The idea of venturing into the unknown, facing danger, and discovering something new has captivated people for centuries. From the great sea voyages of the Age of Discovery to the exploration of the polar regions and beyond, the exploits of famous explorers have captured public imagination. For some people, the allure of exploration is so strong that they have decided to recreate the famous journeys of historical explorers themselves.
These modern-day adventurers have taken on similar challenges, dangers, and witnessed many of the same wonders as their predecessors. In doing so, they have not only brought significant moments from history back to life, but also forged their own paths of adventure and discovery.
Elise Wortley: Retracing the Steps of Forgotten Female Explorers
Elise Wortley has traced the journeys of female explorers such as the French explorer Alexandra David-Néel, who traveled through the Himalayas; writer and poet Nan Shepherd, who trekked through the Scottish Cairngorms; and British-Italian explorer Freya Stark, who traveled through Iran's Valley of Assassins. She takes the re-creation of those expeditions seriously – not only following in the footsteps of these remarkable women, but also wearing the clothing and using the equipment that was available to them.
Retracing Shackleton’s Epic Journey in Antarctica
In 2013, a British-Australian team of six men, led by Tim Jarvis and Barry Gray, followed Sir Ernest Shackleton's 800-mile journey across Antarctica. Primarily using the same equipment and clothing as Shackleton's original expedition, the team faced extreme cold, harsh winds, and treacherous terrain.
Tim Severin and the Legendary Voyage of St. Brendan
Tim Severin recreated some amazing journeys of historical figures. He retraced the travels of Marco Polo (on motorcycle) and Sinbad and Ulysses’ voyages, but his most famous trip was his 1976 voyage across the Atlantic in a replica of a 6th-century Irish leather boat, tracing the legendary voyage of St. Brendan, an Irish monk who, according to legend, sailed to America in the 6th century.
Two Men Bring Marco Polo’s Journey to Life
In 1993, Denis Belliveau and Francis O'Donnell set off on a two-year trek retracing of Marco Polo's journey from Venice to Anatolia, Persia, India, and China. Their Silk Road travels became a 2008 PBS documentary film called In the Footsteps of Marco Polo, in which the men traveled by foot, on horses and camels, and by jeep, boat, and train, and faced many dangerous situations, while following in the footsteps of the famous explorer.
Special Mention - Dwayne Fields, An Epic Explorer
His story may not be as old as some of the others on this list, but it’s easily one of the most inspirational. In in 2010 Fields became the first black Briton to reach the north pole. He was on an expedition commemorating the 100th anniversary of Peary and Henson’s 1908-9 expedition, which is generally considered the first to reach the geographic north pole (although a 1989 analysis suggests that Peary and Henson fell 30 miles short of their goal). Watch the video below to find out more about Fields’ amazing story which took him from Jamaica to the North Pole, and his advocacy work since then.
Discover more about these and other fascinating journeys taken by modern explorers recreating travels from the past in the article ‘Modern Adventurers Following in the Footsteps of Famous Explorers’ available in the May - June 2023 issue of Ancient Origins Magazine. Get it here!
Featured Image: Modern adventurers have retraced the expeditions of famous historical explorers. Source: Tryfonov / Adobe Stock
By Alicia McDermott