Meet the 76-year-old Kazakh traveller on a mission to walk around the world
Sarsenbay Kotyrashov began travelling on foot in his 70s. After walking across Kazakhstan and through parts of Asia and Europe, he is now preparing to cross the US.
Inside a blacksmith workshop, a 76-year-old Kazakh man named Sarsenbay Kotyrashov puts aside sweat and grime to share his remarkable journey. "There's a Kazakh verse that says, 'I'm as soft as iron and as white as coal,' and I like the image," he chuckles. Born into a family of blacksmiths, Kotyrashov picked up the trade early in life and has never looked back. Despite the years of labor-intensive work, he remains spry and is now embarking on a global adventure.
In 2022, Kotyrashov began walking across his home country of Kazakhstan, crossing the entire nation on foot. This 8,000-kilometre trek took him six months to complete. Satisfied with this achievement, he decided to take his journey further and ventured into neighboring countries. Crossing into Russia, he trekked through the Caucasus, eventually reaching Turkey and Istanbul.
His charismatic personality and distinctive appearance, featuring a straw hat and a suitcase filled with stickers marking his travels, made him a local celebrity.
Kotyrashov's next destination was China. He set off from Oskemen in eastern Kazakhstan, traversed Russia's Altai region, Mongolia, and finally reached Beijing, where he posed for a photo on the Great Wall. This latest leg of his journey, completed in 2026, saw him walk through five European countries in just 53 days, covering approximately 3,000 kilometers. From Belgrade, Serbia, he ventured through Hungary, Austria, and Germany, culminating his European trek in Paris, France.
With each step, Kotyrashov reflects on the challenges he's faced, recalling enduring three and a half days in the wilderness without food or water. He emphasizes the importance of determination and willpower in overcoming obstacles. As his travels continue, Kotyrashov eagerly talks about his upcoming adventure – walking across eight US states in 2027, starting from the Atlantic coast and finishing at the Pacific.
This ambitious journey is part of his broader goal to set a Guinness World Record by walking over 40,000 kilometers on foot after turning 75. With a mischievous grin, he reassures all that he remains unfazed by age, firmly declaring, "I don't consider myself old until I complete this plan and join the Guinness World Records."
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