Loic Cappellin is already over 7,000km into a multi-discipline expedition, traveling solely by human and wind power from North Cape in Norway to the Amazon.
The Swiss adventurer began his journey in late January by skiing 1,100km south to Hemavan in northern Sweden. There, he hopped on his bike and cycled 7,000km across Europe, eventually reaching Morocco.
“I’m now about to start a 1,000-kilometer trek on foot across the Moroccan desert, heading toward Agadir, where I plan to set sail for South America,” Cappellin, 26, told ExplorersWeb. “Once there, I’ll attempt to cross French Guiana through the Amazon rainforest, also on foot.”
The expedition, which Cappellin has named Metis, draws its inspiration from an ancient Greek word meaning resourcefulness, practical intelligence, and adaptability.
“That’s exactly what I’m trying to develop through this project: learning to deal with the unexpected, operate independently in extreme environments, and strengthen my decision-making abilities,” he explains.
Cappellin’s route. Image: Loic Cappellin
Cappellin’s route is designed to test his skills across three of the world’s most extreme terrains: the Arctic, the desert, and the rainforest. Between these environments, he will use only a bike and a sailboat to transition.
“It’s not about breaking records, but about living a kind of real-life masterclass, improving my abilities in these environments, building self-sufficiency, and testing my long-term resilience,” he says.
The ski stage
For the first stage, Cappellin skied with all of his food and equipment in a sled from North Cape to Hemavan over two months. In winter, northern Norway and Sweden have limited daylight, and the Swiss adventurer faced the full range of conditions typical of the region: deep cold, storms, and heavy snow.
Cappellin sledding in poor weather. Photo: Loic Cappellin
“One of the most intense parts was the Finnmarksvidda plateau, which I decided to cross quickly during a short weather window,” he said. The plateau is an old postal route that runs between the Norwegian coast and Finland, where temperatures often reach -30˚ to -50˚C.
“I skied up to 12 hours a day, covering 35 to 45km per stage. And at night, under the northern lights, it was simply magical.”
Pastel skies at both ends of the day light the way for winter travelers in Finnmarksvidda. Photo: Ash Routen
Further south, Cappellin joined the marked and well-known Kungsleden trail, though this came with much more elevation gain as it passes through the mountains of northern Sweden.
The bike stage
Cappellin reached Hemavan in Sweden on March 25 after 58 days. Here, he rested for a couple of weeks before starting the bike stage on April 7. His route appears to have taken him down through Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, France, Spain, and then into Morocco, which he reached on August 3.
Photo: Loic Cappellin
“I knew this wouldn’t be the wildest part of the expedition, but it came with its own set of challenges — especially the need to bivouac every night, even near big cities, and to stay mentally connected to the adventure despite being in densely populated areas,” Cappellin said.
“I took my time, listened to my body, and made sure I’d arrive at the edge of the desert in decent shape. Of course, the fatigue is starting to build up.”
Arriving in Morocco. Photo: Loic Cappellin
The next stages
In Errachidia, Morocco, he took a few days off while awaiting new gear for the next phase of his journey. On August 8, he began a 1,000km foot crossing of the Moroccan desert to Agadir. For this leg, he’ll carry his supplies on a steel cart built by a friend who’s a metalworker.
“I’ve been wondering a lot about the kind of terrain I’ll encounter, and whether the cart will hold up once it’s fully loaded — but I’m really looking forward to getting started and finding out,” Cappellin shared.
Once in Agadir, Cappellin will board a sailboat and cross the Atlantic to French Guiana. “This ocean crossing will be a new experience for me and a chance to discover an environment I’ve never encountered,” he said.
Photo: Loic Cappellin
From French Guiana, Cappellin will enter the rainforest alone for a one-month trek.
“This will be the final stage of the expedition, and probably the most demanding, both physically and mentally,” he said. “I have deep respect for that environment, and I want to approach it with humility.”
