An 18-year-old Filipino-French teen is biking from France all the way to Cebu, proving that big dreams don’t need perfect planning just the courage to start.
At just 18 years old, Filipino-French adventurer Adam Desvaux has set out on a mission most people would only dream about: traveling all the way from France to the Philippines by bike.
He began his journey on July 8, starting with a ride from France into Switzerland, covering 650 kilometers in the opening stretch. Since then, Adam has been documenting his progress through weekly video recaps on Instagram, showcasing the countries he passes through and the people he meets.
Adam first discovered biking at age 14, but his passion deepened during the COVID lockdowns when cycling became one of the few ways to get outdoors.
“I loved the sense of freedom it gave me the idea that with a bike, you can go anywhere,” he recalled.
Originally, he dreamed of biking across the Philippines, but his mother felt it was too dangerous.
That limitation sparked an even bigger dream: to cycle from Europe all the way back to his family’s home in Cebu.
Traveling light, Adam carries only the essentials documents, gear, a tent, a sleeping bag, a small stove, and some clothes.
He also maintains his own bike, explaining, “The only thing I can’t fix is if it breaks in half. Otherwise, I can repair just about everything.”
On most days, he spends seven to eleven hours riding solo. For him, going alone makes things simpler. “When you’re by yourself, you decide the pace. You can stop when you want, go faster when you feel strong, and you get to connect more with locals,” he said.
He’s also learning that adventures can’t always be planned perfectly.
“People think you need to prepare for months, but you’ll never be fully ready. You just start and figure it out along the way,” Adam explained. One traveler he met warned him about carrying pepper spray across borders after being fined €450, so Adam now relies on tips from others to stay safe and avoid unnecessary trouble.
While Adam’s father is proud of his courage, his mother worries constantly.
“She prays for me every day,” Adam said. “I update her when I can, but not every day. If I lose my phone, I don’t want her to panic just because she hasn’t heard from me.”
Despite her fears, she supports his journey because she knows it’s his dream.
Adam has learned that being smart and talking to locals is the best way to stay safe. For example, in bear country, he avoids storing food in his tent.
He compares the dangers of travel to living in Cebu: “There are cars speeding past, traffic, risks. It’s not so different.”
So far, his route has taken him through Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Albania.
Ahead, he plans to ride through countries like Pakistan, India, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, before catching a boat into the Philippines.
Depending on visa restrictions, he may also pass through or around Iran.
More than the physical challenge, Adam believes the journey is about mindset. “There are always small problems heat, fatigue, soreness. But nothing feels impossible if you stay strong in your head.
Time passes quickly, and before I know it, I’ll be in the Philippines.”
Along the way, the people he meets are shaping him as much as the miles. “Everyone has their own story, and I take a piece of each one. It’s making me a better person,” he reflected.
For Adam, this adventure isn’t just about reaching Cebu. It’s about proving that dreams don’t need perfect conditions to begin. “The first week was terrible I was bad at everything. But that’s how you learn. You just have to start.”
As he pedals on through mountains, borders, and endless roads, Adam sees his childhood dream unfolding in real life.
“Sometimes I think, ‘This was such a stupid idea.’ Then I look around at the beauty and I realize I’ve never felt more alive.”
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