The world's greatest adventurers tell their best story from the road. Each episode is cut documentary style and set to music and cinematic effects to create an immersive storytelling experience. 'Best travel podcasts 2020'- The Guardian, 'Thrilling Stuff'-Sunday Times, 'Ear Candy for Listeners' - Washington Post
Borderwalk: a 16,000-mile Trek Across the Entire World with Adventurer Arjun Bhogal
Follow adventurer Arjun Bhogal on a five-year 16,000-mile trek across the entire world. This is an insane story, with more than one life or death situation. But it’s also an incredibly funny one. Arjun began with his friend Kieran in 2012, with the idea of walking from Cardiff, Wales where they were at university to Cardiff New South Wales in Australia. They thought it would be a 3-year two-man journey, but it turned into a five-year mostly one-man journey – one of the most difficult ever attempted. But what makes this story so brilliant is that Arjun is not an extreme athlete in any way. Believe it or not, when he started, he barely had any hiking experience at all. Starting your hiking career, walking across the entire world is a preposterous notion. But Arjun made it happen, not through physical endurance, though there was a lot of that. He made it happen through mental toughness, through a relentlessly optimistic and open spirit that saw him make friends everywhere he went and survive near-death experiences that would have sent most of us running home with our tail between our legs. You’re going to gasp, you’re going to be on the edge of your seat, and you’re going to laugh your head off. Get ready to trek across the entire world.Who’s the guest?Arjun Bhogal is an ordinary guy who did an extraordinary thing – and he did it for an incredible reason. Millions of people around the world have little or no access to clean water. Arjun walked across the entire planet to raise awareness and money for WaterAid. Find out more about what they do at www.wateraid.org… and connect with Arjun at www.arjunbhogal.co.uk… or on Instagram @ASBhogalRefer a friend, win $100!If you like this show, and you think your friends might too, then you can win a $100 amazon gift voucher. All you need to do is go to www.refer.fm/armchairexplorer type in your email and start sharing with your friends and family. The more referrals you get the bigger the chance of winning. You can even set up while you listen to this episode – it literally takes 2mins! Thank you for helping to spread the word! www.refer.fm/armchairexplorerThank you to our sponsorThank you to Juggernaut Wines for sponsoring this episode! We’ve got a special deal for listeners of this show. You can get four bottles delivered direct to your home for only 1 cent in shipping costs. One penny! Just head over to www.juggernautwines.com and type in the code ARMCHAIR21. Drinking their wine is a great way to support the show … how cool is that?!Buy me a pint!If you enjoy this show, then please consider showing your support by buying me a pint! For less than the cost of a single frothy beverage, you can become a patron of the show with a whole heap of good stuff thrown in. Thank you for whatever you can do it means the world to me. www.patreon.com/armchairexplorerpodcastLet's Hang outFollow @armchairexplorerpodcast on Instagram and Facebook or head over to www.armchair-explorer.com to sign up to our newsletter and get adventure inspiration delivered straight to your inbox twice a month
Outlandish: Walking into Europe's Hidden Landscapes with Acclaimed Travel Writer Nick Hunt
Follow acclaimed travel writer Nick Hunt on a journey to walk Europe’s outlands – a piece of arctic tundra in Scotland, a primeval forest in Poland, a desert in Spain, the vast grasslands of the Hungarian steppe. These are outlandish places; wild, remote and untamed; places that shouldn’t exist, but they do. Like portals in our imagination, these anomalies transport us to faraway regions of the planet. They show us secrets, hidden aspects of our world that would hitherto go unnoticed. They give us glimpses into deep time, and our place in it, and show us, perhaps, the future yet to come. More than anything, they make our world seem larger, stranger and filled with wonder – and that is what great adventures are all about. Get ready to walk among Europe's hidden landscapes ... Who’s the guest?Nick Hunt is a beautiful, thoughtful writer and this is a book you will want to savor. It’s called ‘Outlandish: Walking Europe’s Unlikely Landscapes’ and you can find it anywhere you get your books. Check it out, you won’t be disappointed. Refer a friend, win $100! If you like this show, and you think your friends might too, then you can win a $100 amazon gift voucher – and an exclusive armchair explorer t-shirt that’s so exclusive even I don’t have one! All you need to do is go to www.refer.fm/armchairexplorer type in your email, you’ll get sent a link, and then all you need to do is share that link with your friends and family. When they click it and subscribe or follow the show, you will automatically get one referral to your name. Every referral counts as one raffle ticket to win that $100 amazon gift card. Get 10 referrals and on top of entry into the competition you’ll also get that exclusive Armchair Explorer t-shirt worth $25. You can even set up while you listen to this episode – it literally takes 2mins . Thank you for helping to spread the word! www.refer.fm/armchairexplorerThank you to our sponsorToday’s episode is sponsored by Not Lost, a new podcast about finding yourself in places you’ve never been. On Not Lost, host Brendan Francis Newnam ventures to new places, exploring what it has to offer, and then, to really understand what it makes tick, tries to get invited to a stranger’s house for dinner. A friend joins him at each destination, and they drink, dance, and eat their way from Montréal to Mexico City, often learning as much about themselves as the place they’re visiting. Check it out! Let's hang outFollow @armchairexplorerpodcast on Instagram and Facebook or head over to www.armchair-explorer.com to sign up to our newsletter and get adventure inspiration delivered straight to your inbox twice a month.
Crossed Off the Map: Bolivia from the Andes to the Amazon with Travel Writer Shafik Meghji
Follow travel writer Shafik Meghji from the Andes to the Amazon on a journey across one of Latin America’s most spectacular countries – Bolivia. We’re going to travel from the stark white plains of the Salar de Uyuni, the largest salt flat in the world, to the most biodiverse place in the entire amazon rainforest, we’re going to discover a lost city and a mountain that eats men … but we’re also going to do what all good explorers do and dig deeper.While traveling up and down to every corner of the country, Shafik realized there was a bigger story to be told – not just about Bolivia, but about us too. Everywhere he went he found a contrast between the ancient and the modern – the unchanging and the acceleration of the new. Bolivia, he realized, lived on the cusp of the past and the future, that knife edge dynamic of push and pull that shapes our world. And the more he traveled, the more he realized that we live on that cusp too.This is a story for travelers, and it will take you to some of the most spectacular and awe-inspiring places on the planet. But it's also a story for explorers who like to dig down, ask questions and discover the deeper threads of history and society that define a country and our world today.Who’s the guest?Shafik Menghji is an award-winning travel writer, author, broadcaster and photographer. His book of this journey is called ‘Crossed off the Map: Travels in Bolivia’. It’s an incredibly well researched and written book and an essential read for anyone visiting or dreaming about a trip to Bolivia. You can find it here or go to www.shafikmeghji.com to find out more. You can also connect with Shafik on Twitter and Instagram @shafikmeghji … Go and hang out, he’s an awesome bloke to travel with.Buy me a Pint!If you're enjoying the show please consider showing your support by buying me a pint! The show is free, but it takes many hours to produce, almost all of which is done by one person, little old me. The sponsors cover costs, but not my time. If you like what you hear and think that two episodes a month is worth the price of a single frosty beverage then please go to www.patreon.com/armchairexplorerpodcast. From just $5 per month you will get you ad free episodes, exclusive episodes not available anywhere else and lots more. Buy me a pint! ... the next round will be on me.Thank you Sponsors!Today’s episode is brought to you by Wondrium. Imagine Netflix, but for your brain – a huge audio and video encyclopedia for anything that you might want to learn or are curious to find out about – and you can download it all right to your phone. Go to www.wondrium.com/armchair to get a free no strings attached trial and 20% off the annual price if you like what you hear. Let's Hang outFollow @armchairexplorerpodcast on Instagram and Facebook or head over to www.armchair-explorer.com to find more background information on this episode
No Guidebook, No Google, No Clue: Togo, Wallis & Kyrgyzstan with Best-Selling Travel Author Brian Thacker
Follow best-selling travel author Brian Thacker on a unique, mad-cap adventure to three of the remotest countries on Earth. Inspired by the intrepid spirit of explorers of old, Brian decided to tear up the guidebook, switch off the phone and turn up to a country knowing absolutely nothing about it in advance. He picked three countries at random: the east African country of Togo, the South Pacific islands of Wallis & Futuna and the Central Asian mountains of Kyrgyzstan. He boarded the plane with absolutely no clue of the language, culture, where to stay or what to see. He was simply rolling the dice and letting the universe decide what kind of trip he would have. Like his heroes of the golden age of exploration, when much of the world was still undiscovered and no one knew what wonders awaited beyond the horizon, Brian was taking a step into the unknown. But, unlike those legends of adventure, Brian’s just an ordinary bloke. He wouldn’t be risking his life searching for lost tribes in the Amazon or crossing deadly deserts, he was just traveling, like all of us do, in search of good times, new experiences and the pure joy of exploring this amazing planet. Brian’s story inspires all of us that we needn’t be extreme adventurers to be real explorers, we just need to tear up the guidebook, turn off your phone and step into the unknown.We’re traveling with …Brian’s book of this story if called ‘Where’s Wallis: Travels Without a Guidebook’, you can find out more about that and all Brian’s other books at www.brianthacker.tv. Go and check that out, he’s a lot of fun to travel with.Join the CommunityIf you're enjoying the show, please consider showing your support by buying me a pint! If you like what you hear and think that two episodes a month is worth the price of a frosty beverage, then please go to www.patreon.com/armchairexplorerpodcast. … you’ll get ad-free episodes, access to our explorer’s community and exclusive content not available anywhere else. Buy me a pint! ... the next round will be on me.Thank you Sponsors!Today’s episode is sponsored by Wondrium. Wondrium is like Netflix for your brain, an enormous encyclopedia of mind-blowing audio and video content designed for curious people just like us. I love it and I think you will too. Go to www.wondrium.com/armchair to get a 14-day free trail with access to thousands of hours of audio and video content, from travel guides and documentaries to courses taught by the world’s greatest professors. All for free, no strings attached. Check it out!Let's Hang outFollow @armchairexplorerpodcast on Instagram and Facebook or head over to www.armchair-explorer.com to find more background information on this episode
BONUS EPISODE! Wanderlust: Off the Page - the Unparalleled Beauty of Easter Island
In this special bonus episode I share a new podcast I am producing and co-presenting. It's called Wanderlust: Off the Page, which is the audio addition to one of my favorite travel magazine on the planet. Wanderlust is all about intrepid destinations, authentic cultural experiences and taking the road less traveled ... which I know you guys love too.This new show is designed to help you discover the most fulfilling travel experiences on the planet! From culture and history to nature and wildlife, we're going to be taking you behind the scenes of the magazine to go deeper into our favorite destinations and meet the travel writers, experts, and personalities who will bring our stories to life.Hosted by founding editor Lyn Hughes and special features editor Rosie Fitzgerald, this episode explores the unparalleled beauty of Rapa Nui, or Easter Island. Award winning travel writer Shafik Meghji discusses with Aaron Millar the flourishing indigenous culture, the story of how the island was settled, and the experience of exploring such a remote place. Check it out, I know you're going to love it!Subscribe to the show on the links belowAPPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wanderlust-off-the-page/id1585628173SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/3UhYDK0IAi9OYj7DY8jrYr
Bicycling with Butterflies: a 10,000-mile Journey Following the Monarch Migration with Travel Author Sara Dykman
Join travel author and naturalist Sara Dykman on a 10,000 mile journey following on the wings of one of the most remarkable migrations in the animal kingdom. Every spring tens of millions of monarch butterflies travel from their winter hibernation grounds in the Transvolcanic Mountains of Mexico north across the United States and into Canada. It’s a journey of between 2,000 and 3,000 miles. For a creature that weighs half a gram, and measures about four inches, that’s a preposterous distance. The comparative length trip for a 150lb human being would be more than 300 million miles – or roughly 700 round trips to the moon. But even more baffling is the fact that the butterfly that departs from Mexico will die before returning home. And so will its offspring. It will be left to the fourth generation, the great granddaughter of that original butterfly, to begin the journey anew next spring. How millions of monarchs find their way across a continent to the same specific 12 mountains every year, having never been there before, and with no guide, is still one of the great mysteries of the natural world.But the journey of the monarchs is getting harder and harder every year. Agriculture and human domestication of the land is reducing their habitat and food sources along the way to barely enough to survive. In undertaking this epic bike ride Sara will also be raising awareness of their plight as she unravels the mystery of this incredible journey. But this is also a story about us. Through her journey Sara discovered the wonder of the microsopic world all around us, an entire universe in the dirt and fluttering above our heads. Her adventure also reminds us to stop, slow down and notice these small wonders because the more we do so the more amazing our world becomes. Buy the BookSara’s book is called bicycling with butterflies. It’s a fascinating read and well worth a look. You can also connect with her at www.beyondabook.org or @beyondabook on facebook. To find out more about the monarch butterfly migration, why it’s under threat and what you can do to help head to www.monarchwatch.org and www.monarchjointventure.orgSupport the ShowIf you enjoy this show, then please consider showing your support by becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/armchairexplorerpodcast … the sponsorship covers the cost of production, but not my time. If you love the outdoors and the pure joy of exploring this amazing planet, then please consider helping to spread that message to as many people as possible. Thank you for whatever you can do it means the world to me.Follow on SocialFollow @armchairexplorerpodcast on instagram and facebook or head over to www.armchair-explorer.com to find more background information on this episode Free Stuff!Thank you to wondrium for supporting the show! Go to www.wondrium.com/armchair to get a 22-day free trail, no strings attached, check out as much of their thousands of hours of streaming audio and video as you want. It’s like netflix for your brain, you’re going to love it.
Wild: An Elemental Journey through Earth, Ice, Fire and Air with Nature Writer Jay Griffiths
“There is something in us,” legendary nature writer Jay Griffiths writes, “that detests the tepid world of net curtains … the chloroform world where human nature is well schooled, tamed from childhood on, where the radiators are permanently on mild and the windows are permanently closed.”Lost with her life and desperate to escape the confines of the modern world, jay set out on a journey to explore the world’s wildest places. She would explore ice, earth, water, fire and air. It would take seven years and all her savings. She would sing with cannibals in the highlands of West Papua, drink ayahuasca with shamans in the amazon. She explored the frozen arctic with Innuits and the fire desert with the aboriginals of the Australia. Through her travels jay learned the wisdom of the indigenous people that call these elements home. She discovered how they shaped their culture and beliefs, and in time how they shaped her too. She was seeking wildness. She was following her ‘feral angel’, listening to its call to take flight and reconnect with the wildness inside her.This is an incredible adventure, but it’s also a fountain of near forgotten wisdom and a call to all us to listen to that ‘urgent demand in the blood’ that urges us to take flight too. It is up to us, she says, to find what it is in the in the world that matches that wildness in yourself and to become that. This is a story for anyone that’s ever crawled up the walls, stared out the window and dreamed of escape. This is a call to the wild. Highlights include:· Take ayahuasca with shamans in the Amazon· Walk naked and alone into the frozen wilderness of the Arctic· Trek the highlands with the freedom fighters of West Papua, one of the most remote and least-visited places on earth· Have dinner with cannibals · Find out how to apply the wisdom of the wild in our own lifeJay’s book of this adventure is called ‘Wild: an Elemental Journey’. It is one of the most beautiful pieces of nature writing I have ever read and couldn’t recommend it highly enough. Her latest book ‘Why Rebel?’ is awesome too. Search them up wherever you get your books – you won’t be disappointed! Join the CommunityIf you're enjoying the show please consider showing your support by buying me a pint! The show is free but each episode takes about 40hrs to produce. The sponsors cover my costs, but not my time. If you like what you hear and think that two episodes a month is worth the price of a frosty beverage then please go to www.patreon.com/armchairexplorerpodcast. From just $5 per month you will get you ad free episodes and access to our explorers community with exclusive travel discount vouchers delivered right to your inbox each month. Buy me a pint! ... the next round will be on me.Thank you Sponsors!Today’s episode is sponsored by Wondrium. Wondrium is like Netflix for your brain, an enormous encyclopedia of mind-blowing audio and video content designed for curious people just like us. Go to www.wondrium.com/armchair to get a 22-day free trail with access to thousands of hours of audio and video content, all for free, no strings attached. Check it out!Let's Hang outFollow @armchairexplorerpodcast on Instagram and Facebook or head over to www.armchair-explorer.com to find more background information on this episode
Hitchhiking to Pamplona with Comedian Andy Smart
Between 1977 and 1982 comedian Andy Smart hitchhiked 72,000 miles across Europe – the equivalent of crossing America coast-to-coast 24 times. This is the story of his greatest ride ever.At 20-years of age Andy sold everything he owned and left his home in Liverpool to move to London and pursue his dream of becoming a comedian. But before he did, he had one hitch, one last great adventure, left. It was the World Cup and England were playing France in Bilbao, Spain on his birthday. He planned to hitchhike through UK, down the length of France and into Spain to watch the game. It wouldn’t be easy. He carried a hammock, a piece of tarpaulin and some string to sleep by the side of the road. He had a small backpack, hardly any money and barely more than a change of clothes. But as he stood on the East Lancs Road on the edge of Liverpool, thumb out waiting for his first lift he knew, somehow, that this was a pivotal moment, that his life would never be the same again. He was right, but he never could have anticipated what a wild ride it would be. Highlights include:· Hear about one of the greatest hitchhiking adventures of all time· Catch a ride to the Council of the Universe (well, sort of …)· Take part in an insanely violent game of medieval soccer · Run for your life in the festival of San FerminoJoin the CommunityIf you're enjoying the show please consider showing your support by buying me a pint! The show is free but each episode takes about 40hrs to produce. The sponsors cover my costs, but not my time. If you like what you hear and think that two episodes a month is worth the price of a frosty beverage then please go to www.patreon.com/armchairexplorerpodcast. From just $5 per month you will get you ad free episodes and access to our explorers community with exclusive travel discount vouchers delivered right to your inbox each month. Buy me a pint! ... the next round will be on me.Thank you Sponsors!Today’s episode is sponsored by Wondrium. Wondrium is like Netflix for your brain, an enormous encyclopedia of mind-blowing audio and video content designed for curious people just like us. I love it and i think you will too. Go to www.wondrium.com/armchair to get a 22-day free trail with access to thousands of hours of audio and video content, from travel guides and documentaries to courses taught by the world’s greatest professors. All for free, no strings attached. Check it out!Let's Hang outFollow @armchairexplorerpodcast on Instagram and Facebook or head over to www.armchair-explorer.com to find more background information on this episode
Below Another Sky: A Himalayan Adventure in Search of a Lost Father with Mountaineer Rick Ridgeway
Follow legendary mountaineer Rick Ridgeway on the most profound adventure of his life, a journey through the Himalayas in search of a lost friend. In 1980, while climbing a remote peak in eastern Tibet, Rick and his three climbing partners were hit by a devastating avalanche. Rick survived but as he pulled himself out from under the snow, he saw his best friend Jonathan Wright lying on the ground not moving. He gave him mouth-to-mouth, he stroked his hair, he held him in his lap, but it wasn't enough. Jonathan died a few minutes later in his arms. As he died, Rick made a promise. Thousands of miles away Jonathan's baby daughter, Asia, was taking her first steps. He promised he would be there for her and watch over her as she grew. 18 years later, Asia turned up on his doorstep with a favor to ask. She wanted to go find her father's grave to pay her respects, and she wanted to Rick to take her. This is the story of the adventure. "A life worth living is lived at the edges where it is wild" - Rick RidgewayBut it is also the story of one of the greatest mountaineers of all time. Rick's latest book is called 'Life Lived Wild: Adventures at the Edge of the Map'. It is a beautiful memoir of a life lived to the full, immersed in the beauty and adventure of the natural world. Through this episode we will also hear some of Rick's other favorite tales of adventure and learn the wisdom those wild places have given him. More info at www.patagonia.com Highlights includeGetting lost while sailing across the Pacific Ocean in search of TahitiTaking the famous newscaster Tom Brokaw to the summit of Mount Rainier with legendary climbers Yvonne Chouinard and Doug Tompkins.Nearly dying of hypothermia while kayaking across a frozen lake in Chilean Patagonia.Discovering what it feels like to be trapped in an avalanche facing certain deathFollowing the journey of Rick and Asia through one of the most spectacular landscapes in the worldLearning the wisdom of a life spent in the wild and how nature can be our greatest teacher Join the CommunityIf you're enjoying the show please consider showing your support by buying me a pint! The show is free but it takes many hours to produce and almost all of it is done singlehandedly by me. The sponsors cover costs, but not my time. If you like what you hear and think that two episodes a month is worth the price of a single frosty beverage then please go to www.patreon.com/armchairexplorerpodcast. From just $5 per month you will get you ad free episodes and access to our explorers community with exclusive travel discount vouchers delivered right to your inbox each month. Buy me a pint! ... the next round will be on me.Thank you Sponsors!Today’s episode is sponsored by Wayfarer Vans - the backpacker’s version of camper vans. Kick-ass van conversions at literally ¼ price of other people, that are designed to de-clutter your adventure so you can be in the moment, taking in the wild spaces your van has delivered you to. www.wayfarervans.comLet's Hang outFollow @armchairexplorerpodcast on Instagram and Facebook or head over to www.armchair-explorer.com to find more background information on this episode
Waypoints: A 1,000-mile Walking Pilgrimage through West Africa with Travel Author Rob Martineau
Follow travel author Robert Martineau on a 1,000-mile solo trek through West Africa. Travelling through Ghana, Togo and Benin, sleeping in villages or on the side of paths he will cross deserts, rainforests and mountains, he will encounter voodoo ceremonies and witches camps, and meet shamans, priests, herdsmen and kings. But this is more than just a long walk. This is a modern day pilgrimage, a young man’s journey in search of a new life, and an escape from the monotony and aimless floating of his old one.At the age of 27 and trapped in a job he hated, Rob ran away from a successful career as a lawyer to spend five months in the African bush. He sought answers and guidance, a freedom and connection to nature he had lost and long craved. But he also discovered hard truths about himself and his place in the world.This is an extraordinary account of his adventure, but it is also a story of his inner journey and the wisdom he learned along the way.Highlights include:· Taking part in a traditional voodoo ceremony· Visiting a ‘witch camp’ in northern Ghana· Witnessing a traditional Adae festival in the Ashanti heartlands· Discovering the fascinating culture and beautiful landscapes of Ghana, Togo and Benin· Being inspired to change your life and go on your own modern-day pilgrimage wherever that may beThe book of this story is called Waypoints: A Journey on Foot, which was recently cited by the Washington Post as one of the best travel books of 2021. You can also connect with Rob directly on instagram, twitter and facebook at @rob_martineauBecome a Patron of the show and get ad-free episodes and membership to the exclusive Explorer’s Club with monthly travel vouchers sent directly to your inbox and much more. The show is free but costs time and money to produce. If you enjoy it and think that our message of love for the outdoors, caring for this planet and living your life to the full is a message worth spreading then thank you for whatever you can do. https://www.patreon.com/Armchairexplorerpodcast Today’s episode is sponsored by wayfarer vans - the backpacker’s version of camper vans. Kick-ass van conversions at literally ¼ price of other people, that are designed to de-clutter your adventure so you can be in the moment, taking in the wild spaces your van has delivered you to. www.wayfarervans.com Follow @armchairexplorerpodcast on Instagram and Facebook or head over to www.armchair-explorer.com to find more background information on this episode
Voyage of the Swell: A Journey in Search of a Life of Exploration and Adventure with Captain Liz Clark
Follow Captain Liz Clark on the Voyage of the Swell, a surfer’s journey in search of a life of exploration, adventure and the perfect wave. After college, instead of getting a job and starting a career, as her peers were, Liz bought a boat. She had always loved the ocean and felt a calling to follow her dreams, and try and make her passions her life, instead of just something crammed in between all the things she was supposed to do. So she decided to do something crazy. At age 22, with no real experience of sailing alone, she set sail from San Diego and simply headed south. No fixed plan in mind, just sailing the coast at the pace of a slow jog, searching out the best surf breaks in the world, places where no one else had ever ridden waves before.This is a story for ocean lovers, it’s a story for sailors and surfers, but it’s also a story for anyone out there dreaming of escape. For Liz following your dreams and pursuing a life built around your passions isn’t frivolous or selfish. It’s the door to discovering your life purpose. She says: “Your passions are the compass by which your steer your life”. If you dream of a life of exploration and adventure too, this story is for you. Highlights include:· Surfing some of the best breaks in the world along the coast of Central America and in remote atolls in the South Pacific· Discovering the beauty and incredible Polynesian culture of the Marquesas islands, one of the most remote archipelagos in the world· Free diving with Hammerhead Sharks in the Cocos Islands, an under-water paradise 300 miles off the coast of Costa Rica· Exploring the Galapagos Islands and find out what a world untouched by human hands would be likeThe book of this journey is called Swell: a Sailing Surfer’s Voyage of Awakening. it’s out now on Patagonia Books. Instagram and Facebook @captainlizclark, YouTube @captainlizzy and her website and blog is www.swellvoyage.com If you enjoy this show please consider supporting it by becoming a patron. For $5 a month you will get ad-free episodes; $10 a month will also get you access to our exclusive Explorer’s Club, monthly travel vouchers and more. www.patreon.com/armchairexplorerpodcastFollow @armchairexplorerpodcast on Instagram and Facebook
The Abode of the Gods: Ascending Mt. Meru with Climbing Legend Conrad Anker
Conrad Anker is renowned throughout the world as one of the greatest living mountaineers. Follow him to the Himalayan peaks of northern India to climb the ‘Shark’s Fin’ of Mt. Meru, a sheer 1,500-foot wall of blank granite, one the hardest, most dangerous and beautiful routes on the planet. For 30 years the best mountaineers in the world had attempted to climb Mt. Meru and for 30 years one-by-one they were spit off. It was thought that perhaps no one would ever reach its summit. Sacred to four religions, Mt. Meru is known as the abode of the gods. Perhaps it wasn’t meant to be climbed. Perhaps it was impossible. But impossible is a word that Conrad doesn’t understand. This is the story of that climb. This is the story of the adventure of his life.But it’s more than that too. Coming up as a young climber, Conrad was mentored by a man called Mugs Stump, another legend of his day. For Mugs, Mt. Meru represented the pinnacle of mountaineering. Climbing it would be the greatest achievement of his career. Conrad and him made a promise, they vowed that no matter what they would one day reach the top together. But, tragically, Mugs died before his dream could be realised. After that, climbing Mt. Meru became more than just a mountain or Conrad, it became an obsession. It became the culmination of his life’s work. He put a team together, Jimmy Chin – the renowned mountaineer and filmmaker – and a young climber called Renan Ozturk. Together, they travelled to northern India and began the long journey to the summit. This is a story about what it takes to achieve the impossible. This, is the story of Mt. Meru.Highlights:· Follow the world’s best climbers pitch-by-pitch up the hardest climb on the planet.· Hear what it’s like to survive for 17 days in a ‘Sea of Gravity’, as Conrad calls it, 1000s feet of extreme exposure pulling you down into all sides.· Discover what it takes to survive one of the worst Himalayan storms in 50 years, trapped in a portaledge thousands of feet above the ground, with avalanches raining down all around you· Climb the House of Cards, one of the most dangerous pitches in mountaineering· Hear the wisdom and inspiration that Conrad has learnt from a life in the mountains.The documentary of this climb is called Meru, shot and directed by another legend Jimmy Chin. You can rent it on Amazon, You Tube and elsewhere. You can also follow Conrad on Instagram/Twitter @conrad_anker and on Facebook @conradankerofficial. His website is simply www.conradanker.com If you enjoy this episode, please check out some of the conservation projects, which Conrad is involved with and support them if you can: www.himalayan-foundation.org and www.alexlowe.orgThanks to Wondrium for sponsoring this episode. Wondrium is the new name for The Great Courses Plus, now expanded with more content: documentaries, world-cinema, tv shows and lots of new courses. You can check it all out for free for one month by heading over to www.wondrium.com/armchairFollow @armchairexplorer podcast on Instagram and Facebook or head over to www.armchair-explorer.com to find more background information on this episode
Silk Road Mountain Race: Riding the Toughest Mountain Bike Race in the World with Extreme Bikepacker Cat Jaffee
Follow extreme bikepacker Cat Jaffee as she competes in the Silk Road Mountain Race - the toughest mountain bike race on the planet. 1,200-miles long, with over 115,000-feet elevation gain, athletes traverse the high mountain passes and remote valleys of Kyrgyzstan for 14 grueling days. Traveling completely unsupported, wild camping along the way, only a handful of riders attempt it and a fraction of those reach the end. But the racing is only part of the appeal. For centuries, The Silk Road operated as a network of trading routes connecting China and the Far East with the Middle east and Europe. It was responsible for spreading some of the most important ideas, culture and economics throughout the world and its effects still resonate across the world today. The mountains of Kyrgyzstan, which the race passes through, traces one of the central routes of the Silk Road, used by traders and wanderers throughout the Middle Ages, and the nomadic culture which still grazes their sheep in these high alpine pastures today has remained largely since those days. It had always been Cat’s dream to bikepack the Silk Road. But on the cusp of that dream coming true she came back from an assignment in Africa to the news that she had contracted malaria, dengue fever and had ovarian cancer. It was devastating news. She spent a year undergoing chemotherapy and Stage 4 cancer treatment. Most of us would have given up on the race. Most of us would have struggled to even get out of bed. But Cat kept training throughout it, riding 100s miles each weekend all day and through the night. Then a year later, despite her illness, she found herself on the start line of the toughest mountain bike race in the world. This is a story about that adventure, but it’s also a story about the power of determination to beat the odds and follow your dreams no matter what stands in your way. Get ready to ride the Silk Road.Highlights:· Find out what it takes to compete in the toughest mountain bike race in the world· Explore the spectacular mountains and ancient culture of Kyrgyzstan’s high mountains· Be inspired by Cat’s story of determination and survival in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges.Cat is also an award-winning podcast producer. Her latest series, Guardians of the River about the Okavango Delta Wilderness Project, which was recorded on location in Angola and Botswana over four months, won the Tribeca Film Festival’s prestigious Best Podcast award. Find out more here: https://www.houseofpod.org/featured-productions/guardians-of-the-river ... Connect directly with Cat on Instagram: @naturevertThanks to Wondrium for sponsoring this episode. Wondrium is the new name for The Great Courses Plus, now expanded with more content: documentaries, world-cinema, tv shows and lots of new courses. You can check it all out for free for one month by heading over to www.wondrium.com/armchairTo find out more about the Silk Road Mountain Race go to www.silkroadmountainrace.cc / cover image courtesy @silkroadmountainraceFollow @armchairexplorer podcast on Instagram and Facebook or head over to www.armchair-explorer.com to find more background information on this episode
Pedalling to Kailash: Cycling Across the Roof of the World with Adventurer Graydon Hazenberg
Follow travel author and adventurer Graydon Hazenburg on an epic bike journey from Islamabad, in Pakistan, all the way to Mount Kailash, in Tibet thousands of miles away. Travelling across four of the great mountain ranges in the world, the Pamir Mountains, the Hindu Kush, the Karakorum and the Himalayas, it would prove to be an incredibly difficult trip, cycling over some of the highest passes in the world across some of its worst roads.But it was also incredibly fascinating and beautiful. Graydon was cycling through some of the most remote and least visited places on the planet. He would stay with the Kalash people of Chitral and hike the foothills of Nanga Parbat, one the most dangerous mountains in the world. He visited the Hunza River Valley, the inspiration for the mythical enlightened kingdom of Shangri-La, and crossed the vast plains of the Tibetan Plain, staying with nomads along the way. But it was more than just an adventure too. Mount Kailash is the most sacred mountain in the world. Located in western Tibet, it is sacred to billions of Buddhists, Hindus and others around the world, and a pilgrimage around the mountain is walked by thousands of devotees every year. Get ready for one of the craziest bike stories you’ll ever hear …Highlights include: · Here how Graydon won Jeopardy and used the money to quit his career in academia and travel the world instead· Stay with the Kalash people in Pakistan, one of the most remote and rarely visited cultures in Asia, with only a few thousands left on Earth· See the paradise of the Hunza River Valley, the inspiration for the mythical fabled kingdom of Shangri-La · Climb the foothills of Nanga Parbat, one of the most dangerous mountains on the planet, which kills 1 in 5 people that attempt to summit it· Visit Tibetan nomads surviving in the harsh conditions of the Tibetan Plateau· Walk the Mount Kailash pilgrimage, perhaps the most beautiful pilgrimages on Earth· Be inspired to set out on your own journey – “We can always make more money,” Graydon says. “We can never make more time.”The book of this journey is called Pedalling to Kailash: Cycling Adventures and Misadventures on the Roof of the World - https://www.amazon.com/Pedalling-Kailash-Cycling-Adventures-Misadventures/dp/1777593611Connect with GraydonFB: www.facebook.com/graydon.hazenberg.authorTwitter: www.twitter.com/stanleystravelsInstagram: www.instagram.com/hmstanleystravelsTravel blog: graydonstravels.blogspot.comWebsite: graydonhazenberg.caThanks to Wondrium for sponsoring this episode. Wondrium is the new name for The Great Courses Plus, now expanded with more content: documentaries, world-cinema, tv shows and lots of new courses. You can check it all out for free for one month by heading over to www.wondrium.com/armchairFollow @armchairexplorer podcast on Instagram and Facebook or head over to www.armchair-explorer.com to find more background information on this episode
Kayak the Kwanza: The World-Record Paddle Down Angola's Longest River with Travel Author Oscar Scafidi
Follow travel author Oscar Scafidi on his world-record paddle down the Kwanza River in Angola. Stretching 600-miles from its source in the Angolan Highlands, in the centre of the country, to the Atlantic Ocean on the country’s west coast, Oscar and his partner Alfie Weston kayaked the entire length and hiked an additional two hundred miles to circumvent rapids, waterfalls and dams. The going was tough and they were unprepared for the dangers and hardships ahead. But, that’s also part of what’s so inspiring and unique about this story – Oscar and Alfie aren’t professional adventurers, explorers or African bush experts. They’re just two young guys with a crazy idea and a lot of guts. They faced man-eating crocodiles, angry hippos and even angrier police. But over 33 hard days, camping beside the banks of the river and in small settlements along the way, they reached the ocean and in doing so did something no one else had ever achieved before, which has since been recognised as an official world-record by Guinness World Records. This is a story about that adventure, but it’s also a story about dreaming big, taking risks and achieving something extraordinary. If two ordinary guys, with very little kayaking experience, can paddle the entire length of one of Africa's longest rivers, then you can achieve your travel dreams too. Highlights:· Facing 600-miles of man-eating crocodiles, deadly rapids and pods pod of angry attacking hippos· Kayaking the entire length of one of the least explored rivers on the planet – an official Guinness World Record· Discovering Angola, one of Africa’s least visited and most misunderstood countries, still reeling from the aftermath of a brutal civil war. But one that’s also filled with incredible wildlife, surfing, hiking and more· Getting arrested in the middle of the night at gun point by the security forces· Being inspired to follow your own dreams of adventure and hearing what it takes to get it done If you want to connect with Oscar directly his Instagram is @oscarscafidi and his twitter is @scafiditravels. He also has an awesome YouTube channel which charts this trip and his other adventures www.youtube.com/c/ScafidiTravelsThe book of this journey is called Kayak the Kwanza: Source to Sea Along Angola’s Longest River - www.amazon.com/Kayak-Kwanza-Oscar-Scafidi/dp/1789650127Thanks to Wondrium for sponsoring this episode. Wondrium is the new name for The Great Courses Plus, now expanded with more content: documentaries, world-cinema, tv shows and lots of new courses. You can check it all out for free for one month by heading over to www.wondrium.com/armchairOscar and Alfie were raising money for the HALO Trust who are removing landmines from Angola and other war-torn countries around the world. Their goal is a landmine-free wolrd by 2025. Help them get there at www.halotrust.orgFollow @armchairexplorer podcast on Instagram and Facebook or head over to www.armchair-explorer.com to find more background information on this episode