Jason Lewis
Jason Lewis spent 13 years pedalling, walking, rollerblading and kayaking 46,505 miles across 37 countries – using no wind or motorised transportation of any kind. **[Read more](http://www.bbc.com/travel/bespoke/story/20150326-travel-pioneers/jason-lewis/index.html)**.
Maoris in Gisborne, New Zealand. (Credit: Jimmy Nelson Pictures BV, beforethey.com)
Jimmy Nelson’s ongoing Before They Pass Away project seeks to glorify native people in the hope that honouring their culture might somehow preserve it. **[Read more](http://www.bbc.com/travel/bespoke/story/20150326-travel-pioneers/jimmy-nelson/index.html)** (Credit: Jimmy Nelson Pictures BV, beforethey.com)
Paul Salopek (Credit: John Stanmeyer/National Geographic)
Paul Salopek is two years into an extraordinary 21,000-mile walk that will take him from Ethiopia to South America’s Tierra del Fuego archipelago. **[Read more](http://www.bbc.com/travel/bespoke/story/20150326-travel-pioneers/paul-salopek/index.html)** (Credit: John Stanmeyer/National Geographic)
Maria Leijerstam
Having already cycled to the South Pole, Maria Leijerstam believes that travellers can better appreciate the beauty of a place if they use their own sweat to get there. **[Read more](http://www.bbc.com/travel/bespoke/story/20150326-travel-pioneers/maria-leijerstam/index.html)**.
Don Parrish
A look at how Don Parrish has managed to visit nearly every geographic entity on the planet. **[Read more](http://www.bbc.com/travel/bespoke/story/20150326-travel-pioneers/don-parrish/index.html)**.
Levison Wood
Levison Wood has made a name for himself by finding novel ways to experience inaccessible and dangerous places. **[Read more](http://www.bbc.com/travel/bespoke/story/20150326-travel-pioneers/levison-wood/index.html)**.