From Hitchhiking Teen to Global Traveller: Bihar’s Shubham Kumar Covers 197 Nations at 24

New Delhi: Hitchhiking across borders with a backpack and limited savings, a 24-year-old youth from Bihar has completed travel to all 197 countries recognised globally. Shubham Kumar, popularly known as Nomad Shubham, marked his final stop in Brazil earlier this week, closing a journey that began when he was still a teenager.

From Bihar to the World

Shubham hails from Munger district in Bihar. His fascination with travel began in his early teens after watching travel videos on YouTube. What started as curiosity gradually turned into a full-time pursuit. Nearly a decade ago, he chose to step away from engineering coaching and the idea of a conventional career to chase what he often described as a “crazy dream”.

Travel Without Luxury

Unlike influencers documenting luxury stays, Shubham’s journey was defined by budget travel and improvisation. He relied heavily on hitchhiking, local buses, budget hostels and the hospitality of strangers. In earlier videos, he said he sometimes managed on the equivalent of a few hundred rupees a day.

“With just a backpack and a crazy dream, I’ve walked thousands of kilometres, slept in the cheapest rooms and vans, and crossed borders with hope, fear and excitement all mixed together,” he said in a recent video.

How He Managed Money on the Road

Money was one of the biggest challenges. In the initial years, Shubham survived on a monthly budget of around Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000. He funded his travels independently, often by hitchhiking extensively, volunteering abroad and keeping daily expenses to a minimum.

At one stage, he took a refund from his coaching institute to continue travelling. He has said that budget travel was not a lifestyle choice but a necessity. Gradually, earnings from YouTube began supporting his journeys, though that came after years of uncertainty.

Early Steps Into International Travel

Shubham uploaded his first introductory YouTube video in 2018 at the age of 17, speaking in simple Hindi about visas, itineraries and low-cost travel. He openly said he was not fluent in English and did not come from money.

His first international trip was to Nepal, followed by Russia, Thailand and Laos. By 2019, he had posted his first global vlog from China. A trip to Leh-Ladakh in 2018 proved to be a turning point, strengthening his resolve to keep travelling.

Passport and Visa Challenges

Travelling on an Indian passport brought repeated hurdles. Visa rejections, lengthy documentation and limited access were recurring issues. Shubham has spoken about almost being denied entry into Ecuador due to a lack of blank pages in his passport.

“I was almost denied entry into Ecuador because I had no blank pages left in my passport. I have already filled six passports,” he wrote in an Instagram post at the time.

Risks and Uncertainty on the Road

The journey was not without risk. Shubham has spoken about nights spent at petrol stations, days stranded at borders and moments of doubt. In Gabon, he was questioned by local police on suspicion of being a spy. In Mozambique, he was stuck during protests. Language barriers and political instability were frequent challenges.

Building a Digital Following

Throughout his travels, Shubham documented life on the road through raw and unfiltered videos. His content focuses on everyday life, remote communities and cultural exchanges beyond typical tourism.

Today, he has over 3.21 million subscribers on YouTube and more than 6.22 lakh followers on Instagram, with many of his vlogs drawing millions of views.

Recognition and Full Circle Moments

At one point, former President Ram Nath Kovind watched his work and called to congratulate him, according to Shubham. Another personal milestone came when he later took his family to Africa, turning years of solo travel into a shared experience.

What Lies Ahead

Seven years after starting his journey at 17, Shubham completed travel to all 197 sovereign countries at 24, entirely with his own funds. As he closes this chapter in Brazil, he has said he plans to focus on deeper storytelling and helping others navigate global travel in a practical way.