Mythical Roads

There is the austere Iran, a land of mullahs, Shiite mosques, the cult of martyrs, and women in chadors. And, yet, a paradox exists in Iran, and it is this duality that we will attempt to discover in this ancient Persian empire that elected a new president in June 2013.

The India of today is full of change, and a world of complexity. We talk about India as eternal and spiritual, but in a few decades, it has evolved into an economic force to be reckoned with in the 21st century. Meet the people who are leading India into the future and what they are striving for.

The Gulf Stream is among the strongest tidal currents on Earth. It warms our coastlines in winter, and harbors billions of aquatic species. Soar across the Atlantic Ocean with the mighty Gulf Stream and get to know the fishermen, scientists, fish farmers, and sailors that move with the current.

Brazil is too often reduced to its wild samba, magical football, and endless beaches. Behind this fantasy lurks an economic colossus, agricultural titan, and a force in geopolitical affairs. Travel routes taken by the original colonists, from the Atlantic coast deep into the Amazonian forest.

In Burkina Faso, Mali, and Guinea, explore the "Africa of Possibility." This is a continent with solutions, thanks to crafty people and their capacity to adapt. The Road of Possibility is more than journey from Ouagadougou to Conakry. On these tricky roads, obstacles trigger unique encounters.

In 2007, with the election of President Rafael Correa, the people of Ecuador chose a new way of building towards the future based on the Quechua Indian philosophy of "living well" that focuses on living in harmony with ones' self, with other people, with nature, and with the Earth.

Upon landing in Mexico centuries ago the Spanish immediately found silver. The Spanish then constructed a road 3,000 km long to transport the silver from the mines, a road full of hopes, but also riddled with pitfalls and danger. Explore this ancient road from Mexico to the southern United States.

Your journey begins with a trek from Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, to Lake Issyk Kul. Then, head through the mountains and pasture where shepherds live. On your way to Tajikistan, you will cross the Trans-Alay mountains in the Western Pamirs populated by the Kyrgyz people of nomadic tradition.

Journey to the end of the world in Argentina, The Land of Fire. After meeting with the indigenous Selk'nam people, we arrive in Ushuaia, a city that travelers dream of. Then, continue onward to Antarctica, known to some as "the white planet," and is Earth's windiest, driest, and coldest continent.

Located on the Baltic Sea, the countries of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania share a common destiny but possess different identities. Trek along the 1,000 km road through these countries that begins in the North of Poland, in the Kashubia region near Gdansk, and meet warm and caring people.

With Gods Roads, Kings Roads, and Silver Roads behind us, dart off on "The Path of Truancy" in France. From Plouha in Brittany travel across inspiring France and meet people who have decided to free themselves from formal conventions and systems to follow their personal legend.

While Americans have lived the mythical "Conquest of the West", the Russians have known the East one. The Russian "Far East" - known for its extreme geographical situation and climate- has very quickly stirred up the passions of the people. The very last conquered territory was the Amur basin, currently located across the China border and the Vladivostok region.

From the Kalahari gates to Epupa Falls, through the Namibian and Skeleton Coasts, cross the most spectacular deserts and oases of Africa. Along the way, meet people with a thousand faces and lifestyles. By their side, he discovers this "wisdom of water," which is the real wealth of Namibia.

This the story of the mighty Mississippi River, a river system of major strategic, economic, ecological, and cultural importance in America. The Mississippi River originates in Northern Minnesota and bisects the United States down the middle, ultimately emptying its' flow into the Gulf of Mexico.

Venture across the vastness of Australia on the "Dreams Road." Dreams are at the heart of the Aboriginal belief system. Here, dreams are often synonymous with success, as opposed to the monetary kind. This is among the last paradises on Earth that thrives on timeless tradition.

Follow in the footsteps of Che, his fellow travelers, and Commander Ernesto Guevara and experience Cuba. Witness the chaotic collision in the Sierra Maestra with Fidel Castro's crew in 1956, and the victory against the Batista regime two years later. Your Cuban journey begins in Havana.

The Path of Flowers crosses over Japan from Kyushu to Hokkaido. This gorgeous route takes travelers past over 250 varieties of cherry trees and displays a rich environmental tapestry that reveals why Japan is often considered the ultimate meeting of the standards of tradition and modern values.

Trek across the Arabian Peninsula to the foreboding desert of Yemen. In the Dhofar mountains, watch merchants load precious frankincense onto camels that will travel down the mythical Road of Sinbad to be distributed to the four winds of the East.

Hitch a ride across the Sahara on a camel caravan and travel the ancient Salt Road. Among the few villages along this route, you will discover cultures that are nearly untouched by time. Finally, you arrive in Timbuktu, where merchants have plied their trade for centuries creating the city's legend.

It is springtime in the southern hemisphere of Argentina, and here, we explore the timeless lands of Patagonia. Everywhere you turn, this land of extremes reveals more and more of its stark and rugged characteristics to you. Here, memories are burned into your mind by the second.

The Inca Trail is filled with clues connecting you to ancient civilizations. Begin in Lima and travel through amazing cities, including Oroya and Cusco, before finally arriving at the ultimate destination, the unparalleled mountain kingdom of Machu Picchu.

Trek along India's Route of the Gods, a journey that transcends dreams and the imagination. We begin in Leh, and end in Benares in the valley of the Ganges, after crossing the Himalayas at over 16,000 feet. Along the way, we will meet extraordinary people that define this remarkable country.

From its origins in the Black Forest, to its passage through Vienna, to its delta in the Black Sea, the Danube River flows for over 1,000 miles and crosses through six countries, each bearing witness to 25 centuries of European history. Travel the glorious Danube from Hapsburg, Austria to Budapest.

Travel the Alaskan Highway from Vancouver to Alaska, taking in the dramatic and rugged coastline, and relish the freedom of the Great North. See abandoned ghost towns, and visit the Chilkoot Pass, a place that embodies the American spirit of adventure like no other.

Travel down the Amazon River, the largest river on Earth. Encounter young Amazonian boatmen, air-taxi pilots, and the fisherman who live along its tranquil waters, and visit villages such as Marajo, an island where buffalo roam freely, and Manuas, called the "Paris of the Tropics."

Experience the unique country of New Zealand, also called Aotearoa, the land of the long white cloud. These beautiful islands were formerly uninhabited and evolved in an isolated manner to become a very special place. New Zealand became colonized by the Maori People 1,000 years ago.

The second part of the trip will take us from Memphis, the home of founders and establishers of Blues, to New Orleans, accompanied by Ladell Mc Lin, a young bluesman. Memphis is also the symbol of Black emancipation in America, with the tragic end of Martin Luther King, Jr. in the famous Lorraine Motel.

Explore modern Vietnam, from the Mekong Delta to Halong Bay, via Ho Chi Minh City, also known as Saigon, that attracts multitudes of tourists. We will uncover the hidden faces of a secretive country, that is slowly beginning to open up to the world again after decades of conflict.

Accompany young bluesman Ladell McLin from Chicago, a true-blue city steeped in blues lore, to Memphis. Chicago is home to a range of musicians, including Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, and Buddy Guy. Today, the Chicago still offers bluesmen the opportunity to share their memorable music.

In the middle of the 19th century, British people declare that Mount Everest is the highest summit in the world. Tensing Norgay, a Tibetan Sherpa, is the first man who has reached the roof of the world, by accompanying Edmund Hillary in 1953.

The Tariq al-Sultani - Road of Kings - winds its way on 1200 kilometers along the mountains that separate the dead Sea from the desert high plateaus. It follows the old route of the Hebrews led by Moses. We will cross the Edom Region, Jordan and Syria on the trails of caravans of Egyptian wines, Sudanese Gold or Arabic incenses.

For almost half a century, Europe was forcibly divided into East and West by the "Iron Curtain", a border stretching from the Barents Sea to the Black Sea. For 40 years, the iron curtain has been the symbol of division between people. 2 sides, 2 blocks. In the middle: a frontier of wire mesh, walls, barbed wire and armed guards.

The thin ridge that links the two Americas is a miniature world unto itself and concentrates a vast amount of diversity into a small area of land. Follow the Inter-American Highway from Panama City to the Isthmus of Rivas in Nicaragua, the narrowest ridge of Central America.

Cuba is a Caribbean Hotspot. The island is a combination of gorgeous landscapes and a unique way of life. Travel from the Guanahacabibes Peninsula to Guantanamo. In Havana, meet students that wonder about their future prospects: exile or revolution?

A long journey in the footsteps of the British explorer David Livingstone on the Zambezi River from its mouth in Mozambique to the Victoria waterfalls, at the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The Volga River, also called "matuschka," welcomes world travelers on giant boats. Take a journey of 4,000 kilometers towards the Caspian Sea, from Moscow to Astrakhan, through Laroslav, Nijini Novgorod, Kazan, Samara, and Saratov.

Tour the majestic Philippines by jeepney, bus, train, and boat, and discover the wonders of the islands, including Luzon, Palawan, and Cebu. The exceptional natural features of this region are spread out over a total of 7,000 islands a varying size.

Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa are unique lands of mystery, a region that has been witness to great explorations and shipwreck disasters. Even today, this part of the world fascinates us, since it is believed by many to be the birthplace of mankind.

In the lands of Southern Africa, we find one of the oldest human civilizations: the Bushmen, hunter-gatherers, nomads with a tragic destiny, and today nearly extinct. When the first Europeans entered South Africa, the Bushmen, and their cousins the Khoi, fled and migrated North.

Journey down the Trans-Laponia, a circuit of more than 3,200 kilometers, and a road without night. During our tour, we will discover unique cultures, traditions, and lifestyles along the shores of the Barents and Baltic Seas.

Almost one and a half centuries have passed since the novel "Michael Strogoff" was published in 1876. At the time, Russia was only known to a handful of erudite people, but the land of czars is the stuff of dreams and Michael Strogoff was a rousing success.

Thailand is called the "country of the smile." Since their first contacts with the Siamese more than three centuries ago, foreign visitors have been struck by the levity a spontaneous smile can provide, a smile in Thailand embodies a culture and a way of life quite unique unto its own.

The Pacific was the last maritime space explored by Europeans. In the 18th century, it was James Cook who, over three expeditions, went exhaustively over the zone, mapped it, and discovered many islands. The British explorer has always been associated with this part of the world.

With India on one side and Tibet on the other, the Himalayas are one of the highest mountain ranges on the planet. Although people have crossed the Himalayas, they are known as the "Roof of the World".

There is a country where people live as if they are still in the Stone Age. It has been claimed that warrior cannibals, headhunters, and undiscovered tribes inhabit the terrain, and the country has long been the fantasy of every explorer. This country is Papua New Guinea.

The mere mention of Columbia conjures up an image of guerrillas, drug trafficking, paramilitaries, cartels, kidnappings. In this documentary we will find out more and discover an alternative side to Colombia. Colombia was indeed the birthplace of the legend of El Dorado.

Istanbul: a city of the world, a monster of a city. A city of 18 million inhabitants that is defined in history as the place where Asia meets Europe. The Bosphorus channel cuts the city in two. The Western shore is in Europe, the Eastern in Asia. Istanbul is a wharf.

The discovery and colonization of the American Wild West in the 19th century is an important chapter in the history of the USA. In the years that followed, the Wild West was immortalized in film and literature throughout the western world.

Between 1857 and 1945 the French sent approximately 85,000 men and women to labour camps in Guiana. The convicts were forced into manual labour and essentially served to replace slave labour in France after the abolition of slavery in 1848.

It begins with a legend. According to an ancient belief, the Vietnamese people is rooted from the union between a dragon and a fairy. The mythic dragon, one of the four sacred animals in Vietnamese folklore and legends, has an important place in the country's culture, appearing on almost every monument - palaces, pagodas, temples, tombs and houses.

3,000 years after Homer's Odyssey, his hero's journey, Ulysses, in Mediterranean, remains a inexhaustible source of inspiration. The director Jeanne Mascolo de Filippis leaves for this mythical trip. From Turkey to Tunisia, from Italy to Spain, from Gibraltar to Greece, she went meeting today's Mediterranean people.

Marc Mopty decided to drive us to Argentina, this large country in South America, in one of the longest and highest roads of this continent : the Ruta Quaranta. From North to South, from Bolivia to Patagonia along the ancient road of the Andean mountains' Incas. But he chose to do it upside down beginning by the kilometer 5,200, on the Bolivian border, to the kilometer 0 of Magellan strait.

The road is one of the big American's myths. Surveyed by Jack London in the beginning of the 20th century, hobos during the Great Depression or traced back in the apocalyptic novel of Cormac McCarthy, Jack Kerouac has made its own road and transcribed it on a continuous roll of 36 meters that takes place as a journey in the American night's craziness.

Indonesia is often said to be a virus inoculator, that of geographical greed which makes you salivate at the idea of jumping from an island to another and meet new cultures. When one is piqued, addicted to this immensity, each crossing towards a new island is a jump into the unknown. The last census of 2002 reports 18,307 islands, emerged witnesses of what geographers called the fire bow.

The director Laurent Bouit went to Gabon, a country half the size of France, inhabited by one-and-a-half million people, and covered at 85% by the large African forest some people call the Green Hell. In the forest, preferred habitat of the Pygmies, gorillas and elephants are the kings.

From the breakup of Yugoslavia twenty years ago, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, and Macedonia have emerged. Through the language, the arts or the sport, each country tries to recreate its image and foster a collective sense.

Since its mouth on the high plateaus of Angola, the Okavango winds through Namibia before reaching Botswana. Thousands of years ago, a geological accident cut its crazy race towards the Indian ocean. Since then, it's trapped into the burning sands of Kalahari and its flows explodes in thousands of channels, streams, lagoons and lakes.