Award-winning explorer Charlie Walker brings extraordinary stories of endurance, resilience and human-powered adventure to the stage.
5.00 of 5
Top rated!5 of 5
“Charlie gave an excellent and highly entertaining talk about one of his extraordinary journeys to a packed audience at the SES Explorer Talks programme.”
Scientific Exploration Society
Charlie Walker is an award-winning British explorer, author and keynote speaker specialising in long-distance, human-powered expeditions. He has travelled more than 60,000 miles by foot, horse, bicycle, ski, kayak and dugout canoe. His journeys have taken him across deserts, Arctic ice, remote jungles and mountains, testing his endurance in extreme conditions. As a speaker, Charlie brings these experiences to life through gripping stories of ambition, perseverance and positivity, combining candour, tension and humour to inspire audiences to embrace challenges, adapt to uncertainty and push beyond perceived limits.
Charlie Walker is a British explorer, author and keynote speaker whose career has been shaped by long-distance, human-powered journeys through some of the world's most demanding and remote environments. Across more than 60,000 miles (100,000 km), he has travelled by foot, horse, bicycle, ski, kayak and dugout canoe, undertaking expeditions alone and as a team leader.
Charlie is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and a Scientific Exploration Society award winner. He is also a four-time recipient of the Transglobe Expedition Trust's “Mad but Marvellous” award. His writing has appeared in publications including The Times, The Sunday Times, The Daily Telegraph, The Sun, Wanderlust, Geographical and Sidetracked magazine, while his stories have also featured on BBC Radio 4 and the World Service. He has appeared on numerous podcasts, including The Joe Rogan Experience, and has written two books about his experiences.
Charlie Walker's longest expedition was a four-year, 43,000-mile (70,000 km) bicycle journey to reach the furthest cape in each of Europe, Asia and Africa before returning home. The expedition took him through 60 countries and exposed him to extremes of weather, remoteness and physical exhaustion.
In 2017, Charlie completed another remarkable challenge: a world-first 5,200-mile triathlon along the perceived border between Europe and Asia. Travelling from the midwinter snowfields of the Russian Arctic to the Bosphorus in Istanbul, and through the heat of the Kazakh steppe, the expedition explored the concept of man-made borders.
In 2021, he added mountaineering to his list of achievements with the first ascent of a 4,500-metre peak in the Tien Shan mountains of Kyrgyzstan.
In 2022, Charlie spent two months trekking over frozen rivers and Arctic sea ice in northeast Russia to visit remote groups of indigenous Siberians. The journey required camping and surviving in temperatures as low as -50°C.
Charlie had arrived in Russia shortly before Vladimir Putin launched the invasion of Ukraine. As political tensions escalated, his 600-mile expedition became increasingly precarious. Although he successfully completed the journey, it culminated in four weeks in prison on spurious charges of photographing sensitive military sites.
The experience became another extraordinary chapter in a career built around navigating uncertainty, adapting when circumstances change and maintaining perspective when events move far beyond the original plan.
Charlie has repeatedly chosen routes that take him far beyond familiar environments. In 2012, he walked 1,000 miles solo across the Gobi desert from China to Mongolia. For six weeks, he walked the equivalent of more than six marathons each week while carrying the food and water required to survive. He then trekked another 600 miles across Central and Northern Mongolia accompanied by a semi-feral pony and a stray dog he found in the forest.
In 2014, Charlie descended the Lulua, a little-known tributary of the Congo River, in a leaky dugout canoe. The journey took him into remote and effectively uncharted territory in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where he encountered rapids, waterfalls, hippos and crocodiles. Shortly after leaving the river, he suffered violent bouts of malaria and typhoid fever.
His 2019 traverse of Papua New Guinea by foot and paddle brought him into contact with some of the most remote communities he had encountered, living among some of the world's least accessible jungle. In 2023, Charlie returned to retrace the route, allowing him to spend more time with the remote communities along the way.
In early 2024 and 2025, Charlie returned to West Africa to cycle 4,000 miles from Douala in Cameroon to Dakar in Senegal. The expedition completed a section of his earlier four-year bicycle journey that had been impassable at the time because of the Ebola outbreak. Crossing twelve countries, the journey offered Charlie a close perspective on a region at the front line of challenges connected to climate change and Islamist insurgency.
Charlie Walker's keynote presentations transform extreme adventures into relatable stories about ambition, perseverance and positivity. His experiences span years on the road, isolation, physical exhaustion, severe weather, illness, political uncertainty and encounters with communities rarely visited by outsiders.
A storyteller at his core, Charlie delivers presentations that are candid, tense and amusing in equal measure. Rather than simply recounting extraordinary journeys, he uses the decisions, setbacks and unexpected situations behind them to explore what it means to pursue difficult goals and continue when circumstances become uncomfortable or uncertain.
For audiences, his adventures provide a compelling setting for ideas that reach far beyond exploration: pushing boundaries, challenging perceived limitations, responding to adversity and maintaining the determination to keep going.
Book speaker Charlie Walker for your event to give audiences a first-hand perspective from an explorer who has crossed continents under his own power, travelled through more than 60 countries and tested himself in environments ranging from Arctic sea ice and the Gobi desert to the jungles of Papua New Guinea and remote waterways of the Congo.
5 of 5
“Charlie gave an excellent and highly entertaining talk about one of his extraordinary journeys to a packed audience at the SES Explorer Talks programme.”
Scientific Exploration Society
Charlie Walker
5 of 5
“One of the most inspiring, thought provoking and memorable talks I’ve ever heard. Charlie is a fluent, engaging & witty speaker. So lovely to have a speaker who doesn’t rely on notes. We'll definitely be inviting Charlie back next year.”
Chalke History Festival
Charlie Walker
5 of 5
“It’s often tricky to get the balance right with external speakers, ensuring that we are portraying the appropriate message but you got the balance just right and individuals were in awe of your determination and resilience which I know they'll now bring to their careers at DM! The feedback has been brilliant with many people saying you were the highlight, so thank you!”
Dalcour Maclaren
Charlie Walker
5 of 5
“Charlie bought a unique energy and eloquence to his storytelling. He had every client and team member gripped in spellbound silence. I would highly recommend Charlie to anyone wanting to be inspired, educated and entertained. On top of that, but just as important, Charlie is just a totally normal and lovely bloke.”
Emery Little Wealth Management
Charlie Walker
5 of 5
“I’ve had the privilege of hearing Charlie speak at several events over the years. Each time, Charlie has captivated the audience with his extraordinary stories and deep insights. His ability to weave adventure, resilience, and human connection into his talks is truly remarkable. Charlie’s authenticity and passion resonate long after the event, leaving audiences inspired and reflective. I can’t recommend him highly enough as a speaker who not only engages but profoundly impacts those who hear him.”
Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment
Charlie Walker
5 of 5
“We've had Charlie in twice now! Inspiring from start to finish, his story is incredible - built on endless ambition, resilience and self-belief and brilliantly told with humility and hilarity in equal measure. Highly recommended. Charlie’s natural and engaging style meant that his talk was entertaining, inspiring and thought provoking in equal measure. His session was certainly the highlight of the workshop fitting perfectly with our theme and generating new insights and energy into the following discussions.”
Syngenta Agrochemicals
Charlie Walker
5 of 5
“Thank you so much for speaking to us last night – it was entertaining and deeply inspiring. And not to mention provided some well needed escapism on a dark Tuesday evening! We’ve had brilliant feedback and all the guests said how much they’d enjoyed it and particularly chatting to you afterwards, so thank you again for sticking around for the networking at the end!”
Simmons & Simmons LLP
Charlie Walker
5 of 5
“Thank you for your attendance at our event in Charlotte, NC. Your presentation exceeded our high expectations!”
Capital Directions, Atlanta
Charlie Walker
5 of 5
“Charlie was an incredible speaker. His messages on perseverance and perspective not only hit a special chord but inspired so many in the audience to seek new ways to view the world and challenge themselves. I would highly recommend Charlie to any audience.”
Future Farmers of America, Arizona
Charlie Walker
5 of 5
"The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive — everyone found Charlie incredibly engaging, energetic, and genuinely motivating. The talk struck exactly the right chord. The practical tools for problem-solving, staying resilient through uncertainty, and fostering effective teamwork were not only insightful but immediately applicable to our day-to-day work. It was clear Charlie took the time to understand our team and objectives through our prior conversations, and that made a real difference. I’d wholeheartedly recommend him to any organisation looking to bring fresh perspective and motivation to their people."
Ryan Specialty Group
Charlie Walker
5 of 5
“Inspiring, funny, and full of adventure. He had the audience hooked from start to finish, and his talk really made the day special. I’d happily recommend him to anyone looking for a speaker who can share truly memorable experiences.”
Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service
Charlie Walker
5 of 5
“A fantastic talk! It was impactful and the messages around resilience, perseverance and learning from your mistakes really resonated deeply with the team.”
Howden CAP, London
Charlie Walker
5 of 5
“Very inspiring, and all the team were buzzing with energy after the talk. I’ll definitely be recommending Charlie's talks and books to people I meet!”
Calumino Ltd, Sydney
Charlie Walker
5 of 5
“Charlie has an infectious energy and is a consummate storyteller. He communicates with a large dollop of humility and explores his extraordinary travels through accessible anecdotes that reaffirmed our faith in humanity and fired our imaginations. Thoroughly recommended.”
Cavendish Medical
Charlie Walker
5 of 5
“Thank you for your inspiring presentation. The feedback from the clients has been tremendous... you are definitely living our values.”
Citywide Financial Partners
Charlie Walker
5 of 5
“Charlie is a class act. A gentleman, well spoken, intelligent and a great public speaker and author. His insights are incredibly valuable, and his humour adds a delightful touch that kept everyone engaged. He has entertained my clients twice now! A consummate professional and I have no hesitation in recommending him to others.”
Tandem Financial
Charlie Walker
5 of 5
“Your incredible session was not only insightful and engaging but also resonated deeply with the conference audience. We’ve received fantastic feedback from our attendees.”
Corporate World Intelligence, Dubai
Charlie Walker
5 of 5
“I was delighted that Charlie was able to tailor his presentation not only to the theme that we had for the event but also for the specific audience involved. It’s great to have a speaker who really takes the time to prepare and delivers exactly what you need.”
Procurious
Charlie Walker
5 of 5
“Charlie’s talk was deeply engrossing and thoroughly entertaining. The madcap stories and important messages about following dreams and maximising potential complimented each other wonderfully. Strongly recommended!”
Umony
Charlie Walker
5 of 5
"An exceptional speaker who left a lasting impression on everyone in attendance. He struck the perfect balance between entertaining and thought-provoking, leaving us not only in awe of his adventures but also equipped with a renewed sense of motivation and positivity. It was a powerful reminder of what can be achieved with the right mindset. Engaging, insightful, and truly inspiring.”
Amgen
Charlie Walker
5 of 5
“Charlie's inspiring story provided key and relevant take-aways for our leadership. The feedback was unanimously positive. He hit the right balance between interesting, fun and relevant.”
Shaw Gibbs
Charlie Walker
5 of 5
“Charlie was a pleasure to work with. His eloquence, humour and humility are a wonderful set of attributes. He is also highly skilled at interweaving particular topics and themes from his global adventures that align to the needs and pressures experienced by a corporate audience. Highly recommended.”
Lavazza Professional
Charlie Walker
5 of 5
“A smash hit! You captured exactly the topics and even the nuances of what we asked for. Thank you for that. I would also like to thank you personally. The last 2 years have been a bit of a mire for me, thank you for opening my eyes, suddenly I see huge achievements where just last week I only saw frustration. And I think somewhere across the horizon - instead of rain, the mountains have a golden aura on top of them again.”
Pfizer
Charlie Walker
5 of 5
“Charlie gave our company a really inspiring talk about his travels and the challenges contained within. The stories he has to tell are deeply awe inspiring and truly captivating. I can't recommend him enough.”
Benevolent AI
Charlie Walker
5 of 5
“Charlie speaks both passionately and frankly about his many travels, in a thoroughly engaging way. The audience was captivated by a life of adventure, from the comfort of their seats.”
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group
Charlie Walker
5 of 5
“Charlie presents real-world adventure and practical life lessons on resilience, highlighting the importance of mental health and offering practical strategies that resonated both personally and professionally. He shared his experiences with humour and insight and was extremely engaging. The feedback from the team has been overwhelmingly positive, with his engaging stories, the powerful connections drawn between resilience in any situation, and Charlie’s unique perspectives on breaking down stressful and challenging situations. Very inspiring!
Mastercard
Charlie Walker
Keynote by Charlie Walker:
From ambitious chancer to professional explorer, Charlie shares the value of setting big, bold targets, even when they feel beyond reach. He explores why aiming high can be a powerful driver for progress and how perseverance plays a vital role when working towards ambitious goals.
Charlie also explores the value of failure and why falling short does not have to be the end of the journey. In the right context, failure can become a powerful force for growth, encouraging us to learn, develop and continue moving towards the goals we have set.
Keynote by Charlie Winner:
Where is the line between courage and recklessness? Charlie explores how to assess and weigh risk in volatile, high-consequence situations, where making the right decision can be crucial.
He brings these insights into a wider context, showing how positive risk-taking can inform strategic decision-making in both business and life. This keynote encourages audiences to think more carefully about risk, recognise the difference between calculated action and recklessness, and approach important decisions with greater awareness and confidence.
Keynote by Charlie Winner:
How do you keep a team aligned when the stakes are life and death? Drawing on firsthand experience from extreme expeditions, Charlie explores what it takes to lead effectively and maintain strong teamwork when pressure is high.
He looks at the importance of spotting problems before they escalate, using task cohesion to strengthen team unity, and leading with humility and emotional intelligence. Charlie connects these experiences directly to high-pressure work environments, offering insights into how leaders and teams can stay aligned, work together and respond effectively when the stakes are high.
Keynote by Charlie Winner:
Resilience isn’t something we’re born with – it’s something we build. Through wild stories and hard-earned wisdom, Charlie explores how deliberately choosing challenges can help us expand our limits and strengthen our ability to deal with difficult situations.
At the heart of this keynote is a simple idea: doing difficult things on purpose is how we grow. Charlie shows how stepping into challenging situations can build resilience, push perceived limits and help us become better prepared for the difficulties we encounter in both work and life.
Watch Charlie Walker in action
Watch Charlie Walker in action
Watch Charlie Walker in action
