KUED Programs

Holly Morris takes over the journey in Central Asia, where silk was traded for "flying horses" from the fertile Ferghana Valley. Crossing the Jiptik Pass to Osh, she then explores the ancient Kingdom of Samarkand and Bukhara before crossing the stony desert of Turkmenistan to the lost city of Merv. Then it's on to the modern capital of Baku in oil-rich Azerbaijan, her last stop before reaching the caravanserais of Turkey and finally the rich bazaars of Istanbul.

In China, Megan McCormick follows the legendary trade route along which caravans of treasures once found their way into Europe. Starting at the silk capital of Xi'an, she passes Jiayugan and the Jade Gate, once frontier towns on the edge to the uncivilized western world. Passing through the Flaming Mountains, she stops to sample the wines and grapes of Turpan, one of the lowest and hottest places on earth. After visiting a 1,000 Buddha cave in Kuqa, she ends her journey at the famous Kashgar Market where wares from east and west are still traded today.

Zay's island-hopping escapades take him now to the independent Kingdom of Tonga and then on to multi-cultural Fiji, once home to cannibals and Indian plantation workers that were brought to the islands to harvest sugar cane. In Norfolk Island, we learn about its convict past while the hills of New Caledonia make a perfect setting for an island trek to the country's native inhabitants. Zay ends his journey in Noumea, where the Kanak people's culture is celebrated at the Tibijao Cultural Center, an architectural marvel that combines ancient knowledge with modern techniques.

Zay Harding begins his Pacific journey in Santiago de Chile, gateway to the culturally unique Easter Island. From here he heads to Tahiti, the Polynesian paradise that enticed Louis-Antoine de Bougainville, Captain Cook and Captain Bligh and his Bounty mutineers to stay longer than planned. Zay embarks on an ocean voyage along the waters charted by these famous explorers, including a perilous crossing to Pitcairn Island, which the descendents of the Bounty mutineers call home today.

Brianna Barnes journeys to Peru, home of the legendary Incas, where she begins her trek in Cajamarca, where thousands of Incan soldiers were slaughtered by Pizarro's conquistadors. After visiting one of the world's largest gold mines, Brianna makes her way to Lima, the "City of Kings," once home to the Spanish Inquisition in South America. In Cusco, she learns about the golden Inca Empire before ending her journey on the volcano El Misti, where incredibly well-preserved ice mummies tell the story of the country's illustrious past.

Judith Jones travels south to the lands of ancient empires. In Mexico, she explores the myths and treasures that once drew the Conquistadors to a country rich in natural resources. Following their trail, her first stop is colonial Chihuahua, where Pancho Villa started the Mexican Revolution. In Zacatecas, she visits one of Mexico's many Silver Mines and then travels along the colonial Silver Road to Mexico City, from where the Aztecs once ruled their bloodthirsty empire.

Justine Shapiro kicks off the journey with a road trip west across the United States. Starting in Washington, DC she follows the Blue Ridge Parkway to Nashville and Memphis, birthplaces of American country and soul. After a brief countryside respite in Arkansas, Justine hits the legendary Route 66 from Oklahoma to Arizona, where she visits the world's best preserved meteor crater.

Zoe D'Amato's 3,000km-journey across Eastern Canada starts on the Avalon Peninsula, in Newfoundland & Labrador, the oldest and most easterly part of North America. Next, she travels south west to the maritime provinces of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick, known for their rugged coastlines, natural beauty and delicious fresh fish. She then heads inland to say bonjour to Quebec's European culture and old-world charm and party at the New France Festival. At the last stop, Ontario, she experiences the dizzying heights of Toronto's mega CN Tower and the thundering magnificence of the Niagara Falls.