Arjun Malaviya, 19, is one of the youngest people to visit 100 countries solo. Over 13 months, the University of California, Santa Barbara engineering student traveled from Afghanistan to Papua New Guinea, from Colombia to Iceland, on a total budget of 22,500 USD.

Having graduated high school at 16, Malaviya worked full-time as an administrative assistant and part-time as a tennis coach for two years to fund his travels independently. On his 17th birthday, he embarked on his journey, flying from the US to Southeast Asia, then to Europe, the Pacific Islands, South America, and finally, the Middle East.

Arjun Malaviya (wearing a hat) on a boat during his trip to Papua New Guinea. Photo: DM

Every detail was meticulously planned: eating inexpensive local food, booking budget trains, buses, and flights, sometimes spending only three or four days in each country. Smaller countries like San Marino, Nauru, and Liechtenstein took mere hours to explore, while larger, more complex destinations like Iran, Colombia, and Switzerland required a week.

The teenager insists he didn't waste time on partying. "I lived pretty rough, sleeping in airports, crashing on couches, waking up with crabs in my bed – all sorts of weird things," Malaviya said. Despite this, he describes himself as "disciplined," never going out at night and only exploring between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m.

Among his destinations, Malaviya favored Iceland and Bolivia for their stunning natural landscapes. He also enjoyed Syria, Papua New Guinea, Madagascar, and Palau.

While not explicitly naming his least favorite places, he hinted at overly touristy spots in Europe and Southeast Asia. "When I went to a supermarket in Thailand, if no one told me I was in Thailand and just dropped me in there, I would've thought I was back home, because everything was American," he said.

A photo taken by Arjun during his trip to Myanmar. Photo: DM

The trip wasn't without its challenges. In Moldova, near the Ukrainian border in 2023, Malaviya had to rush to a bomb shelter after air raid sirens sounded, an experience he described as "nerve-wracking."

In Venezuela, while waiting for a flight to Colombia, he was detained at the airport for two hours because authorities suspected he was an American teenager "running away from his parents."

With no Wi-Fi and limited Spanish, he used Google Translate to explain his situation and persuaded them to check security footage, proving he had entered the country alone.

Perhaps his most harrowing experience occurred in a Southeast Asian country, where he was nearly kidnapped by locals who invited him to a village. He declined to name the country, not wanting to judge an entire population based on the actions of a few.

After being invited into a home for food and prevented from leaving, Malaviya had a gun pointed at him and was forced to pay 50 USD in "ransom" – a small sum in the West, but significant in the local economy.

"We went to see some temples, saw pythons, went to the supermarket. Then we got to the village and went to an uncle's house, and they started to extort money from me," he recalled. Upon his release, Malaviya ran to a boat dock, paid someone to ferry him across a river, and fled back to his hotel. He described the experience as "terrifying."

To avoid unwanted attention in high-risk areas – as a 17-year-old traveler potentially vulnerable to human trafficking – Malaviya joked that he tried to grow a beard and act inconspicuous, not revealing he was American.

Having reached the 100-country mark, Malaviya isn't stopping. In the coming weeks, he plans to visit Russia and Belarus, hoping to become the second-youngest person to visit every European country.

The Russia-Ukraine war hasn't deterred him. He's drawn to Russia's culture, history, and music, describing it as a beautiful country. His ultimate goal is to visit all 195 UN-recognized countries. After Russia, he aims to explore Africa.

His advice for aspiring adventurers is: "Expect the unexpected, and instead of panicking, stay calm." For Malaviya, the most important thing is to always feel comfortable, regardless of the circumstances. Traveling the world has taught him life skills no classroom could.

Anh Minh (Theo DM)