Richard Bangs' Adventures with Purpose

Renowned adventurer Richard Bangs explores the ecological nexus of North and South America — Costa Rica, home to endless natural wonders. Bangs attempts to uncover the secret to Costa Rica's success in preserving their small country's extraordinary biodiversity.

Richard Bangs travels South China's Pearl River Delta in search of the roots of harmony. Along the way, he witnesses traditional customs and religion meshing with the new and modern, explores the integration of Western sensibility with Eastern aesthetic, and meets people who continue to seek a civilized harmony with the natural world.

Renowned adventurer Richard Bangs embarks on a great odyssey through Greece to discover the meaning and relevance of Greek mythology today. Richard begins in Athens, and then heads to Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games. He visits the island of Ithaca, the site of the mystical oracles at Delphi, and finishes his journey at the home of the gods, Mt. Olympus.

Renowned adventurer Richard Bangs treks through the remote state of Assam in India — a region of rushing rivers, strapping monsoons, vast expanses of unspoiled land and a staggering array of wildlife, including the one-horned rhinoceros. Richard sets off to discover what this elusive rhino represents to the people of Assam — and to the world.

Richard Bangs travels to the southernmost reaches of civilization to uncover New Zealand's pristine natural beauty, alluring culture and enigmatic mythology. Bangs seeks answers to questions rooted in indigenous wisdom, hoping to unearth the meaning and origins of "kaitiakitanga," the responsibility of human beings to protect the natural world.

Renowned adventurer Richard Bangs explores the Rhone River, Lake Geneva and the Matterhorn regions of Switzerland — known since Medieval times as the "water castle" of Europe. Richard uncovers how the Swiss harnessed the Rhone to light Switzerland and its neighbors, power some of the world's most efficient rail systems and quench the thirst of millions, preserving this precious resource.

Richard Bangs explores the origins of adventure travel and searches for what philosophers and poets called "the sublime." Bangs' quest to unearth the true meaning of “sublime” begins in the heart of Switzerland: Lucerne. Later, he travels to the chic winter resort of St. Moritz, climbs aboard the famous Glacier Express train and heads to Zermatt and experiences the rapture of the Matterhorn.

Richard Bangs ventures into the heart of Hong Kong to discover what forces drive a city where the spiritual concept of chi and the worldly concept of wealth coexist. Bangs begins by taking in a dazzling Chinese New Year festival. He wanders beneath the skyscrapers of Central District, meanders through alleys and ferries across to Kowloon.

Renowned adventurer Richard Bangs follows the ancient trade routes from the Gotthard pass into central Switzerland, along Lake Lucerne, with a final stop at the port city of Basel. On his quest, Richard aims to uncover what turned landlocked Switzerland, the most mountainous country in Europe, into the crossroads of the continent, a hub for commerce, ideas, medicines and people.

Adventurer Richard Bangs seeks out the modern-day "Viking Spirit" in Norway's forbidding Arctic north, its mountainous sea coast and its bustling cities.

Explorer and travel writer Richard Bangs sets off for an incredible adventure on the great Nile River to uncover the history, myths and culture of the lost crocodiles of ancient Egypt. From Alexandria and Cairo, to the pyramids at Giza and the Valley of the Kings, Bangs explores the way the river and its fearsome "Lord" molded a civilization.

Adventurer Richard Bangs travels to Morocco on a quest for the modern-day equivalent of the Kasbah. Bangs begins his journey in Marrakesh, where he dips down to the seashore, travels over the mountains to Ouarzazate and treks to the desert on the country's far eastern border. Then, he works his way up to Fès, far north to Tangier, and back to Rabat, ending in the city of Casablanca.