Wyatt Maktrav Bedural: 11-Year-Old Filipino Boy Who Has Visited Over 100 Countries and Territories

A Young Adventurer at Heart

Born in late July 2012, Wyatt Maktrav Bedural from San Pedro, Laguna, is an exceptional young traveler. Homeschooled by his dedicated mother, Kaila, he has embarked on an extraordinary journey and has set out to become the youngest person to visit every country in the world. His first name “Wyatt” means brave and strong, while his second name “Maktrav” is derived from “Mt. Makiling Traverse”, one of the mountains in the Philippines.

Wyatt's incredible journey began at the age of four, thanks to a trip sponsored by Cebu Pacific Air and Columbia Sportswear in December 2016. The highlight was hiking Mt. Fansipan in Vietnam.

By the time Wyatt was a toddler, he had already climbed 38 mountains, including four of the highest peaks in the Philippines. He is one of the youngest to reach the peak of Mount Apo, the tallest Philippine mountain, when he was one year and eleven months old. His feat in mountain hiking got media attention with the first video published by Rappler getting 1.1 million views.

As he grew older, his passion for adventures evolved from mountain climbing to world traveling. At 11 years old, Wyatt has visited an astounding 101 countries and territories, with 85 being United Nations member states, together with his mom using solely Philippine passports.

His travels reflect his love for cold countries due to his heat allergy, making winter his favorite season. Wyatt’s favorite foods and drinks from his journeys include gofry from Poland, laffa bread from Israel, orange juice from Senegal, and apple black tea from Switzerland. With a passion for animals, like the rabbit and cats he looks after in the Philippines, he dreams of seeing a red panda in real life. If he is not traveling, he spends most of his time drawing and making animations, sometimes making his own games.

Unforgettable Adventures and Challenges

Wyatt's most adventurous travel experience was hiking Mt. Fuji, Japan's highest mountain, just before his seventh birthday. He and his mom embarked on a two-day hike, facing rapidly changing weather conditions from sunny to rainy to stormy. Despite the challenges, they safely reached the summit. However, Wyatt felt his adventure was unfinished. He saw a trail map around the crater but didn't have enough time to explore it. Now, he's determined to convince his mom to return and complete the journey.

Wyatt's most enjoyable travel experience was hiking Pidurangala Rock in Sigiriya, Sri Lanka. It had been a while since his last hike, so he was very excited. The weather was sunny, perfect for hiking. Wyatt loved the rock-scrambling part of the trail. Upon reaching the top, the weather suddenly turned very windy with a little rain. The wind was so strong that tree branches were flying around. They had to crawl to hide under a big rock, but Wyatt enjoyed the thrilling experience immensely, even though he couldn't quite explain why.

One of Wyatt's funniest travel moments happened in Bascarsija, Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina. While casually walking through an area filled with pigeons, a pigeon unexpectedly perched on his head. Wyatt couldn't stop laughing as the bird stayed there for quite a while. Thankfully, he had his jacket's hood on and called his mom to chase the pigeon away.

Wyatt's most disappointing trip was to Disneyland Paris, France. It was his second visit, and he was excited to see the fireworks, having missed them the first time. However, around 5 pm, they announced that the parade was canceled due to unforeseen circumstances. Wyatt still enjoyed the rides, looking forward to the fireworks at 11 pm, but at 10:40 pm, they announced the fireworks show was also canceled. The crowd shouted "boo!" in disappointment, and Wyatt later learned the employees were protesting for a wage increase.

The most stressful travel experience for Wyatt was in Kaunas, Lithuania. After taking a night bus from Riga, Latvia, to Kaunas, his mom realized they had left their backpack with two laptops and an iPad on the bus. It had been over half an hour since they disembarked. Wyatt's mom called the Bolt driver who had brought them to the hotel and asked for help. For 400 Euros, the driver agreed to chase the bus to its next stop in Suwalki, Poland, where they successfully retrieved their valuables.

Wyatt's scariest trip was at Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach in Iceland. While taking photos, a huge wave suddenly came and drenched both Wyatt and his mom in the very cold water. They had no spare clothes in the car, having left them at their accommodation. Despite people witnessing their struggle, no one offered help. Wyatt's mom did her best to drag him out and knocked on every campervan at the parking lot, eventually getting a towel from one of them.

Traveling as a young Filipino, Wyatt has encountered numerous challenges. Immigration officers often questioned the relationship with his mother due to their physical differences. In Belize, they faced difficulties entering the country because they lacked a notarized letter of consent from Wyatt’s father, highlighting the complexities of traveling with only one parent.

Ambitious Future Plans

Wyatt’s travel plans are ambitious, and his mother remains a key figure in these endeavors. They aim to finish visiting South America and the Caribbean, reach 100 UN+ countries before the end of 2024, and eventually visit Antarctica to complete the goal of traveling to all seven continents. Wyatt advises aspiring Filipino travelers to explore the world while young and able, invest in memories rather than material things, and ensure financial stability, echoing his mother’s wisdom.

Wyatt’s story, intertwined with his mother’s unwavering support, is a testament to the power of dreams, determination, and the spirit of adventure. Together, they show that with courage, planning, and a passion for discovery, anyone can achieve their travel dreams, no matter how young they are.

Join Wyatt on his incredible adventures and be inspired by his journey to explore the world. Follow him on social media platforms: