with an open mind. I also support helping local agents if possible. If you hear from other travelers that they're reliable, then use them directly, because these people really need the resources. If you are demanding, mean or intolerant, the people you're visiting are going to think badly of the place you come from. I always say read up on where you're coming from, because people will ask you questions and you need to know the answers. And read up about the customs and the way of life before you go to a place. If you would settle in one place in the world besides your home, where would it be? I can't really imagine myself doing that, but if I did have to choose, I like bright skies. Anywhere around the Mediterranean would suit me well. Can you please share one really special memory? I was going from Freetown to Monrovia Liberia in Africa, a long overland journey involving a couple of barges to cross rivers. And I remember, as we were waiting for one of the barges, there was a local village community and of course they don't get too many Caucasian people there, so they were colorfully dressed, dancing and sort of playing around and I decided to give them a dollar. You would have thought I had given them a million dollars. When the barge came, I could still hear them, elated, and I think that the lesson is that showing appreciation in even a small way can make such a big difference to people. Be kind. You can hear the full interview here. Follow over 100 episodes of my award-winning travel podcast, Places I Remember with Lea Lane here – or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Forbes
24-04-2025
- Forbes
This Traveler Visited Every Country By 25 — Here's What He Learned
Cameron Mofid in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea. Cameron Mofid wrapped up his life-long mission in North Korea this spring when he crossed the final country off his list — completing a journey that spanned all 195 nations. Originally from San Diego, Mofid is more than just a traveler. He's a social entrepreneur, former international tennis player, MBA valedictorian and TEDx speaker who managed to balance academics, work and global exploration in pursuit of his dream. He visited his last country in the world by participating in the Pyongyang International Marathon in North Korea alongside fellow international travelers — and several close friends who had accompanied him on different legs of the journey around the world. Cameron Mofid (top right) pictured with other travelers at the Pyongyang Marathon in North Korea in April 2025. His achievement is recognized by NomadMania, the world's largest and most respected travel verification organization with over 40,000 members. While Mofid didn't qualify for the Guinness World Record due to differing criteria, his journey followed stricter standards — excluding airport transits and brief border entries. Unlike the current record holder, who couldn't visit North Korea due to U.S. travel restrictions, Mofid, a dual national, spent five days in Pyongyang, entering on his other passport rather than just stepping into the DMZ (the demilitarized zone at the border between North and South Korea). Mofid now joins the ranks of roughly 400 verified travelers who have visited every country in the world — a feat rarer than going to space. (Roughly 682 people have done that, by comparison, according to the World Air Sports Federation). Pictured in Bangladesh. How did his journey begin? 'I've always loved geography and learning about different cultures since I was a child,' Mofid says. 'We had a giant map covering the garage wall, and my brother and I would race to point out countries our grandmother called out. I wanted to learn about every place and had memorized every country in the world by age 12.' Pictured in South Sudan. Though an American citizen, Mofid is ethnically Egyptian and Iranian — something he says shaped his global outlook early on. His time competing abroad as a world-ranked player on the International Tennis Federation Junior Tour further sparked his love of travel. After his playing days ended, Mofid then took a gap year before starting university to work at professional tennis tournaments around the world. 'When I got to university, I didn't want to stop.' Pictured in Palau. He began exploring Central America and the Caribbean during long weekends and school holidays, working evenings and co-founding an events marketing company to make money. When the pandemic hit, he seized the opportunity to plan a longer round-the-world journey. By the time he graduated with his MBA in 2022, he had already visited over 100 countries. Anyone who has traveled extensively, especially solo and off-the-beaten-path, learns many lessons that expand their worldview. 'The world is so much more nuanced than we're led to believe,' Mofid says. 'Politicians and the media often frame issues in black and white, but in reality, almost everything falls into a massive gray area. Travel is an incredible avenue to seek truth: to be able to foster a deeper understanding of geopolitics, culture and history.' Pictured in Iraq. We've all heard the adage that history is told by the winning side, and nowhere is this become more apparent than when you travel. 'Every country has a political agenda. But there's two sides to every story, and the truth lies somewhere in between,' he explains. 'Travel is a way to find that truth and to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the world.' The most growth comes at the edge of our comfort zone, and some of the hardest places Mofid visited were the ones that impacted him the most. 'Iraq was one of the first so-called 'risky' countries I visited, and I was so surprised by how kind and welcoming the people were,' he recalls. 'As an American, I was expecting to be met with resentment because of the U.S. invasion. But that couldn't have been further from the truth. In Baghdad, strangers would offer me tea and food on the street just because they were excited to see a tourist. That trip really opened my eyes to the fundamental kindness of humanity,' says Mofid. 'And honestly, that theme held true across a lot of countries that have seen political or economic instability. The tougher the place, the more generous the people.' Pictured in Burundi. Behind the scenes, this journey required meticulous planning: complex visa requirements, navigating flight routes to remote airports, shifting regulations and language barriers. 'During COVID, it became a full-time job just keeping track of which countries were open and what kind of tests or quarantine rules applied,' he says. Many countries also require local fixers, on-the-ground guides who help navigate logistics, legalities and security in challenging destinations, adding to the cost of a trip. 'You can fly to a country like Italy and wing your trip, but you can't do that in places like the Central African Republic or Niger,' he says. Visiting North Korea proved especially complicated. 'It took me three attempts to get in over the years,' Mofid says. The country is notoriously difficult to enter, with Pyongyang considered the most secretive capital in the world. When Mofid discovered that the city was hosting a marathon that would allow him to enter as part of a sporting delegation, he leapt at the opportunity but stayed cautiously optimistic. More photos from the Pyongyang International Marathon in North Korea. 'Even a few days before my trip, I wasn't sure it was going to happen.' But on April 3, 2025, he joined the first group of Westerners to enter Pyongyang in over five years, following the country's prolonged closure during the pandemic. When you travel off-the-beaten-path, so many diverse scenarios come up, from military coups to natural disasters and political unrest. And that doesn't discount personal challenges, like navigating the loneliness of traveling alone for long periods of time, or setbacks you encounter on the road. Did he ever feel like giving up? 'I got seriously ill in the Algerian desert and had a moment of wondering 'Why am I doing this?' But I reminded myself that if you have a dream, you owe it to yourself to see it through. So I gave it everything I had,' he says. Cameron Mofid with children in Makoko, Nigeria, where he runs a nonprofit called Humanity Effect. For Mofid, the journey became about more than just ticking off countries. His proudest moment came in Nigeria — his 115th country — where he visited Makoko, a floating slum in Lagos where most residents live on stilts and survive on less than $1 a day. 'I'd seen enormous poverty before, but not on that scale,' he says. 'I met kids who were genuinely happy despite having so little. It was humbling.' Mofid launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise $5,000 for the local school — and a few weeks later, received a surprise $45,000 donation from NBA star Kyrie Irving. 'That was the turning point,' he says. 'I realized I had a responsibility to do something meaningful.' Cameron Mofid at his nonprofit, Humanity Effect. That campaign evolved into Humanity Effect, a nonprofit Mofid founded to support children in the community. In just a few years, it has funded the construction of a second school, is halfway through building a medical center, and now supports more than 750 children in Nigeria. 'When you travel and meet people, hear their stories, and witness their realities, you understand how interconnected everything really is,' Mofid says. 'So much of life comes down to luck — where you're born, your passport, your opportunities. That realization pushes you to help.' His message to others? 'We must look out for one another and be the change we want to see.' To learn more about Cameron Mofid, visit his website, Instagram and his nonprofit, Humanity Effect.
Telegraph
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
I visited every country on earth but meeting suicide bombers at a wedding shocked me
'I was kidnapped by terrorists in Mauritania. They kept us in a tent for three days in the desert. When they realised that we were nobodies they let us go. I still ask myself: 'why?'' Nicolas Pasquali is reflecting on the inevitable perils that come with joining the '193 club', an exclusive coterie of people who have travelled to every UN-recognised country. The Argentinian recently reached the goal by visiting North Korea when it reopened to foreign tourists in February. 'It was like a school trip,' he says, speaking over WhatsApp from Argentina. 'They put you on a bus, show you what they want you to see. There's all this propaganda everywhere, about how North Korea is the best, how they are going to smash the world. But we had a wonderful time. The people were curious about us.' Despite being chaperoned and fed constant propaganda, North Korea was a holiday compared to Mauritania, where Pasquali and his hired driver were held against their will under canvas by militants who had posed as hitch-hikers. 'They wanted to know what we were doing there and made us pray with them, but they shared their food and treated us pretty well, actually,' he says. Then there was Iraq, where he spent two nights behind bars after being arrested at a checkpoint. '[The police] didn't believe that I was a tourist; they thought I was a spy,' he says. 'They were just doing their job. And it is suspicious, right? But they were friendly. They gave me chicken, we drank tea, they showed me pictures of their kids. Then they put me in a car and drove me to Baghdad and said that if I had a problem, I should call them.' Having brown skin probably helped Pasquali in such situations, he admits. It certainly did in Afghanistan where he hung out with the Taliban. 'I met a guy who made weapons for the Taliban, and he wrote me this letter. It said that I was a great Muslim and a friend of his and so to look after me,' he says. 'I showed the letter at checkpoints, and it opened a lot of doors. People received me, they didn't let me pay for anything. 'They were extremely generous. I got invited to weddings and was introduced to [would-be] suicide bombers. They showed me their weapons. Maybe they're not around any more. I don't know. It's insane to think about.' Pasquali, who is not Muslim, brushes off such dicey dealings as 'part of the game'. It takes a special kind of person to visit every country, he reckons. 'You don't know if you're going to make it,' he says. 'You have to be determined; you have to be a problem solver. I think that's what we all have in common.' Only 370 people alive today are confirmed to have visited all 193 UN-recognised nations, according to NomadMania, which verifies people's claims and does not count airport layovers as legitimate trips (there are a further 66 claims that it could not verify). The site keeps an online league table of the 'most travelled people on Earth', with founder Harry Mitsidis leading the pack. Mitsidis has visited every nation twice because 'if I stay in one place for too long, I feel caged', he tells me over WhatsApp from a 'middle of nowhere' village in Nepal. Ironically, Mitsidis has been caged a number of times on his travels – as many flag collectors have – including in Yemen where he spent a night in a cell with some cockroaches. 'It was miserable,' he says. 'But I deserved it because I was travelling without a visa. It's the only time I have entered a country illegally.' Half-British, half-Greek, Mitsidis grew up between cultures which he credits with sparking his wanderlust. He lives in Kent but spent only 40 days at home last year. His favourite places to hang out are the Silk Road – 'it's the link between east and west, truly fascinating' – and Latin America, where 'there are no rules but some sense of organisation – a winning combination'. 'I also love Romania,' he adds, 'but I can't rationally explain that.' To begin with, Mitsidis' mission to visit every country was, he admits, a bit of a 'box ticking exercise', a restless quest for bragging rights. Nowadays he goes 'much deeper' and tries to immerse himself in cultures. 'I like to think that the movement has evolved like I have evolved,' he says. 'We're not just tickers any more.' The every-country club is a tight-knit community and a broad church. 'Some people are very wealthy, others are washing dishes and saving for their next adventure,' says Mitsidis. 'We've got members from all over the world, and it really varies in terms of age. It does tend to be more masculine, though – about 75 per cent are men – but I see more women entering the space.' Riza Rasco, a Filipino scientist, is one of them, having also just ticked off North Korea, her final country. She took on the challenge of visiting every nation after her mother died in 2013. 'My world was different after,' she says. 'I was in my early 40s, depressed and no longer wanted to be in the US, where I was working.' So she signed up to a nine-month overland trip around Africa, travelling in the back of an old military truck. 'It was very basic,' she says. When her marriage fell apart in 2019, Rasco took to travelling full-time at a cost of around $50,000 (£39,000) per year, funded by renting out property. 'I stay in cheap accommodation,' she says. 'Once in a while I'll treat myself to a three-star hotel.' Rasco goes deeper into destinations than most. 'I like spending time with tribes,' she says. 'I went into the Amazon to be with the matsés – the jaguar people – who have decorative whiskers. I like to dress up like the [native] women and learn what they do, so I went into the forest and gathered. But matsés women only wear skirts woven from leaves, so I was topless.' Rasco, however, declined the local custom of imbibing hallucinogenic frog toxic. 'I was scared how my body would react,' she says. 'I was far from a hospital.' Invariably, she's had brushes with danger, notably in Yemen. 'The rebels were firing bazookas around us on our way to the airport,' she says. 'The ground was shaking. It was scary.' Despite such experiences, she believes that '99 per cent of people are good' and the world is safer than we're led to believe. Completing the task of visiting every nation begs an obvious question: what next? 'I'm writing a book about how places changed me,' says Rasco, who resettled in the Philippines where she leads projects to improve life in poor communities. 'The more I travelled, the more I wanted to belong. And where I belong is the Philippines.' Pasquali has also settled in his native Argentina where he works in finance. 'My new purpose is to have a family,' he says. 'But first I need to find a girl.' Mitsidis, meanwhile, keeps moving. Through NomadMania he has divided the world into 1,301 'distinct' regions and aims to visit them all. 'It's a good challenge without being absurd,' he says. 'I need constant change.'
