Archive · 9 Oct 2026
At 20, Lee Nears Record After Visiting 186 Countries
Lee is a 20-year-old traveller who has visited 186 countries.
She first travelled alone to Costa Rica when she was 13.
Later, she decided to try to set a record for visiting every country while very young.
The record attempt has rules, such as keeping travel records and using public transportation.
She had to pause the trip for a family situation, then started again.
She is waiting for permission to enter some of the last places on her list.
India is her favourite country, and she has visited it five times.
Travelling for so long has also meant missing time with family and friends.
When the journey ends, she wants to rest and find a stable home.
Lee began travelling alone at 13, taking her first international trip to Costa Rica in 2019.
She started her Guinness World Records attempt in 2023 at 17, paused for a family situation, and resumed in 2024.
Lee has visited 186 countries and is waiting on visas for some remaining destinations, including Sudan.
Her attempt required public transportation, a tracking device, GPS files, and revisiting about 50 countries she had already visited.
Lee says India is her favourite country and hopes to settle somewhere after years of living out of a suitcase.
- Who
- Lee, a 20-year-old traveller.
- What
- She has visited 186 countries and is attempting to become the youngest person to visit every country.
- When
- She began her record attempt in 2023 at age 17 and resumed in 2024.
- Where
- Around the world; she is awaiting visas for some final destinations, including Sudan.
- Why
- She decided to pursue the record after learning about Lexie Alford's record and later concluded she wanted to attempt it.
Reasons to keep travelling
Costs of constant travel
Personal growth and experiences
Reasons to keep travelling
Lee said her first solo trip helped her build confidence, and she values the people, cultures, and places she has encountered.
Costs of constant travel
She has also said that constantly moving left her without a strong sense of home or community and made her miss some childhood and teenage experiences.
Travel lifestyle and relationships
Reasons to keep travelling
Travel has allowed Lee to visit countries around the world and share some experiences with family, including a trip to Uganda with her grandfather.
Costs of constant travel
She has spent little time with people her own age, went three years without seeing some family members, and has not seen her parents for a year.
- Countries visited
- 186
- Age
- 20
- First solo trip
- Costa Rica, at age 13 in 2019
- Record attempt began
- 2023, when Lee was 17
- Record attempt resumed
- 2024, after a pause for a family situation
- Favourite country
- India; Lee has returned five times since her first visit in 2022
- Initial travel budget
- $100 per country
- Potential final country
- Venezuela, if her plans go as intended