Gilles Pillonel - From China to Antarctica, a circumnavigation by bicycle and sailboat

In 2018, for the sake of Adventure, Gilles set off from Shanghai by bicycle, with no idea just how far the journey would take him. What began as a ride home to Switzerland soon became something much bigger. Along the way, he learned to sail, bought a boat, crossed oceans and eventually ventured as far as Antarctica and back.

His stories come from a world where the unexpected is simply part of the journey: being woken up in the middle of the night by an elephant while sleeping in a tent in Africa, battling a 70-knot storm at the edge of the world, and navigating situations where there is no clear path forward.

Through these experiences, Gilles discovered both the beautiful and brutal sides of Mother Nature, encountered people and cultures far removed from his own, and learned what it means to live with uncertainty, adapt and keep moving forward.

In this gripping and personal talk, Gilles brings the audience into a life lived on the move, driven by curiosity, powerful encounters and the simple desire to discover what lies beyond the horizon.

Born and raised in Switzerland, Gilles Pillonel studied mechanical engineering before moving to China, where, at just 28 years old, he led an engineering team.
At the end of his assignment, he chose an unconventional way home: by bicycle. That decision marked the beginning of a life shaped by exploration, curiosity and a desire to better understand the world beyond the familiar.