The Ultimate Adventure Travel Podcast

Jake
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Places & Travel

The Ultimate Adventure Travel Podcast is the show for people who want more from their travels than just ticking off the sights. Hosted by expedition leader and Ultimate Adventure Travel founder Jake Field, this weekly podcast is your guide to unforgettable group adventures — from Kilimanjaro and the Inca Trail to Everest Base Camp and beyond. Whether you’re preparing for your first big trip or looking to push your limits on your next one, you’ll find expert advice, real stories, and practical tips to help you get adventure-ready — physically, mentally, and logistically. Expect inspiring guests, honest insights, and plenty of motivation to get outside your comfort zone — and into the wild — with a group of like-minded people by your side.

  1. The Ultimate Kilimanjaro Prep Call: Training, Gear, Altitude & Summit Night

    4d ago

    The Ultimate Kilimanjaro Prep Call: Training, Gear, Altitude & Summit Night

    This week on the Ultimate Adventure Travel Podcast, we're doing something a little different. Rather than interviewing an expedition leader after the event, you're joining a real Kilimanjaro preparation call with James, who is just a few months away from attempting Africa's highest mountain. We discuss the questions that almost every future Kilimanjaro climber asks:  How fit do you really need to be?  How do you train around work and family life?  What gear is actually worth buying?  What does altitude feel like?  What should you eat on the mountain?  How do you prepare mentally for summit night?  What happens if you don't make it? If you're considering Kilimanjaro, Everest Base Camp, Mount Toubkal or any multi-day trekking expedition, this episode will answer many of the questions you're probably already asking yourself. Most Kilimanjaro content online comes from people who have already completed the mountain. This episode is different. You're hearing the questions, concerns, doubts and preparation process from someone who is still in the build-up phase. If you've ever wondered whether you're fit enough, prepared enough or capable enough of climbing Kilimanjaro, this is the episode for you. Ultimate Guide Links;  Get the Free Adventure Travel Starter Pack  Get the Kilimanjaro Guide  Get the Everest Base Camp Guide  Get the Mount Toubkal Guide  Instagram https://www.ultimateadventuretravel.co.uk/

    1h 8m

  2. Jun 2

    One Year of Podcasting: What I've Learnt, My Favourite Moments & What's Next

    One year ago, I sat down and recorded the very first episode of the Ultimate Adventure Travel Podcast. At the time, I had no idea whether anyone would listen. I didn't know if I would enjoy podcasting, whether I could stay consistent, or whether I would still be recording episodes 12 months later. Fast forward a year, and we're celebrating 55 episodes, countless hours of conversations, incredible guests, fascinating adventure stories, and a growing community of people who share a passion for adventure, travel, exploration, and personal challenge.  In this special anniversary episode, I reflect on the journey so far, share some of my favourite moments from the podcast, discuss the guests and stories that have had the biggest impact on me, and reveal what I've learned from a year of showing up every week behind the microphone. In This Episode  Why I started the Ultimate Adventure Travel Podcast  The reality of recording 55 consecutive weekly episodes  Lessons I've learned about consistency, storytelling, and adventure  My favourite podcast episodes from the past year  Guest highlights and memorable conversations  How podcasting has improved my confidence and communication  What I've learned from researching famous adventure stories  The future of the podcast and what's coming next  Thank You To everyone who has listened, downloaded an episode, shared the podcast, sent a message, left feedback, or joined me on this journey, thank you. Whether you've listened to every episode or this is your first one, your support has helped make the Ultimate Adventure Travel Podcast what it is today. Here's to the next 55 episodes. Connect With Ultimate Adventure Travel 🌍 Website: Ultimate Adventure Travel 📧 Email: jake@ultimateadventuretravel.co.uk 🎒 Download our free adventure travel guides and explore upcoming trips for 2026, 2027 and beyond. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow adventurer. Ultimate Guide Links;  Get the Free Adventure Travel Starter Pack  Get the Kilimanjaro Guide  Get the Everest Base Camp Guide  Get the Mount Toubkal Guide  Instagram https://www.ultimateadventuretravel.co.uk/

    42 min
  3. The Discovery of Machu Picchu

    May 26

    The Discovery of Machu Picchu

    Hidden high in the Andes Mountains, surrounded by cloud forest and towering peaks, sits one of the most famous archaeological sites on Earth: Machu Picchu. In this episode of the Ultimate Adventure Travel Podcast, Jake dives into the fascinating story behind the discovery of Machu Picchu, the rise and fall of the Inca Empire, and the legendary 1911 expedition led by Hiram Bingham III. From ancient Inca engineering and hidden mountain trails to jungle expeditions and the global obsession with “lost cities,” this episode explores why Machu Picchu continues to capture people’s imagination more than 100 years after it was introduced to the outside world. Jake also shares his own experiences trekking the Inca Trail and Salkantay Trek, explaining why Peru remains one of the greatest adventure travel destinations on the planet. Chapters 00:00 – Introduction  02:00 – Who were the Inca people?  05:00 – Inca engineering and road systems  07:00 – What was Machu Picchu actually used for?  10:00 – The Spanish conquest begins  14:00 – Why Machu Picchu survived  16:30 – Hiram Bingham and the age of exploration  18:30 – Local guides and the journey to Machu Picchu  21:00 – The discovery of Machu Picchu in 1911  24:00 – National Geographic and global fascination  26:00 – Theories and misconceptions about Machu Picchu  28:30 – The Inca Trail vs the Salkantay Trek  31:00 – Cusco, Peru and why the trip is so special  34:30 – Final thoughts and upcoming Peru expeditions Ultimate Guide Links;  Get the Free Adventure Travel Starter Pack  Get the Kilimanjaro Guide  Get the Everest Base Camp Guide  Get the Mount Toubkal Guide  Instagram https://www.ultimateadventuretravel.co.uk/

    33 min
  4. The 1996 Everest Disaster: Rob Hall, Scott Fischer and the Storm That Changed Everest

    May 19

    The 1996 Everest Disaster: Rob Hall, Scott Fischer and the Storm That Changed Everest

    Jake Field and Seb discuss the 1996 Everest disaster, including Rob Hall, Scott Fischer, Adventure Consultants, Mountain Madness, summit fever, commercial guiding, the deadly storm, and how Everest changed forever. Key Topics Covered  The rise of commercial guiding on Mount Everest  Who Rob Hall and Scott Fischer were  Adventure Consultants and Mountain Madness  Jon Krakauer and Into Thin Air Anatoli Boukreev and the oxygen debate  Doug Hansen’s second Everest attempt  Beck Weathers’ incredible survival story  The South Col summit push  Turnaround times and why they matter  Summit fever and decision-making at altitude  The storm of 10 May 1996  How commercial pressure may have contributed  What changed on Everest after 1996  Why Everest Base Camp is very different from climbing Everest  The role of guides, responsibility and safety  Whether people should still climb Everest today Chapters 00:01 – Welcome back and introduction to part three of the Everest series  00:41 – Why this story matters to the adventure travel industry  02:30 – Everest Base Camp vs climbing Everest  03:40 – Rob Hall and Adventure Consultants  05:20 – Scott Fischer and Mountain Madness  07:20 – Jon Krakauer, Outside Magazine and Into Thin Air 11:20 – Anatoli Boukreev and the oxygen controversy 14:20 – Doug Hansen and the pressure of a second attempt 16:30 – Beck Weathers and his survival story 17:00 – Summit attempt context: South Col, Camp IV and the death zone 18:20 – Turnaround times and why they matter 20:20 – Adventure Consultants and Mountain Madness team members 21:10 – Crowding, queues and the modern Everest comparison 25:50 – Fixed ropes, ice doctors and bottlenecks 28:00 – Rob Hall pushes on with Doug Hansen 29:30 – The storm arrives 30:40 – Summit fever and poor decision-making 32:30 – Hypoxia and altitude confusion 34:00 – Beck Weathers survives the night 35:45 – Rob Hall’s final satellite phone call 37:30 – What caused the 1996 disaster? 38:30 – Should Everest be commercially guided? 41:40 – Duty of care, safety and expedition leadership 45:40 – How Everest changed after 1996 48:40 – Should people still climb Everest today? 50:00 – Everest Base Camp, altitude preparation and The Altitude Centre 52:00 – How Everest has changed from Mallory to today 53:20 – Final reflections on the Everest series Useful Resources Mentioned Everest film Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer  Adventure Consultants  Mountain Madness  Everest Base Camp trek  The Altitude Centre Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to The Ultimate Adventure Travel Podcast and send in any adventure stories you would like Jake to cover next. Ultimate Guide Links;  Get the Free Adventure Travel Starter Pack  Get the Kilimanjaro Guide  Get the Everest Base Camp Guide  Get the Mount Toubkal Guide  Instagram https://www.ultimateadventuretravel.co.uk/

    55 min
  5. Hillary & Tenzing: The First Successful Everest Summit (The Full Story)

    May 11

    Hillary & Tenzing: The First Successful Everest Summit (The Full Story)

    Who really conquered Everest first? In 1953, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first confirmed climbers to reach the summit of Mount Everest. But the reality is far more complex than two men standing on top of the world. This episode breaks down:  The British obsession with Everest  The Swiss expedition that nearly beat them  The scale of the 1953 operation  The failed first summit attempt  The final push to the top  The controversy that followed This is not just a summit story. It’s a story about teamwork, pressure, politics, and one of the greatest achievements in adventure history. What You’ll Learn  Why Everest became such a major goal for Britain  How the route from Nepal changed everything  Just how big the 1953 expedition really was (400+ people)  Why the Swiss nearly reached the summit first  The role of Tenzing Norgay before 1953  Why the first summit attempt failed  How Hillary and Tenzing finally made it  What the Hillary Step actually is  Why getting down is always the hardest part  The truth behind “who reached the summit first”Documentary referenced- https://youtu.be/nDbE00gV20k?si=ZopG75jOMXjJRKTS Ultimate Guide Links;  Get the Free Adventure Travel Starter Pack  Get the Kilimanjaro Guide  Get the Everest Base Camp Guide  Get the Mount Toubkal Guide  Instagram https://www.ultimateadventuretravel.co.uk/

    1h 3m
  6. Mallory and Irvine: Did They Reach the Summit of Everest First?

    May 5

    Mallory and Irvine: Did They Reach the Summit of Everest First?

    In this episode of The Ultimate Adventure Travel Podcast, Jake is joined by his friend Seb to explore one of the greatest mysteries in adventure history: did George Mallory and Sandy Irvine reach the summit of Mount Everest in 1924, nearly 30 years before Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay’s confirmed ascent? After the previous episode on Scott and Amundsen, this conversation continues the theme of early exploration, national ambition, risk, ego, and the human drive to push into the unknown. Mallory and Irvine were last seen high on Everest on 8 June 1924, climbing strongly towards the summit before clouds rolled in and they disappeared. Mallory’s body was later found in 1999, but the mystery remains unresolved. In 2024, a National Geographic team found partial remains believed to belong to Sandy Irvine, including a boot and sock marked “A.C. Irvine”, renewing interest in the story.   In This Episode, We Cover Why Everest mattered so much in the 1920s Who George Mallory was Who Sandy Irvine was Why Mallory chose Irvine What the 1924 expedition looked like The equipment they used The final summit attempt Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:49 Why Everest still matters 04:17 The last sighting of Mallory and Irvine 05:28 The golden age of exploration 08:05 Britain, empire, and Everest 09:00 Who was George Mallory? 12:20 Who was Sandy Irvine? 14:26 How early Everest expeditions worked 15:45 Why they climbed from the Tibetan side 16:00 Champagne, cigarettes, and expedition provisions 18:11 What they understood about altitude 23:19 What equipment did they use? 27:19 How the route was built up the mountain 29:23 Everest weather windows and the jet stream 32:04 Frostbite, risk, and early summit attempts 33:40 The final summit push begins 36:01 The Second Step problem 39:33 The famous “Because it’s there” quote 44:37 The last sighting 46:01 The timing problem 47:11 Mallory’s body and the clues left behind 49:07 Could they have climbed the Second Step? 50:24 The 2024 Irvine discovery 52:32 Jake and Seb’s theories 55:52 Lead into Hillary and Tenzing Documentary referenced  https://youtu.be/xHE6knynMi8?si=x0tknetYVyYkgAjY  Ultimate Guide Links;  Get the Free Adventure Travel Starter Pack  Get the Kilimanjaro Guide  Get the Everest Base Camp Guide  Get the Mount Toubkal Guide  Instagram https://www.ultimateadventuretravel.co.uk/

    58 min
  7. 7 Kilimanjaro Facts Most People Don’t Know (2026 Guide)

    Apr 28

    7 Kilimanjaro Facts Most People Don’t Know (2026 Guide)

    The truth about climbing Kilimanjaro: altitude, routes, and what actually determines summit success Thinking about climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in 2026? Most people underestimate this mountain. They assume it’s “just a hike”… but Kilimanjaro is a high-altitude expedition reaching 5,895 metres, where success depends far more on preparation, acclimatisation, and decision-making than raw fitness. In this episode of the Ultimate Adventure Travel Podcast, Jake Field breaks down 7 Kilimanjaro facts most people don’t know — giving you a realistic, experience-led understanding of what it takes to reach the summit safely. Key Kilimanjaro Facts (Most People Miss These) 1. Kilimanjaro is a rapid altitude gain challenge You gain nearly 4,000 metres in under a week, making it one of the most aggressive altitude profiles in trekking. 2. Altitude sickness — not fitness — determines success At the summit, oxygen levels are roughly 50% of sea level, making acclimatisation critical. 3. Summit night is the hardest part of the climb Expect: 6–8 hours climbing in the darkTemperatures as low as -20°CSlow, relentless pacing 4. Route choice directly impacts success rates Longer routes like Machame (7 days) and Lemosho (8 days) significantly improve summit success compared to shorter itineraries. 5. You burn 3,000–6,000 calories per day Combined with reduced appetite at altitude, this creates a serious energy deficit if not managed properly. 6. Mental resilience is more important than physical strength Consistency, pacing, and mindset determine whether you summit. 7. Most injuries happen on the descent Fatigue, downhill strain, and poor footing make the descent one of the most overlooked risks. Kilimanjaro Podcast Chapters 00:00 – Introduction: Why Kilimanjaro is misunderstood 01:30 – How high Kilimanjaro really feels 03:30 – Altitude vs fitness explained 07:00 – What summit night is actually like 11:30 – Best routes for Kilimanjaro success 16:00 – Nutrition and calorie burn 19:30 – The mindset needed to summit 22:30 – Why the descent is harder than expected 25:00 – Bonus insights from real expeditions Who This Episode Is For This episode is ideal if you are: Planning a Kilimanjaro climb in 2025 or 2026Comparing Kilimanjaro vs Everest Base CampLooking for realistic preparation adviceWanting to improve your chances of reaching Uhuru PeakInterested in high-altitude trekking and adventure travelUltimate Guide Links;  Get the Free Adventure Travel Starter Pack  Get the Kilimanjaro Guide  Get the Everest Base Camp Guide  Get the Mount Toubkal Guide  Instagram https://www.ultimateadventuretravel.co.uk/

    28 min
  8. Scott vs Amundsen: The Race to the South Pole

    Apr 21

    Scott vs Amundsen: The Race to the South Pole

    What does it take to survive… and win… in the harshest place on Earth? In 1911, two men set out to answer that question. Same destination. Same continent. Same brutal conditions. But only one made it back. In this episode of the Ultimate Adventure Travel Podcast, Jake breaks down one of the greatest expedition stories ever told — the race between Robert Falcon Scott and Roald Amundsen to the South Pole. This is not just a story about exploration. It’s a masterclass in preparation, leadership, decision-making, and survival under extreme pressure. This episode takes you through the full story — from early failed attempts to the final, fatal decisions — and answers the key question: Why did Amundsen succeed… and Scott didn’t? You’ll learn: What Antarctica is really like (and why it destroys most people)The critical mistakes made in early expeditionsHow Shackleton came within 97 miles — and chose to turn backThe stark contrast between Scott and Amundsen’s leadership stylesThe moment the race officially beganHow one team made it look “easy”… and the other collapsedThe brutal reality of the return journeyThe key decisions that ultimately determined life or death Chapters 00:00 – Introduction: The question that defines the story 01:45 – Why Antarctica is one of the harshest environments on Earth 04:00 – Early expeditions and key mistakes 08:00 – Shackleton’s near success and the decision to turn back 12:00 – Scott vs Amundsen: two completely different approaches 16:00 – The secret move that started the race 18:00 – Two expeditions, two strategies 20:00 – The journey begins 24:00 – The climb to the plateau 28:00 – Amundsen reaches the Pole 30:00 – Scott arrives… and realises he’s lost 31:00 – The return journey begins 36:00 – The deaths: Evans and Oates 42:00 – Final days and Scott’s last entry 45:00 – Why Amundsen won and Scott lost 48:00 – Final lessons from the expedition Ultimate Guide Links;  Get the Free Adventure Travel Starter Pack  Get the Kilimanjaro Guide  Get the Everest Base Camp Guide  Get the Mount Toubkal Guide  Instagram https://www.ultimateadventuretravel.co.uk/

    35 min
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About

The Ultimate Adventure Travel Podcast is the show for people who want more from their travels than just ticking off the sights. Hosted by expedition leader and Ultimate Adventure Travel founder Jake Field, this weekly podcast is your guide to unforgettable group adventures — from Kilimanjaro and the Inca Trail to Everest Base Camp and beyond. Whether you’re preparing for your first big trip or looking to push your limits on your next one, you’ll find expert advice, real stories, and practical tips to help you get adventure-ready — physically, mentally, and logistically. Expect inspiring guests, honest insights, and plenty of motivation to get outside your comfort zone — and into the wild — with a group of like-minded people by your side.

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