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{{Short description|Complete navigation around the Earth}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2014}}
[[File:Magellan Elcano Circumnavigation-en.svg|400px|thumb|The Magellan-Elcano expedition was the first circumnavigation of the Earth.]]
'''Circumnavigation''' is the complete [[navigation]] around an entire [[island]], [[continent]], or [[astronomical object|astronomical body]] (e.g. a [[planet]] or [[natural satellite|moon]]). This article focuses on the circumnavigation of [[Earth]].

The first circumnavigation of the Earth was the [[Magellan's circumnavigation|Magellan Expedition]], which sailed from [[Sanlucar de Barrameda, Spain]] in 1519 and returned in 1522, after crossing the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]], [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific]], and [[Indian Ocean|Indian]] oceans. Since the rise of [[commercial aviation]] in the mid 20th century, circumnavigating Earth is straightforward, usually taking days instead of years.<ref name="nzh">{{cite web|last1=Howie|first1=Cherie|title=Kiwi airline exec breaks record for world circumnavigation on commercial airlines|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11983099|website=New Zealand Herald|publisher=New Zealand Media and Entertainment|access-date=17 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617200711/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11983099|archive-date=17 June 2019|date=27 January 2018}}</ref> Today, the challenge of circumnavigating Earth has shifted towards human and technological endurance, speed, and [[List of circumnavigations#Miscellaneous|less conventional methods]].

==Etymology==
{{further|Navigation#Etymology}}
The word ''circumnavigation'' is a noun formed from the verb ''circumnavigate'', from the past participle of the [[Latin]] verb ''circumnavigare'',<ref>{{wiktionary-inline|circumnavigare#Latin}}</ref> from ''circum'' "around" + ''navigare'' "to sail".<ref>{{OEtymD|circumnavigate}}</ref>

==Definition==
A person walking completely around either pole will cross all [[meridian (geography)|meridians]], but this is not generally considered a "circumnavigation". The path of a true (global) circumnavigation forms a [[loop (topology)|continuous loop]] on the surface of Earth separating two regions of comparable area.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}} A basic definition of a global circumnavigation would be a route which covers roughly a [[great circle]], and in particular one which passes through at least one pair of points [[antipodes|antipodal]] to each other.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.expedition360.com/home/circumnavigation.htm |title=Definition of a Circumnavigation |publisher=Expedition360.com |date=28 September 1924 |access-date =2 July 2012}}</ref> In practice, people use different definitions of world circumnavigation to accommodate practical constraints, depending on the method of travel. Since the planet is [[spheroid|quasispheroidal]], a trip from one Pole to the other, and back again on the other side, would technically be a circumnavigation. There are practical difficulties (namely, the [[Arctic ice pack]] and the [[Antarctic ice sheet]]) in such a voyage, although it was successfully undertaken in the early 1980s by [[Ranulph Fiennes]].<ref name="transglobe">{{Cite web|date=2015-08-18|title=1982: First Surface Circumnavigation via both Geographical Poles|url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/60at60/2015/8/1982-first-surface-circumnavigation-via-both-geographical-poles-392920|access-date=2021-01-28|website=Guinness World Records|language=en-GB}}</ref>

==History==
The first circumnavigation was that of the ship [[Victoria (ship)|''Victoria'']] between 1519 and 1522, now known as the [[Timeline of Magellan's circumnavigation|Magellan–Elcano expedition]]. It was a [[Kingdom of Castile|Castilian]] ([[Spanish Empire|Spanish]]) voyage of discovery. The voyage started in [[Seville]], crossed the Atlantic Ocean, and{{mdash}}after several stops{{mdash}}rounded [[Cape Horn|the southern tip of South America]], where the expedition named the [[Strait of Magellan]]. It then continued across the Pacific, discovering a number of islands on its way (including [[Guam]]), before arriving in the [[Philippines]]. The voyage was initially led by the [[Portuguese people|Portuguese]] [[Ferdinand Magellan]] but he was killed on [[Mactan]] in the Philippines in 1521. The remaining sailors decided to circumnavigate the world instead of making the return voyage{{mdash}}no [[Transpacific crossing|passage east across the Pacific]] would be successful [[Andrés de Urdaneta|for four decades]]{{mdash}}and continued the voyage across the Indian Ocean, round [[Cape of Good Hope|the southern cape of Africa]], north along Africa's Atlantic coasts, and back to Spain in 1522. Of the 270 crew members who set out from Seville, only 18 were still with the expedition at the end including its surviving captain, the Spaniard [[Juan Sebastián Elcano]].<ref>{{cite book| title=The Seafarers – The Explorers| first= Richard |last=Humble| publisher= Time-Life Books| location= Alexandria, Virginia| year=1978}}</ref>

The next to circumnavigate the globe were the survivors of the Castilian/Spanish expedition of [[Garcia Jofre de Loaisa|García Jofre de Loaísa]] between 1525 and 1536. None of the seven original ships of the [[Loaísa expedition]] nor its first four leaders{{mdash}}Loaísa, [[Juan Sebastián Elcano|Elcano]], [[Alonso de Salazar|Salazar]], and Martín Íñiguez de Carquizano{{mdash}}survived to complete the voyage. The last of the original ships, the {{lang|es|Santa María de la Victoria}}, was sunk in 1526 in the [[Portuguese East Indies|East Indies]] (now [[Indonesia]]) by the Portuguese. Unable to press forward or retreat, Hernando de la Torre erected a fort on [[Tidore Island|Tidore]], received reinforcements under [[Alvaro de Saavedra]] that were similarly defeated, and finally surrendered to the Portuguese. In this way, a handful of survivors became the second group of circumnavigators when they were transported under guard to [[Lisbon]] in 1536. A third group came from the 117 survivors of the similarly failed [[Villalobos Expedition]] in the next decade; similarly ruined and starved, they were imprisoned by the Portuguese and transported back to Lisbon in 1546.{{Citation needed|date=May 2024}}

In 1577, [[Elizabeth I of England|Elizabeth I]] sent [[Francis Drake]] to [[Francis Drake's Circumnavigation|start an expedition]] against the Spanish along the Pacific coast of the Americas. Drake set out from Plymouth, England in November 1577, aboard ''[[Golden Hind|Pelican]]'', which he renamed ''Golden Hind'' mid-voyage. In September 1578, the ship passed south of Tierra del Fuego, the southern tip of South America, through the area now known as the [[Drake Passage]].<ref name=Wagner>Wagner, Henry R., ''Sir Francis Drake's Voyage Around the World: Its Aims and Achievements'', Kessinger Publishing, LLC, 2006, {{ISBN|1-4286-2255-1}}</ref><ref name=Mateo>{{cite book |last=Martinic |first=Mateo |author-link=Mateo Martinic |date=1977 |title=Historia del Estrecho de Magallanes |language=es |url=http://www.memoriachilena.cl/602/w3-article-10441.html |location=Santiago |publisher=Andrés Bello |pages=67–68 }}</ref> In June 1579, Drake landed somewhere north of Spain's northernmost claim in [[Alta California]], presumably [[Drakes Bay]]. Drake completed the second complete circumnavigation of the world in a single vessel on September 1580, becoming the first commander to survive the entire circumnavigation.

[[Thomas Cavendish]] completed [[Thomas Cavendish's circumnavigation|his circumnavigation]] between 1586 and 1588 in record time{{mdash}}in two years and 49 days, nine months faster than Drake. It was also the first deliberately planned voyage of the globe.<ref name=TTH>{{cite book|first=Bernard|last=Grun|title=The Timetables of History|edition=3rd|location=New York|publisher=Simon & Schuster|year=1991|isbn=0-671-74919-6|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/timetablesofhist1991grun}}</ref>

[[Jeanne Baret]] is recognized as the first woman to have completed a voyage of circumnavigation of the globe, which she did via [[maritime transport]]. A key part of her journey was as a member of [[Louis Antoine de Bougainville]]'s expedition on the ships ''[[French frigate Boudeuse (1766)|Boudeuse]]'' and ''[[French fluyt Étoile (1767)|Étoile]]'' in 1766–1769.

Captain [[James Cook]] became the first navigator to record three circumnavigations through the Pacific aboard the ''Endeavour'' from 1769 to 1771 and ''Resolution'' from 1772 to 1779. He was among the first to complete west–east circumnavigation in high latitudes.

For the wealthy, long voyages around the world, such as was done by [[Ulysses S. Grant]], became possible in the 19th century, and the two World Wars moved vast numbers of troops around the planet. The rise of commercial aviation in the late 20th century made circumnavigation even quicker and safer.<ref name="nzh"/>

==Nautical==
The nautical global and fastest circumnavigation record is currently held by a wind-powered vessel, the trimaran [[IDEC 3]]. The record was established by six sailors: [[Francis Joyon]], [[Alex Pella]], Clément Surtel, Gwénolé Gahinet, Sébastien Audigane and Bernard Stamm. On 26 January 2017, this crew finished circumnavigating the globe in 40&nbsp;days, 23&nbsp;hours, 30&nbsp;minutes and 30&nbsp;seconds.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.sailspeedrecords.com/news/216-wssr-newsletter-no-281-idec-around-the-world-outright-07-02-17|title = The WSSR Council announces the establishment of a new World Recordwork | work = World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSR) |access-date =2017-02-07}}</ref> The absolute speed sailing record around the world followed the North Atlantic Ocean, Equator, South Atlantic Ocean, Southern Ocean, South Atlantic Ocean, Equator, North Atlantic Ocean route in an easterly direction.

===Wind powered===
[[File:CircumnavigationByTrades.png|thumb|300px|right|The route of a typical modern sailing circumnavigation, via the [[Suez Canal]] and the [[Panama Canal]] is shown in red; its antipodes are shown in yellow.]]

The map on the right shows, in red, a typical, non-competitive, route for a [[sailing]] circumnavigation of the world by the [[trade wind]]s and the [[Suez Canal|Suez]] and [[Panama Canal|Panama]] canals; overlaid in yellow are the points antipodal to all points on the route. It can be seen that the route roughly approximates a [[great circle]], and passes through two pairs of antipodal points. This is a route followed by many [[Cruising (maritime)|cruising]] sailors, going in the western direction; the use of the trade winds makes it a relatively easy sail, although it passes through a number of zones of calms or light winds.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Circumnavigations |url=http://www.solarnavigator.net/circumnavigation.htm|access-date=2021-01-28|website=www.solarnavigator.net}}</ref>

[[File:CircumnavigationByCapes.png|thumb|300px|right|The route of a typical yacht racing circumnavigation is shown in red; its antipodes are shown in yellow.]]

In [[yacht racing]], a round-the-world route approximating a great circle would be quite impractical, particularly in a non-stop race where use of the Panama and Suez Canals would be impossible. Yacht racing therefore defines a world circumnavigation to be a passage of at least 21,600&nbsp;nautical miles (40,000&nbsp;km) in length which crosses the [[equator]], crosses every [[meridian (geography)|meridian]] and finishes in the same port as it starts.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sailspeedrecords.com/the-courses-offshore.html |title=ISAF/World Sailing Speed Record Rules for individually attempted Passage Records or Performances Offshore, sec. 26.1.a, Record Courses |publisher=Sailspeedrecords.com |access-date=2 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717063258/http://sailspeedrecords.com/the-courses-offshore.html |archive-date=17 July 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The second map on the right shows the route of the [[Vendée Globe]] round-the-world race in red; overlaid in yellow are the points antipodal to all points on the route. It can be seen that the route does not pass through any pairs of antipodal points. Since the winds in the higher southern latitudes predominantly blow west-to-east it can be seen that there are an easier route (west-to-east) and a harder route (east-to-west) when circumnavigating by sail; this difficulty is magnified for [[square-rig]] vessels due to the square rig's dramatic lack of upwind ability when compared to a more modern [[Bermuda rig]].<ref name=":0" />

For [[around the world sailing record]]s, there is a rule saying that the length must be at least 21,600&nbsp;nautical miles calculated along the shortest possible track from the starting port and back that does not cross land and does not go below 63°S. It is allowed to have one single waypoint to lengthen the calculated track. The equator must be crossed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sailspeedrecords.com/the-courses-offshore.html |title=ISAF/World Sailing Speed Record Rules for individually attempted Passage Records or Performances Offshore |publisher=Sailspeedrecords.com |access-date=2 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717063258/http://www.sailspeedrecords.com/the-courses-offshore.html |archive-date=17 July 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

The solo wind powered circumnavigation record of 42 days, 16 hours, 40 minutes and 35 seconds was established by [[François Gabart]] on the maxi-multihull sailing yacht MACIF and completed on 7 December 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2017-12-17|title=François Gabart: French sailor slashes around the world solo record|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-42383438|access-date=2021-02-13}}</ref> The voyage followed the North Atlantic Ocean, Equator, South Atlantic Ocean, Southern Ocean, South Atlantic Ocean, Equator, North Atlantic Ocean route in an easterly direction.

===Mechanically powered===
Since the advent of world cruises in 1922, by [[Cunard Line|Cunard's]] [[RMS Laconia (1921)|''Laconia'']], thousands of people have completed circumnavigations of the globe at a more leisurely pace. Typically, these voyages begin in [[New York City]] or [[Southampton]], and proceed westward. Routes vary, either travelling through the Caribbean and then into the Pacific Ocean via the [[Panama Canal]], or around [[Cape Horn]]. From there ships usually make their way to Hawaii, the islands of the South Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, then northward to Hong Kong, South East Asia, and India. At that point, again, routes may vary: one way is through the [[Suez Canal]] and into the Mediterranean; the other is around [[Cape of Good Hope]] and then up the west coast of Africa. These cruises end in the port where they began.<ref name=":0" />

In 1960, the American nuclear-powered submarine [[USS Triton (SSRN-586)|USS ''Triton'']] circumnavigated the globe in 60 days, 21 hours for [[Operation Sandblast]].

The current circumnavigation record in a powered boat of 60 days 23 hours and 49 minutes<ref>[https://www.uimpowerboating.com/Records1.aspx Records] uimpowerboating.com {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814144327/https://www.uimpowerboating.com/Records1.aspx |date=14 August 2017 }}</ref> was established by a voyage of the wave-piercing trimaran ''[[Earthrace]]'' which was completed on 27 June 2008. The voyage followed the North Atlantic Ocean, Panama Canal, Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, Suez Canal, Mediterranean Sea route in a westerly direction.

===Solar powered===
The first solar-powered world tour was carried out by the ship [[MS Turanor PlanetSolar]] in 2012 by the Swiss explorer [[Raphaël Domjan]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.raphaeldomjan.com/en/projects-expeditions/planetsolar/|title=PlanetSolar &#124; Raphaël Domjan}}</ref>

==Aviation==

In 1922 [[Norman Macmillan (RAF officer)]], Major [[W T Blake]] and [[Geoffrey Malins]] made an unsuccessful attempt to fly a ''Daily News''-sponsored round-the-world flight.<ref>{{cite book |title=Fairey Aircraft since 1915 |last= Taylor |first=H. A. |year=1974 |publisher=Putnam Publishing |location=London |isbn=0-370-00065-X |pages=87–89 }}</ref> The first aerial circumnavigation of the planet was flown in 1924 by aviators of the [[U.S. Army Air Service]] in a quartet of [[Douglas World Cruiser]] biplanes. The first non-stop aerial circumnavigation of the planet was flown in 1949 by [[Lucky Lady II]], a [[United States Air Force]] [[Boeing B-50 Superfortress]].

Since the development of commercial aviation, there are regular routes that circle the globe, such as [[Pan American World Airways|Pan American]] Flight One (and later [[United Airlines]] Flight One). Today planning such a trip through commercial flight connections is simple.

The first [[Aerostat|lighter-than-air]] aircraft of any type to circumnavigate under its own power was the [[rigid airship]] [[LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin|LZ 127 ''Graf Zeppelin'']], which did so in 1929.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Fritzsche |first=Peter |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sTBsEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA179 |title=A Nation of Fliers: German Aviation and the Popular Imagination |date=1992 |publisher=Harvard University Press |isbn=978-0-674-60122-2 |language=en}}</ref>

In [[1936]] American journalists Herbert R. Ekins, reporter for the ''[[New York World-Telegram]]'', [[Dorothy Kilgallen]] of the ''[[New York Journal]]'' and Leo Kieran of ''[[The New York Times]]'' compteted in a race [[Around the World in 20 Days|to travel around the world]]<ref name="Smith">[https://www.smithsonianmag.com/air-space-magazine/moments-and-milestones-once-around-42265865/ ''Moments and Milestones: Once Around''], Smithsonian /smithsonianmag.com (accessdate 8 august 2025)</ref> on commercial airline flights. The race took 18 ½ days.

Aviation records take account of the wind circulation patterns of the world; in particular the [[jet stream]]s, which circulate in the northern and southern hemispheres without crossing the equator. There is therefore no requirement to cross the equator, or to pass through two antipodal points, in the course of setting a round-the-world aviation record.

For powered aviation, the course of a round-the-world record must start and finish at the same point and cross all meridians; the course must be at least {{convert|36770|km|nmi}} long (which is approximately the length of the [[Tropic of Cancer]]). The course must include set control points at latitudes outside the [[Arctic Circle|Arctic]] and [[Antarctic Circle|Antarctic]] circles.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fai.org/downloads/gac/SC2 |title=FAI Sporting Code Section 2: Powered Aerodynes: Speed around the world non-stop and non-refuelled |publisher=[[Fédération Aéronautique Internationale]] |format=PDF |date=January 2016 |access-date=2 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160211204923/http://www.fai.org/downloads/gac/SC2 |archive-date=11 February 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In ballooning, which is at the mercy of the winds, the requirements are even more relaxed. The course must cross all meridians, and must include a set of checkpoints which are all outside of two circles, chosen by the pilot, having radii of {{convert|3335.85|km|mi}} and enclosing the poles (though not necessarily centred on them).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fai.org/documents/sportingcode/sc1 |title=FAI Sporting Code Section&nbsp;1: Aerostats: Around-the-World Records |publisher=Fai.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927142340/http://www.fai.org/documents/sportingcode/sc1 |archive-date=27 September 2011 }}</ref> For example, [[Steve Fossett]]'s global circumnavigation by balloon was entirely contained within the southern hemisphere.<ref name=":0" />

==Astronautics==
The first person to fly in space, [[Yuri Gagarin]], also became the first person to complete an [[orbital spaceflight]] in the [[Vostok 1]] spaceship within 2 hours on April 12, 1961.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1961-012A|title=NASA – NSSDCA – Spacecraft – Details|website=nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov|access-date=21 August 2019|archive-date=21 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220821075458/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1961-012A|url-status=dead}}</ref> The flight started at 63°&nbsp;E, 45°&nbsp;N and ended at 45°&nbsp;E 51°&nbsp;N; thus Gagarin did not circumnavigate Earth completely.

[[Gherman Titov]] in the [[Vostok 2]] was the first human to fully circumnavigate Earth in spaceflight and made 17.5 orbits on August 6, 1961.

==Human-powered==

[[File:Pedal_Boat_Moksha_on_River_Thames.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Jason Lewis (adventurer)|Jason Lewis]] of [[Expedition 360]] pedalling his boat Moksha on the [[River Thames]] in [[London]], shortly before completing the first human-powered circumnavigation of the [[Earth]] (2007)]]
According to adjudicating bodies ''[[Guinness World Records]]'' and Explorersweb, [[Jason Lewis (adventurer)|Jason Lewis]] completed the first human-powered circumnavigation of the globe on 6 October 2007.<ref name="Guinness World Records">{{cite web|last=Guinness World Records|title=Human Powered Circumnavigations|url=http://www.expedition360.com/guinness_world_records_first_hpc.pdf|date=6 October 2007}}</ref><ref name="AdventureStats">{{cite web |url=http://www.adventurestats.com/tables/hpc.shtml |title=Global HPC – Human Powered Circumnavigations |publisher=AdventureStats |access-date=2 July 2012 |archive-date=1 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001145147/http://www.adventurestats.com/tables/hpc.shtml |url-status=usurped }}</ref> This was part of a thirteen-year journey entitled [[Expedition 360]].

In 2012, Turkish-born American adventurer [[Erden Eruç]] completed the first entirely ''solo'' human-powered circumnavigation, travelling by rowboat, [[sea kayak]], foot and bicycle from 10 July 2007 to 21 July 2012,<ref name=gwr2>{{cite web|title=Guinness World Records – First solo circumnavigation of the globe using human power|date=21 July 2012 |url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/108422-first-solo-circumnavigation-of-the-globe-using-human-power|publisher=Guinness World Records|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319015308/http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/108422-first-solo-circumnavigation-of-the-globe-using-human-power|archive-date=19 March 2016|access-date=16 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> crossing the equator twice, passing over 12 antipodal points, and logging {{convert|66299|km|mi}}<ref name=psd>{{cite web|title=Media Kit – Project Summary Document|url=http://www.around-n-over.org/media/summary_HPC.pdf|publisher=Around-n-Over (PDF file linked from "around-n-over.org/media/mediakit.htm")|date=22 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160214191249/http://www.around-n-over.org/media/summary_HPC.pdf|archive-date=14 February 2016|url-status=live|access-date=11 November 2016}}</ref> in 1,026 days of travel time, excluding breaks.<ref name=outmag1>{{cite web|title=Around the World in 1,026 Days|url=http://www.outsideonline.com/adventure-travel/Around-the-World-in-1026-Days.html|publisher=Outside Magazine (online edition)|date=1 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140411160823/http://www.outsideonline.com/adventure-travel/Around-the-World-in-1026-Days.html|archive-date=11 April 2014|url-status=live|access-date=11 November 2016}}</ref>

[[National Geographic Society|National Geographic]] lists [[Colin Angus (explorer)|Colin Angus]] as being the first to complete a human-powered global circumnavigation in 2006.<ref>{{cite web |first=Daniel |last=Duane |url=http://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/best-of-adventure-2007/achievements/colin-angus-julie-wafaei.html |title=Adventurers of the Year: The New Magellans |publisher=National Geographic Society |year=2007 |access-date=2 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120704000831/http://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/best-of-adventure-2007/achievements/colin-angus-julie-wafaei.html |archive-date=4 July 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> However, his journey did not cross the equator or hit the minimum of two antipodal points as stipulated by the rules of ''Guinness World Records'' and AdventureStats by Explorersweb.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.expedition360.com/home/circumnavigation.htm |title=Jason Lewis version of circumnavigation |publisher=Expedition360.com |date=28 September 1924 |access-date=2 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.around-n-over.org/circumnavigation.htm |title=Erden Eruc version of circumnavigation |publisher=Around-n-over.org |access-date=2 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first1= Julie |last1= Wafaei |first2= Colin |last2= Angus |url= http://www.angusadventures.com/circumnavigations.html |title= Colin Angus version of circumnavigation |publisher= Angusadventures.com |access-date= 2 July 2012 |archive-date= 20 January 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130120223059/http://www.angusadventures.com/circumnavigations.html |url-status= dead }}</ref>

People have both bicycled and run around the world, but the oceans have had to be covered by air or sea travel, making the distance shorter than the ''Guinness'' guidelines.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}} To go from North America to Asia on foot is theoretically possible but very difficult. It involves crossing the [[Bering Strait]] on the ice, and around {{convert|3000|km|mi}} of roadless swamped or freezing cold areas in Alaska and eastern Russia. No one has so far travelled all of this route by foot. [[David Kunst]] was the first person that Guinness verified to have walked around the world between 20 June 1970 and 5 October 1974, by "[walking] 23,250 km (14,450 miles) through four continents".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/first-circumnavigation-by-walking|title=First circumnavigation by walking|website=Guinness World Records|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-01-12}}</ref>

==Notable circumnavigations==
{{Main|List of circumnavigations}}
{{more citations needed|section|date=May 2017}}
[[File:NaoVictoria.JPG|thumb|A replica of Magellan and Elcano's ''[[Victoria (ship)|Nao Victoria]]'', the first vessel to circumnavigate the planet]]
[[File:2010 09 05 Planit Solar 1.JPG|thumb|300px|In 2012, the Swiss boat ''[[Tûranor PlanetSolar|PlanetSolar]]'' became the first [[solar electric vehicle]] to circumnavigate the globe.]]

===Maritime===
* The [[Crown of Castile|Castilian]] ('Spanish') [[Timeline of Magellan's circumnavigation|Magellan-Elcano expedition]] of August 1519 to 8 September 1522, started by Portuguese navigator [[Ferdinand Magellan|Fernão de Magalhães (Ferdinand Magellan)]] and completed by Spanish Basque navigator [[Juan Sebastián Elcano]] after Magellan's death, was the first global circumnavigation<ref>{{cite book|first=Gloria Pilar |last= Totoricagüena|title=Basque Diaspora: Migration And Transnational Identity|publisher=University of Nevada Press|year=2005|isbn=9781877802454|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xy6p3D4AoTIC|access-date=8 March 2013|page=132}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title= Magellan's Voyage: A Narrative Account of the First Circumnavigation. |first1= Antonio |last1= Pigafetta |first2= Raleigh Ashlin |last2= Skelton |publisher= Courier Dover Publications |year= 1994 |isbn= 978-0-486-28099-8}}{{page needed|date=July 2014}}</ref> (see [[Victoria (ship)|''Victoria'']]).
* The survivors of [[García Jofre de Loaísa]]'s Spanish expedition 1525–1536, including [[Andrés de Urdaneta]] and Hans von Aachen, who was also one of the 18 survivors of Magellan's expedition, making him the first to circumnavigate the world twice.
* [[Francis Drake]] carried out the second circumnavigation of the world in a single expedition (and on a single independent voyage), from 1577 to 1580.<ref>{{cite book|last=Coote |first=Stephen |date=2003 |title=Drake: The Life and Legend of an Elizabethan Hero |location=New York |publisher=Thomas Dunne Books |isbn=978-0-312-34165-7}}</ref>
* [[Jeanne Baret]] is the first woman to complete a voyage of circumnavigation, in 1766–1769.<ref>{{citation |title=Monsieur Baret: First Woman Around the World |first=John |last=Dunmore |publisher=Heritage Press |year=2002 |isbn=978-0-908708-54-3}}</ref><ref>{{citation |title=The Discovery of Jeanne Baret |first=Glynis |last=Ridley |publisher=Crown Publisher New York |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-307-46352-4}}</ref>
* [[John Hunter (Royal Navy officer)|John Hunter]] commanded the first ship to circumnavigate the World starting from Australia, between 2 September 1788 and 8 May 1789, with one stop in Cape Town to load supplies for the colony of New South Wales.<ref>Hunter, John, [http://setis.library.usyd.edu.au/ozlit/pdf/hunhist.pdf An Historical Journal of the Transactions at Port Jackson and Norfolk Island], John Stockdale, London, 1793</ref>
* {{HMS|Driver|1840|6}} completed the first circumnavigation by a steam ship in 1845–1847. 
* The Spanish frigate ''[[Spanish ironclad Numancia|Numancia]]'', commanded by Juan Bautista Antequera y Bobadilla, completed the first circumnavigation by an [[ironclad]] in 1865–1867.
* [[Joshua Slocum]] completed the first [[single-handed sailing|single-handed]] circumnavigation in 1895–1898.
* In 1942, [[Vito Dumas]] became the first person to single-handedly circumnavigate the globe along the [[Roaring Forties]].
* In 1960, the U.S. Navy nuclear-powered submarine {{USS|Triton|SSRN-586}} completed the [[Operation Sandblast|submerged circumnavigation]].
* In 1969, [[Robin Knox-Johnston]] became the first person to complete a single-handed non-stop circumnavigation.
* In 1999, [[Jesse Martin]] became the youngest recognized person to complete an unassisted, non-stop, circumnavigation, at the age of 18.
* In 2001, the U.S. Coast Guard {{ USCGC|Sherman|WHEC-720}} became the first Coast Guard vessel to circumnavigate the globe.
* In 2012, [[Tûranor PlanetSolar|''PlanetSolar'']] became the first ever [[solar electric vehicle]] to circumnavigate the globe.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Webster|first=Andrew|date=2012-05-04|title=PlanetSolar completes first solar-powered boat trip around the globe|url=https://www.theverge.com/2012/5/4/2999750/planetsolar-solar-powered-boat-trip|access-date=2020-12-18|website=The Verge|language=en}}</ref>
* In 2012, [[Laura Dekker]] became the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe single-handed, with stops, at the age of 16.
* In 2017, trimaran ''[[IDEC 3]]'' with sailors: [[Francis Joyon]], [[Alex Pella]], Clément Surtel, Gwénolé Gahinet, Sébastien Audigane and Bernard Stamm completes the fastest circumnavigation of the globe ever; in 40 days, 23 hours, 30 minutes and 30 seconds. The voyage followed the North Atlantic Ocean, Equator, South Atlantic Ocean, Southern Ocean, South Atlantic Ocean, Equator, North Atlantic Ocean route in an easterly direction.
* In 2022, the [[Witherby Publishing Group#MV Astra|''MV Astra'']], a former [[Swedish Sea Rescue Society]] ship became the first sub-24m motor-powered vessel to circumnavigate the globe via the southern capes.<ref name="AstraMBY">{{cite web|url=https://www.mby.com/news/meet-the-british-skipper-and-his-converted-lifeboat-aiming-for-a-new-world-record-118945 | title=Iain Macneil and converted lifeboat MV Astra set new world record | date=16 May 2022 |publisher=Motorboat & Yachting|access-date=17 May 2022}}</ref><ref name="TheTimes">{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/sailors-epic-global-voyage-sets-record-2x02hb27c | title=Sailor Iain Macneil's epic global voyage sets record |work=[[The Times]]| access-date=19 May 2022| last1=Merritt | first1=Mike }}</ref>

===Aviation===
* [[United States Army Air Service]], 1924, [[first aerial circumnavigation]], 175&nbsp;days, covering {{convert|44360|km|mi}}, with examples of the [[Douglas World Cruiser]] biplane.
* In 1949, the ''[[Lucky Lady II]]'', a [[Boeing B-50 Superfortress]] of the U.S. Air Force, commanded by Captain James Gallagher, became the first aeroplane to circle the world non-stop (by refueling the plane in flight). Total time airborne was 94 hours and one minute.
* In 1957, three [[United States Air Force]] [[Boeing B-52 Stratofortress]]es made the [[Operation Power Flite|first non-stop jet-aircraft circumnavigation]] in 45 hours and 19 minutes, with two in-air refuelings.
* In 1964, [[Jerrie Mock|Geraldine "Jerrie" Mock]] was the first woman to fly solo around the world.
* In 1986, [[Dick Rutan]] and [[Jeana Yeager]] made the first non-refueled circumnavigation in an airplane ([[Rutan Voyager]]), in 9 days, 3 minutes and 44 seconds.
* In 1999, [[Bertrand Piccard]] and [[Brian Jones (aeronaut)|Brian Jones]], achieved the first non-stop [[Balloon (aircraft)|balloon]] circumnavigation in ''[[Breitling Orbiter 3]]''.
* In 2002, [[Steve Fossett]], after flying on the ''Spirit of Freedom'' balloon gondola, became the first person to fly around the world alone, nonstop in any kind of aircraft. Fossett's sole source of aid was a control center in [[Brookings Hall]] of [[Washington University in St. Louis]].
* In 2005, [[Steve Fossett]], flying a [[Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer]], set the current record for fastest aerial circumnavigation (first non-stop, non-refueled solo circumnavigation in an airplane) in 67 hours, covering 37,000 kilometers.
* In 2014, [[Matt Guthmiller]] became the youngest person to solo circumnavigate by air at age 19 years, 7 months, and 15 days.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Penberthy |first1=Natsumi |title=Teen makes youngest round-the-world solo flight |url=https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/news/2014/07/matt-guthmiller-becomes-youngest-solo-flyer-around-the-world/ |access-date=8 September 2020 |work=Australian Geographic |date=17 July 2014}}</ref>
* In 2016, [[Bertrand Piccard]] and [[André Borschberg]] completed the first [[solar-powered aircraft]] circumnavigation of the world in ''[[Solar Impulse]] 2''.
* In 2020, One More Orbit<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/speed-record-circumnavigate-intl-scli/index.html|title = Flight crew breaks record for circumnavigating globe via both poles|website = [[CNN]]| date=11 July 2019 }}</ref> completed the fastest circumnavigation via both geographic poles in a Gulfstream G650ER.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/fastest-circumnavigation-via-both-poles-by-aeroplane|title = Fastest circumnavigation via both Poles by aeroplane| date=11 July 2019 }}</ref> 
* In 2020, [[Robert DeLaurentis (aviator)|Robert DeLaurentis]] and his twin-engine aircraft "Citizen of the World" became the first pilot and plane to successfully use biofuels over the North and South poles.

===Land===
* In 1841–1842 Sir [[George Simpson (Pre-Confederation Canada politician and trader)|George Simpson]] made the first "land circumnavigation", crossing Canada and Siberia and returning to London.
* [[Ranulph Fiennes]] and [[Charles R. Burton|Charlie Burton]] are credited with the first north–south circumnavigation of the Earth.<ref name="transglobe"/>

==Cycling==
* In 1884-1886 [[Thomas Stevens (cyclist)]] was the first and only cyclist to circumnavigate on a [[penny-farthing]] in eastward direction.
* 1892 the third attempt to complete the journey was completed be [[William Sachtleben]] and Thomas Allan in eastward direction. Afterwards William Sachtleben wanted to find out about the second attempt to circumnavigate the planet by bike by Frank Lenz, who was killed in Kurdistan on his attempt to circumnavigate the planet in westward direction on a safety.

* On 13 June 2003, [[Robert Garside]] completed the first recognized run around the world, taking {{frac|5|1|2}} years; the run was authenticated in 2007 by ''[[Guinness World Records]]'' after five years of verification.<ref>{{cite press release | url = http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/mediazone/pdfs/news/070327_Earliest_Run_around_the_World.pdf | title = The first fully authenticated run around the world record has just been accepted | publisher = Guinness World records | access-date = 21 July 2025 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070421103116/http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/mediazone/pdfs/news/070327_Earliest_Run_around_the_World.pdf | archive-date = 21 April 2007
}}</ref>
* On 6 October 2007, [[Jason Lewis (adventurer)|Jason Lewis]] completed the first human-powered circumnavigation of the globe (including human-powered sea crossings).<ref name="Guinness World Records"/><ref name="AdventureStats"/>
* On 21 July 2012, [[Erden Eruç]] completed the first entirely solo human-powered circumnavigation of the globe.<ref name=gwr2/><ref name=psd/>
* On 4 April 2024, Latvian adventurer [[Kārlis Bardelis]] completed a 2,898-day human-powered circumnavigation of the globe that involved rowing 46,326&nbsp;km and cycling 11,972&nbsp;km.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://explorersweb.com/karlis-bardelis-completes-round-the-world-trip-2/ | title=Karlis Bardelis Completes Round-The-World Trip » Explorersweb | date=8 April 2024 }}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Transport|World}}
* ''[[Around the World in Eighty Days]]''
* [[List of circumnavigations]]
* [[Circumnavigation world record progression]]
* [[Transglobe Expedition]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book| author=Joyce E. Chaplin |title=Round About the Earth: Circumnavigation from Magellan to Orbit |isbn=978-1416596202 |year=2013 |publisher=Simon & Schuster }}

==External links==
{{commons}}
* {{Wikivoyage inline|Round the world overland}}
* {{Wikivoyage inline|Round the world flights}}
* [http://www.rutaelcano.com Route of the first circumnavigation in Google Maps and Earth]

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Circumnavigation| ]]
[[Category:16th-century introductions]]
[[Category:Navigation]]