Man quits job to walk 4,000 miles across Europe with his dog

By George Mathias via SWNS

A man quit his job to go on the ultimate dog walk - a 12-month 3,728-mile trek from Norway to Italy with his pooch in tow.

Yannick Bolzmann, 27, decided to quit his job as a primary school teacher to travel the world with his rescue dog, Karl, an eight-year-old terrier mix.

In July 2023, Yannick and Karl set off with just a rucksack and a tent from their home in Cologne, Germany, on an epic dog walk across Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland and Italy.

For five months, the pair have strolled across woodlands, beaches, snowy terrain towns and cities through torrential rain, piercing sun, and snow clocking up an impressive 13 miles most days.

On their travels Yannick has seen the Northern Lights, taken a wild ice bath, and basked in “the most beautiful nature imaginable”.

But he says the best part has been bonding and sharing unforgettable experiences with Karl.

They pitch a tent to sleep almost every night - snuggled up together in Yannick’s sleeping bag - as they ramble their way across Europe.

Yannick and Karl are currently recuperating in Hamburg, Germany, and are halfway through their epic dog walk - and plan to complete the route in May 2024.

Yannick said: "I had three options, continue my full-time job, study, or go and live my dreams.

"I chose to live my dreams and it's been better than I ever imagined, and me and Karl have bonded more than ever."

In July 2023, after spending a year saving up £5,000, Yannick quit his job of five years.

He drove to Abisko, Sweden, with his trusty companion, Karl, to embark on their epic adventure.

Yannick said: “The whole thing has been unbelievable, I have found so much peace and have had so much time to think and clear my head.”

The pair have so far gone through Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Germany - clocking up almost 2,000 miles - with Switzerland and the whole of Italy - 1,800 miles - still to go.

The trip did not get off to the best start however, as the hills were too steep for Karl to handle when the pair arrived in Norway.

Instead, Yannick decided to start the trip in Sweden, and hike for 600km south and then cross into Norway.

They pair trekked for three days in Norway, before getting the ferry across to Denmark.

They then pushed on into Germany where they are camping and having a mini break until the New Year.

In five months, the pair have covered 2,000 miles.

Yannick said: “The distance we cover varies, but on average we cover about 12 miles every day. It's a lot of walking, but after a while you get used to it.”

The pair were in Scandinavia for four-and-a-half months - where they camped the entire time.

Since arriving in Germany they have been couch-surfing and have spent just two nights in a hotel room.

Yannick said: “The hotel was a huge luxury after all the camping.

"But we have also had so many nice offers from strangers and have camped in some of the most beautiful nature.”

Yannick says his canine companion, who is a rescue dog, has "loved every minute".

"He's really enjoying the time with me, especially considering we are spending 24 hours a day together," he said.

“He can just walk and walk without getting tired, whenever I stop to take a break he just wants to hunt mice or play fetch, he loves it.

“I got him one-and-a-half years ago.

"At first he was really aggressive and hated strangers.

“Now he is getting better but I think he used to get hit and punished a lot - so it has taken him a while to get over it."

Yannick says for most of the trip he has been "making it up as he goes along".

“I’m not really sure where we finish," he said.

"In Italy there are lots of street dogs which might scare Karl."

He says his highlight has been “the first few nights in Norway".

“We were camping with the midnight sun, and arrived at the top of a mountain, put up tent, and we just sat there looking at it for five hours," he said.

“The sun was just behind the mountain - it was a very special moment.

“Then we were in a fjord in Norway - I had eight days with no phone connection, there were no people around and we were totally alone.

“It was very special, there was a lot of time to think about things.”

He says he has "no idea" how long the trip will take, and is just taking things "day by day".

“The only thing I know is that I’m so glad I chose to do this, we are having the best time ever," he said.

So far the duo have been through Abisko and Hemavan in Sweden, before crossing over to Norway where they traveled through Hattfjelldal, Steinkjer, and Trondheim.

They then made it over to Denmark, where they hiked through Frederikshavn, Aalborg, Silkeborg, before crossing the border to Germany and going through Flensburg, Kiel and Schwerin.

They finally stopped off in Hamburg where they are currently taking a short break.

in total they have spent seven weeks in Sweden, eight weeks in Norway, and four weeks in Denmark.