Maybe a silly question, but is there any reason he couldn't have flown to Moscow in the first place?
1. He pushed US media (WaPo) to publish by going to UK media (TheGuardian).
2. He released with reservation and regard to security, not all docs were published.
3. He voluntarily disclosed his identity for protection...if the public knows him, it'll be awkward, if he just disappeared.
4. [my opinon] He went to Hong Kong (specifically HK, not China), because it is still somewhat it's own country, yet a formidable adversary to the US through China's protection. Also, it's unbeknownst to us, if he released more information while in HK.
5. Russia recently had captured a CIA agent (although I thought it more comical then serious), and no extradition to the US. Again, another formidable adversary to the US, and it may have been a red flag for an intel agent to go to Russia.
By formidable, I imply that the US will not send a seal team in to these territories that have the military capability to strike back (I won't say the name - but Pakistan is what I'm implying here).
The USA is most definitely capable of undertaking operations in "denied areas."
edit: typo.
And, dear reader, JSOC is not the CIA.
Instead, he claimed Hong Kong had a treatment available for his epilepsy, which he used as cover to get NSA approval there. From there he knew he could buy time to figure out a full plan to get to his final destination, Iceland.
It looks like Venezuela may be another interim country before he gets there.
Oh, that is the first I've heard of that. He never mentioned it in his Q&A.