Woman, 61, sells house and visits 166 countries

A 61-year-old woman who sold her home two years ago and is using the funds to travel the world says she has now visited 166 countries in all.

Lynn Stephenson, of Carlton, Nottinghamshire, said she had always loved to travel and decided she wanted to see every country after the Covid lockdown ended.

She had already ticked off some nations before her current adventure began.

There will be fewer than 30 countries left to go after Tuesday when Nauru, in the South Pacific, becomes her 167th country visited.

Ms Stephenson said the greatest thing about travelling was discovering the world was full of "kind, hospitable people".

She said she had completed her first round-the-world trip in 1992, adding: "That kicked off my travel journey, and I travelled on-and-off since then."

After making the decision a couple of years ago to see every country, she said: "I thought my best chance was to sell the house, and spend the money wisely on travel."

The adventurer shares her travels through a blog and on Instagram.

"I think I inspire other people to travel as well, which is lovely," Ms Stephenson said.

Two years ago, she started in Saudi Arabia and has since visited countries including Nepal, Bhutan, Thailand, Iraq, Afghanistan, South Korea, Pakistan and Taiwan.

Ms Stephenson, who is currently in Kiribati, in the South Pacific, said: "It's been absolutely incredible - to have the experiences I have had, to see the sights, to meet some of the fantastic people."

She said she had swum with manta rays, sting rays, sea lions, marine iguanas, turtles and seen some incredible places.

"It has been absolutely fantastic - just adventures," she said.

Among the highlights have been visiting the Galapagos Islands, which she described as "spectacular".

"I went for eight days, but stayed for 16," she said. "Where else can you swim in the sea with penguins?"

But her favourite country remains Iran, which she visited not long before the pandemic.

"I think it is the most hospitable, wonderful country I have ever been to," she said.

Once she flies to Nauru later, she will have visited every country in the Pacific.

"The plan next is I'm going to Australia and from there I'm going to Timor-Leste [East Timor], then Brunei and Bangladesh, then that is all of Asia completed," Ms Stephenson said.

In February, she will travel to Africa to visit Sudan and South Sudan, where she will staying with the Mundari tribe.

She does not have a plan of when she will return home.

"I don't think I'll ever stop travelling," she said.

Follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.