Traveller Karl Bushby Walked from Chile to Great Britain. It Took Him 28 Years
Bushby, now 57, set off on November 1, 1998, from the southernmost city on Earth.
British traveller Karl Bushby crossed the English Channel this week and returned to his home country, where he set off from Chile some 28 years ago. Bushby covered the long journey across the world on foot or by swimming.
Bushby, now 57, began his journey on November 1, 1998.
For his journey, he set two main rules for himself, which he strictly adhered to: not to use any means of transport and not to shorten the path, but to cover the entire planned route.
On Thursday, Bushby announced that he had crossed the English Channel and was now heading to his hometown of Hull.
"After all these years, it's nice to feel my homeland under my feet," said the traveller. "It wasn't easy, but the difficulties are one of the reasons I do this: to prove that I'm capable of more than I think I am."
"We can all achieve much more than we could ever imagine," he added.
Bushby completed the penultimate stage of his journey by swimming: for 20 hours he crossed the English Channel and at 3:30 PM on October 5, he reached the British shore in the Dover area.
The British Coastguard reported that it coordinated his movements jointly with French authorities to "ensure compliance with all safety protocols."
On the shore, the traveller was met by his friends and relatives, including his father, former British special forces operative Keith Bushby, and renowned film director Werner Herzog, who is filming a feature-length documentary about Bushby titled "Walk of Life."
Over the years of his journey, he covered more than 48,000 km and crossed 29 countries worldwide. According to him, due to visa restrictions, he could not spend too much time in some countries.
His route did not exclusively involve moving forward. In particular, he returned to Mexico several times, where life is relatively inexpensive: it was there that he weathered the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bushby also periodically traveled to the USA, where his sponsors are located.
However, each time before starting the next stage of his journey, Bushby returned exactly to the point where he had paused his walk.
In a TikTok video recorded after his return to Britain, Karl shared what he felt on the first day of his walk.
"It was a bit scary, but at the same time exciting. You're embarking on a journey of more than 50,000 kilometers. Firstly, I had no idea how it would turn out. I knew nothing. Secondly, I knew I could do it. You'd be surprised how far you can go if you have even a little self-confidence," he said.
Crazy Idea
Bushby was born in Hull in 1969. He recounted that classmates bullied him at school because of dyslexia, which was only diagnosed when he was 13 years old.
He recalls those years as "hell." According to him, he found solace in nature, often spending his free time observing birds in the fields around his home.
He later joined the army and spent 12 years in the parachute regiment.
It took him several attempts to pass the training with Pegasus Company — an exhausting course mandatory for all aspiring paratroopers.
It was then, during his military service, that Bushby conceived the idea of walking across the entire world. He sketched an approximate route on a map and showed it to his comrades, but they said it was impossible.
However, their reaction had the opposite effect and only strengthened the future traveller's resolve.
A Wonderful and Dangerous Journey
In 1998, at the age of 29, Karl set off from Punta Arenas, the southernmost city on Earth on the southern tip of Chile, with a backpack on his shoulders and a single goal — to walk home to the British city of Hull.
Initially, he expected the journey to take about 12 years, but the hardships of the path, various unforeseen circumstances, and global cataclysms pushed the moment of his return home further and further away.
From Chile, Karl headed north — through Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia.
Using skills acquired during his military service, as well as his father's advice, Karl managed to avoid encounters with armed gangs and overcome the Darién Gap — a difficult-to-pass strip of jungle on the border of Colombia and Panama.
This is the only land route connecting these countries, as well as Central and South America, and one of the most dangerous routes in the world.
His path then led through Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico, after which he crossed the territories of the USA and Canada.
In March 2006, he was joined by French traveller Dimitri Kiefer. Together they crossed the Bering Strait over the ice connecting Alaska and Russia.
However, near the Chukotka village of Uelen, they were detained by Russian border guards for illegally crossing the border.
The travellers faced a ban on entering Russia, which could have put an end to the entire endeavor. However, an appeals court allowed Karl to continue his journey.
This was preceded by the intervention of the late John Prescott, who at the time served as Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and represented the East Hull constituency in parliament, as well as Roman Abramovich, who was then the governor of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug and owner of the Chelsea football club.
Karl walked through Siberia, Mongolia, and China, then reached Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan.
Due to the tense international situation, he decided to bypass Iran and instead swim across the Caspian Sea to reach Azerbaijan. This swim took 31 days.
From Azerbaijan, Karl continued his journey to Turkey, and then reached Europe.
By mid-June 2026, he had reached Belgium, and only a few weeks remained until French Calais. However, the Eurotunnel company management rejected his request to allow him to enter the UK via the service tunnel under the English Channel.
This refusal forced Bushby to stay in Europe a little longer than he had planned.
In September, when BBC journalists met him in Belgium, he admitted that "it's definitely time to finish," adding: "I don't want this to go on for much longer."
Eurotunnel management continued to insist on their stance and left Bushby no other option but to swim across the English Channel.
How Was the Journey Financed?
When Karl set off, he had only 500 dollars in his pocket and no sponsors.
But gradually, the expedition began to be financed mainly through Karl's own income, including from publications, such as his book GiantSteps ("Giant Steps"), and public speaking engagements.
In 2007-2008, during the global financial crisis, he lost major sponsors. However, he later managed to find new ones, among whom was an American company producing documentary films.
"At such a moment, you no longer perceive it as an adventure," Karl said earlier in an interview with the BBC. "It crashes down on you like a tsunami."
His mother, Angela, a former factory worker and now a pensioner, stated that Karl is mistakenly portrayed as coming from a wealthy family.
What's Next?
In Hull, Karl's mother Angela is eagerly awaiting him. She said she would be waiting for her son right by the gate.
"First, I'll hug him, and then I'll ask: 'And what's this about, Karl? Aren't you a bit late coming home?'" she joked.
While in Europe during the final stage of his journey, Karl shared with journalists that future prospects evoke conflicting feelings in him.
He is happy to return home after long wanderings but feels anxiety.
According to him, he spoke with other travellers who had undertaken long walks, and they told him about the feelings of loneliness and inner unrest they experienced after completing their treks.
According to him, the first days back home were very strange, and he is still getting used to Great Britain again.
"It's like I'm in some other country. I've been away for 28 years, everything has changed. I'm getting used to using pounds sterling again. I go into a shop and don't understand how much I've spent; I have to constantly convert to dollars. I also don't know many of the product brands on the shelves," says Bushby.
For now, he has no specific plans for the future, but Angela doubts that her son will stay in Hull for long.
Karl has long been interested in science, nature, and how to inspire a new generation of travellers. It is quite possible that his next project will be dedicated to this.
When asked about the main lesson his journey taught him, he answers without hesitation: "99.999% of people are wonderful."
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