My story

My name is Graham Hughes. I'm an adventurer, filmmaker, travel blogger and TV presenter from Liverpool, England. On January 1 2009 I crossed the River Plate into Uruguay and began The Odyssey Expedition: The first official Guinness World Record™attempt to visit every soveign state on Planet Earth without flying. 

On November 26 2012, after almost four years on the road, I crossed the border into South Sudan - the newest country on Earth - and completed the first surface journey to every country in the world.

That's the 193 member states of the UN plus Taiwan, Vatican City, Palestine, Kosovo, Western Sahara and the four home nations of The United Kingdom. A staggering 201 international borders crossed by foot, bus, taxi, train, ship or canoe. No planes, no helicopters and no hot-air balloons. 

Along the way I shot and present the TV show Graham's World for the National Geographic Adventure channel and raise funds for the registered charity WaterAid. 

I travel alone, without any back-up and on a shoestring budget of less than $100 a week. I keep costs down by CouchSurfing and hitching rides on cargo ships whenever possible. It doesn't get any more real than this. 

But it's not over yet!! Having completed the main journey, I am now racing back to my hometown of Liverpool. 

I'm raising money for the charity WaterAid, a UK-based registered charity fighting to alleviate the disease, misery and death caused by open sewers, contaminated drinking water and lousy sanitation in developing countries around the world.

It's shocking that in 2012 children are still dying unnecessarily from diarrhoea - one of the most preventable and cheaply treated diseases in the world. A donation of just one dollar would pay for a simple sugar-salt solution which could genuinely save a child's life.  

If you've enjoyed following The Odyssey Expedition, please, give a little back.

Thank You.

My gallery 10

My Teams

My company

My charity

WaterAid

WaterAid

Charity Registration No. 288701 (England and Wales) and SC039479 (Scotland)

WaterAid is an international charity. Our mission is to transform lives by improving access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation in the world's poorest communities. For more information please visit http://www.wateraid.org/uk - Thanks so much for your support!

Donations 214

Happy birthday - you're doing great. Loved day 55 and 56 - brought a tear to my eye!

Donation by Mary Dowrick on 28/02/09

£100.00

+ £28.21 Gift Aid

£1 a country plus birthday money!

Donation by Michelle Robinson on 28/02/09

£53.00

+ £14.95 Gift Aid

Happy Birthday - This is what I'd spend on drinks for you for tonight - like aided water

Donation by Hugh Sheridan on 27/02/09

£80.00

+ £22.56 Gift Aid

Don't leave your Guide Books behind again ;-)

Donation by Ulf on 20/02/09

£5.00

WE'RE KEEPING TRACK OF YOU. GOOD LUCK GRAHAM

Donation by VICKY MCBRIDE on 17/02/09

£100.00

+ £28.21 Gift Aid

Hang in there Gray!! In every great journey you hit a few bumps in the road. Just close your eyes, hit the accelerator & keep going man! - M x

Donation by Mel & Han on 17/02/09

£20.00

already, this is an incredible achievement. best of luck!!

Donation by samantha sirotkin on 16/02/09

£30.00

good luck with it gingerscouer

Donation by Steven L on 15/02/09

£25.00

When you making it up to Canada eh? Good on ya for this expedition! Well done on the youtube vlogs, you got me watching!

Donation by Christopher J. Kennedy on 14/02/09

£5.00

Good Luck on the mission. I hope you find the US to be the easiest.

Donation by Justin McClintic on 11/02/09

£15.00

looking forward to the iranian dispatch!

Donation by leon harris on 05/02/09

£10.00

+ £2.82 Gift Aid

Go for it Graham, your doing brilliant!!!

Donation by Michelle & Martin Mitchell on 03/02/09

£30.00

+ £8.46 Gift Aid

Well done son, keep movin'. xx

Donation by Graham & Irene Hughes on 31/01/09

£100.00

+ £28.21 Gift Aid

What you're doing is wonderful.GOOD LUCK

Donation by kenny&Joan Howell on 31/01/09

£30.00

+ £8.46 Gift Aid

Sending you some strength from Ballarat

Donation by Nikki & Catley men on 29/01/09

£5.00

You can do it Gray! Once you're through the Caribbean you'll cane it through the states! Hang in there babe xxx

Donation by Tam and Ian on 28/01/09

£50.00

keep going strong!

Donation by Brian Harrington on 28/01/09

£5.00

gud luck!ive past this round r friends on facebook so hopefully u wil get afew more dontions!and ur rite all the best things r frm up north!!

Donation by leanne n james on 26/01/09

£5.00

+ £1.41 Gift Aid

keep going and it's Dino's round when you get back. Start saving Dino!

Donation by Janet on 23/01/09

£30.00

+ £8.46 Gift Aid

What you're doing is inspiring and fantastic (sending you luck from Canada)

Donation by Andrea on 21/01/09

£10.00

Monthly Donation - Well done on all south american countries - But don't you dare give up in the caribbean.

Donation by Hugh Sheridan on 21/01/09

£55.00

+ £15.51 Gift Aid

Can I trade my niece in, it's gotta be cheaper!! All the best with the sojourn.

Donation by Trev on 20/01/09

£10.00

+ £2.82 Gift Aid

Bring it on home dude, see you on your birthday (ps this counts as your present!)

Donation by Dino on 17/01/09

£25.00

+ £7.05 Gift Aid

Good luck, if anyone can do it you can. Look forward to more updates. xxxxx

Donation by Bri, Laura and girls. on 15/01/09

£20.00

+ £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck with everything - all the best

Donation by Caroline Rayfield on 11/01/09

£15.00

+ £4.23 Gift Aid

Donation summary

  • * Online donations$12,114.68
  • Offline donations$991.12
  • Text donations$0.00
  • Total raised$13,105.80
  • Gift Aid$1,985.75

* Charities pay a small fee for our service. Find out how much it is and what we do for it.