Poster for 'Free Wheels East' featuring two smiling cyclists with packed bicycles and a British flag. Text includes 'narrated by Emmy Award Winner Peter Coyote' and a globe with a marked travel route. Subtitle reads 'Two men... seven continents... no aeroplanes... one very unusual journey.'

Ben Wylson: Around the World Without Flights

Ben Wylson is an adventurer, storyteller, and filmmaker best known for creating the documentary Free Wheels East, which captures an extraordinary, human-powered journey around the world. With (almost) no prior cycling experience or formal training, Ben and his cousin Jamie set out to cross every continent by bicycle — without taking a single flight.

Over the course of three years, they faced natural obstacles like landslides, deserts, and mountains, navigated cultural barriers, and even crossed oceans via container ships. The journey became a profound lesson in resilience, family, and the raw beauty of authentic travel.

Beyond the physical challenges, Ben's story reflects a deeper longing for simplicity in a fast-moving, complex world. Through both his travels and filmmaking, he champions the value of slow, immersive experiences over hurried tourism, encouraging others to embrace adventure with open hearts and minimal plans.

Ben continues to inspire through storytelling, sharing the lessons learned on the road and the transformative power of stepping into the unknown.