Karl bushby

The Goliath Expedition

Karl Bushby began his adult life as a British Paratrooper.  From a military family with a deep military heritage, Karl joined the army as a junior soldier at 16 years old. He would serve for 12 years before leaving the army to embark on life’s next great adventure, the Goliath Expedition. 

Adventure had been, and still is, an important part of Karl’s life. For as long as he can remember he has had a fascination with horizons. Whilst serving with the British army he had the opportunity to visit distant horizons all over the world, fueling his passion and dreams. 

At the end of 1997 Karl left the army to begin the ultimate adventure. Eight months later he stood on a lonely road in the town of Punta Arenas Chile, at the southern most point of South America, the furthest point from his home. On the first of November 1998, looking north, down that 35,000-mile road that crisp Chilean morning, he was no longer seeking adventure. With no support or sponsors and with only U$500 in his pocket, and with, at best, 12 years between him and home, adventure was coming at him like a tsunami.

With just two simple rules to define the journey; no using transport to advance and no going home until he made it on foot, the determined ex-soldier took his first steps into the unknown…the beginning of The Goliath Expedition.

He carried on through challenging terrain, 19 countries and successfully crossed the Bering Straight. He wrote a book about it and National Geographic aired a two-hour special on his journey by foot.

Westward Productions

Beau Willimon found Karl in 2010 while Karl was stuck in Mexico looking for support to get back into Russia after the financial crisis of 2008. Beau Willimon, screenwriter, producer, and creator of the hit TV show House of Cards, met Karl in Mexico and with his film partner, Jordan Tappis, founded Westward Productions based on Karls' westbound direction of travel. The mission was to get Karl home and tell the amazing story on film. A story still in the making. Since that day the Los Angeles-based production company has produced a series of successful documentaries and TV shows, including the National Geographic special, The Walk around the World.

WestBound Horizons isn’t the first time Karl has created a group expedition during his walk. His friend, Dimitri Keiffer, joined him for the epic Bering straight crossing in 2006. And while walking across Mongolia, he created Steppes to the West, a team effort of seven people walking with ten camels along the old Silk Road.

But this is the first time he is inviting people to join for a couple days or a couple weeks. Experience the challenges of walking great distances and rewarded with stunning views. This is no typical hike. There are no maintained trails. This is about self-sufficiency and exploring great horizons.