# List of pedestrian circumnavigators

A circumnavigation of the Earth is a journey from a point around the globe, returning to the point of departure. In a pedestrian circumnavigation, travelers must move around the globe and return to their starting point by their own power, either walking or running. The Guinness Book of World Records sets the requirements for a circumnavigation on foot as having traveled 18,000 miles, and crossed four continents. The World Runner's Association (WRA), a small club in the "ultrarunning" community, requirements are crossing four continents ocean to ocean and covering 26,232km in total among other requirements but does not have a time limit.
Attempts to walk around the world began as early as 1786. Starting in 1875, dozens of circumnavigation ultrawalkers emerged, most of them frauds who fooled the public to win wagers and made a living giving lectures about their supposed "walks". Later, a few legitimate walkers succeeded. The first legitimate ultrarunner to succeed is Konstantin Rengarten, and the most recent to succeed is Marie Leautey. The following list shows people who have, or claim to have, completed a circumnavigation on foot, sorted by date of departure.

## Pedestrian circumnavigators

| | | Details |
| Name | Konstantin Rengarten [pl] | Rengarten was likely the true first person to walk around the world. Born in the Minsk province in the Baltics (today in Belarus), Rengarten started a walk from west to east with his starting point at Riga, the present-day capital of Latvia (then part of the Russian Empire). He continued across Asia, through North America and Europe, and finished at his starting point on September 27, 1898. |
| Date | Aug. 15, 1894 – Sept. 27, 1898 | Rengarten was likely the true first person to walk around the world. Born in the Minsk province in the Baltics (today in Belarus), Rengarten started a walk from west to east with his starting point at Riga, the present-day capital of Latvia (then part of the Russian Empire). He continued across Asia, through North America and Europe, and finished at his starting point on September 27, 1898. |
| Duration | 4 years, 1 month, 13 days | Rengarten was likely the true first person to walk around the world. Born in the Minsk province in the Baltics (today in Belarus), Rengarten started a walk from west to east with his starting point at Riga, the present-day capital of Latvia (then part of the Russian Empire). He continued across Asia, through North America and Europe, and finished at his starting point on September 27, 1898. |
| Distance | 26,876 kilometres (16,700 mi) | Rengarten was likely the true first person to walk around the world. Born in the Minsk province in the Baltics (today in Belarus), Rengarten started a walk from west to east with his starting point at Riga, the present-day capital of Latvia (then part of the Russian Empire). He continued across Asia, through North America and Europe, and finished at his starting point on September 27, 1898. |
| Name | George Matthew Schilling | The Guinness Book of World Records attributes the "first circumnavigation by walking" to both Schilling and David Kunst; however, Schilling's reputed walk was never verified. Schilling's walk has been met with heavy skepticism and is believed to have been impossible at the time. He never fully completed the circumnavigation. A few years later, he became a self-promoter by making false claims about outlandish stunts. |
| Date | 1897–1904 | The Guinness Book of World Records attributes the "first circumnavigation by walking" to both Schilling and David Kunst; however, Schilling's reputed walk was never verified. Schilling's walk has been met with heavy skepticism and is believed to have been impossible at the time. He never fully completed the circumnavigation. A few years later, he became a self-promoter by making false claims about outlandish stunts. |
| Duration | ~ 7 years | The Guinness Book of World Records attributes the "first circumnavigation by walking" to both Schilling and David Kunst; however, Schilling's reputed walk was never verified. Schilling's walk has been met with heavy skepticism and is believed to have been impossible at the time. He never fully completed the circumnavigation. A few years later, he became a self-promoter by making false claims about outlandish stunts. |
| Distance | Unknown | The Guinness Book of World Records attributes the "first circumnavigation by walking" to both Schilling and David Kunst; however, Schilling's reputed walk was never verified. Schilling's walk has been met with heavy skepticism and is believed to have been impossible at the time. He never fully completed the circumnavigation. A few years later, he became a self-promoter by making false claims about outlandish stunts. |
| Name | Arthur Blessitt | Blessitt is an American preacher of Evangelical Christianity. Starting in 1969, Blessitt carried a cross through every nation of the world, with the goal of setting foot in every country and every island nation in the world. He completed this goal on June 13, 2008. He holds the Guinness world record for the "longest ongoing pilgrimage", and has walked 321 countries, including island groups, territories, and countries which no longer exist, of which 54 were in open war. |
| Date | Dec. 25, 1969 – June 13, 2008 | Blessitt is an American preacher of Evangelical Christianity. Starting in 1969, Blessitt carried a cross through every nation of the world, with the goal of setting foot in every country and every island nation in the world. He completed this goal on June 13, 2008. He holds the Guinness world record for the "longest ongoing pilgrimage", and has walked 321 countries, including island groups, territories, and countries which no longer exist, of which 54 were in open war. |
| Duration | 38 years, 5 months, 20 days | Blessitt is an American preacher of Evangelical Christianity. Starting in 1969, Blessitt carried a cross through every nation of the world, with the goal of setting foot in every country and every island nation in the world. He completed this goal on June 13, 2008. He holds the Guinness world record for the "longest ongoing pilgrimage", and has walked 321 countries, including island groups, territories, and countries which no longer exist, of which 54 were in open war. |
| Distance | 65,319 kilometres (40,587 mi) | Blessitt is an American preacher of Evangelical Christianity. Starting in 1969, Blessitt carried a cross through every nation of the world, with the goal of setting foot in every country and every island nation in the world. He completed this goal on June 13, 2008. He holds the Guinness world record for the "longest ongoing pilgrimage", and has walked 321 countries, including island groups, territories, and countries which no longer exist, of which 54 were in open war. |
| Name | Dave Kunst | Dave Kunst became the first man independently verified to have walked around the world, covering four continents. His brother, John Kunst, accompanied him for two years from his starting point in Waseca, Minnesota, until he was killed by bandits in Afghanistan. Kunst continued the walk in his brother's honor. He completed his walk on October 5, 1974 after 14,500 miles. Kunst walked across four continents including North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. He walked across Australia since he was unable to obtain permission to walk across China. Australia was selected since its widest point (2,500 miles) is comparable to the average width of China in miles. |
| Date | June 20, 1970 – Oct. 5, 1974 | Dave Kunst became the first man independently verified to have walked around the world, covering four continents. His brother, John Kunst, accompanied him for two years from his starting point in Waseca, Minnesota, until he was killed by bandits in Afghanistan. Kunst continued the walk in his brother's honor. He completed his walk on October 5, 1974 after 14,500 miles. Kunst walked across four continents including North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. He walked across Australia since he was unable to obtain permission to walk across China. Australia was selected since its widest point (2,500 miles) is comparable to the average width of China in miles. |
| Duration | 4 years, 3 months, 16 days | Dave Kunst became the first man independently verified to have walked around the world, covering four continents. His brother, John Kunst, accompanied him for two years from his starting point in Waseca, Minnesota, until he was killed by bandits in Afghanistan. Kunst continued the walk in his brother's honor. He completed his walk on October 5, 1974 after 14,500 miles. Kunst walked across four continents including North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. He walked across Australia since he was unable to obtain permission to walk across China. Australia was selected since its widest point (2,500 miles) is comparable to the average width of China in miles. |
| Distance | 23,250 kilometres (14,450 mi) | Dave Kunst became the first man independently verified to have walked around the world, covering four continents. His brother, John Kunst, accompanied him for two years from his starting point in Waseca, Minnesota, until he was killed by bandits in Afghanistan. Kunst continued the walk in his brother's honor. He completed his walk on October 5, 1974 after 14,500 miles. Kunst walked across four continents including North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. He walked across Australia since he was unable to obtain permission to walk across China. Australia was selected since its widest point (2,500 miles) is comparable to the average width of China in miles. |
| Name | Steven M. Newman | Newman became the second man independently verified to walk around the world on April 1, 1987, exactly four years after his departure. His walk was very similar to Kunst's, covering four continents and 14,500 miles. Similar to Kunst, Newman's walk falls short of the minimum distance required by the WRA for membership. However, the WRA did not exist at the time of his walk. Like Kunst, Newman also had a gap between India and Thailand, and another gap in the Middle East. |
| Date | April 1, 1983 – April 1, 1987 | Newman became the second man independently verified to walk around the world on April 1, 1987, exactly four years after his departure. His walk was very similar to Kunst's, covering four continents and 14,500 miles. Similar to Kunst, Newman's walk falls short of the minimum distance required by the WRA for membership. However, the WRA did not exist at the time of his walk. Like Kunst, Newman also had a gap between India and Thailand, and another gap in the Middle East. |
| Duration | 4 years | Newman became the second man independently verified to walk around the world on April 1, 1987, exactly four years after his departure. His walk was very similar to Kunst's, covering four continents and 14,500 miles. Similar to Kunst, Newman's walk falls short of the minimum distance required by the WRA for membership. However, the WRA did not exist at the time of his walk. Like Kunst, Newman also had a gap between India and Thailand, and another gap in the Middle East. |
| Distance | 23,335 kilometres (14,500 mi) | Newman became the second man independently verified to walk around the world on April 1, 1987, exactly four years after his departure. His walk was very similar to Kunst's, covering four continents and 14,500 miles. Similar to Kunst, Newman's walk falls short of the minimum distance required by the WRA for membership. However, the WRA did not exist at the time of his walk. Like Kunst, Newman also had a gap between India and Thailand, and another gap in the Middle East. |
| Name | Ffyona Campbell | Campbell became the third person and first woman claiming to have walked around the world. She carried out her walk in stages. In 1985, she walked from New York City to Los Angeles, across the United States. She later admitted to taking transport during one stretch, because she was ill, but had to meet sponsors' demands. She later returned to walk that stretch. In 1989, she walked from Sydney to Perth, in Australia. In 1991, she walked across Africa, from Cape Town, South Africa to Tangiers, Morocco. In 1995, she completed her walk. Her walk was carried out in stages and does not meet WRA standards. |
| Date | Aug. 17, 1985 – Oct. 14, 1994 | Campbell became the third person and first woman claiming to have walked around the world. She carried out her walk in stages. In 1985, she walked from New York City to Los Angeles, across the United States. She later admitted to taking transport during one stretch, because she was ill, but had to meet sponsors' demands. She later returned to walk that stretch. In 1989, she walked from Sydney to Perth, in Australia. In 1991, she walked across Africa, from Cape Town, South Africa to Tangiers, Morocco. In 1995, she completed her walk. Her walk was carried out in stages and does not meet WRA standards. |
| Duration | 9 years, 1 month, 28 days | Campbell became the third person and first woman claiming to have walked around the world. She carried out her walk in stages. In 1985, she walked from New York City to Los Angeles, across the United States. She later admitted to taking transport during one stretch, because she was ill, but had to meet sponsors' demands. She later returned to walk that stretch. In 1989, she walked from Sydney to Perth, in Australia. In 1991, she walked across Africa, from Cape Town, South Africa to Tangiers, Morocco. In 1995, she completed her walk. Her walk was carried out in stages and does not meet WRA standards. |
| Distance | 32,186 kilometres (19,999 mi) | Campbell became the third person and first woman claiming to have walked around the world. She carried out her walk in stages. In 1985, she walked from New York City to Los Angeles, across the United States. She later admitted to taking transport during one stretch, because she was ill, but had to meet sponsors' demands. She later returned to walk that stretch. In 1989, she walked from Sydney to Perth, in Australia. In 1991, she walked across Africa, from Cape Town, South Africa to Tangiers, Morocco. In 1995, she completed her walk. Her walk was carried out in stages and does not meet WRA standards. |
| Name | Robert Garside | Garside is a British runner credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the first person to run around the world. Garside previously attempted two runs starting from Cape Town, South Africa, and London, England, but aborted both. In 1997, he began a run in New Delhi, India, and completed his run at the same point on June 13, 2003. His run was met with heavy skepticism, including from Kunst. |
| Date | Oct. 20, 1997 – June 13, 2003 | Garside is a British runner credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the first person to run around the world. Garside previously attempted two runs starting from Cape Town, South Africa, and London, England, but aborted both. In 1997, he began a run in New Delhi, India, and completed his run at the same point on June 13, 2003. His run was met with heavy skepticism, including from Kunst. |
| Duration | 5 years, 7 months, 25 days | Garside is a British runner credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the first person to run around the world. Garside previously attempted two runs starting from Cape Town, South Africa, and London, England, but aborted both. In 1997, he began a run in New Delhi, India, and completed his run at the same point on June 13, 2003. His run was met with heavy skepticism, including from Kunst. |
| Distance | 48,000 kilometres (30,000 mi) | Garside is a British runner credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the first person to run around the world. Garside previously attempted two runs starting from Cape Town, South Africa, and London, England, but aborted both. In 1997, he began a run in New Delhi, India, and completed his run at the same point on June 13, 2003. His run was met with heavy skepticism, including from Kunst. |
| Name | Polly Letofsky | On 1 August 1999, Polly Letofsky left her home in Colorado on a five-year journey spanning four continents and 22 countries. She started her leg across Australia on 29 October 2000 from St Kilda Pier on Port Phillip Bay in Melbourne, and concluded on 22 July 2001 after arriving in Port Douglas. On 30 July 2004, she concluded her journey having walked over 22,730 km (14,120 mi), having raised over $250,000 for breast cancer research, and having officially become the first woman to have walked around the world. |
| Date | 1 August 1999 – 2004 | On 1 August 1999, Polly Letofsky left her home in Colorado on a five-year journey spanning four continents and 22 countries. She started her leg across Australia on 29 October 2000 from St Kilda Pier on Port Phillip Bay in Melbourne, and concluded on 22 July 2001 after arriving in Port Douglas. On 30 July 2004, she concluded her journey having walked over 22,730 km (14,120 mi), having raised over $250,000 for breast cancer research, and having officially become the first woman to have walked around the world. |
| Duration | 5 years | On 1 August 1999, Polly Letofsky left her home in Colorado on a five-year journey spanning four continents and 22 countries. She started her leg across Australia on 29 October 2000 from St Kilda Pier on Port Phillip Bay in Melbourne, and concluded on 22 July 2001 after arriving in Port Douglas. On 30 July 2004, she concluded her journey having walked over 22,730 km (14,120 mi), having raised over $250,000 for breast cancer research, and having officially become the first woman to have walked around the world. |
| Distance | Over 22,730 km (14,120 mi) | On 1 August 1999, Polly Letofsky left her home in Colorado on a five-year journey spanning four continents and 22 countries. She started her leg across Australia on 29 October 2000 from St Kilda Pier on Port Phillip Bay in Melbourne, and concluded on 22 July 2001 after arriving in Port Douglas. On 30 July 2004, she concluded her journey having walked over 22,730 km (14,120 mi), having raised over $250,000 for breast cancer research, and having officially become the first woman to have walked around the world. |
| Name | Jean Beliveau | Beliveau became the fifth man to be independently verified as having walked around the world. Walking for 11 years and covering 75,000 km, Beliveau's walk is the longest continuous world walk and has preliminary qualification stage for recognition under the WRA guidelines. |
| Date | Aug. 18, 2000 – Oct. 15, 2011 | Beliveau became the fifth man to be independently verified as having walked around the world. Walking for 11 years and covering 75,000 km, Beliveau's walk is the longest continuous world walk and has preliminary qualification stage for recognition under the WRA guidelines. |
| Duration | 11 years, 1 month, 29 days | Beliveau became the fifth man to be independently verified as having walked around the world. Walking for 11 years and covering 75,000 km, Beliveau's walk is the longest continuous world walk and has preliminary qualification stage for recognition under the WRA guidelines. |
| Distance | 75,000 kilometres (47,000 mi) | Beliveau became the fifth man to be independently verified as having walked around the world. Walking for 11 years and covering 75,000 km, Beliveau's walk is the longest continuous world walk and has preliminary qualification stage for recognition under the WRA guidelines. |
| Name | Rosie Swale-Pope | First woman to run and walk the northern hemisphere. She did not follow World Runners Association guidelines, primarily by running three continents instead of the minimum four and not crossing and recrossing the equator. She elected to run totally in the northern hemisphere; an additional 4,000 km run across Australia would have met the WRA guidelines. |
| Date | Oct. 2, 2003 – Aug. 25, 2008 | First woman to run and walk the northern hemisphere. She did not follow World Runners Association guidelines, primarily by running three continents instead of the minimum four and not crossing and recrossing the equator. She elected to run totally in the northern hemisphere; an additional 4,000 km run across Australia would have met the WRA guidelines. |
| Duration | 4 years, 10 months, 24 days | First woman to run and walk the northern hemisphere. She did not follow World Runners Association guidelines, primarily by running three continents instead of the minimum four and not crossing and recrossing the equator. She elected to run totally in the northern hemisphere; an additional 4,000 km run across Australia would have met the WRA guidelines. |
| Distance | 32,000 kilometres (20,000 mi) | First woman to run and walk the northern hemisphere. She did not follow World Runners Association guidelines, primarily by running three continents instead of the minimum four and not crossing and recrossing the equator. She elected to run totally in the northern hemisphere; an additional 4,000 km run across Australia would have met the WRA guidelines. |
| Name | Jesper Kenn Olsen | Jesper Kenn Olsen ran 26,232 kilometres in his first world run. |
| Date | Jan. 1, 2004 – Oct. 23, 2005 | Jesper Kenn Olsen ran 26,232 kilometres in his first world run. |
| Duration | 1 year, 9 months, 23 days | Jesper Kenn Olsen ran 26,232 kilometres in his first world run. |
| Distance | 26,232 kilometres (16,300 mi) | Jesper Kenn Olsen ran 26,232 kilometres in his first world run. |
| Name | Masahito Yoshida | Masahito Yoshida, a Japanese man, walked approximately 40,000 km around the world. Starting from Shanghai on January 1, 2009, and returning on June 9, 2013, his journey took him across Asia, Europe, North America, and Australia. He faced challenges such as extreme weather and health issues but maintained a walking pace of around 30 km per day. |
| Date | Jan. 1, 2009 – June 9, 2013 | Masahito Yoshida, a Japanese man, walked approximately 40,000 km around the world. Starting from Shanghai on January 1, 2009, and returning on June 9, 2013, his journey took him across Asia, Europe, North America, and Australia. He faced challenges such as extreme weather and health issues but maintained a walking pace of around 30 km per day. |
| Duration | 4 years, 5 months, 9 days | Masahito Yoshida, a Japanese man, walked approximately 40,000 km around the world. Starting from Shanghai on January 1, 2009, and returning on June 9, 2013, his journey took him across Asia, Europe, North America, and Australia. He faced challenges such as extreme weather and health issues but maintained a walking pace of around 30 km per day. |
| Distance | 40,000 kilometres (25,000 mi) | Masahito Yoshida, a Japanese man, walked approximately 40,000 km around the world. Starting from Shanghai on January 1, 2009, and returning on June 9, 2013, his journey took him across Asia, Europe, North America, and Australia. He faced challenges such as extreme weather and health issues but maintained a walking pace of around 30 km per day. |
| Name | Tony Mangan | Third runner to successfully run around the world. Having run 50,000 km, he holds the record for the longest world run according to the World Runners Association guidelines. Mangan is the third person to be inducted into the WRA membership. |
| Date | Oct. 25, 2010 – Oct. 27, 2014 | Third runner to successfully run around the world. Having run 50,000 km, he holds the record for the longest world run according to the World Runners Association guidelines. Mangan is the third person to be inducted into the WRA membership. |
| Duration | 4 years, 3 days | Third runner to successfully run around the world. Having run 50,000 km, he holds the record for the longest world run according to the World Runners Association guidelines. Mangan is the third person to be inducted into the WRA membership. |
| Distance | 50,000 kilometres (31,000 mi) | Third runner to successfully run around the world. Having run 50,000 km, he holds the record for the longest world run according to the World Runners Association guidelines. Mangan is the third person to be inducted into the WRA membership. |
| Name | Tom Denniss | Second runner credited with a proper documented world run under the World Runners Association rules. He holds the record for the fastest circumnavigation on foot and is the second person to be inducted into the WRA membership. |
| Date | Dec. 31, 2011 – Sept. 13, 2013 | Second runner credited with a proper documented world run under the World Runners Association rules. He holds the record for the fastest circumnavigation on foot and is the second person to be inducted into the WRA membership. |
| Duration | 1 year, 8 months, 14 days | Second runner credited with a proper documented world run under the World Runners Association rules. He holds the record for the fastest circumnavigation on foot and is the second person to be inducted into the WRA membership. |
| Distance | 26,232 kilometres (16,300 mi) | Second runner credited with a proper documented world run under the World Runners Association rules. He holds the record for the fastest circumnavigation on foot and is the second person to be inducted into the WRA membership. |
| Name | Kevin John Carr | Aiming to be the fourth runner credited with a proper documented world run, he followed the WRA rules in his attempt to break Tom Denniss's record for the fastest circumnavigation of the world on foot. Ratification of his claim by WRA is still pending. |
| Date | July 28, 2013 – April 9, 2015 | Aiming to be the fourth runner credited with a proper documented world run, he followed the WRA rules in his attempt to break Tom Denniss's record for the fastest circumnavigation of the world on foot. Ratification of his claim by WRA is still pending. |
| Duration | 1 year, 8 months, 13 days | Aiming to be the fourth runner credited with a proper documented world run, he followed the WRA rules in his attempt to break Tom Denniss's record for the fastest circumnavigation of the world on foot. Ratification of his claim by WRA is still pending. |
| Distance | 26,232 kilometres (16,300 mi) | Aiming to be the fourth runner credited with a proper documented world run, he followed the WRA rules in his attempt to break Tom Denniss's record for the fastest circumnavigation of the world on foot. Ratification of his claim by WRA is still pending. |
| Name | Tom Turcich | Turcich became the tenth person to circumnavigate the globe on foot, by his own count. Turcich left his home in Haddon Township, New Jersey on April 2, 2015, walking across every continent except Australia, before returning to his starting point on May 21, 2022. In August 2015, Turcich adopted an Australian Shepherd in Austin, Texas, whom he named Savannah. Savannah became the first dog to circumnavigate the globe on foot. |
| Date | April 2, 2015 – May 21, 2022 | Turcich became the tenth person to circumnavigate the globe on foot, by his own count. Turcich left his home in Haddon Township, New Jersey on April 2, 2015, walking across every continent except Australia, before returning to his starting point on May 21, 2022. In August 2015, Turcich adopted an Australian Shepherd in Austin, Texas, whom he named Savannah. Savannah became the first dog to circumnavigate the globe on foot. |
| Duration | 7 years, 1 month, 20 days | Turcich became the tenth person to circumnavigate the globe on foot, by his own count. Turcich left his home in Haddon Township, New Jersey on April 2, 2015, walking across every continent except Australia, before returning to his starting point on May 21, 2022. In August 2015, Turcich adopted an Australian Shepherd in Austin, Texas, whom he named Savannah. Savannah became the first dog to circumnavigate the globe on foot. |
| Distance | 45,061 kilometres (28,000 mi) | Turcich became the tenth person to circumnavigate the globe on foot, by his own count. Turcich left his home in Haddon Township, New Jersey on April 2, 2015, walking across every continent except Australia, before returning to his starting point on May 21, 2022. In August 2015, Turcich adopted an Australian Shepherd in Austin, Texas, whom he named Savannah. Savannah became the first dog to circumnavigate the globe on foot. |
| Name | Marie Leautey | Seventh runner credited with a proper documented world run under the World Runners Association rules. She holds the record for the fastest circumnavigation on foot (woman) and is the seventh person to be inducted into the WRA membership. |
| Date | Dec. 6, 2019 – Sept. 1, 2022 | Seventh runner credited with a proper documented world run under the World Runners Association rules. She holds the record for the fastest circumnavigation on foot (woman) and is the seventh person to be inducted into the WRA membership. |
| Duration | 2 years, 3 months, 4 days (825 days) | Seventh runner credited with a proper documented world run under the World Runners Association rules. She holds the record for the fastest circumnavigation on foot (woman) and is the seventh person to be inducted into the WRA membership. |
| Distance | 28,249 kilometres (17,553 mi) | Seventh runner credited with a proper documented world run under the World Runners Association rules. She holds the record for the fastest circumnavigation on foot (woman) and is the seventh person to be inducted into the WRA membership. |