A new travel trend is challenging globetrotters to visit at least one country for each letter of the English alphabet, from 'A' for Austria to 'Z' for Zambia. This 'traveller's alphabet' craze encourages adventurers to explore diverse destinations and often involves sharing their progress on social media platforms like Instagram.
Users such as Helena, an Instagrammer based in the UK, have documented their journeys with posts like, "Just a girl trying to finish the alphabet one country at a time." Other travelers are inspired by the challenge, with comments on social media expressing enthusiasm and plans to embark on similar quests. Another user, @the_flyaway_girl, shared their list of needed countries, noting, "It looks like I need to be planning trips to Oman, Qatar, Vietnam (or Vanuatu) and maybe Zambia or Zimbabwe." This trend has sparked conversations about potential destinations, with some users highlighting countries like Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan as desired locations.
The 'X' Factor
The primary obstacle in completing the alphabet challenge is the absence of any sovereign states that begin with the letter 'X' in English. This linguistic anomaly presents a unique and seemingly insurmountable hurdle for even the most dedicated travelers.
The trend appears to be fueled by a broader interest in country collecting, as suggested by a study from electrical retail giant Currys, which indicated a rise in tourists aiming to visit a significant number of countries within their lifetime. A 2022 poll also revealed that a large percentage of travelers do not count airport stopovers or brief excursions outside an airport as visiting a country.
Examples of countries suggested for various letters include Austria (A), Belgium (B), Croatia (C), Denmark (D), Ecuador (E), France (F), Germany (G), Hungary (H), Iceland (I), Jamaica (J), Kyrgyzstan (K), Latvia (L), Maldives (M), Nepal (N), Oman (O), Peru (P), Qatar (Q), Romania (R), Seychelles (S), Taiwan (T), Uruguay (U), Vatican City (V), Wales (W), Yemen (Y), and Zambia (Z).
Neil Hughes, a retiree from Essex, England, runs a travel blog in homage to his late wife, documenting his extensive travels. Ashleigh Lawrence, a presenter for the World Poker Tour and former contestant on "The Amazing Race Australia," is reportedly on 83 countries and continues to add to her tally.