5 trips to follow in the footsteps of the world’s pre-eminent scientists, geographers and travellers

Purposeful travel that promotes curiosity and a pioneering spirit is at the heart of every Travelsphere itinerary. It’s why, in January this year, this ever-popular escorted touring company unveiled five inspiring journeys in collaboration with the Royal Geographic Society (RGS), celebrating the Society’s near 200-year history. These partnership tours have been so popular, they’ve continued to grow in number, taking travellers to some of the greatest destinations on Earth. If you’re ready to embrace your curious side and walk in the shoes of some of the most celebrated expeditioners in history, here are five of the best adventures you might take.

The precipitous landscapes and east-meets-west cultures of the ancient Silk Road have enthralled many travellers documented by the RGS. Watercolours by the 19th-century artist Thomas Witlam Atkinson, for example, included one depicting the remote Atlai Mountains. The author, Ella Christie, meanwhile, shared her colourful accounts of travelling though present-day Uzbekistan in her 1925 book ‘Through Khiva to Golden Samarkand.’ This 21-day adventure through the legendary Five Stans – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan – takes in Bukhara’s spice-scented teahouses, Almaty’s fascinating Green Bazaar and the natural gas fields of Darvaza where the surreal ‘Door to Hell’ crater has been ablaze for decades. A visit to the scenic Kok-Jaiyk Valley to watch a demonstration of trained eagles hunting – a generations-old tradition – is another wonderful highlight.

There are a staggering 11,500 items relating to the historical geography of India and Nepal in The Society’s Collections found at the RGS headquarters. Images by the 19th-century photographer Samuel Bourne, for example, are accompanied by accounts of him feeling ‘dumbfounded’ by the ingenuity behind the creation of the Taj Mahal, which you’ll see glimmering at sunrise. Other highlights of this itinerary include rickshaw rides through Old Delhi’s flower-packed markets, a sailing trip along the sacred Ganges and a trip to the UNESCO-listed Agra Fort. In Nepal, you’ll hike through mountain-perched villages and visit Kathmandu’s prayer-flag decorated Boudhanath Stupa. The Himalayan views you’ll experience from the Nepalese village of Nagarkot provide a fitting end to this visually arresting adventure.

There are some 2,500 items relating to the historical geography of Japan in the RGS archives, spanning everything from stories of Hokkaido’s Ainu people by Victorian travel writer Isabella Bird, to images of Mount Fuji taken by early 20^th-century photographer Herbert Ponting. You, too, will witness this conical peak when you start this 13-day trip from extraordinary Tokyo city. Other highlights include the five-tiered Matsumoto Castle whose history spans over 400 years and Takayama’s time-warp wooden merchant houses and sake breweries. You’ll also unearth the intricate temples, serene bamboo forests and beautifully dressed Geikos of Kyoto, reached via bullet train. In Osaka, your final destination, you’ll head 40 floors up to the Umeda Sky Building’s Floating Garden Observatory for 360-degree city views.

As you discover Canada and its super-sized landscapes, you’ll follow in the footsteps of numerous pioneers: 19^th-century chemists John Norman Collie and Sir William Ramsay conducted ground-breaking research in the Rockies. And today, its alpine peaks and jewel-coloured lakes provide staggering vistas for your Rocky Mountaineer train ride. The wildlife-brimming Vancouver Island – which offers superb whale-watching opportunities – is another highlight and was once a source of inspiration for naval surgeon John Linton Palmer, who produced detailed sketches of the region. The remainder of this 17-day adventure treats you to Montreal’s Notre-Dame Basilica and Quebec’s UNESCO-listed fortified streets. Then there’s Ottawa and Toronto and the mighty Niagara Falls, which you might experience via a thrilling boat ride: the pinch-yourself moments are seemingly endless.

Hand-drawn maps of the Rio Negro and the Bolivian Andes – created by Alfred Russel Wallace and William Martin Conway, respectively – are just two examples of the 7,000 South America-related items which the RGS has among its archives. Over 18 extraordinary days across Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Brazil, you’ll tour Lima, the ‘City of Kings,’ home to Spanish, Inca and Indigenous influences. You’ll also visit the former Inca capital of Cuzco and take the narrow-gauge railway to the ‘Lost City’ of Machu Picchu whose mystical ruins are among the original Seven Wonders of the World. The snow-capped Andes, mirror-like Lake Titicaca and thundering Iguazú Falls are followed by a finale visit to Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach and Christ the Redeemer-topped Corcovado Mountain.

Why explore with Travelsphere?

Travelsphere has been crafting award-winning holidays since 1962, offering tours that unveil unique histories and cultures while also connecting people with like-minded travellers. Earlier this year, Travelsphere and the Royal Geographic Society formed a partnership that was underpinned by a shared commitment to purposeful travel and journeys that support communities and environments across a range of destinations. Their initial collection of five partner tours has become so popular, they now have more extraordinary itineraries in the pipeline. Each trip celebrates the Society’s near 200-year history with areas, regions or countries that are significant to items held in the Society’s archives. And whether you’re venturing to Earth’s most famous sights or exploring lesser-visited corners of the map, you’ll be guaranteed authentic experiences and carefully selected accommodation. By the time you return home you’ll have a greater understanding of the pre-eminent scientists, geographers and travellers of previous generations whose footsteps you’ve followed.