Pond Inlet, on the Northern reaches of Baffin Island, provides one of the most challenging landscapes our planet has to offer. Over 700km north of the Arctic Circle, it sits amidst grinding, ever-shifting flows of sea-ice where polar-bears roam in search of meat. In this severe climate, Les has been equipped with a bare minimum of raw materials to aid him for the next 7 days - a hunk of uncooked seal-liver, some oil-rich blubber for heat, a seal-hook, three matches, and a knife.
Les is airdropped onto a snow-covered peak in the Canadian Rockies courtesy of the Canadian Mountain Air Rescue Service. They'll come looking for him in seven days. Until then Les is entirely on his own, save for the grizzlies, cougars and wolves that also call this place home. To emulate a real-life survival scenario - in this case a heli-hiking expedition come to grief - Les has been provided with a few readily salvageable items, among them a broken camcorder and tripod. One man's trash is another man's treasure!
The spectacular red landscapes of Utah's canyonlands are as beautiful as they are inhospitable. Like outlaws of old who were known to eat their own horses out of desperation in this forlorn place, Stroud will cannibalize the mountain-bike he has ridden into the middle of nowhere. As well as these scavenged bike parts to aid him, he also has a multi-tool, a magnesium flint-stick and an old energy-bar - that he has a use for other than eating.
In the remote winter-bound forests of Northern Ontario, a crashed plane lies in the snow beside a frozen lake. There is no one alive on board. But this plane didn't crash here - the decrepit old wreck has been airdropped from a helicopter to provide a temporary home for Survivorman. For a week Les will have to survive in this harsh snowy wilderness with only an axe, a multi-tool and a single blanket to aid him.
Living "off the land" takes on a new meaning as Les Stroud casts off for a week at sea. With no food and only a bare minimum of equipment, Stroud will be set adrift in an inflatable life raft off the coast of Belize. Battling hunger, thirst and the Caribbean heat, he must also keep his cameras dry to film the ordeal. To top it off - the life raft has a few bad leaks and needs constant bailing. It also leaks air and requires frequent re-inflation with a hand pump - Survivorman is in for a busy few days!
Les begins the second season in the Kalahari Desert of southern Africa. The scenario: running out of gas in the middle of the desert. His supplies: enough water for only four days, two empty soda cans, an empty jar of peanut butter, some jam, an ostrich egg, a broken down truck, and a bucket. The dangers: the brutal summer heat where temperatures on the sand reach 140F/60C; dehydration and heatstroke; scorpions and highly venomous Cape cobras.
Les finally gets to survive the one place he's always wanted to visit: the Amazon jungle in Ecuador. The scenario: brought by the natives into the jungle by canoe. The supplies: three feet of fishing line, a can of soda, a mosquito net, one match, "fire dust," a blowgun, a machete, and a spear. The dangers: stingrays, jaguars, spiders, ants, snakes, and scorpions. Added difficulty: Les is nursing a previous hip injury.
Les journeys into Labrador in the Canadian Maritimes. The scenario: driving a dog sled team almost 100 miles back to civilization in late winter. The supplies: a .22 rifle, a bucket of caribou meat (for the dogs, not for him), and, for the first time, a self-designed survival kit. The dangers: hypothermia, getting lost, the weather's effect on the trail, and injury from the sled or the dogs. Added difficulties: the dogs aren't familiar with Les, the possibility of vicious fights between the dogs, and Les simulates the role of stranded dog sled driver.
Les ventures into the plains of northeastern South Africa. The scenario: hot-air balloon crash. The challenge: hike back to the support crew. The supplies: a machete, a knife, a bottle of water, some rope, a small first-aid kit, and the balloon itself. The dangers: lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, and the black mamba snake.
This time Survivorman decides to demonstrate survival by sea kayak in an ocean bay called Taroka Arm (literally "black bear") for good reason. At this time of year, the salmon are active and are one of the black bear's favorite foods. Black bear and grizzlies that live in this area are among the largest in the world and gorge themselves on the silver salmon during this period.
Les tries to survive in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California. This time he has more than just his trusty harmonica and his multi tool, He also has some basic backpacking gear as well like a tent, a sleeping bag, and a flashlight. When he doesn’t show up at camp his team is forced to organise a Search and Rescue team to find him. Will they find him in time?