Alfie Watts, winner of Race Across the World, talks about the importance of an authentic journey

The story of Alfie Watts transcends the traditional view of modern travel. Crossing the finish line of Race Across the World propelled this young traveler into the spotlight, revealing the essence of authentic travel in contrast to standardized tourism. Alfie’s beliefs stand in stark opposition to the superficiality of ordinary trips, delivering a plea for the unfiltered exploration of cultures, landscapes, and mindsets. His experience illuminates the distinction between *authentic adventure* and simple guided excursions, revealing that true immersion involves breaking the constraints of habits, embracing discomfort, and prioritizing human richness over tourist convenience. His testimony poses a direct question: *what experience do you truly wish to bring back from a journey to the other side of the world?*

Spotlight

Alfie Watts has become the youngest winner of Race Across the World. He advocates for the importance of authentic travel rather than classic tourism. His adventure began with a 50-day journey without planes or smartphones between Japan and Indonesia. He encourages exploring less touristy destinations to better manage budgets and have enriching experiences. Since his victory, he has visited around 30 countries and has transitioned to being a travel content creator. He advises carrying practical tools while traveling, such as a calculator or pictograms for communication. The experience has made him aware of the encounter with local cultures and the search for authenticity. Alfie also serves as a youth ambassador for those facing psychological difficulties. His journey inspires others to step out of their comfort zone and travel responsibly.

Redefining travel: the authentic experience according to Alfie Watts #

Alfie Watts, since his victory at Race Across the World, advocates for a new approach to adventure. For him, travel is not just about consuming landscapes but about immersing oneself in the reality of places and people.

He distinguishes two ways of discovering the world: superficial travel, often limited to a cozy resort shielded from all surprises, and authentic travel, which requires genuine openness to others and spontaneity. Watts claims to prefer stepping away from the protective bubble of hotels to become an active participant in his own adventures. He expresses this candidly: “The true richness of travel lies in the authenticity of encounters”.

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Choosing bold and unique destinations #

Watts advises daring to leave one’s comfort zone to discover less frequented regions, far from the beaten paths and exorbitant prices. His assessment is clear: the cost of a stay in Spain can quickly compete with a journey to distant lands, while destinations such as Malaysia or Brazil offer a favorable financial balance. “Aiming for the unexpected enriches much more than sticking to convenience”.

Resources such as travel agent recommendations make selecting lesser-known regions easier, open to curiosity and the discovery of other ways of life.

Slow down, savor, and experience

Alfie’s new way of life, characterized by a deliberate slowing down of air travel, focuses on connection to the regions traversed. Traveling without a plane fosters a more human approach, encourages grounding, and sharpens the perception of micro-details: smells, textures, intonations. Far from rapid tourism, he invites to immerse oneself, even on an isolated island like Tuvalu, where the difficult access becomes an almost initiatory challenge.

Solo or in a team: authenticity as a compass #

Watts often prefers solo travel, but encourages everyone to test their own limits. Meeting others on the road, accepting the unknown, and sometimes feeling the adrenaline of extraordinary situations – such as his experience in Venezuela – provide opportunities for personal growth and unforgettable anecdotes.

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Authentic travel also requires the use of concrete and smart tools to compensate for the lack of modern technology. Watts recommends bringing along a calculator, a whiteboard, or illustrated flashcards to facilitate communication, especially when language barriers arise, as he experienced in China. Advice from previous editions of Race Across the World underscores the growing busyness and creativity of new participants, sharpened by the experiences of their predecessors.

Responsibility, inspiration, and sharing #

Aware of his notoriety, the young winner places great importance on responsibility. Prioritizing safety, he seeks to inspire without encouraging recklessness: “Exemplariness prevails over recklessness”. His involvement with Young Minds UK and Winston’s Wish reflects this commitment to transforming personal experience into altruistic virtue.

Tips and inspiring items for the modern traveler

The quest for authenticity sometimes involves adopting innovative gadgets: from interactive travel journals to instant translation solutions. While these inventions are helpful, they should take a backseat to the desire to interact and enrich oneself personally.

Exploration, memory, and transmission #

Some places visited by Alfie Watts reveal the quintessence of wonder: Angel Falls in Venezuela remains, in his eyes, a pinnacle, while the cultural plurality of Jordan and Malaysia has deeply impacted him. Other destinations like Centuripe evoke the rare union of history and breathtaking landscapes, as described in this article about Centuripe.

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Far from merely accumulating memories, each experience signed by Alfie Watts revolves around authenticity, respect for the peoples met, and a proactive stance towards the unknown. Travel becomes an exploration of oneself, oscillating between demand, humility, and thirst for discovery.