A serious foodie, Peta Mathias is asked to take one for the team in Bolivia, where the cuisine features 250 varieties of the potato and not much else. But the food isn't her only vacation hurdle. Peta also scales the heights, and at 5,000 m it's -21 C degrees! She gets to sample one unique Bolivian flavor- Bolivia's famous white powder salt from the country's salt plains.

Actress and former advice columnist Robyn Malcolm needed some advice of her own when she is sent to Vietnam. In heat reaching 36 degrees C and 90 percent humidity, she faced hardship and challenges, both emotionally and physically. But Robyn persevered, and this former luxury travel fan was won over to by the country and its spirited people.

Sacred cows beware, confirmed beeff eater Pio Terei is sent to India, where beef is strictly off the menu. But Pio adapts as a good comedian should, and goes vegetarian while rowing down the sacred Ganges. Traveling through Northern India, he is treated to such sights as dolphins and dead bodies. But he also gets the chance to see how the Maharajahs lived, and has a close encounter with a native. Unfortunately for him, that native happens to be a camel!

Talking your way out of a jam is second nature to politicians like Michael Laws, but he finds himself hampered in Ecuador since he doesn't speak the language. Michael takes a trip into another world as he floats down the Amazon River, beginning with sampling one of the local witch doctor's remedies. He later has the dubious pleasure of visiting a town that has been officially closed by the local government because it is in imminent danger from an erupting volcano nearby.

Craig may seem unflappable when he is playing the role of Dr Alistair Kingsley on Mercy Peak, but the trek into the foothills of the Himalayas has him hot and bothered. His trip requires him to carry his possessions on his back for seven days while hiking through the Nepalese hinterlands. He ascends higher than the height of New Zealand's own Mt Cook, but Sir Edmund Hilary mountaineering laurels are safely out of Craig's reach.

It takes something as spectacular as the pyramids of Egypt to take the words out of Marcus Lush's mouth, so that's where the first season finale of Intrepid Journeys sends him! He stops at all of the usual tourist attractions, but then strikes out on his own floating down the Nile in a felucca and also aboard one of the ships of the desert while traveling overland. Marcus has an adventure that he won't soon forget, and takes us along for the ride.

Broadcaster Kerre Woodham suffers from claustrophobia and fear of heights as she goes through the ruins of Angkor Watt, Cambodia, as well as the Viet Cong tunnels of Cu Chi of Vietnam. But she finds new appreciation for the people of those countries, and visits a hospital of young boys who have all lost limbs to landmines.

Danielle Cormack was a little leery of traveling to the Middle East because of the area's unrest, but she fulfilled a life long dream of floating in the Dead Sea. She also visited the cliff side city of Petra, ancient Greek cities, and a crusader castle.

Mayor Shadbolt of Invercargill learns a new appreciation for New Zealand's building codes when he travels to Borneo and gives a helping hand to a local with a construction project. But eventually he takes on a much bigger task- climbing Mt Kinabalu, one of the highest mountains in Southeast Asia.

Comedian Ewen Gilmour travels to Peru, where he helps a family build a house out of reeds, visits an Incan cemetery and tours Machu Pichu. He also visits Incan city Machu Pichu and the battlefield of Ollatantambo, where the Spanish were defeated by the Incas.

Broadcaster Hugh Sundae goes native during his stay in Mongolia, but not voluntarily. Living in a ger and eating mutton cooked with yak butter was rough, but he is treated to a private concert of Mongolian throat singing which is right up his alley. He rides a Mongolian horse and helps his host family herd their livestock out on the tundra.

Broadcaster Paul Henry reached new heights when he visited Tibet- he spent the night in the Mt Everest base camp!

Karyn Hay visits the island nation of Timor, the world's newest independent country. While there she climbs Mt Ramelau.

Actress Katie Wolfe finds the future merges with the past when she visits Shanghai. She also cruises down the Yangtse River.

Political satirist Jon Gadsby had to keep a low profile while traveling in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma), but he still got to see some unusual sights. He visits a golden temple as well as the markets during his stay, but avoids state run hotels in favor of local guest houses.

Interior designer Donald Grant Sunderland trots up ancient Mayan pyramids despite suffering from the trots.

Traveling from Casablanca to Marrakesh, Dave Dobbyn rides a camel through the Sahara and visits the Hassan II mosque.

Marcus Lush returns for a second Journey, but this time instead of camels in Egypt he is treated to a long, long train ride in Siberia. But whether inn Egypt or Russia there are plenty of people looking to make a dollar off of him with smiles on their faces.

Kim learns more she wants to learn about smuggling Cuban cigars; she visits a street festival and a 90 year old musician who was a session player at the Buena Vista Social Club.

Roger Hall goes on safari in Uganda to see the local wildlife, including gorillas, lions, baboons, and hippos. He goes canoeing, and sees the Murchison Falls. He finishes with some white water rafting.

New Zealand fashion designer Trelise Cooper tours the country, from the west, starting at Istanbul in Europe to Cappadocia in the east of Asia Minor. She hunts through bazaars, sees the ruins of Ephesus and the coast, and goes hot air ballooning over the cave houses of Cappadocia. She also climbs Mt Olympos and sees the Eternal Flame, and natural phenonmenon where escaping gases ignite in the air and burn like a torch.

Whale Rider star Rawiri Paratene visits some live volcanoes and rappels down a cliff to get to a remote lake.

Lisa's trip through Malaysia is filled with ups and downs as she treks through a jungle and hurts her back, but she loves the temples and the food.

Actress Miriama Smith travels to the Leaping Tiger Gorge and watches a woman's basketball game in Tibet.

Singer/writer Andrew gets a little too close for comfort with the local wildlife, climbs a volcano, and sits in on an impromptu concert while in Indonesia.