Alright Lucky Bastards, buckle up because we’re about to dive into the life of André Brugiroux, a man who didn’t just travel the world—he devoured it with a spirit so audacious it puts most travelers to shame and makes your crazy uncle’s RV trips look like a lazy Sunday drive. With over 60 years of adventures spanning 400,000 kilometers, all countries and territories of this planet, and every conceivable challenge, André’s story is one for the ages. Here’s how this incredible globetrotter turned the world into his playground.
This fella was born in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, France, in 1937, right in the middle of World War II. This period surely marked him to the point where he wanted to check if peace between people wasn’t just a myth. Anyway, old André’s done his fair share of wandering. In 2008, they even crowned him the “greatest living traveler on Earth.”
Troublesome Kid, Future Globe-Trotter
Young André wasn’t one for staying put. He grew up in Brunoy, France. His dad worked for the SNCF (French railway), his mum was an accountant. But she was the one who gave him the travel bug, telling him about her own tales and signing him up for the scouts. His nickname, “babbling weasel,” (“fouine babillarde“) already tells you a lot about the bloke: cunning and always ready to put the world to rights. After graduating from the École Hôtelière de Paris at 17, André made a bold decision: leave his predictable life behind and explore the world. War, scouts, hotel school… a right cocktail for a future adventurer.
Eighteen Years of Hitchhiking: One Dollar a Day, 135 Countries on the Clock
His first trip was something else: 18 years on the road, never once going home. From 1955 to 1973, the bloke covered 400,000 kilometers hitchhiking, crossing 135 countries on all continents with a daily budget of… one dollar. Yeah, you heard right. He left France at 17, with 10 francs in his pocket. To eat and make himself understood, he grafted for seven years in Europe, learning English, Spanish, German, and Italian. He did all sorts of jobs: switchboard operator, cook, waiter, gravedigger, receptionist, or a shoe shiner in Italy. His military service in Congo, between his stints in Spain and Germany, allowed him to get a taste of Africa and meet Dr. Schweitzer in Gabon. After saving up enough loonies for three years (1965 – 1967) working as a translator in Toronto, Canada, he finally fulfilled his dream: six years traveling the world without working, relying solely on hitchhiking (by plane, boat, and sailboat). With a dollar a day, you couldn’t expect any fancy meals. Markets, street food, making do at every turn. Picture this: André hitchhiking across continents, avoiding hotels, restaurants, and taxis like the plague. Talk about hardcore budget travel! Imagine budgeting a dollar a day for food, transportation, and shelter while crossing continents. André made this a reality. He learned to navigate the art of hitchhiking in every imaginable situation—whether flagging down rickety trucks in Africa, stowing away on cargo ships, or persuading locals to offer him a meal. His resourcefulness was legendary, and his stories of how he stretched a single dollar in places like India or South America are equal parts humorous and inspiring. And as you probably know, that’s where the magic happens! From the Canadian wilderness to the war-torn Middle East, his journey took him to some of the most remote corners of the planet.
The result? A treasure trove of insane stories that make your craziest travel mishaps look tame. Some examples? Seven times in the slammer, some seriously close calls, deportations, robberies… But he also experienced some incredible things: living with Schweitzer, the hippies of San Francisco, the headhunters of Borneo, the Buddhist monks of Bangkok, studying yoga in India, working on a kibbutz in Israel, discovering the gem trade in Ceylon, visiting refugee camps in Cambodia. This 18-year adventure was more than just a physical feat; it was a deep dive into a multitude of cultures and ways of life, showing his remarkable adaptability and tenacity. The one-dollar-a-day budget, far from being an insurmountable obstacle, forced him to interact closely with the locals, fostering an authentic understanding of their daily lives. Despite the dangers he faced, the kindness he encountered throughout his journey undoubtedly contributed to shaping his optimistic view of humanity. This contrast between the hardships endured and the generosity shown is a recurring theme in adventure stories and adds to the narrative power of his tale.
“The Earth is But One Country”: His Motto, Our Creed
During his travels, André deeply embraced this saying from Baháʼu’lláh in the 19th century:
The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.
It became the title of his first book and the documentary film about his incredible journey. For him, borders are rubbish, imaginary lines that shouldn’t exist when it comes to universal brotherhood. This experience marked him so much that he decided to join the Baháʼí Faith. His book and his core philosophy are a bit like our bible, us travelers who think the world is bigger than our passports.
After the First Round: Always Further, Always More Discoveries
After 1973, André didn’t hang up his backpack. He continued to explore the countries he’d missed and to share the message of the Baháʼí Faith. For 30 years, he spent six to eight months a year abroad, between conferences and new adventures. He also crisscrossed France. In 1984, he married Rinia Van Kanten, a sociologist from Suriname he met in Cayenne. They had a daughter, Natascha. In 2005, seeing polar bears in Canada, he reckoned his dream was finally realized: he had visited every country and territory in the world. His website lists 251, visited between 1943 and 2011. But the thirst for adventure doesn’t just go away. He continued to travel. In 2007, he celebrated his 70th birthday on the island of Socotra, in Yemen, with other adventurers. In 2008, he had a crazy experience in Saudi Arabia, the last forbidden kingdom. In 2009, he went down the Lena River and traveled the Road of Bones in Siberia. In 2011, he visited the world’s youngest country: South Sudan. In 2013, he reached Tristan da Cunha, the most isolated island on the globe. In 2015 and 2016, he was still confirmed as the “greatest living traveler on Earth.” In 2021, NomadMania gave him an award for his lifetime of travel. In 2023, his hometown paid tribute to him for his achievements. His first 18-year trip was just the beginning. His subsequent journeys show an inextinguishable passion for exploration. He declared an official end to his life of exploration just before the COVID-19 pandemic grounded global travel, proving his impeccable sense of timing. It’s not just the sheer number of countries he visited (every single one!) that makes André Brugiroux’s travels so unbelievable, but the way he approached them. André’s goal wasn’t just to check places off a list; he wanted to immerse himself in the human experience. He believed in connecting with people, understanding their stories, and finding beauty in the most unexpected places.
Some of André’s crazy Travel Stories: The Wildest Adventures
André’s adventures read like a blockbuster action film. Here are just a few of his most unbelievable escapades:
- A Bayonet Between His Eyes in Afghanistan: André’s knack for navigating tense situations was put to the test when a soldier held him at bayonet point. His calm demeanor and quick thinking helped him walk away unscathed.
- Imprisoned Seven Times: From misunderstandings to political paranoia, André faced multiple imprisonments during his travels. In the Cold War era, being a solo traveler often raised suspicion, especially in politically tense regions. Once, André found himself accused of espionage in an unnamed country and was thrown into prison. Despite the fear and uncertainty, he used his charm, wit, and linguistic skills to communicate with his captors, eventually earning their trust and securing his release. Talk about turning the tables!
- Surviving Dysentery in Pakistan: Traveling with minimal resources means being vulnerable to illness, and André wasn’t spared. In Pakistan, he contracted dysentery and faced a harrowing ordeal that made him lose 12 kilos and nearly claimed his life. With no money for a proper hospital and limited supplies, he relied on the kindness of strangers and his own willpower to pull through. This near-death experience only strengthened his resolve to continue his journey.
- Confronted by Wild Animals: From being charged by a herd of buffalo in the Congo to narrowly escaping hyenas in India, André’s brushes with nature were as thrilling as they were terrifying.
- Caught in the Khmer Rouge Conflict: While traveling through Cambodia, André narrowly avoided becoming collateral damage by hiding in a school. His survival in such dire circumstances is nothing short of miraculous.
- Living Among Borneo’s Head-Hunters: One of André’s most outlandish escapades took place in the dense rainforests of Borneo. Here, he encountered a remote tribe of headhunters, whose cultural traditions were as fascinating as they were intimidating. Unlike most visitors, André wasn’t deterred by fear; instead, he embraced the opportunity to learn their customs and share stories, bridging the gap between vastly different worlds, immersing himself in their culture and gaining their trust. What most would find terrifying, André saw as an opportunity to learn and connect. It’s a testament to his courage—and his knack for making friends anywhere.
A Messenger of the Baháʼí Faith on All Roads
After his first trip around the world, André joined the Baháʼí Faith. Since then, he’s dedicated his life to sharing the principles of this religion. His travels after 1973 were an opportunity to spread the global administrative plan of the Baháʼí message. His book “The Prisoner of Saint-Jean-d’Acre” is an introduction to this faith. He sees himself as a “missionary.” He’s convinced that the Baháʼí writings offer the best answers to the needs of the world today. His travels are described as a “pacifist apostolate.” The Baháʼí Faith is the driving force behind his continued travels and his literary work, giving a spiritual context to his global vision.
His Books: Chronicles of Adventures and Spirituality
André Brugiroux has written quite a few books to recount his adventures and share his vision of the world.
- The earth is only one country / La terre n’est qu’un seul pays (1975, 2006, 2017): The story of his 400,000 km hitchhiking trip and his realization of the world’s unity.
- The road / La route et ses chemins / La Route (1978, 1986): Reveals the secrets and tricks of the road and the human side of adventure.
- The prisoner of Saint-Jean-d’Acre / Le prisonnier de Saint-Jean-d’Acre (1982, 1984, 1989, 2006): An introduction to the Baháʼí Faith through his spiritual quest. Saint-Exupéry Prize 1983.
- The paths of peace / Les chemins de la paix (1990, 2009): Recounts the great adventure of the 60s and the Kathmandu trails, exploring dreams of peace, love, and justice.
- Notebook of a traveling teacher / Bloc notes d’un enseignant itinérant (2002): Reflections on his experiences spreading the Baháʼí Faith.
- A life on the road / Une vie sur la route (2006): Details his travels after his first round-the-world trip and his dream of visiting every country. Told from his backpack’s point of view.
- The man who wanted to see all the countries in the world / L’homme qui voulait voir tous les pays du monde (2014, 2017, 2018): The story of his lifelong dream and adventures, highlighting human kindness.
- The world is my country / Le monde est mon pays (2016): Traces his adventurous life, his inner journey, and his spiritual dimension.
- Victor Hugo and the new era / Victor Hugo et l’ère nouvelle (2019): Explores the link between Victor Hugo’s humanist ideas and the Baháʼí Revelation.
- My travels with André Brugiroux / Mes voyages avec André Brugiroux (by Tahar Slimani) (2021): Account by a friend who traveled with André Brugiroux.
He also made a documentary film called The earth is but one country / La Terre n’est qu’un seul pays, which recounts his first trip around the world. His books are both accounts of his extraordinary adventures and ways to share his philosophical and spiritual convictions, especially those related to the Baháʼí Faith.
The Legacy of a Tireless Globe-Trotter: Inspiration for Future Generations
André Brugiroux’s extraordinary achievement of visiting every country and territory in the world is a testament to his determination and thirst for discovery. His fundamental philosophy, “The Earth is but one country,” resonates as a call to transcend borders and recognize our common humanity. His commitment to promoting peace and understanding through his travels and his involvement in the Baháʼí Faith is a source of inspiration. His resourcefulness, curiosity, and relentless pursuit of knowledge make him a remarkable figure. His life story is a powerful example of how curiosity, perseverance, and belief in a unifying principle can lead to exceptional achievements and have a profound impact on the world. He encourages others to look beyond borders and connect with humanity on a deeper level. His journey reminds us that exploring the external world can also be an enriching inner journey, leading to a deeper understanding of ourselves and others.
A call for adventure
André Brugiroux’s life is proof that the most incredible stories come from embracing the unexpected. His adventures remind us that the world is full of wonder, and the craziest moments often turn into the best memories.
So, what’s your craziest travel story? Did you survive a wild encounter, meet someone who changed your life, or end up in a situation so bizarre it feels like a movie? Share it with us and keep the spirit of adventure alive!
