Yanis, student, completes a 250-mile journey on foot in 16 days: “I’ve grown, I no longer have the same mindset”

Yanis Moudourou, a 23-year-old student who lives in Nancy, completed a nearly 250-mile journey on foot between Nancy and Paris. The solo trek lasted 16 days and ended at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. Along the way, he documented the experience with audiovisual footage that later became a documentary published online.

A marketing student, Yanis began the walk in July 2025 and finished in August of the same year. During the journey, he carried a backpack weighing about 33 pounds, which included a tent, cameras, batteries, and other technical equipment. “I wanted to live my own adventure, reach my goals, and feel alive,” he said, explaining what motivated him to set out.

The route passed through several towns in northeastern France and was marked by brief encounters with local residents. In Neuves-Maisons, one local suggested he change his original route. “To get to Toul, I had one route in mind, but he recommended another one that followed the Moselle. That grandfather saved me a lot of time,” the student recalled, describing one moment from the journey.

An audiovisual project after the walk

After completing the trip, Yanis spent several weeks editing the footage he had recorded. The result was a video of about one hour, which he published on YouTube in December.

The editing process was intense and took place mostly at night. To complete the project, he collaborated with animation students who helped create short animated sequences that were integrated into the documentary.

During the 16 days of walking, the young man spent long periods without screens or a digital connection. “I learned that I had to take the leap, keep moving forward, sometimes fall, but continue,” he said. According to Yanis, the experience allowed him to rethink some of his personal priorities. “I’ve grown; I no longer have the same mindset,” he said.

He also highlighted the impact the journey had on his everyday life after returning home. “I realized how much my family matters to me and that I was spending too much time on my phone,” he explained, adding that he now devotes more time to the people close to him.

Following the release of the documentary, Yanis has announced new challenges. These include running the Paris Marathon scheduled for April and a new walking project planned for the summer, which will take him from Nancy to Marseille on foot, a journey of almost 500 miles.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.