236:
147:
378:
25:
96:
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The scavenges, based on a risk-reward points system, include food scavenges, participatory 'site-doing' (not site-seeing) scavenges, good karma-building scavenges, urban, rural, art and nature-oriented photo safaris, playing
Bartender Roulette, polling locals on issues of the day, performing blind
220:
During each event, competitors travel to, and within, at least ten countries, but never know in advance which countries they are going to be visiting. The event is designed to test the participants collective 'travel IQ' requiring them to overcome language and communications barriers, cultural
187:
in 1999 and launched in 2000. Inspired by his 1989 participation in an around-the-world race called the HumanRace, Chalmers, and his travel companion, Andy J. Valvur, won the one-off event collecting the $ 20,000 first place prize money in 17 days. Chalmers later wrote a book chronicling their
256:
in the next event with all entry fees waived. The event is open to all international travel adventure competitors, and has no set course as it is changed each year. As of 2023, the annual around the world travel adventure event has visited 94 countries across 6 continents.
251:
and given that title for that year. The event is considered to be the annual "world travel championship" and called the "Super Bowl of travel adventure competitions". Winning teams earn the right to defend the title of
926:
1053:
184:
315:β San Francisco to Hong Kong to Viet Nam to Laos to Myanmar to Thailand to Sri Lanka to Jordan to Austria to Slovakia to Germany to Luxembourg to France to New York City, USA
681:
that have assisted over 3,900 families in 80 countries. The
Foundation has also funded a medical clinic and midwife educational center in Niger in conjunction with the
327:β San Francisco to Taiwan to Myanmar to Thailand to Sri Lanka to Oman to Cyprus to Italy to San Marino to Slovenia to Austria to Czech Republic to Washington D.C., USA
198:
magazine. After sixteen successful events, The
Ringmaster retired with Chalmers handing The Global Scavenger Hunt over to Charles Brown & Anne Eubanks in 2024.
303:β San Francisco to China to Malaysia to Singapore to Nepal to Bahrain to Egypt to Greece to Macedonia to Bulgaria to Romania to The Netherlands to Toronto, Canada
1345:
756:
GreatEscape2001, the worldwide scavenger hunt scheduled Oct. 12-Nov. 3, has been postponed because of uncertainty surrounding the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
163:
competition in which two-person teams travel around the world in competition with other teams vying to win the title of "The Worldβs
Greatest Travelers".
641:
organizations through the Great Escape
Foundation (2002-2024). The funding was used to build schools (mostly co-ed elementary) with organizations like
321:β Los Angeles to Korea to Philippines to Indonesia to Singapore to India to Turkey to Spain to Gibraltar to Morocco to Portugal to New York City, USA
369:β Vancouver, Canada to Vietnam to Myanmar to Thailand to UAE to Jordan to Greece to Morocco to Spain to Gibraltar to Portugal to New York City, USA
345:β Los Angeles to Fiji to Australia to Indonesia to Malaysia to UAE to Italy to Switzerland to France to Andorra to Spain to Colombia to Miami, USA
893:
357:β San Francisco to China to Vietnam to Thailand to Sri Lanka to Egypt to Brussels to England to Wales to Ireland to Iceland to New York City, USA
811:
937:
821:
291:β Los Angeles to China to Viet Nam to Cambodia to Thailand to India to UAE to Morocco to Gibraltar to Spain to Portugal to New York City, USA
339:β Vancouver to Japan to South Korea to India to UAE to Turkey to Hungary to Austria to Slovakia to Czech Republic to Poland to Chicago, USA
47:
769:
1301:
333:β Los Angeles to China to Vietnam to Cambodia to Malaysia to Nepal to Qatar to Germany to Denmark to Sweden to Norway to Toronto, Canada
1012:
363:β San Francisco to Taiwan to India to Ethiopia to Zimbabwe/Zambia/Botswana/Namibia to South Africa to Argentina/Uruguay to Peru to USA
73:
309:β Seattle to Taiwan to Cambodia to Thailand to India to Turkey to Tunisia to Germany to Denmark to Sweden to Iceland to Boston, USA
1138:
271:β Los Angeles to Japan to Hong Kong to Thailand to UAE to Egypt to Turkey to Italy to Switzerland to Germany to New York City, USA
297:β Los Angeles to China to India to UAE to Egypt to Turkey to Czech Republic to Austria to Poland to Hungary to New York City, USA
351:β Mexico City to Japan to India to Oman to Kenya to Poland to Lithuania to Estonia to Russia to Finland to Washington D.C., USA
1285:
795:
1184:
217:
book created for each leg of the rally-like event. Scavenges are assigned points based on completion degree of difficulty.
1092:
863:
1020:
195:
183:. The event has been held annually since 2008. The Global Scavenger Hunt originally called GreatEscape, was created by
228:
Teams are, at times, prohibited from using any technology to assist them and are limited to using only local modes of
55:
51:
35:
1106:
854:
1143:
878:
1340:
1335:
906:
375:β San Francisco to Seoul to Samarkand to Tbilisi to Jerusalem to Sofia to Zagreb to Istanbul to Montreal, Canada
232:
as they attempt to complete the scavenges in the goal of fostering the "trusting of strangers in strange lands."
213:
around the world. Competitors participating attempt to complete a series of culturally-oriented scavenges from a
750:
745:
1073:
190:
1035:
954:
780:
The GreatEscape2001: The Global
Scavenger Hunt has been postponed due to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
229:
991:
813:
On the Origin of the
Species Homo Touristicus: The Evolution of Travel from Greek Spas to Space Tourism
637:
The world travel championship adventure competition also served as a charitable fundraising event for
883:
175:. The inaugural event took place in the spring of 2002. A spring 2003 event was cancelled due to the
868:
678:
1070:
1039:
1215:
1124:
996:
817:
774:
642:
529:
Andrew
Parsonage & Saskia van Waaijenburg (You're not in Guatemala now, Dr Ropata)(NZ/NDL)
512:
Andrew
Parsonage & Saskia van Waaijenburg (You're not in Guatemala now, Dr Ropata)(NZ/NDL)
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160:
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Barbara
Schoenfeld & Christine Littlepage (Barbara & the Barbadian)(USA/ENG)
225:, team dynamics and 23-days of traveling across 24 time zones through ten countries.
658:
638:
473:
Ben Penchas & Christine Littlepage (Something Old & Something New)(USA/ENG)
146:
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235:
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654:
1256:"Strangers in strange lands: Local attorneys go on Global Scavenger Hunt"
670:
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210:
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1228:"Local woman traveling around the world on a blind date" Bay Area Today
1271:
Holman, Zoe. "Global Scavenger Hunt 2009 makes a stop in Cambodia" The
674:
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377:
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Each leg is tallied and the eventual winners of the event are crowned
1056:
581:
Michael Pavlic & Gillian Shure (Go TSA Pre-Check Yourself)(USA)
95:
54:
external links, and converting useful links where appropriate into
1088:"Contest Winner Journeyed around the world in 23 days for charity"
666:
662:
650:
646:
376:
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taste tests, figuring out how to crash major cultural happenings.
145:
138:
560:
Zoe Littlepage & Rainey Booth (Lawyers without Borders)(USA)
532:
Demetrius Canton & Margarita Pas (Miami in the Mix)(USA/POL)
518:
Zoe Littlepage & Rainey Booth (Lawyers without Borders)(USA)
623:
Zoe Littlepage & Rainey Booth (Lawyers without Borders)(USA)
606:
Zoe Littlepage & Rainey Booth (Lawyers without Borders)(USA)
568:
Zoe Littlepage & Rainey Booth (Lawyers without Borders)(USA)
540:
Zoe Littlepage & Rainey Booth (Lawyers without Borders)(USA)
498:
Zoe Littlepage & Rainey Booth (Lawyers without Borders)(USA)
484:
Zoe Littlepage & Rainey Booth (Lawyers without Borders)(USA)
470:
Zoe Littlepage & Rainey Booth (Lawyers without Borders)(USA)
278:
194:
in 2000 and was later dubbed the "world's greatest traveler" in
176:
172:
1241:
Thoensen, Sue. "Balboa Island resident embarks on global hunt"
612:
Vivian Reyes & Salvatore Iaquinta (Order & Chaos)(USA)
277:β Scheduled for April 2003 and was cancelled due to the global
239:
Countries visited by the Global Scavenger Hunt event as of 2023
1229:
1110:
620:
Vivian Reyes & Salvatore Iaquinta (Order & Chaos)(USA)
459:
Zoe Littlepage and Rainey Booth (Lawyers without Borders)(USA)
18:
543:
TIE- Emily Booth & Rainey Booth Jr. (Sister Act II)(USA)
501:
Natasha Hanberry & David Ardoin (The Silver Surfers)(USA)
171:
The first event, scheduled for 2001, was postponed due to
770:"Travel Almanac: Travel agents move meeting to New York"
526:
Philip Bouchard & Gerald Obrecht (The Ogopogos)(CAN)
1139:"Adventurer to hop a plane, but he won't know to where"
1122:
Mannweiler, David. "Hoosier couple joins global hunt",
545:
Kim & Maria Lardie (Retired Traveling Chicks)(USA)
43:
38:
may not follow Knowledge (XXG)'s policies or guidelines
626:
Kathleen Wood & Margie McCartney (Cubs Fans)(USA)
557:
Tania di'Re & Mickey Gupta (Buns & Bird)(USA)
456:
Bart Hackley & Steve Hunt (The Beach Boys)(USA)
134:
126:
118:
110:
102:
88:
973:Vasilyuk, Saha. "3-Minute Interview: Andy Valvur"
554:Fiona & Katrina Atkinson (Sydney Sisters)(AUS)
515:Fiona & Katrina Atkinson (Sydney Sisters)(AUS)
1200:Van Wyk, Anika. "Congratulations Lisa and Helen"
677:, and to finance micro-loans in conjunction with
609:Kathryn & Eric Verwillow (Lazy Monday)(USA)
598:Kim & Gil Gagnon (Leo & the Crab)(USA)
1232:11-KNTV, San Jose/San Francisco, March 2, 2005
1213:Rackl Lori. "Around the world scavenger hunt"
584:Thomas & Paula Patterson (SLO Folks)(USA)
504:Emily & Elizabeth Booth (Sister Act)(USA)
592:Paula & Thomas Patterson (SLO Folks)(USA)
487:Heidi & Lily Hutchinson (100% Bajan)(BAH)
8:
1107:"GreatEscape2002: The Global Scavenger Hunt"
476:Sherry & Ken Fardie (Miami Twice)(USA)
907:"Travel Adventures: Global Scavenger Hunt"
879:"Couple Go on Scavenger Hunt Around World"
595:Betty & Jim Karam (NOLA 2nd Line)(USA)
381:Global Scavenger Hunt 2023 Winner's Trophy
94:
16:International travel adventure competition
420:Carol Branson & Roger Mattingly(USA)
74:Learn how and when to remove this message
855:"For 25 teams, the worldwide hunt is on"
448:Vickie Sheahan & Deborah Grove(USA)
434:Raj Krishnan & Carole Herdegen(USA)
417:Marvin Schmidt & David Matichuk(CAN)
393:
234:
1314:"Father/son crowned greatest travelers"
737:
578:Alan & Sydney Ying (Team Ying)(USA)
414:Victoria Rivers & Joan Harvard(USA)
428:Alicia Bleier & Vicki Sheahen(USA)
85:
905:Greenberg, Peter (December 2, 2009).
853:Heslin, Rebecca (November 29, 2007).
442:Lisa Hunt & Helen Qubain(USA/BEL)
7:
1346:Recurring events established in 2002
804:Held annually each spring since 2002
1171:Ward, Tracy. "Ready for the world"
1011:Elliott, Christopher (April 2002).
892:Tunney, Donna (November 16, 2009).
768:Shattuck, Harry (October 7, 2001).
1304:, Matamata Chronicle, May 23, 2012
877:Wright, Kendall (April 16, 2009).
862:Sachs, Andrea (October 27, 2008).
431:Randy Hall & Steve Belkin(USA)
14:
936:. October 1, 2000. Archived from
1302:"The World's Greatest Travelers"
462:JoAnne & Jeff Blakely (USA)
23:
645:in developing nations such as:
150:Event Director William Chalmers
139:http://globalscavengerhunt.com/
254:The World's Greatest Travelers
249:The World's Greatest Travelers
179:epidemic and the onset of the
1:
1290:Miami Social Affairs magazine
1156:"Oakland People in the News"
1093:The Austin American-Statesman
810:Chalmers, William D. (2011).
281:epidemic and outbreak of the
1185:"He's back, and he's bushed"
1021:National Geographic Traveler
992:"Around the world in a Daze"
445:Pat & Paul Buescher(USA)
196:National Geographic Traveler
191:A Blind Date with the World
159:is an annual international
1362:
1144:The Cleveland Plain Dealer
816:. iUniverse. p. 297.
1260:The Pensacola Independent
207:The Global Scavenger Hunt
156:The Global Scavenger Hunt
114:Annual Travel Competition
93:
89:The Global Scavenger Hunt
1286:"Destination: Adventure"
1189:The Bergen County Record
1036:"Blind Dating the World"
1318:The Vernon Morning Star
1173:The Daily Oakland Press
751:San Francisco Chronicle
373:2023 (April 14 - May 6)
367:2019 (April 12 β May 4)
361:2018 (April 13 β May 5)
355:2017 (April 14 β May 6)
349:2016 (April 15 β May 7)
343:2015 (April 10 β May 2)
337:2014 (April 12 β May 4)
331:2013 (April 12 β May 4)
325:2012 (April 13 β May 5)
319:2011 (April 15 β May 7)
307:2009 (April 17 β May 9)
301:2008 (April 11 β May 3)
295:2005 (April 15 β May 7)
289:2004 (April 16 β May 8)
269:2002 (April 12 β May 4)
1243:Costa Mesa Daily Pilot
975:San Francisco Examiner
943:on September 24, 2015.
934:The Contra Costa Times
927:"A Trip of a lifetime"
864:"A Truly Amazing Race"
754:. September 30, 2001.
382:
313:2010 (April 9 β May 1)
240:
151:
836:Global Scavenger Hunt
380:
238:
230:public transportation
149:
1284:Perez-More, Lazaro.
1109:, βSavvy Travelerβ,
990:(January 21, 1990).
884:The Arizona Republic
221:nuances, logistics,
44:improve this article
1074:The Travel Magazine
869:The Washington Post
746:"And another thing"
185:William D. Chalmers
56:footnote references
1086:Bass, Shermakaye.
1040:The Indian Express
911:PeterGreenberg.com
838:. 7 December 2021.
383:
241:
188:exploits entitled
152:
1216:Chicago Sun-Times
1125:Indianapolis Star
1077:, 27 January 2017
1060:, 7 November 2016
1034:David, Shantanu.
997:Los Angeles Times
963:. April 30, 1989.
955:"Travel Advisory"
823:978-1-4502-8927-6
775:Houston Chronicle
643:Free The Children
630:
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1341:Adventure racing
1336:Adventure travel
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1293:
1292:, JuneβJuly 2009
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1275:, April 23, 2009
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1159:The Detroit News
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1147:, March 30, 2004
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796:"The Mack Daddy"
794:Monitz, Lauren.
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727:Great Urban Race
696:The Amazing Race
683:Nomad Foundation
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1128:, 3 March 2002
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988:Deutsch, Linda
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