Alfie Watts has a made a splash by becoming the youngest ever victor of the hit TV adventure Race Across the World. Together with his teammate Owen Wood, Watts emerged victorious in a grueling challenge designed to stretch competitors’ stamina, ingenuity, and trip-planning skills to the limit. Since that historic upset of an incumbent, the young adventurer has journeyed to close to 30 countries—inspiring others’ entrepreneurial ambitions with his energy and outside-the-box approach.
Watts dove headfirst into an invigorating online competition. Taking travel to the next level, he even visited five countries in one day, demonstrating his love for discovering new places. His travels are indicative not only of his adventurous spirit, but his dedication to sharing the power of authentic travel. He wants to raise awareness about going “further afield,” inspiring people to take the plunge and head outside of their comfort zones and traditional tourist routes.
Of all the places he’s traveled to, Watts says Tuvalu—an island nation in the South Pacific Ocean—strikes him as the most beautiful. Picasso dubbed it “the world’s least visited country.” This portrayal, of course, plays up the distinctiveness and allure of discovering the road less traveled. He understands how difficult and expensive it can be to travel to remote destinations. To him, these trials and tribulations are some of the most important ingredients to the journey itself.
Watts’s journey has been a unique time of personal growth, discovery and learning. Here, he looks back on his time on Race Across the World, and explains how his experiences helped him learn some of the best lessons. “We had to borrow notebooks and God knows what else,” he recalls, emphasizing the importance of planning and budgeting. He encourages young would-be nomads to bring a TI-89 calculator and a whiteboard with them to stay more efficient on the road.
His most memorable work-related travel experience was visiting Angel Falls in Venezuela and rediscovering the natural beauty and tranquility of the area. If pressed to select one country as a favourite, he concedes it would be a toss-up between Jordan and Malaysia. This serves to show his established love for new cultures and environmental beauty.
In addition to his travel endeavors, Watts has taken on the role of ambassador for Young Minds UK, a mental health charity dedicated to supporting young people. He advocates for Winston’s Wish, a charity that provides bereavement support for children who have lost loved ones. Watts’s connection to Winston’s Wish is deeply personal. He lost his mother to cancer when he was just 6 years old. This experience drives his commitment to ensure that others don’t face the same challenges he did.
Watts loves traveling by himself, and being able to do whatever he wants, however he wants. He states, “I don’t do things that would put me in danger because I think I have a responsibility to the people that follow me.” His philosophy on travel is about balancing adventure with safety and being responsible, which isn’t easy but is necessary.
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