The Globe Trekker Story
A landmark multi-award winning TV travel series that captured the hearts of millions around the globe for over 20 years.
Globe Trekker:
Where it all Began
Between 1994–2000 the most popular TV travel series in the world was called Lonely Planet. In 2000 the series changed its name to Globe Trekker but everything else stayed the same. This landmark series was broadcast in over 40 countries and during its run between 1994–2016.
Globe Trekker had an estimated global audience of 300 million.
We’re so proud of the fact that fans developed a personal connection with the cast and crew, including original hosts of the series, Ian Wright, an Englishman, Justine Shapiro, an American born in South Africa, Saami Sabiti, a Ugandan, and Megan McCormick, an American. The four of us are thrilled to be collaborating on this Globe Trekker Now project - read more about it here.
In the early years of production, our tiny crew had no phone or email. Shoots were one month long, and our budget demanded we sleep in the accommodations we featured, be it a horse stable; a chicken coop; a jungle hammock or, if lucky, a Saharan Kasbah. We transmitted our authentic backpacking selves – no hair, no make-up, no script, improvising.
Globe Trekker was a novelty – nothing like it had ever been seen on television before.
Globe Trekker and
Pilot Guides Production
The series was created by Ian Cross. His production company, Pilot Films & Television, is based in London. Ian launched his Lonely Planet series in the early 1990s and the job postings for directors, camera, sound, producers, and talent attracted Britain’s best young filmmakers and composers, as well as seasoned documentary cinematographers.
Typically, despite budgets being small, remarkably talented people were eager to sign on and travel the world. The show became known for its innovative production, each episode plays like a short film comprised of 10 to 15 stories, and Super8mm footage throughout. And of course, we all made firm friends with amazing people all around the world, and that’s something we’re planning to revisit on the Globe Trekker Now journey.
Globe Trekker was guided by curiosity, good humor, and respect for the cultures where we were filming. We didn’t try to get the "wow" outside of a context. Everyone involved over our years in production, brought passion and joy to this work. And who can forget our soundtrack too? It was remarkable.
Traveling with Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet Travel Guides were the go-to travel guides for many years.
A brand synonymous with ‘travel’ for decades, Lonely Planet was founded in the 1970s. The company published the undisputed bible for low-budget backpack travelers venturing off-the-beaten track to far flung corners of the world.
The massive fan base of the Lonely Planet TV series, estimated at 300 million globally, is partly due to its 1990s place in time. In regions like India, South America, Southeast Asia, Africa, and beyond—where travel was a luxury—viewers could experience globe-trotting adventures uniquely through Lonely Planet's guides and TV series. It was engaging, and a gift.
In the 1990s cable television became ubiquitous and for the first time many people living in low income countries were buying television sets and watching TV.
Lonely Planet, the TV series, was instantly recognizable to millions. And along with that, our Globe Trekker presenters, had the chance to became your best travel friends. We are still so grateful to this day.
The series became especially popular among people who spoke English and for those who were learning English. In 2000, when the series was re-named Globe Trekker the show reached even more people as the presenters were dubbed into Hindi, Spanish, French, Portuguese and more.
Globe Trekker Now
Matlana Media, owned by presenter and Globe Trekker alumni Justine Shapiro, secured the rights to the entire Globe Trekker archive in 2021. Together with veteran crew members of the original production, Justine is developing an immersive digital content experience for 2024, called Globe Trekker Now.
As the executive producer on this project, Justine welcomes you all with open arms.
Join our travel tribe - this is the official Globe Trekker reboot page.
