According to his blog, Once Upon a Saga, Pedersen — who signs off as Thor — is trying to visit what he calculates as all 203 countries in the world in a one-man single journey, without the use of flight while “bringing some attention towards the well-meaning people of the planet”.

He aims to spend at least 24 hours in each country, live on $20 per day and will not return home until he has completed his quest...