The next crusade
Indiana Gates: With the nights growing longer, the desire to cozy up in front of the television for an exhilarating escape becomes all the more appealing. If you’re up for going out and exploring the cold, wintery nights, have no fear. Archaeologist and explorer Josh Gates is here to provide you with a double dose of adventure, complete with his eye-rolling sense of humor and youthful, energetic personality. First up, television’s own Indiana Jones travels to lands uncharted with the season 4 premiere of “Expedition Unknown,” which airs Wednesday, Dec. 27, on Travel.
In “Expedition Unknown,” host Gates travels around the globe with the hopes of discovering the truth behind some of the world’s most legendary mysteries. Since January 2015, Josh and his crew have visited more than 100 different countries in search of adventure. Each episode focuses on a particular mystery long unsolved, leading Josh to a new location with unfamiliar surroundings. He quickly immerses himself in local culture and customs in order to gain the trust of locals, but also to ensure that viewers feel the authenticity of the expedition. To make progress on his quest, Gates meets with key experts and specialists to find answers to some of his most challenging questions, eager to find any ounce of knowledge that could propel him closer toward uncovering the truth.
Season 4 of “Expedition Unknown” builds on the format of seasons past, with an increased emphasis on iconic civilizations through exploring their famous monuments and cultural legacies. The complex mythology of Stonehenge and deeply held mysteries of the Mayan Pyramids are just some of the monuments to be explored. Notorious historical figures are also exposed, including the likes of Butch Cassidy and Cleopatra.
To start off the season, Josh delves into the layered histories of the Vikings, a culture with such great breadth that the first episode has been divided into two parts. The season premiere spans two continents, with stops in Canada, the United States, Iceland and Denmark. Josh and his team follow the many paths the Vikings may have traveled, the possible reasons behind such elaborate treks and how to decipher the truth amidst the cultural stereotypes of these nomadic Norse folk.
Lace up your hikers and grab the camping pack as you prepare to immerse yourself in the adventures of Josh Gates, as he and his crew traverse the globe in search of honest adventure. Season 4 of “Expedition Unknown” premieres Wednesday, Dec. 27, on Travel.
Questing for truth: Long before Josh Gates was captivating would-be travelers with “Expedition Unknown,” his adventures were a little more eerie in nature. “Josh Gates’ Destination Truth” originally aired on Syfy from 2007 to 2012, but the series has found new life on Travel this year. The puns and rough treks still accompany the group on their journeys, but things take a far more terrifying turn with each new investigation. The chilling journeys continue in the next episode of “Destination Truth,” which airs Friday, Dec. 29, on Travel.
“Destination Truth” is travel with a fresh twist, exploring supernatural and extraterrestrial legends from a perspective of truth rather than blatant skepticism, though rationality is still key. The series travels to nearly 20 countries per season, often to rare, remote locations with a deep connection to traditional mythology and spirituality. In contrast to “Expedition Unknown,” which is heavily shot in the warmth of daylight, darkness and night vision dominate “Destination Truth.” The series also relies heavily on the pseudoscience of Cryptozoology, which involves proving that creatures normally thought to be the stuff of myths and folklore have actually physically existed in reality.
Evening fieldwork is key, which commences after Josh and his team meet with locals to find out how these mythical entities have impacted their communities. This information is then combined with the use of a variety of monitoring and detection equipment, including infrared cameras, traps, monitors and more to try to capture as much data as possible that could prove the existence of these perhaps not-so-fictional creatures. Any information gathered is then transferred back to Los Angeles and sent out to labs in order to be reviewed and further analyzed.
What makes both “Destination Truth” and “Expedition Unknown” so appealing is the charisma and passion of their host. Gates is a graduate of Tufts University, with degrees in both archaeology and drama. Beyond his drive to explore, he is also an avid scuba diver, photographer and author, having released a book in 2011 entitled “Memoirs of a Monster Hunter.” The wealth of experience and knowledge Gates brings to every adventure provides both his crew and viewers with confidence in their potential success. Whether he’s in pursuit of monsters or artifacts, Gates inspires explorers to always take risks and remain devoted to discovering the truth.
If lighthearted travel series just aren’t your thing — that is, if you prefer your expeditions a little darker — step into the recent past and join the hunt for the supernatural with Josh Gates and his brave crew. Find the truth, or something like it, when the next bonechilling episode of “Destination Truth” arrives Friday, Dec. 29, on Travel.