Swiss family tread lightly round the world

19 February 2008

Sydney, Australia – Dario and Sabine Schworer are in Australia, the mid-way point in their journey and a stop that signals their holiday is half over.

But the adventurous Swiss couple won’t be thinking about a homecoming for another seven years. Transcontinental travel by bicycle or sailboat takes a long time.

These eco-warriors are among the greenest backpackers in the universe, eschewing anything but their own muscles and the power of the wind to cross land and sea.

Learning to take things slowly, says 38-year-old Dario, is part of the learning experience.

"We’d like to prove that great achievements can be done in harmony with nature," said the accomplished climber, sailor and ecologist. "When society learns again to take over the rhythm of nature, we won’t have as many environmental problems."

The Schworers, who partly fund their travels by working along the way, intend to climb six big mountains and cross six big oceans. They have already visited 40 countries.

And given birth to two children, Salina, 2, and 1-year-old Andri. Salina was probably a world-record traveller even before she was born. During her pregnancy Sabine sailed 5,000 nautical miles and cycled 2,500km.