• French adventurers complete 518-day trek across 16 countries
• They faced harsh climates and tested their endurance and patience

Two French explorers reached Shanghai, finishing a year-and-a-half journey from their hometown, covering roughly 12,850 kilometers on foot.

Loic Voisot, 26, and Benjamin Humblot, 27, greeted the moment of arrival with joy and relief along the Bund promenade, with the skyscrapers of Shanghai’s financial district sparkling behind them.

The duo set out from Annecy in southeastern France in September 2024, seeking “a great adventure” and aiming to reach China without flying, to avoid environmental impact from air travel.

Voisot said after the grueling trek: “We still can’t believe we walked all that distance and finally reached Shanghai after so many years of thinking about it.” He added: “We feel proud, especially for daring to take on this challenge… We weren’t sure we’d make it, but we decided to try.”

The journey lasted 518 days, covering about 45 kilometers daily, with short breaks every five to seven days, except for a brief bus crossing through Russia for logistical reasons.

Around 50 people gathered at the start of the final 10-kilometer stretch, including local followers in China, while journalists and French residents in Shanghai joined along the way.

Cheers and excitement filled the area as the duo declared their journey complete.

The adventurers faced multiple challenges, including bitter winters and crossing Uzbekistan’s deserts, but overcame them with determination.

Although they generally ate well, they both missed French cheese, with Voisot smiling: “It’s simple, but incredibly delicious.”

Both admitted the scale of their achievement hasn’t fully sunk in yet and said they might continue the adventure: “We’ve reached the ocean, so why not take a boat to the United States?”

But before any new adventure, Voisot confirmed the first thing he’ll do after finishing the trek: “Sleep a lot!”