Traveling around the world is one thing, but walking around it is a completely different experience. Six people took the slow route, in one way or another.
It takes about 20 million steps to walk around the world, not to mention several years of commitment, determination, and a state of mind that few of us can imagine.
Entry into the elite club of those that have walked around the world requires strict rules and verification. Many successful foot circumnavigations of the globe have not achieved official recognition, but they are still an epic demonstration of human endurance and courage.
Here are a few.
1. Dave Kunst.
Dave Kunst was the first person to complete a circuit of the earth on foot.
Dave and his brother John embarked on a journey that would take them across Europe, North America, Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
Dave and Pete completed this journey despite the fact that Dave's brother John was shot and killed in Afghanistan.
He walked 14,450 miles in 4 years.
2. Steven Newman.
Steve Newman was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the first person to walk around the world alone.
He has walked the length of Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, as well as the 900-mile Henro Pilgrimage path on Japan's Shikoku Island.
He is going to walk across the entire length of the Great Wall of China.
3. Rosie Swale-Pope.
Rosie Swale-Pope was not content with just walking around the world, she ran.
Rosie took on one of the most difficult routes to travel the world to raise cancer awareness and aid for other charities.
She wore through over 50 pairs of shoes and raised over $250,000 for charity.
4. Ffyona Campbell is a person.
Ffyona Campbell's record of being the first woman to walk around the world was taken away when it was discovered she cheated on her trip.
She walked 20,000 miles across the USA, Australia, Africa, and Europe in 11 years.
She made up the distance that was missed in the USA. She holds the record for the fastest crossing of Australia on foot in 95 days, even though she can't get her lost record back.
5. George Meegan is a man.
George Meegan walked 19,019 miles from Tierra Del Fuego to the northernmost part of Alaska.
He holds the record for the longest walk, the first walk to cover the entire western hemisphere, and the most degrees of latitude ever covered on foot.
He has four other records relating to countries and continents crossed.
6. Karl Bushby is a man.
Karl Bushby had a plan to walk from the bottom of South America to the top of Alaska and back to the UK.
His walk is in the middle of Russia and he is waiting for visas and sponsorship.
Karl Bushby is one of around 20 that are in progress at the moment, most in aid of charity or to raise awareness of global issues.
