Walking around the Earth would take roughly between 8,300 and 8,350 hours of continuous walking at an average adult walking speed of about 3 to 4.8 km/h (around 3 mph). This equates to about 345 to 350 days of nonstop walking without breaks
. However, since nonstop walking is impossible for humans, more realistic estimates consider walking about 12 to 16 hours per day. At 16 hours of walking daily, it would take approximately 518 days (about 1.5 years), and at 12 hours per day, around 834 days (a little over 2 years)
. Additional practical challenges include the fact that 70% of the Earth's surface is ocean, so a continuous walking path around the equator does not exist. Real-world attempts, such as Karl Bushby's ongoing expedition, plan for many years to complete a circumnavigation on foot due to natural obstacles, visa issues, and other delays
. In summary:
- Theoretical nonstop walking: about 345 days (8,300 hours)
- Walking 12–16 hours per day: roughly 1.5 to 2+ years
- Realistic expeditions take many years due to terrain and logistical challenges
Thus, walking around the Earth is a multi-year endeavor even for the most dedicated and supported walkers
