The world’s most-travelled man has now been to 852 countries – including Bossaso and Conway Reef
Don Parish was officially awarded the title after a recent trip the remote Conway Reef off the coast of Fiji
THE world's most well-travelled man has been to an incredible 852 countries across the globe - and he's not finished yet.
American Don Parish was officially awarded the title after a recent trip the remote Conway Reef off the coast of Fiji.
The 73-year-old has dedicated the majority of his life to travelling, having visited places some of us can only dream of.
His long list of visited destinations includes Switzerland, Russia, North Korea, Easter Island, Somalia, Madagascar, Finland, South Africa, and Mexico just to name a few.
The Chicago resident started travelling after spending the summer of 1965 in Germany working in a metal factory.
He has since become one of just 23 people to have completed the Travelers' Century Club, visiting the 325 countries or territories on their list.
He has been to all 193 United Nations countries and more than 1,000 places on the Nomad Mania list.
The proud American has also travelled through all 50 states in his home country.
Now retired, Donr worked hard in telecommunications and saved his money to be able to take trips around the globe.
He said: "I like to see the real place where things happened and I like making connections."
He continued: "I travel by myself, with one person, with a few people, in small groups, large groups or with a driver and guide.
"I live frugally - no smoking, no coffee, I drive old cars and I have spent my life savings."
But becoming the world's most travelled man requires extreme dedication and as Don himself acknowledges "some suffering", including sacrificing the chance to marry or have children.
His travels have also left him in some unnerving situations as he ventured into some of the world's most hostile locations.
For instance, he has been to the narrowest part of the Khyber Pass between Pakistan and Afghanistan and says travelling at night in remote places like this is one of the most dangerous parts of the journey.
He said: "In 2010 I visited Bossaso in Somalia. My travel agent refused to help me because he thought I would get kidnapped.
"So I requested security from a local guy I used to plan the trip.
"The word security got translated into four armed guards who stayed in their own room at the hotel and even followed me from my room to the computer room when I did emails at 11pm at night."
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Despite travelling to more places than any other person, Don isn't finished yet.
He still has more than 20 destinations he still wants to see before he's done with travelling.
Most of the places left on his list to visit are remote islands though – including the Bounty islands, the Scott islands, Paracel islands and Guantanamo Bay.