Visit 100 Countries

The adventure

It rarely happens on purpose at first. A gap year, a few city breaks, a long weekend in a country you'd never considered. Then one day you count, realise you're at 40 or 50, and the idea takes hold. Suddenly you're looking at the map differently, spotting clusters of small countries you could link together and wondering how many you could fit into a week.

The journey to 100 takes you to places you'd never have picked otherwise: a night bus through the Balkans, a ferry across the Caspian, a market in West Africa. You collect stamps and stories, learn how to say thank you in dozens of languages and find kindness everywhere. Crossing the hundredth border might be a quiet moment at a passport desk, but it marks a lifetime of travel, and makes you wonder how many more are possible.

Why it’s epic

• There are 193 UN member states, so 100 countries means you've seen more than half the world's nations.
• The Travelers' Century Club, founded in 1954, offers membership to anyone who has visited 100 places on its list.
• Clusters like the Balkans, the Caribbean, Central America and West Africa let you add several countries in one trip.
• Europe's microstates, such as San Marino, Liechtenstein and Monaco, can be added in a day or two.

What it is

Reaching 100 countries is a milestone many travellers aim for, and it usually takes years of steady travel.

How to do it

Plan trips that cover clusters of neighbouring countries, such as the Balkans, West Africa or Central America, and use long weekends for nearby countries.

Top tip

Decide early which list you count against (I use the 193 UN states plus Vatican City, Taiwan and Kosovo) and stick to it.

Need to know

• Choose a counting rule, such as UN states, and decide whether airport transits count before you start.
• Check visa rules for every country early, as some need weeks of paperwork or an invitation letter.
• Annual multi-trip travel insurance usually works out cheaper than buying a policy for each trip.

My experience

Following on from visiting 50 countries the next logical option is the milestone of 100 countries. This is definitely a personal goal, as it doesn’t need to be in here, but, in order to live a bucket list life, its good to be able to tick things off and keep the momentum going.