Gunnar Garfors Biography

Gunnar Garfors (1975) is a globetrotter. Really. He has visited every country in the world, and recently published a book about it; How I Ran Out of Countries*. In 2012 he visited 5 countries on 5 continents in just one day, a Guinness World Record. In 2013 he completed visiting every country in the world, as the youngest hobby traveller ever. And in 2014 he visited 19 countries in just one day, another world record. Before popping by 22 US states in less than 24 hours in September, 2015. 

Gunnar Garfors is President of an international radio and TV organization, Advisor on distribution matters for Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation. He also writes on travel for various publications internationally. Who is the Norwegian with all that energy? A short answer to the question follows below. But there is more. 

Professional

Gunnar Garfors is President of International DMB Advancement Group (IDAG), a digital radio and mobile TV organization with members on 4 continents. He also advises on distribution for Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) and often presents or debates at conferences around the world. On Twitter: @garfors. 

Travelling wise

Gunnar Garfors travels hard. He discovered travelling through family holidays and a train ride through many countries in Europe at age 17. He has visited all the world's 198 countries (193 UN members, the Vatican, Kosovo, Palestine, Western Sahara, Taiwan). He completed visiting them all on May 8, 2013, becoming the youngest hobby traveller to have been to all countries of the world. He also set a world record by visiting 5 continents in 1 day on June 18, 2012 using only scheduled transport. Adelia Television is making a documentary about it. Garfors writes a column for Japan's biggest newspaper Mainichi. His writings are occasionally published by Business Insider. Gunnar Garfors also makes and presents a travel competition on the Nitimen show on Norway's biggest radio station NRK P1 with a 55% market share thrice weekly.   

The last 'new' countries he visited were Tonga, Fiji, Tuvalu, Kiribati and finally Cape Verde. 

None are remaining, but he has no intention of stopping to travel to take up gardening or card games. His impulsiveness wouldn't allow it. 

Other

Garfors is born in Hammerfest on May 29, 1975. It was snowing when he first opened his eyes in the world's northernmost city. His parents are Mr. Reidar Garfors, a retired medical doctor and Ms. Ruth Berit Stensletten Garfors, a teacher. He has three brothers, three sisters and a half sister. He grew up in Havøysund, Dublin, Førde and Naustdal. Plus one year as an exchange student in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. He now lives in Oslo but has also lived in Copenhagen, Falmouth and Taipei. 

CV.
Press photos. 
Wikipedia entry. 
In the press.