Episode list

Simon Reeve embarks on the first leg of a three-part journey across Russia. He sets out amongst the volcanoes of Kamchatka and meets indigenous reindeer herders.

The traveler's second leg of his journey across Russia takes him from south-east Siberia to the far south west and the majestic Caucasus Mountains. Along the way he stops off at the oldest lake on earth, witnesses a commemoration of the Second World War in the city of Irkutsk and visits a cafe where patriotic staff and punters perform a daily rendition of the national anthem. He also finds out how the collapse of communism has seen millions of disenchanted Russians join new sects and religions, with one community worshiping a man claiming to be the reincarnation of Christ.

The concluding leg of the adventurer's epic journey begins in Crimea, which became part of neighboring Ukraine only since Soviet leader Crushtsev, but was annexed by Russia in 2014, yet reintegration into Russia may prove a disaster for all concerned despite all Putin's investments besides the trouble across the Ukrainian border. Simon meets the eccentric and fearless owner of a safari park who likes to get up close and personal with his pride of lions, then comes across a small hospital where he meets an inspirational doctor trying to protect his clinic from closure. Arriving in Moscow he meets a woman who was arrested for protesting against her flat being demolished, and finally arrives in St Petersburg, where he joins fighters at a patriotic martial arts club.