19-year-old Arjun Malaviya, from Westlake Village, California, embarked on his solo travel journey in June 2023. Malaviya claims to be the youngest person to visit 100 countries solo and among the first to explore the entire continent of Oceania. The 19-year-old has also escaped Russian airstrikes in Ukraine, stayed with the Taliban in Afghanistan, and visited rarely-visited island nations like Nauru.

Malaviya at the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun during his visit to Egypt earlier this year. Photo: Arjun/Instagram

Malaviya reached his 100th country at the age of 17, surpassing the record of Lexie Alford, an American woman who traveled to over 70 countries by the age of 18.

His passion for solo travel stemmed from childhood business trips with his parents. After completing high school at Moorpark College, he decided to pursue his dream of traveling the world before turning 20, instead of attending a 4-year university. He worked various part-time jobs while studying, from coaching youth tennis to administrative assistance, to fund his travels.

Malaviya with Syrian children in July 2024, his 110th country. Photo: Club 100+ Countries/Instagram

Malaviya's curiosity about different cultures, languages, and people fuels his love for travel. The social isolation during the pandemic intensified his desire to visit remote places he had only read about.

His journey began in East Asia, including Japan and South Korea, then extended to South America, Europe, and the islands of Oceania.

Some of his experiences include teaching English to students in Iraq, visiting Rock Islands in Palau, exploring villages in Myanmar, touring Caracas and its surrounding areas in Venezuela, working in rice paddies in rural Indonesia, participating in religious festivals in Iran, and visiting Saddam Hussein's Babylon Palace, a site rarely open to the public.

He has also interacted with children in Papua New Guinea and Nauru, visited slums in Brazil, seen the salt flats of Bolivia, witnessed the Northern Lights in Norway, observed elephants in Sri Lanka, and explored ancient castles in Slovenia.

According to Malaviya, the most pristine and beautiful natural landscapes are often found on the islands of Oceania. The lack of internet in these isolated locations allows him to relax, connect with nature, and engage with locals. However, he was saddened to see many young people in Nauru and Tuvalu lacking educational and employment opportunities, and even the means to travel abroad. He also noted the impact of limited fresh food and high preservatives in food on children's health.

During his trip to Afghanistan, Malaviya met with Taliban members and religious leaders in Iran, describing them as friendly and curious about his life in the US.

Malaviya believes people everywhere share similar desires: stable jobs, caring for their families, access to education, and a fulfilling life. He feels that while international relations often reflect government policies, local people are generally friendly and open. His journey aims to listen, understand, and demonstrate that the world is smaller and more interconnected than it seems.

"Locals are often willing to help a young solo traveler, from inviting me for meals to offering rides," Malaviya said, expressing his desire to return to Iceland, Palau, the Philippines, Iran, Venezuela, and Bolivia.

His adventures haven't been without danger. He recounts escaping a sudden Russian airstrike in Odessa, Ukraine, in November 2023.

"I visited Odessa because it was only a three-hour bus ride from Chisinau, Moldova. However, air raid sirens went off as soon as I arrived that morning, traffic came to a standstill, and everyone had to take shelter for hours," Malaviya said, describing it as his most frightening experience so far.

In another incident, security personnel at a Venezuelan airport detained him, suspecting him of running away from his parents due to his age. Malaviya had to request a review of security footage from his arrival to prove he was traveling alone.

"I finally convinced them and was allowed to leave Venezuela for Bogota, Colombia," he said.

Malaviya funds his trips through part-time work and savings, managing his expenses by staying in affordable Airbnbs, eating simply, and researching destinations using travel apps. He believes adapting to various situations has enriched his experiences and fostered personal growth.

"For example, I remained calm and composed when meeting Taliban members, which prevented them from suspecting any ulterior motives," he said.

Malaviya encourages young people interested in solo travel to be bold and explore the world. He believes there are too many preconceived notions, making it difficult to distinguish truth from falsehood, and that personal experience is the best way to understand reality.

Currently studying computer engineering at UC Santa Barbara, Malaviya plans to continue his solo journey until he has visited all 195 countries in the world.

Ha Phuong (Euro News)