In an extraordinary feat of determination and wanderlust, 80-year-old Margaret Wilson, an American grandmother and retired teacher, has become the oldest person in history to travel to every country in the world.
Margaret touched down in Turkmenistan, her 195th and final country, completing a journey that spanned seven continents, over six decades, and millions of miles. With this, she joins a rare and elite group of global travelers — and sets a new record as the oldest to do so.
“I never imagined I’d see the whole world,” Margaret said with a beaming smile. “I just kept going — one country, one story, one miracle at a time.”
Her travels began in the 1960s with a modest trip to Mexico. Since then, she has survived a hurricane in the Philippines, danced with tribes in Papua New Guinea, trekked through the Amazon, and even hiked the icy edges of Antarctica.
Margaret documented her travels on a blog titled “The Golden Passport”, inspiring thousands of readers — especially seniors — to pursue adventure regardless of age.
“I wanted to prove that age is not a barrier to dreams,” she said. “If your heart is young, the world is always within reach.”
International travel organizations and explorers’ clubs have recognized her as a pioneer. She now plans to write a memoir and continue speaking about the joys of travel and lifelong curiosity.
As the world applauds her journey, Margaret Wilson’s achievement stands as a powerful reminder: It’s never too late to chase the horizon.
