Aleksandra and Marcin Górski have returned home after 1142 days on the road. Over three years and two months, the residents of Gdańsk traveled through 47 countries, covered more than 60,000 kilometers, and made history as the second Polish couple to complete a round-the-world bicycle trip as part of a single continuous expedition
The numbers speak for themselves. The total elevation gain was 494,000 meters, equivalent to 56 ascents of Everest. The couple spent 487 nights in a tent and were hosted by strangers 135 times. The highest point of their route was at an altitude of 4,818 meters above sea level.
The journey was initially based on the principle of self-sufficiency. Despite a limited budget, the Górskis managed to keep their food and accommodation expenses within 45% of the total amount: an average of 31 zlotys per person per day. The main expenses were consumed by visas and intercontinental flights.
The couple received support from the online community, including through donations in the form of «virtual coffee.» According to the travelers, this assistance was truly significant.
Iran welcomed with open hearts, Pakistan guarded with weapons
The attitude towards travelers varied greatly in different countries. In Iran, strangers stopped the couple on the road every day to offer them accommodation. In the Pakistani province of Balochistan, the situation was different: the Górskis were accompanied by a military escort, whose vehicle followed them closely on the road.
“It was clear that the guards were carefully monitoring every bush,” the couple recalls, specifying that they did not feel any direct threat.
The most difficult stretch came at the finish
Paradoxically, the most exhausting part of the route awaited the Górskis at the very end: the South American stretch from the Perito Moreno Glacier to Ushuaia. The monotonous plain, piercing wind, cold, and rain turned what seemed to be the final stage into a real trial.
“We were driven by only one thing: to reach the end of the world,” they admit, referring to Ushuaia, the southernmost city on the planet.
Three years together
When asked how they managed to maintain their relationship under continuous togetherness, the Górskis respond without unnecessary pathos. Conflicts, they say, arose only in two situations: when they were hungry or when they were exhausted. While riding, each existed at their own pace: talking on the go was almost impossible, and this provided space for themselves.
Return
The professional reality greeted the travelers without a ceremonial reception. Aleksandra, a kindergarten teacher by profession, returned to work. Marcin, who previously worked in electronic banking, is currently searching for a job. They admit that the hardest part was not the journey itself, but the decision to leave their jobs at the very beginning, and now to rebuild their professional lives.
Nevertheless, the couple has no regrets and encourages others not to be afraid to dream. “People on the internet lack authenticity. If you focus on authenticity, you can achieve a lot,” the Górskis believe.
What’s next? They answer this question with a smile: “The best journey would be one from which you don’t need to return to ordinary life.”
The first Polish couple to travel around the world on bicycles were Adela Tarkowska and Krzysztof Józefowski, who did this from 2010 to 2019. The Górskis became the second.
