Expeditions

In April 1997, Mike embarked on his first major expedition: a six-month solo crossing of the South American continent. He set off on foot from the Pacific Ocean and climbed to the source of the Amazon, in the Peruvian Andes. From there, he hydrospeeded down the 7,000 km of the Amazon River, battling raging currents and wildlife, until he reached the Atlantic Ocean. This adventure marked the start of a career as an extraordinary explorer.

Mike gained worldwide fame after completing a solo circumnavigation of the globe along the equator, without motorised transport. Setting off west from Gabon in 1999, he crossed oceans and continents on foot, by boat, by bike and by kayak, tackling Amazon jungles, tumultuous oceans and vast deserts. Eighteen months later, he completed his journey, returning to his starting point. This unique challenge is a testament to his physical and mental endurance.

In 2002, Mike embarked on one of his most ambitious adventures: a solo circumnavigation of the Arctic Circle. For two years and three months, he covered 20,000 kilometres without motorised transport, using a boat, a kayak, a ski-kite or walking on foot. Starting from the North Cape in Norway, he crossed Greenland, Canada, Alaska, the Bering Strait and Russian Siberia before completing his expedition. This extreme journey took him through freezing temperatures and unpredictable weather conditions.

In 2006, Mike achieved a world first with Norwegian explorer Børge Ousland: reaching the North Pole in winter, in total darkness. For 60 days, they skied from Cape Artichesky in Russia to the North Pole, pulling their pulkas in extreme conditions, with temperatures as low as -50°C. The thin layer of ice and the constant darkness made this one of the most perilous expeditions ever attempted.

In 2008, Mike launched the Young Explorers Programme (YEP), an educational and exploration programme designed to raise young people’s awareness of environmental issues. Over a four-year period, more than 100 young explorers were selected to join him on board his yacht Pangaea and travel to the four corners of the world. The aim: to explore, learn and take action by setting up practical social and environmental projects. This pioneering expedition is inspiring a new generation of adventurers and conservationists.

On 7 December 2019, Mike Horn and Børge Ousland completed the first crossing of the Arctic Ocean via the North Pole. Their 87-day expedition, 57 of which were spent in total darkness, was made even more difficult by the increasing fragility of the pack ice due to global warming. Due to negative drifts and a shortage of food, their extraction was modified as a matter of urgency, requiring the intervention of an icebreaker. This journey highlights the alarming changes affecting the Arctic.

Launched in May 2023, What’s Left is Mike’s last major expedition. This four-year adventure aims to rediscover the iconic places of his career, observe how natural environments have changed over the decades and raise public awareness of the effects of climate change. After a year in Greenland, he is now preparing to head for the Amazon.