Excess Baggage

John McCarthy discusses travel to the African countries of Rwanda, Uganda and to the world's newest country, South Sudan with his guests, doctor Rob Summerhayes, paramedic Franz Opitz and forensic accountant Benedict Jenks.

John McCarthy talks to Meriel Larken who rescued and restored a Victorian steam ship on Lake Titicaca in Peru; Chris Smith and Liz Peel who went by canoe through the Bolivian jungle in search of the village of Manchester; and Kung Fu expert Nick Hurst who set off to Malaysia and China to spend time with his grandmaster Sugong.

John McCarthy explores wildlife travel with naturalist and tv presenter, Mark Carwardine who has spent thirty years travelling around the world to observe and aid conservation; wildlife travel writer, James Parry, who has made a unique tour of the world's top 20 deserts and award-winning wildlife photographer, Andy Rouse who discusses his recent trips to Rwanda in relation to mountain gorillas, and to India to study tigers.

Sandi Toksvig goes to Reykjavik to look at aspects of tourism in Iceland and discovers that the volcanic eruptions and the financial crash there may not have been so bad for the country. As well as reminding the world of its geological attractions the crises have helped Iceland look at its cultural roots like the sagas and knitting.

John McCarthy takes a look at family travel with novelist Gill Lewis who took her daughters spotting wildlife both abroad and in Scotland and Cornwall; writer Ben Hatch who toured Britain with his young childrenand holiday lettings agent Wendy Shand who explains how self-catering holidays can be more child friendly.

John McCarthy talks to writer Peter Hoskins who travelled in the footsteps of the Black Prince, historian Susan Rose about Gascony's medieval wine trail and novelist Michael Arditti about the lure of Lourdes and the Pyrenees.

Sandi Toksvig discusses Russia with the BBC's former Moscow correspondent, Martin Sixsmith. Actor Michael Simkins talks about his rail journey from London to Kiev and on to Crimea and author and linguist Anna Shevchenko explains why Ukraine has much to offer the traveller.

Sandi Toksvig hears about medical work abroad from Dr Marie Charles and dentist Ian Wilson; she also talks to writer and comedian Liz Carr who explains how went to the Oscars.

Sandi Toksvig hears about a lost emperor of India from historian Charles Allen and Britain's undesirable destinations from writer Tim Moore and webmistress Cathy Shaw.

John looks beyond the political debate to find what Israel has to offer the ordinary traveller; he is joined by travel writer Samantha Wilson, keen hiker Alma Smith and chef Adi Gilo.

John McCarthy talks to artist Emily Young about her travels to find stone for her sculpture, to travel writer Martin Symington about his venture in search of Britain's sacred places and to Richard Grant about his exploration of the Malagarasi River in East Africa.

John McCarthy visits 'The Heart of the Great Alone' an exhibiton of polar photography at The Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace and, before an audience, introduces a discussion of Antarctica with the explorer David Hempleman-Adams and his daughter Amelia who have just returned from there,the author Meredith Hooper and Frozen Planet cameraman Doug Allan.

John McCarthy talks to Lord Sugar's right-hand man in The Apprentice Nick Hewer about his journey across Mongolia in an old Renault 4L; to documentary film-maker Tim Slessor about the American Wild West and to travel writer Kieran Meeke about the Calgary Stampede, in Alberta, Canada

John McCarthy looks at the delights and difficulties of visiting the occupied territories of East Jerusalem and the West Bank with writer Sarah Irving, circus performer China Fish and traveller Gail Simmons.

John McCarthy talks to writer Susie Parr about her quest to chart the history of outdoor bathing in the UK and how immersion in cold water inspired art and creativity; academic Amy Dempsey shares her love of large scale outdoor art and critic Andrew Graham-Dixon explains his abiding passion for the raw art of Sicily.