Trekking the Planet started with a dream – a 424-day, around-the-world expedition (TTP RTW) to raise K-12 geo-literacy. During this adventure, we traveled to 53 countries on six continents, visiting some of the most remote and unspoiled places in the world. We minimized flights and traveled on the ground using local guides and public transport wherever possible. Our TTP RTW trip had more than 50,000 students following our journey from over 20 countries.
Since that trip, we continue to travel with a commitment to authentic adventures, an active lifestyle, and sustainability. Our U.S. journeys have ranged from backpacking on the Arizona Trail and the entire Pacific Crest Trail, to a hike to all 21 California Missions, and an epic road trip to 27 national parks.
Overseas, we have completed village to village treks in multiple European countries, including a Camino de Santiago route and a hiking journey across Switzerland.
This year we are hiking the historic Via Francigena route in England, Switzerland, and Italy, totaling 800 miles. Wherever we trek, we focus on the cultural significance of the region and discover the area’s diverse natural beauty.
You can read about our journeys below or by clicking on the Our Adventures link above.
Our long-term travels have taken us to over 80 countries on six continents. While trekking we highlight the cultural and natural significance of the places we visit. Along the way, we have spoken to over 1,000 students in eight countries about the importance of geography.
Click below to learn more and view Our Country Capsules – videos, education modules, and dispatches by continent and country.
Our hiking through the heart of the Tuscany region was a highlight of the entire Via Francigena trek for us. But we still had another UNESCO World Heritage Site and several more hill towns to explore before arriving at Europe’s largest volcanic lake in the Lazio region.
The Tuscany region is one of the most famous places in Italy. Upon reaching the historic city of Lucca and taking a rest day, we set off to trek into the heart of Tuscany, with a series of charming and iconic hill towns awaiting us at the end of each of our stages.
The Apennine Mountains extend about 750 miles along the length of Italy. As we hiked in the rain and fog, we needed to continually consider whether we could trek on the mountain trails, skip ahead some stages, or take “the road less traveled” to make our way to Rome.
