Rogue Trip - Season 1

Journalist Bob Woodruff and his 28-year old son Mack kick off their around-the-world adventure in Colombia -- a country once notorious for narco trafficking that now wants to be known for eco-tourism. With the end of a long-running civil war, vast swaths of untouched wilderness are now accessible to visitors for the first time in decades. Bob and Mack's journey begins deep in the heart of former rebel territory, rappelling down a waterfall with a band of former soldiers turned outdoor adventure guides. After a night in the rebel camp, the father-son duo head to a private nature reserve in an area known as the ‘Serengeti of South America,' for an up-close view of the unique wildlife in the region guided by Colombia's famous barefoot cowboys: the Llaneros. With Mack about to celebrate his 28th birthday, they wrap up their Colombia adventure by traveling up the Amazon River to meet a rainforest tribe that has opened their village up to outsiders and created a special sanctuary for monkeys rescued from the illegal wildlife trade.

In the imagination of adventure travelers, Papua New Guinea is the last frontier -- a wild place that's so far from the familiar world, it can feel like traveling back in time. So naturally, getting lost in this vast, largely unexplored island has become a rite of passage for any explorers worth their salt. There are hundreds of tribes in PNG, each with their own language and cultural identity. But outsiders beware… Over the past century, these unforgiving jungles have swallowed up some of the world's most accomplished explorers, including Amelia Earhart, who took off from these shores and mysteriously vanished. Bob and Mack visit the remote swamplands that flank one of the world's mightiest rivers to meet a tribe known as the Crocodile Men. The tribe teaches them ancient archery techniques, how to search for crocs with their feet, and invites them to experience firsthand the mysterious healing powers of a local witchdoctor. On the southeastern tip, they race giant war canoes and explore sacred caves that shroud the spoils of cannibal warriors before visiting a remote wildlife sanctuary in the heart of the Coral Sea, where they swim with sharks and wrangle sea turtles -- all in the name of science.

Ethiopia is a time capsule of a nation and a place Bob has always wanted to visit. It is a holy place to Christians, Muslims, and also Rastafarians. It's also the birthplace of coffee, and the mountainous home to the world's best long-distance runners. Mack and Bob travel to the Horn of Africa to discover the rich customs and culture in this nation once known for a crushing famine and war. The Woodruffs start their trip in Harar, a city that dates back to the tenth century, where the local custom of feeding hyenas by hand outside the city walls tests Bob's appetite for danger. Mack cultivates his photography skills, which prove far better than his bargaining skills when he takes on his dad in a goat-trading competition. Their journey takes them through some of Ethiopia's most surprising sights, including a Rastafarian enclave and a wildlife reserve where troops of baboons live amongst oasis-like hot springs. But it's deep in what some consider Africa's largest cave system that Mack discovers his greatest treasure.

The last time Bob visited Pakistan was to report on the war in neighboring Afghanistan. Twenty years later, he's back with his son Mack to see a different side of the country. Mack knew Pakistan only as a place his dad went to report after the 9/11 attacks. But the Pakistanis they meet are eager to showcase their country's beauty and culture. Beginning in Malala's hometown in Swat Valley, Bob and Mack follow an ancient Silk Road route to encounter treasures that Pakistan's years of struggle have overshadowed: ancient carvings of the Buddha that survived Taliban rule, staggering snow-capped mountains, healing traditions that date back millennia and along the way learn to play cricket and polo -- two of the most popular games in the region. After months on the road together, Mack and Bob begin to get on each other's nerves. They spend their first car trip in separate vehicles and have a chance to vent. The duo patch things up on a father-son hike in a valley named after the mythic and mysterious Shangri La where they realize what made their trip through Pakistan so special.

Lebanon is the melting pot of the Arab world, a tiny country exploding with culture. Mack's only impression of the Middle East was what he saw on the news… so he's delighted to find that Beirut is a beach lover's dream. Lebanon is roughly the size of Connecticut, but it's crammed with breathtaking discoveries. Heartened by their singing driver named Jihad, Bob and Mack search for a Christian hermit in a holy valley, tour a towering Roman city on militia-controlled land, and paraglide over the stunning Phoenician coastline. It's here that Bob and Mack realize they have different points of view. When a drone crash on their second day in Beirut sets their plans off course, Mack and Bob split up and reflect on what they want out of their trip. In this complicated political landscape, Mack discovers why his dad loves going to places some might consider dangerous and Bob gets to see this complicated region through his son's eyes.

Ukraine is one of the youngest countries in the world. It's actually the exact same age as Mack, gaining independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. But it remains caught in a tug of war between Russia and the West, so most travelers head elsewhere. But for those willing to look past the headlines, incredible adventures await. Bob and Mack are excited but also exhausted. Ukraine is their sixth country and all the travel has started to wear them down. Thankfully, they're adding a fresh explorer to the team: Mack's younger sister, Cathryn. She's raring to go when meets them at the airport, ready to shake things up for the Rogue Trip crew's last hurrah. Together, the Woodruffs wander through Cold War era tunnels and try powerlifting in Kyiv's makeshift muscle gym. They race Soviet tanks from one of the world's largest stockpiles and journey inside the Chernobyl exclusion zone where they visit the infamous power plant, witnessing how nature has rebounded since the disaster. But there's so much more to Ukraine than its Soviet legacy. For their last stop, the Woodruffs head to a region known for its awe-inspiring natural beauty: the Carpathian Mountains. Taking to the sky in a hot air balloon, the Woodruffs look back on their journey and everything they've learned on their adventure around the world.