Zay boards the infamous Ice Train for a wintry trip to the far north of Siberia, deep inside the Arctic Circle on the world's most northerly railway line. His journey takes him through Tobolksk to the gas fields of Novy Urengoy, follows the abandoned route of Stalin's "Railway of Death," visits a Communist gulag, camps overnight with the Nenet nomadic tribe, and finally crosses the wilderness to reach Labytnangi and the newly opened Bovanenkovo gas field.

Adela Ucar kicks off her visit in the capital of Lagos, an anarchic and electric city with a vital night life. Next she journeys to Yoruba Land in the southwest, thought to be the site of the Queen of Sheba's tomb. Adela later meets witch doctors in Oyo, travels to the historic walled cities in the north, hunts for bargains in the ancient Kurmi Market, visits the traditional Fulani village of Chafe and encounters a rare mountain gorilla in Nigeria's eastern highlands.

Bobby Chinn samples Cajun and Creole cuisine in New Orleans and the surrounding Bayou country; discovers the local fare in Vicksburg and Natchez, MS; visits Elvis Presley's birthplace for a chat with The King's childhood buddies in Tupelo; and learns how to cook the perfect barbecue pork in Memphis after a stop at Graceland.

Zay visits San Juan, the El Yunque National Forest, the Camuy River Caves National Park and the coffee-producing central highlands. Along the way he discovers why Puerto Rico is known as the "island of enchantment," boasting sun-kissed beaches, dramatic mountains, a rich colonial history, and great music.

Zay voyages to the remote island of St. Helena, site of Napoleon's final years in exile after his defeat at Waterloo. He meets the friendly islanders known as "Saints," tours the historic settlement of Jamestown, and visits Longwood House where Napoleon was imprisoned as well as his tomb. Zay then encounters a 180-year-old giant tortoise, embarks on a boat trip off the spectacular coastline, speeds down the cliffside steps of Jacob's Ladder and climbs St. Helena's highest peak, which shelters numerous rare plant species.

Brianna Barnes cycles her way through the Netherlands as she learns about Dutch resistance to Spanish rule and enjoys modern art in The Hague, surfs the North Sea in Sheveningen, earns her witch's certificate in the medieval town of Oudewater, discovers the history of the tulip in Leiden, buys clogs and visits the cheese market in Alkmaar, explores a wind farm in Friesland and tests her skills in the canal jumping contest in Heidenskip.

Judith Jones walks viewers through the story of the English building from the earliest days of Christianity, the creation of the baroque mansion in the 17th century, how a Romanesque church became a cathedral and how a castle became the Englishman's home. Among the locations she visits are the Roman edifices in Lindisfarne, Durham Cathedral, Fountains Abbey and the minster in Yorkshire, Warkworth Castle in Northumberland, Kentwell Hall in Suffolk, Burghley House in Lincolnshire, and Castle Howard.