Benedict Allen: Legendary Explorer and Survival Expert on Epic Adventures
Benedict Allen stands out as one of the world's most daring explorers. Starting at age 22, he ventured solo into Earth's remotest and harshest terrains—from the vast Gobi Desert to Papua New Guinea's Central Mountains and the Amazon Basin's dense jungles.
Over decades of travel, Benedict has confronted assassins, malaria, starvation, shipwrecks, and grueling tribal initiations. By immersing himself in indigenous cultures, he honed survival skills earning him the nickname 'the adventurer with nine lives.' We spoke with this fearless explorer about his drive for extreme journeys, life among remote tribes, and the value of solo travel.
Where was your last trip?
I joined journalist Frank Gardner on an expedition to Papua New Guinea to find birds of paradise. Shot by terrorists in Saudi Arabia, Frank uses a wheelchair but dreamed of seeing these birds. I was committed to making it happen—and we succeeded.
Where is your next trip?
Details are under wraps, but I hope to bring my kids along. I want them experiencing places like the Amazon, learning from children of other cultures.
What is your first travel-related memory?
Around age eight, we took idyllic camping trips to France—complete with bent tent pegs and scorpion hunts.
Aisle or window seat?
Window. Not for views, but my long legs suffer in the aisle.
Do you have any travel habits or rituals?
I always carry toilet paper in my back-left pocket—it's indispensable.
What sparked your thirst for adventure?
My father was a test pilot on the Vulcan bomber, Britain's nuclear deterrent carrier. As a five- or six-year-old, I knew that wasn't for me, but his daring flights inspired me to pioneer my own path.
Tell us about your first solo adventure.
At 22, I headed to the Amazon—and hated it initially. Paddling the river, I was shot at by Pablo Escobar's hitmen near his camp. I escaped by leaping into the forest, realizing it could be an ally. That epiphany drove me to return and cross the Amazon fully.
One of your more formidable adventures was enduring the ‘crocodile initiation’ of the Naiara tribe in Papua New Guinea, what did that involve?
A local challenged me: to truly explore, undergo our initiation. Soon, my head was shaved for the 'crocodile nest'—a fenced spirit house. With 20 initiates, we endured bamboo cuts mimicking crocodile scales, then daily dances followed by beatings from elders. It lasted until we proved as strong as crocs.
How do you arm yourself mentally for this kind of intrepid travel?
My father's example built self-belief. Genetically resilient and stubborn, I gained skills through mistakes and indigenous guidance—starting as a naive dreamer.
What were some of your high and low moments on your travels?
Highs: Emerging from nine months in the Gobi, spotting urban litter—a jarring yet triumphant return to civilization. Lows: Eating my dog to survive my first expedition.
Is there anywhere in the world you wouldn’t want to go, either because it’s too dangerous or you’re just not interested in going there?
With three kids, I avoid undue risks. I'd skip Everest—now commercialized with guides and oxygen. I admire personal challenges, like summiting a dream hill solo.
You’ve spent so much time living between remote communities and the developed world, is it difficult to reconcile the two experiences?
Extremely. I felt duty-bound to the Naiara post-initiation, yet homesick. My extraordinary experiences left me at home in neither jungle nor England.
What is your best or worst travel souvenir?
Like Pitt Rivers Museum's artifacts, my body bears marks: Naiara scars, Iban dragon tattoo, Mentawai ink from Sumatra done with a safety pin.
Quick, an asteroid is going to hit the earth in one week! Which is the one travel dream you’d rush to fulfil?
Grab my kids for Namibia—a world apart. Maybe dash up K2; why not?
What advice would you give a first time traveller?
Go solo. It opens your heart, forces connections, language learning, and adaptability.
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