From Machu Picchu in Peru to Lisbon in Portugal, they passed through dozens of cities. Their journey was not tourism but documentation. Every day they took photos on the road, learned unfamiliar languages and routes, and walked like the young. Age did not change their plans. Instead, it became a stronger reason to go.
Now 85, the two are still traveling. They still carry backpacks and head to new cities. Their Instagram @aroundtheworldat80 is filled with smiling faces and landscapes from their destinations. Numbers are not barriers for them, only records.
If you've been postponing a challenge, blaming reality or age, Sandy and Ellie's journey might offer an answer. They chose unfamiliarity over comfort, movement over stability, and their choice continues today. Where have you left the romance and courage you once had?
FAQ
How old were Sandy Hazelip and Ellie Hammerby when they started their world tour?
The two friends embarked on an eighty-day backpacking trip around the world at age eighty-one. Inspired by Jules Verne's classic novel, they booked their own flights and accommodations, stayed in hostels, and carried backpacks like young travelers throughout 2023.
Where did Sandy Hazelip and Ellie Hammerby meet?
They first met over twenty years ago during a medical mission trip to Zambia. That encounter blossomed into a deep friendship, eventually leading them to embark on their epic backpacking journey around the world together.
How did Sandy and Ellie travel?
Instead of cruises or package tours, they booked their own flights and accommodations, stayed in hostels and guesthouses, and traveled like young backpackers. They visited dozens of cities including Machu Picchu in Peru and Lisbon in Portugal, and continue traveling at age eighty-five.
