Magdy Eissa, a 45-year-old thrill-seeking traveller from Egypt, has etched his name in history, claiming a new world record by visiting all Seven Wonders of the World in a mind-boggling six days, 11 hours, and 52 minutes, using only public transportation for travel. This record-breaking expedition across the world’s seven modern wonders surpasses the previous benchmark set by Jamie McDonald in 2023, who completed the feat in six days and 16 hours.
Eissa’s extraordinary travel across the Seven Wonders of the World, now part of the Guinness World Records, started at the Great Wall of China, followed by the Taj Mahal in India, Petra in Jordan, the Colosseum in Rome, Christ the Redeemer in Brazil, Machu Picchu in Peru, and concluding at Chichen Itza in Mexico. His meticulous planning over a year and a half was instrumental in achieving this unprecedented feat, a testament to human endurance and global exploration.
In an exclusive interview with Travel+Leisure Asia, Magdy Eissa opened up about the challenges and triumphs of his record-breaking journey through the Seven Wonders of the World, sharing insights into the making of this extraordinary expedition. Read on for excerpts and inspiration.
Why travel to the Seven Wonders of the World?
Magdy Eissa: I like to push my limits now and then. I do enjoy the adrenaline rush during such endeavours. This latest adventure is one of my long-held dreams of visiting the Seven Wonders of the World in just seven days. As I was planning the logistics for this trip, I discovered that a British man already held a Guinness World Record for this very feat. This sparked a thought: ‘Why not attempt to break that record myself? I’m doing the trip anyway.’ Glad I did!
How did you decide which of the world’s wonders to start from?
Magdy Eissa: Deciding the order of the wonders to visit was one of the most challenging aspects of my planning process, which took 12-18 months. Ultimately, I chose the farthest of the seven destinations to the east on the map, starting in China. This strategic choice allowed me to take advantage of time zones to optimise my journey.
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By moving in this direction, I hoped to leverage overnight travel, which would enable me to arrive at each destination early in the day, maximising my time at each wonder. The route I settled on included China, India, Jordan, Italy, Brazil, Peru, and finally Mexico.
The most complex part of the logistics involved travelling between Brazil, Peru, and Mexico. Coordinating flights and transportation among these three locations within South and Central America proved to be quite intricate!
What were your top three experiences from this trip?
Magdy Eissa: I LOVED Peru and my Alpaca encounters. Peru’s culture is unique, vibrant, and authentic, which I didn’t fully appreciate before visiting. Bustling markets, and breathtaking landscapes, everything felt alive and genuine.
While visiting Jordan, I discovered a delightful perk of being Egyptian. As an Arab, I was only charged 1 dinar for the Petra entrance ticket, a stark contrast to the 50 dinars foreign visitors pay. This unexpected benefit made me feel more connected to the local culture and added a layer of joy to my visit.
My journey through China taught me a valuable lesson about communication. I quickly learned that navigating the country without understanding the language would be quite challenging, This experience highlighted the importance of language in travel and made me appreciate the necessity of learning at least a few key phrases. It was a humbling reminder of the complexities of global travel and the beauty of cultural exchange.
What triggered this ‘travel the Seven Wonders of the World’ plan?
Magdy Eissa: I like to push my limits now and then. I do enjoy the adrenaline rush during such executions. My passion for all this started many years ago while in Hawaii with my wife. I pushed myself to do a cliff dive into the sea. Nothing too high, maybe around 15 metres, but it was challenging to jump. A few years later, I did my first Ski dive in Dubai where I was actually terrified. A couple of years later, I went to chase the Northern Lights during an Icelandic winter, which was a lifetime experience.
Which wonder did you find the most beautiful?
Magdy Eissa: All of them were beautiful and different, however, the two that were captivating for me were the Taj Mahal and Machu Picchu, both for different reasons. The Taj Mahal’s backstory and its marvellous architectural work will leave you in awe while visiting. On the other hand, the journey to Machu Picchu was absolutely fascinating, from using many transport methods to the beautiful sceneries I witnessed on the way.
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Did jet lag slow you down? What tips can you give our readers to combat jet lag?
Magdy Eissa: It absolutely did! After three consecutive days of travel, I finally had the chance to get some proper rest during a single night in a hotel in Amman, Jordan. Unfortunately, I ended up oversleeping, which caused me to miss the only direct bus from Amman to Petra. It was a frustrating setback, but it also highlighted how crucial rest is during such an intense trip. To combat jet lag for the remainder of my adventure, I made a conscious effort to maximise my sleep while on planes.
A few tips I learned over the years – staying hydrated, getting exposed to natural daylight, and limiting caffeine intake can help better manage the effects of jet lag.
Did you get a chance to indulge your palate with local food? Where did you find the best food?
Magdy Eissa: Absolutely! One of the significant downsides of this whirlwind trip was the limited time I had to explore local dining options. I barely managed to visit any local restaurants in six out of the seven countries I travelled to. However, I did manage to carve out an additional two hours in Italy, where I was able to enjoy a hearty Italian meal.
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As a fan of both Indian and Mexican food, I was particularly eager to try some authentic Peruvian cuisine during my visit. Unfortunately, time constraints made it challenging to fully indulge in the local food scene as I had hoped. A reason to be back!
(Feature image credit: magdy.eissa/Instagram)
Related: A Guide To The Ancient And New Wonders Of The World
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
Written By
Esha Dasgupta
Senior Digital Writer - Growth, TravelEsha is a traveller at heart, with a penchant for exploring the unchartered. She has previously worked ..Read More