Adventures with Purpose Season 1, Episode 7: Greece: Quest for the Gods

Egypt: Quest for the Lord of the Nile

Egypt is a vast desert with a searing sun beating down. For millennia, only by the grace of the waters of the Nile did people and creatures thrive in this land. Rain almost never fell. But once a year the river magically surged with water, flooding the land and leaving fertile black soil to nourish the crops. And with this annual flood, thousands of crocodiles washed into the lives of the Ancient Egyptians. Death by crocodile was common. The scaly beast exacted both fear and awe. The Lord of the Nile made his way into the great tombs of kings and deep into the psyche of the ancients. But as time and technology changed, the Lord of the Nile slowly disappeared. Hunting, pollution and the Aswan dam robbed the river of its ancient consort. Today there are reports that crocodiles are making a miraculous return in the south of Egypt. Our goal is to catch a glimpse of this legendary creature and along the way to come to know the powerful god, Sobek, that he inspired thousands of years ago.

New Zealand: Quest for Kaitiakitanga

The father of modern adventure travel traverses the most physically and climatically diverse landmass in Polynesia in the pursuit of an age-old Mâori tradition. Bangs seeks answers to questions rooted in indigenous wisdom, hoping to unearth the meaning and origins of "kaitiakitanga," the responsibility of human beings to protect the natural world. Today's Kiwis believe the knowledge of the ancients may hold a key to the planet's survival. Bangs begins his 1,000-mile trek in Mt. Aspiring National Park, where he navigates north to the Franz Joseph Glacier and then to the east coast town of Kaikoura. From there, Bangs crosses the Cook Strait to the North Island and the capital city of Wellington. He next visits the Taupo region, heads to Hokianga Harbor, and finally makes his way to Cape Reinga on the upper tip of New Zealand, where he encounters the great tangled "spirit tree" of Mâori myth.

56 min

Switzerland: Quest for the Sublime

Richard Bangs explores the origins of adventure travel and searches for what philosophers and poets of the past called "the sublime." Bangs' quest to unearth the true meaning of "sublime" begins in the heart of Switzerland: Lucerne. Later, he travels to the chic winter resort of St. Moritz, climbs aboard the famous Glacier Express train and heads to Zermatt and experiences the rapture of the Matterhorn.

Norway: Quest for the Viking Spirit

More than 1,000 years ago, Vikings from Norway terrorized Europe; their legendary raids made their name synonymous with marauding pirates. Today, this ruggedly beautiful country houses the Nobel Peace Center and stands one of the most eco-friendly countries on earth. How could such a progressive nation spring from such a violent past? Do Vikings represent a romantic revision of a grisly past or cynical pandering to a growing tourist trade? In his latest Adventures With Purpose special, adventurer Richard Bangs seeks out the modern-day "Viking Spirit" in Norway's forbidding Arctic north, its mountainous sea coast and its bustling cities. This documentary is the fifth edition to the Telly- and CINE Golden Eagle-winning series of specials, which include Egypt: Quest for the Lord of the Nile , New Zealand: Quest for Kaitiakitanga , Switzerland: Quest for the Sublime and Morocco: Quest for the Kasbah.

56 min

Morocco: Quest for the Kasbah

For centuries, Kasbahs - the walled residential quarters around Moroccan cities - served as a refuge for African, Arab, Jewish and European traders, pirates and holy men traveling on ancient caravan routes. Today, these Kasbahs exemplify Morocco's determination to guard and preserve their rich multiculturalism. In his latest Adventures With Purpose special, adventurer Richard Bangs travels to Morocco on a quest for the modern-day equivalent of the Kasbah. Bangs begins his journey in Marrakesh, where he dips down to the seashore, travels over the mountains to Ouarzazate and treks to the desert on the country's far eastern border. Then, he works his way up to Fès, far north to Tangier, and back to Rabat, ending in the city of Casablanca.

56 min

India: Quest for the One-Horned Rhinoceros

Richard Bangs treks through the remote state of Assam in India - a region of rushing rivers, strapping monsoons, vast expanses of unspoiled land and a staggering array of wildlife, including the one-horned rhinoceros. What kept these rare rhinos from falling into extinction? What does their story reveal about the world and about saving precious wildlife? Richard sets off to discover what this elusive rhino represents to the people of Assam - and to the world.

Hong Kong: Quest for the Dragon

Renowned adventurer Richard Bangs ventures into the heart of Hong Kong to discover what forces drive a city in which the spiritual concept of chi and the worldly concept of wealth coexist. Bangs begins by taking in one of the most dazzling festivals on earth, Chinese New Year. Then, he wanders beneath the skyscrapers of Central District, meanders down the alleys of Western District and ferries across the harbor to Kowloon. Later, he sails the "dragon-infested" waters to the Geopark, an ecological preserve, before making his way to Lantau Island, and finally north, to the villages of the New Territories.

56 min

Costa Rica: Quest for Pura Vida

Richard Bangs explores the ecological nexus of North and South America - Costa Rica. Costa Rica is home to endless natural wonders: wild rivers, fire-spewing volcanoes, verdant rainforests and more species of animals and plants than found in the United States and Canada combined. Bangs attempts to uncover the secret to Costa Rica's success in preserving their small country's extraordinary biodiversity. He begins his journey on the Pacific side, where the Osa Peninsula encircles Corcovado National Park. Then, he explores the beaches at Punta Islita, Palo Verde National Park and the Monteverde Cloud Forest, before heading to Tortuguero National Park, a tropical rain forest on the Caribbean coast.

Hong Kong, Macau & Guangdong: Quest for Harmony

Richard Bangs is on a quest to discover the roots of the human desire for harmony in Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong Provence, China. According to Bangs, Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong are three pearls in one exquisite setting. Each is distinct yet they are bound together by a cultural veneration of harmony.

Geneva & the Matterhorn: Quest for the Water Castle

Richard Bangs’ voyage takes him up one of the world’s great rivers—the Rhone—a waterway that spills from the roof of the European continent, bringing health, wealth, pleasure and inspiration. A vital source of life, it’s a river that lights cities, powers the world’s best rail systems, and slakes the thirst of millions.

Basel and Lucerne: Quest for the Crossroads

Richard Bangs follows the ancient trade routes from the Gotthard pass into central Switzerland, along Lake Lucerne, with a final stop at the port city of Basel. On his quest, Richard aims to uncover what turned landlocked Switzerland, the most mountainous country in Europe, into the crossroads of the continent, a hub for commerce, ideas, medicines and people.

56 min