Passport to Adventure

Passport To Adventure is an exciting travel series with an adventurous twist. Seasoned travelers Julie Conover and Mark Jennings take you to beautiful and exotic locations around the world for off-the-beaten path excursions. Their mission is to stimulate interest in other lands, peoples and cultures and ignite a passion for travel and discovery. The pair's adventures include volcano hiking in the Canary Islands; cycling in Andalucia, Spain; bamboo rafting in Thailand and climbing the Great Wall of China. They will leave no stone unturned in their search for the most inspiring adventures and unusual destinations.

Distributed by: American Public Television (APT)

Julie Conover

Julie Conover’s travel passion has taken her to every corner of the globe, but her favorite vacation is grabbing a backpack and taking at least six weeks to explore a remote part of Asia. She also hosts and produces a local television program, Inside Tahoe.

Mark Jennings

Jennings began his broadcasting career as a travel and ski reporter. He also developed the free-wheeling program called Inside Skiing that highlighted the unique and off-beat aspects of life in secluded mountain villages of the Alps.

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Exploring Rural China and the Great Wall
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In China's capital, Mark Jennings and Julie Conover hop on a pedicab to take a look at life in the old section of the city. Just outside Beijing, the countries most enduring symbol, The Great Wall tumbles over the horizon. The towering pinnacles of Southern China have inspired artists for centuries and the rhythm of life on the Li River is slow and melodic - water buffalo linger in a stream, while families work in verdant rice fields. The peaks of the region hide numerous caves, some that have been turned into Disneyland-like attractions, while others offer pristine views of the patchwork countryside. In the backpacker's mecca of Yangshou, Mark & Julie meet fishermen with an ingenious method of doing their job.

Bavarian Life In Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
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The snowcapped Bavarian Alps are the highest mountains in Germany, a perfect backdrop for skiing adventures and cultural discoveries. In the Olympic village of Garmisch, Julie Conover & Mark Jennings visit with Gerhardt Ester, a local character who's murals adorn the town's historic buildings. Nearby, in Mittenwald, some of the world's most famous violins were crafted three centuries ago. Today, the narrow streets of this quaint village are home to workshops where intricately carved instruments are still produced. On the slopes of the Zugspitze, Mark & Julie meet the competitors on the European Carving Tour, a exciting new type of ski racing .

The Pyrenees Mountains, Spain and France
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These mountains are home to the Basque, a people whose exact origins are still being debated. Hosts Mark Jennings & Julie Conover explore enchanting villages and chat with locals to gain a little insight into this mysterious culture. The rivers of the region provide ample entertainment for adventure seekers. Julie & Mark go rafting, kayaking, and canyoning, as well as try a new sport called " hydrospeed", where the body becomes a projectile through the rapids! If that's not enough, they cycle the narrow mountain passes that make up the most demanding leg of the Tour de France, and, explore stalagmite filled caves and medieval villages.

Lake Geneva and Verbier, Switzerland
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A peek behind the walls of historic Chateau Chillon, on the shores of Lake Geneva, provides an introduction to the magnificent Swiss Alps region. Just fifty years ago, Verbier was a tiny mountain hamlet with only 27 residents, today it's peaks attract the creme de la creme of extreme sports enthusiasts and filmmakers. Adventure sports photographer Hank DeVre shares his passion for the outdoors and joins hosts Julie Conover & Mark Jennings to explore the off piste terrain that has made Verbier famous. Back at Lake Geneva, Mark & Julie cycle along the picturesque shore, golf in historic Evian, and learn about the wines of the Jura Mountains from a local vintner.

Exotic Northern Thailand
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Thailand's cultural and geographic diversity has drawn adventure travelers for decades and the country's tourism infrastructure makes it an ideal "intro to Asia" destination. In the hills of Northern Thailand, hosts Mark Jennings & Julie Conover trek through the jungles on foot and on elephant back to meet the colorful ethnic tribes. After spending the night as house guests of the village " headman" they set out on bamboo rafts for a true river adventure. In Chiang Mai, Julie gets a lesson in Thai cooking, and Mark comes upon locals playing a bizarre ball game!

Historic Stockholm and Heliskiing, Sweden
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Stockholm, Sweden's capital city, sits in an archipelago made up of thousands of islands. Before heading to the mountains, hosts Mark Jennings & Julie Conover explore the narrow, cobbled streets of the Old Town and sample traditional cuisine. The Vasa Museum is home to a sixteenth century warship that capsized on her maiden voyage and was exhumed from Stockholm's bay perfectly preserved. She now shares this fascinating piece of history with her guests. As the journey turns north, Mark and Julie experience Sweden's fairytale countryside on the backs of Icelandic horses and visit Scandinavia's largest winter resort for an introduction to telemark skiing. A dazzling heliski adventure concludes this tour through the land of the midnight sun.

Big Sky Country, Montana
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The southern part of Montana is dominated by a rugged range that creates a paradise for outdoor and Old West enthusiasts. Charles Kurault once described the Beartooth Highway as "the most scenic drive in America." A float trip on a "blue ribbon" trout stream explains why the state attracts fly fishermen from around the globe. In the historic town of Red Lodge, characters like Jeremiah Johnson and Buffalo Bill have not disappeared into the past. Surrounded by buckskin clad participants, Julie and Mark become a a part of Montana's colorful history, at the "Mountain Man Rendezvous", a celebration of the fur trading era in the American west.

Exploring Rugged Northern Corsica, France
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This mysterious island has fascinated sailors and been a target for invaders since the days of the ancient Greeks. In secluded hill towns, hosts Julie Conover & Mark Jennings meet the fiercely independent people who have fought to maintain their proud culture. These passionate, Corsican guides take Mark & Julie bareback, thundering across coastal terrain, rappelling down waterfalls and soaring on the wings of a paraglider high above the Mediterranean Sea. A citadel built on a windswept rock in the thirteenth century stands guard over yachts from all over the world in the seaport of Calvi. Mark & Julie stroll the lively streets of the city with a charming local guide who shares her insights on the island and it's people.

Undiscovered Nepal
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In the southwestern region of Nepal there are no high mountain peaks to scale, just pristine rural villages and tribal cultures living undisturbed by tourism. This is the "not so famous" side of Nepal. The Bardia Reserve is one of the last remaining habitats for the nearly extinct Bengal Tiger. Host Julie Conover boards an elephant to search for the elusive cats and spends the night at the rustic Tiger Tops tented camp overlooking the river where she rafts the next morning. In the country's capital, Kathmandu, Hindu and Buddhist temples are still the center of life. Cycling through stunning rural scenery and the ancient town squares of the Kathmandu Valley, reveals more on the intriguing culture that makes Nepal a true adventure travel destination.

Off The Beaten Path in the Canary Islands, Spain
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The perfect climate of the Canary Islands has made it a popular destination for European sun worshipers, but getting away from the tourist spots uncovers a fascinating side of these diverse islands. There is no limit to the adventure sport activities to be found here, from miles of hiking on the 13,000 foot Teide volcano, to scuba diving and snorkeling in the clear blue waters of El Hierro. Hosts Mark Jennings & Julie Conover enjoy a sunset take off with local paragliders, catch a wave at a local surfing competition and get a taste of indigenous culture in a night of folkloric song and dance.

Discovering The "Sud Tirol", Italy
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The limestone peaks of the Dolomite mountains make for some of the most dramatic ski terrain in all of Europe. Hosts Mark Jennings & Julie Conover enjoy the slopes of the Sella Ronda, then board a helicopter to challenge themselves on one of the area's steepest chutes. Many of the local families have lived in the Sud Tirol for generations and cherish their way of life in these once remote mountain villages. Julie & Mark take a look at the time honored craft of wood carving and spend an afternoon with a local man who offers a touchingly personal perspective of World War One and the transition from Austrian to Italian rule. This journey through Northern Italy concludes with a visit to cosmopolitan Florence, the renaissance capital of the country.