Kach Medina Umandap, a 36-year-old Filipina digital nomad and travel blogger, has achieved an extraordinary milestone by visiting all 193 United Nations-recognised countries. She accomplished this using only a Philippine passport, finishing her journey in Sudan on 6 January 2025. This makes her the first and youngest Filipino to achieve this feat without dual citizenship or permanent residency in another country.
Based in Dubai and the Philippines, Umandap’s life as a digital nomad has allowed her to travel extensively while maintaining a sustainable career. Her journey has inspired many to believe that travel barriers can be overcome with determination and resourcefulness.
The Filipino World Travellers (FWT), a global community of Filipino adventurers, announced and celebrated Umandap’s accomplishment. What sets her journey apart is her ability to navigate the complex visa regulations and challenges often faced by holders of a Philippine passport, which ranks lower on the global passport index.
Umandap joins the ranks of Filipino-Americans Odette Ricasa and Luisa Yu, who have also visited all UN countries. However, her exclusive use of a Philippine passport distinguishes her achievement. According to NomadMania, a platform tracking extreme travel accomplishments, fewer than 500 people worldwide have completed this journey.
In 2024, Umandap visited 26 African nations, with Sudan as her final destination. Despite ongoing civil unrest in Sudan, she travelled to Port Sudan in early 2025, becoming one of the first tourists to visit the region after the conflict. Her visit symbolises hope for the area’s tourism industry.
She will celebrate her achievement with family and friends in Cebu on 13 January 2025.
Kach Medina Umandap is a travel blogger and digital nomad who splits her time between Dubai and the Philippines. As the founder of travel platforms such as Two Monkeys Travel Group, Filipino Passport, and Travel with Kach, she combines her passion for exploring the world with a sustainable career, inspiring travellers globally. Her achievements include being a finalist in the 2022 NomadMania Travel Awards and serving as an Ambassador of the Filipino World Travellers in 2023, showcasing her dedication to the travel community.
Her inspiring story is also featured in the book Gala: Adventures of the Most Well-Traveled Filipinos. She encourages others with her message: “To my fellow women, Filipinos, and backpackers—you can live the travelling life you dream of, earn money, and find success at the same time.”
Follow Kach Medina Umandap’s journey on her social media at https://bio.site/kachumandap.
