27-Year-Old Woman Becomes The First Female Ever To Visit Every Country On Earth, Here’s How She Did It
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Recently we told you about Cassandra De Pecol, a 27-year-old traveler from Connecticut, US, who was aiming to become the first woman to travel to all 193 sovereign states (plus Kosovo, Taiwan and Palestine). Well guess what? She’s just done it, and not only that, she officially holds the record as the fastest person to do so after breaking the previous record in over half the time!
Cassie’s epic adventure, which was called Expedition196, took a total of 18 months and 26 days. She set out on July 24th, 2015, and she finished on February 2nd, 2017. Her journey cost her an estimated $198,000 USD (£160,000), a sum which was largely covered by sponsors, but as she wrote on Facebook, “despite what you may think, this Expedition has not been easy.” She was traveling on behalf of the International Institute for Peace Through Tourism, and part of her trip was spent meeting politicians and students in order to promote the institute’s primary goal of “mobilizing the travel and tourism industry as a leading force for poverty reduction.”
So what’s next for this inspirational globetrotter? Well, she’ll soon be off on another adventure, this time to Antarctica, and then in June she’ll be launching a course to teach people how to find the funding to pursue their very own dreams of traveling the world. Needless to say, our names are already on the list!
More info: Cassandra De Pecol | Expedition196 | Instagram | Facebook | IIPT
Cassandra De Pecol just became the first woman to travel to every country in the world
She’s also the fastest woman to travel the globe after breaking the previous record in over half the time!
Her epic adventure, which was called Expedition196, took a total of 18 months and 26 days
Cassie set out on July 24th, 2015, and she finished on February 2nd, 2017
She visited 193 sovereign states plus Kosovo, Taiwan, and Palestine
She was inspired to undertake her epic journey after backpacking through 26 countries in her late teens and early 20s
When she came home she ended up burning herself out working two jobs and 85-hour weeks
One day she drove to the office supply store and bought a large map of the world, which she pinned to her wall
“After staring at it…with a childlike sense of wonder, I decided to quit one of my jobs and start drawing lines connecting every country in the world to one another”
During the planning of her around-the-world trip, she received an endorsement from the International Institute of Peace Through Tourism
She became their Ambassador for Peace and promoted the institute during her travels
Although she only spent a few days in each country, sightseeing wasn’t a primary objective of Cassie’s trip
Much of her time was spent meeting tourism officials and politicians and speaking with university students
The institute’s goal is to mobilize the travel and tourism industry as a leading force for poverty reduction
Her journey cost her an estimated $198,000 USD (£160,000), a sum which was largely covered by sponsors
“As a young woman, I’d always dreamed to travel to as many countries as possible and make our world a better place,” she wrote on her website
“It bothered me though, that I could never figure out how to ignite this inner fire and make it happen”
“I became terrified as I envisioned myself at 80 years old, having not lead the life that I wanted while working towards making someone else’s dream a reality”
“Through a great deal of work, I was able to make this dream a reality”
“Despite what you may think, this Expedition has not been easy,” she wrote on Facebook
She’ll soon be launching a course to teach people how to find the funding to pursue your own dreams of traveling the world
Watch the video below for more info:
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Oh c'mon, the same posting again? But wait, I can feel it! The world is now a better place because this women showed the poor people they will never have the same opportunities like rich (and good looking) people! It's okay if she wants to break the record for her own satisfaction and well, if there are companies/organisations who are dumb enough to give money for this trip instead of spending it for things which last or really matters, it's fine. But do you really have to post it every few month again?
Amen.
Eh, the headline to this could also be Conventionally Attractive Young Woman Gets $200k of Sponsorship Money to Visit Every Country.
Inspirational globetrotter ?!! Seriously ?!! She's just a instagram tourist to me ... posing for pictures rather than getting to know people and their culture.
There are some pictures that look fake...
The one with the ''Although she only spent a few days in each country, sightseeing wasn’t a primary objective of Cassie’s trip'' is almost definitely fake so i doubt how real the rest are
These photoshop 'professionals' really need to up their game. They made her look like a little black kid with a hulla-hoop in one of them FFS
"Peace Through Tourism?" What a DA idea. Her visiting each country for 10 min. at a time does nothing. Where are the multiple postings about Peace Corp. volunteers, Doctors Without Borders, etc.? Not impressed.
She's promoting peace and sustainability, staying few days in each country. Isn't something wrong here? I mean do they (she, staff, sponsors...) really believe that these 2 notions are quick things. Or do they only want to impose their point of view. I don't get it. I understand the will to beat a record, but as it's said in other comments, I disagree with this one, in the way that a travel is about discovering, meeting, learning, listening, sharing... At this rate she's staying in the surperficial view, peace and sustainability included. Sadly this is how the society is evolving, reflected in the social medias, a check list of "I did", "I've been"... This article is a real sadness.
people are ridicullous sometimes
My problem with this article is that it is made to sound like it's about some higher cause, when in fact, it seems to be about this girl's career. She did a stint on the "Naked and Afraid" TV show. She had some travel opportunities in her late teens/ early 20's which suggests that she has access to people that can afford to send her on these trips. Yet what is being presented is this person that was holding down 2 jobs and had an epiphany so she went out and made her dreams happen. It just doesn't jive. What is needed here is context. Did she come from money? How does a 25 year get a plan to travel world and then come by the means to do so. You say she is an ambassador, how did she become this? How did she travel? Where did she stay? In other words, she does this great adventure, claims it was harder than I think (that's some hardship I can live with), she off to Antarctica and then is offering a course telling people how they can find funding to do it. This looks like an ad to me.
Amen.
Blonde with abs and butt cheeks visits the whole world. Makes some envious, makes most irritated. Was this really a message of hope and inspiration, or self promotion. Lines are very grey, though it does feel more like the latter. If this was fat, bald man with poor hygiene visits the world and promotes, will be still be reading this? Will it be posted or read at all?
I would like to hear more about her meeting officials and promoting peace... She claims it was all for a great cause, but if that's so important, why not talk about it more? Why not show pictures of things she is trying to fight, like poverty? It's all too pretty.
How many times more, do we have to see this post wo any meaning to any of us? And the post says wrong: she has not visited all the countries in the world. The map indicates she has visited South Cyprus. What about North Cyprus, which is another country? Anyway. We again wasted our time for some shit. The same shit. At least, i did. Shame on me.
Yikes. I'd probably skip N. Cyprus. :)
I'd rather take my time to explore each destination.
This is not travelling, a travel is not a race!!! 2 years for all the countries, that the time I spent for visiting 6 countries!!!!! That just give fake picture of the travel, and make other people doing same bullshit!!!!
I have the same dream.
Wow this is so cool
So much negativity in the comments! Why?
Well done for chasing your dreams
maybe she did get to pass through all the countries but the picture in the cave looks like a really bad photoshop. really really bad ....such a shame..I was so close to believe this article...
there is an app you can pin your your countries and cities btw. "lifepinner"
Lots of her photos photos they show are photoshopped
'First female ever?' BOLLOCKS. This kind of arrogance makes enemies, not friends. I lived with an Italian girl in the 1990s who had been to every country. So, no.
Well, did your Italian friend document her travels? Does she have the passports to prove her claim or is it just something she said? If you can't prove it, it didn't happen. If she can prove it, she should stand up and tell the world. Otherwise, it's just a bunch of BS.
'First Female Ever?' BOLLOCKS. I was friends with an Italian girl in the 1990s who had been to every country.
TOURIST!!!!!
Let me come back to my REAL LIFE in FUCKIN BRAZIL.
There are pictures that are completely photoshopped
Although this article features a photo of a New Zealand $20 bill, I rang everyone here, and no one recognises her. Was she wearing sunglasses and a fake wig, or, is she telling fibs?
wasn't this post already made about another woman? Maybe i'm misinterpreting one of them, but I could have sworn this already happened.
it was the same girl, a few month back...she "almost" there...now she has finished. Yup, we really needed the reminder...or not ;)
Ahh, thanks.
Extraordinary achievement for such a young, brave and beautiful woman! Inspiring!
It’s very cool to visit every country in the world. I also love and want to travel, but, currently, I can’t do it due to my work. Moreover, Cassandra had a noble mission. And I am sure her trip brought a ton of value not only for her but also for a society.
you go girl (again, if you get the chance, 'cause you already went :') )
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
She has my respect for being incredibly passionate about a goal that includes seeing pretty much everything this planet has to offer. Money well spent, in my opinion!
"seeing pretty everything this planet has to offer"...in 19 month? yeah...right...
it's she saw mostly airports unfortunately...(less than 3 days per country)...so no environment, few local people, very few local transportation...
True, but I was aiming more for the overal idea of the planet, not the very details, like culture, language, specific products, etc. She saw the general parts of what the countries on our planet look like; environment / architecture, people (behaviour), food, (public) transport, and so on. It's more that she saw and heard the things, but did not learn about everything. But you're right, it's not that she saw everything.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
I do not agree with you on that, actually. It's clear in the photos and video that she did meet several citizens in their own country and it can be seen that she does explore several environments. She is also seen on a camel at a certain point, so she also got some sort of transport, even though it's not much. The short time in a country does not indicate that she can not see a lot of the country.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Isn't being White awesome? You get to do all these great things! #whiteprivilege
How does what this one specific individual did equate to white privilege? I think white privilege may well be relevant commentary on other posts, but not this one
Oh c'mon, the same posting again? But wait, I can feel it! The world is now a better place because this women showed the poor people they will never have the same opportunities like rich (and good looking) people! It's okay if she wants to break the record for her own satisfaction and well, if there are companies/organisations who are dumb enough to give money for this trip instead of spending it for things which last or really matters, it's fine. But do you really have to post it every few month again?
Amen.
Eh, the headline to this could also be Conventionally Attractive Young Woman Gets $200k of Sponsorship Money to Visit Every Country.
Inspirational globetrotter ?!! Seriously ?!! She's just a instagram tourist to me ... posing for pictures rather than getting to know people and their culture.
There are some pictures that look fake...
The one with the ''Although she only spent a few days in each country, sightseeing wasn’t a primary objective of Cassie’s trip'' is almost definitely fake so i doubt how real the rest are
These photoshop 'professionals' really need to up their game. They made her look like a little black kid with a hulla-hoop in one of them FFS
"Peace Through Tourism?" What a DA idea. Her visiting each country for 10 min. at a time does nothing. Where are the multiple postings about Peace Corp. volunteers, Doctors Without Borders, etc.? Not impressed.
She's promoting peace and sustainability, staying few days in each country. Isn't something wrong here? I mean do they (she, staff, sponsors...) really believe that these 2 notions are quick things. Or do they only want to impose their point of view. I don't get it. I understand the will to beat a record, but as it's said in other comments, I disagree with this one, in the way that a travel is about discovering, meeting, learning, listening, sharing... At this rate she's staying in the surperficial view, peace and sustainability included. Sadly this is how the society is evolving, reflected in the social medias, a check list of "I did", "I've been"... This article is a real sadness.
people are ridicullous sometimes
My problem with this article is that it is made to sound like it's about some higher cause, when in fact, it seems to be about this girl's career. She did a stint on the "Naked and Afraid" TV show. She had some travel opportunities in her late teens/ early 20's which suggests that she has access to people that can afford to send her on these trips. Yet what is being presented is this person that was holding down 2 jobs and had an epiphany so she went out and made her dreams happen. It just doesn't jive. What is needed here is context. Did she come from money? How does a 25 year get a plan to travel world and then come by the means to do so. You say she is an ambassador, how did she become this? How did she travel? Where did she stay? In other words, she does this great adventure, claims it was harder than I think (that's some hardship I can live with), she off to Antarctica and then is offering a course telling people how they can find funding to do it. This looks like an ad to me.
Amen.
Blonde with abs and butt cheeks visits the whole world. Makes some envious, makes most irritated. Was this really a message of hope and inspiration, or self promotion. Lines are very grey, though it does feel more like the latter. If this was fat, bald man with poor hygiene visits the world and promotes, will be still be reading this? Will it be posted or read at all?
I would like to hear more about her meeting officials and promoting peace... She claims it was all for a great cause, but if that's so important, why not talk about it more? Why not show pictures of things she is trying to fight, like poverty? It's all too pretty.
How many times more, do we have to see this post wo any meaning to any of us? And the post says wrong: she has not visited all the countries in the world. The map indicates she has visited South Cyprus. What about North Cyprus, which is another country? Anyway. We again wasted our time for some shit. The same shit. At least, i did. Shame on me.
Yikes. I'd probably skip N. Cyprus. :)
I'd rather take my time to explore each destination.
This is not travelling, a travel is not a race!!! 2 years for all the countries, that the time I spent for visiting 6 countries!!!!! That just give fake picture of the travel, and make other people doing same bullshit!!!!
I have the same dream.
Wow this is so cool
So much negativity in the comments! Why?
Well done for chasing your dreams
maybe she did get to pass through all the countries but the picture in the cave looks like a really bad photoshop. really really bad ....such a shame..I was so close to believe this article...
there is an app you can pin your your countries and cities btw. "lifepinner"
Lots of her photos photos they show are photoshopped
'First female ever?' BOLLOCKS. This kind of arrogance makes enemies, not friends. I lived with an Italian girl in the 1990s who had been to every country. So, no.
Well, did your Italian friend document her travels? Does she have the passports to prove her claim or is it just something she said? If you can't prove it, it didn't happen. If she can prove it, she should stand up and tell the world. Otherwise, it's just a bunch of BS.
'First Female Ever?' BOLLOCKS. I was friends with an Italian girl in the 1990s who had been to every country.
TOURIST!!!!!
Let me come back to my REAL LIFE in FUCKIN BRAZIL.
There are pictures that are completely photoshopped
Although this article features a photo of a New Zealand $20 bill, I rang everyone here, and no one recognises her. Was she wearing sunglasses and a fake wig, or, is she telling fibs?
wasn't this post already made about another woman? Maybe i'm misinterpreting one of them, but I could have sworn this already happened.
it was the same girl, a few month back...she "almost" there...now she has finished. Yup, we really needed the reminder...or not ;)
Ahh, thanks.
Extraordinary achievement for such a young, brave and beautiful woman! Inspiring!
It’s very cool to visit every country in the world. I also love and want to travel, but, currently, I can’t do it due to my work. Moreover, Cassandra had a noble mission. And I am sure her trip brought a ton of value not only for her but also for a society.
you go girl (again, if you get the chance, 'cause you already went :') )
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
She has my respect for being incredibly passionate about a goal that includes seeing pretty much everything this planet has to offer. Money well spent, in my opinion!
"seeing pretty everything this planet has to offer"...in 19 month? yeah...right...
it's she saw mostly airports unfortunately...(less than 3 days per country)...so no environment, few local people, very few local transportation...
True, but I was aiming more for the overal idea of the planet, not the very details, like culture, language, specific products, etc. She saw the general parts of what the countries on our planet look like; environment / architecture, people (behaviour), food, (public) transport, and so on. It's more that she saw and heard the things, but did not learn about everything. But you're right, it's not that she saw everything.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
I do not agree with you on that, actually. It's clear in the photos and video that she did meet several citizens in their own country and it can be seen that she does explore several environments. She is also seen on a camel at a certain point, so she also got some sort of transport, even though it's not much. The short time in a country does not indicate that she can not see a lot of the country.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Isn't being White awesome? You get to do all these great things! #whiteprivilege
How does what this one specific individual did equate to white privilege? I think white privilege may well be relevant commentary on other posts, but not this one