The Ultimate Adventure Travel Podcast

What does it really take to climb the highest mountain on every continent? In this episode of The Ultimate Adventure Travel Podcast , we're exploring one of the most famous challenges in adventure travel: The Seven Summits . From the frozen wilderness of Antarctica to the rainforests of Papua, we travel across all seven continents to discover the mountains that have inspired explorers for dec...

Most people researching Everest Base Camp hear the same things. "It's tough." "The views are incredible." "Watch out for altitude." But what is it actually like to spend two weeks trekking through the Himalayas? After leading multiple expeditions to Everest Base Camp, I'm sharing the things that rarely make it into the brochures, YouTube videos, or social me...

Shackleton: The Greatest Survival Story Ever Told What would you do if your ship became trapped in Antarctic ice, hundreds of miles from land, with no rescue coming? This week on The Ultimate Adventure Travel Podcast, we're diving into one of the most remarkable survival stories in human history. The story of Sir Ernest Shackleton and the doomed Endurance Expedition wasn't supposed to be...

What would you do if your climbing partner's survival meant risking your own life? In this episode of the Ultimate Adventure Travel Podcast, we dive into one of the most extraordinary survival stories ever told. The story of Joe Simpson and Simon Yates has become legendary in mountaineering circles and inspired the bestselling book and award-winning film Touching the Void . After successfully...

This week on the Ultimate Adventure Travel Podcast, we're doing something a little different. Rather than interviewing an expedition leader after the event, you're joining a real Kilimanjaro preparation call with James, who is just a few months away from attempting Africa's highest mountain. We discuss the questions that almost every future Kilimanjaro climber asks:  How fit do you...

One year ago, I sat down and recorded the very first episode of the Ultimate Adventure Travel Podcast. At the time, I had no idea whether anyone would listen. I didn't know if I would enjoy podcasting, whether I could stay consistent, or whether I would still be recording episodes 12 months later. Fast forward a year, and we're celebrating 55 episodes, countless hours of conversations, i...

Hidden high in the Andes Mountains, surrounded by cloud forest and towering peaks, sits one of the most famous archaeological sites on Earth: Machu Picchu. In this episode of the Ultimate Adventure Travel Podcast, Jake dives into the fascinating story behind the discovery of Machu Picchu, the rise and fall of the Inca Empire, and the legendary 1911 expedition led by Hiram Bingham III. From ancient...

Jake Field and Seb discuss the 1996 Everest disaster, including Rob Hall, Scott Fischer, Adventure Consultants, Mountain Madness, summit fever, commercial guiding, the deadly storm, and how Everest changed forever. Key Topics Covered  The rise of commercial guiding on Mount Everest   Who Rob Hall and Scott Fischer were   Adventure Consultants and Mountain Madness   Jon Krakauer and Into Thin Air  ...

Who really conquered Everest first? In 1953, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first confirmed climbers to reach the summit of Mount Everest. But the reality is far more complex than two men standing on top of the world. This episode breaks down:  The British obsession with Everest   The Swiss expedition that nearly beat them   The scale of the 1953 operation   The failed first summit a...

In this episode of The Ultimate Adventure Travel Podcast , Jake is joined by his friend Seb to explore one of the greatest mysteries in adventure history: did George Mallory and Sandy Irvine reach the summit of Mount Everest in 1924, nearly 30 years before Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay’s confirmed ascent? After the previous episode on Scott and Amundsen, this conversation continues the theme o...

The truth about climbing Kilimanjaro: altitude, routes, and what actually determines summit success Thinking about climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in 2026? Most people underestimate this mountain. They assume it’s “just a hike”… but Kilimanjaro is a high-altitude expedition reaching 5,895 metres , where success depends far more on preparation, acclimatisation, and decision-making than raw fitness. In t...

What does it take to survive… and win… in the harshest place on Earth? In 1911, two men set out to answer that question. Same destination. Same continent. Same brutal conditions. But only one made it back. In this episode of the Ultimate Adventure Travel Podcast , Jake breaks down one of the greatest expedition stories ever told — the race between Robert Falcon Scott and Roald Amundsen to the Sout...

Why do some people thrive on treks… while others struggle? Most people assume success on a trek comes down to fitness. How strong you are. How fast you can walk. How hard you’ve trained. But after nearly a decade of leading expeditions, Jake Field has seen a very different pattern emerge. In this episode of the Ultimate Adventure Travel Podcast, Jake breaks down the personality traits that consist...

Are trekkers really being “poisoned” on Everest… or is there more to the story? In this episode of the Ultimate Adventure Travel Podcast, Jake Field breaks down the recent headlines surrounding alleged helicopter rescue scams in the Everest region. With reports suggesting that trekkers may have been made ill to trigger insurance-funded evacuations, this topic has created understandable concern amo...

There’s no perfect time to travel. Only trade-offs. In this episode of the Ultimate Adventure Travel Podcast, Jake Field breaks down one of the most common questions in adventure travel: “When is the best time to go?” But more importantly, he answers the question most people don’t ask… “When should you NOT go?” From Everest Base Camp and Kilimanjaro to Machu Picchu, Morocco, India, and Turkey, Jak...

What happens when you stop waiting… and just go? In this episode of the Ultimate Adventure Travel Podcast, Jake Field is joined by Sebastian Brandt, a listener who went from having no trekking experience to completing Everest Base Camp via the Gokyo Lakes route with just four weeks of preparation. Seb shares how redundancy became the catalyst for a major life shift, leading him from cycling across...

In this episode of the Ultimate Adventure Travel Podcast, Jake Field breaks down what travellers should actually do when global events cause travel disruption. With conflict in the Middle East creating uncertainty across air routes, many travellers are facing delayed flights, rerouted journeys, and confusion about their rights. Rather than focusing on the headlines, Jake provides a clear, practica...

In this episode of the Ultimate Adventure Travel Podcast, Jake Field is joined by traveller Eric to reflect on their journey through India’s famous Golden Triangle. Together they explore the cultural, historical, and sensory experience of travelling through Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur, along with a wildlife safari in Ranthambore National Park. Jake and Eric discuss first impressions of India, the scal...

In this episode of the Ultimate Adventure Travel Podcast, Jake Field tackles one of the most common but rarely voiced fears in adventure travel: what happens if you are the slowest person in the group? Using real experience from leading treks to Everest Base Camp, Kilimanjaro, Machu Picchu, and Mount Toubkal, Jake explains how group pace actually works in the mountains. He breaks down why trekking...

In this episode of the Ultimate Adventure Travel Podcast, Jake Field breaks down one of the most common but least clearly answered questions in adventure travel: how much spending money you actually need once your trip is booked. Using real examples from Everest Base Camp, Kilimanjaro, Machu Picchu, Morocco, India, and Turkey, Jake explains what is typically included in adventure travel packages a...

In this episode of the Ultimate Adventure Travel Podcast, Jake Field breaks down what you can realistically expect to eat on adventure travel trips. From expedition-style meals on Everest Base Camp and Kilimanjaro, to cooked trail food on the Inca Trail, and full cultural cuisine experiences in Morocco, India, and Turkey, Jake explains how food plays a practical role in performance, recovery, and...

In this episode of the Ultimate Adventure Travel Podcast , expedition leader Jake Field shares a complete, no-nonsense guide to what to pack for Machu Picchu . Drawing on years of experience leading groups along the Inca Trail, the Salkantay Trek, and the Short Trail, Jake explains exactly what to bring and what to leave behind. He covers everything from acclimatisation in Cusco and building the r...

In this episode of the Ultimate Adventure Travel Podcast , expedition leader Jake Field shares his expert advice on what to pack for two of the world’s most iconic treks — Everest Base Camp and Kilimanjaro . Drawing from years of guiding experience, Jake explains how to prepare for both expeditions with confidence — from layering systems and sleeping bags to boots, hygiene kits, and first-aid esse...

In this episode of the Ultimate Adventure Travel Podcast , expedition leader Jake Field shares a complete, experience-driven packing guide for anyone preparing to climb Mount Toubkal , North Africa’s highest peak. From layering systems and footwear to daypack essentials and what not to bring, Jake explains how to strike the perfect balance between comfort, warmth, and practicality. Drawing on year...

In this episode of the Ultimate Adventure Travel Podcast , host Jake Field welcomes back Amanda Black to explore how adventure travel can genuinely improve mental health. Together, they discuss how time outdoors, connection, and shared experiences create meaningful change in both body and mind. Amanda, founder of the Solo Female Traveler Network , offers her perspective on the confidence and heali...