Six expeditions. Six extreme environments. One year. And a reminder of why I fell in love with exploring the world in the first place.

Somewhere between scrolling TikTok and watching a man paddle an inflatable kayak through the Congo Basin, I found myself completely invested in an adventure I wasn’t even on. If you’ve been following Ash Dykes and his latest expedition, Project 6, you probably know exactly what I’m talking about.

One minute, you’re watching another travel video. The next, you’re researching the Congo Basin, learning about the Indigenous communities who call the rainforest home, wondering how someone prepares for hundreds of miles on a remote river, and trying to figure out where on Earth he’s going next.

And as someone who has spent years encouraging women to travel solo, embrace unfamiliar cultures, and discover the world beyond their comfort zones, I find the entire concept fascinating. Not because I have any desire to paddle through crocodile habitat in an inflatable kayak. I’ll happily leave that particular adventure to Ash.

But because Project 6 represents something I’ve always believed about travel: the greatest adventures aren’t necessarily about how far you go or how dangerous the journey is. They’re about how much you’re willing to learn, experience, and challenge what you thought you knew.

Now that the first expedition is complete, I have some theories about where Project 6 is heading next. And my strongest prediction? We’re trading tropical rainforest for Arctic wilderness, possibly by dog sled.

Let’s get into it.

What Is Ash Dykes’ Project 6?

For anyone just discovering Ash Dykes, he’s a Welsh explorer, endurance athlete, and five-time Guinness World Record holder whose adventures have taken him across some of the most challenging landscapes on Earth.

His accomplishments include crossing Mongolia solo and unsupported, traversing Madagascar, walking the length of China’s Yangtze River, and exploring the Amazon rainforest in Suriname. His newest undertaking, Project 6, might be one of his most ambitious concepts yet.

The premise is simple, at least on paper: six expeditions across six extreme environments in twelve months. Each expedition is designed to challenge him in a different way, combining physical endurance, exploration, local knowledge, and documentary storytelling.

The catch? He’s keeping the remaining destinations secret, revealing each mission individually. Which, naturally, has turned everyone following along into an amateur expedition detective. And I am absolutely one of them.

Expedition 1 of 6: The Congo Basin

The first mission took Ash into Central Africa, where he and his team navigated the Sangha River by inflatable kayak.

Starting in Nola in the Central African Republic and finishing in Mossaka in the Republic of the Congo, the journey covered approximately 800 kilometers over 18 days, according to his completion announcement. Alongside filmmaker Will Pérez and local guide Obed Temba Tuyumvire, Ash encountered tropical storms, intense heat, insects, challenging logistics, and the unpredictability of traveling through remote rainforest.

At one point, communication with the team was lost for hours, leaving followers concerned about their safety. The issue was ultimately connected to their communications equipment rather than a confirmed emergency. But what I found most interesting wasn’t the danger. It was everything happening around the expedition.

The moments that mattered most weren’t necessarily the dangerous ones

One of the most meaningful parts of the journey was Ash’s time with the Ba’Aka communities of the Congo Basin. He shared experiences learning about traditional hunting techniques, forest survival, and the knowledge passed through generations of people who understand the rainforest in ways an outsider simply cannot.

And that’s where Project 6 became something more meaningful to me.

We live in a world where travel content is often reduced to beautiful destinations, expensive hotels, and perfectly curated experiences There’s nothing wrong with enjoying those things. I certainly do. But some of the most transformative travel experiences happen when we stop being spectators and start being students. When we listen to the people who live somewhere. When we learn why traditions exist. When we understand how communities interact with their environments. And when we recognize that our own way of living is just one of countless ways people experience the world.

Ash’s journey offered glimpses of that.

It also reinforced something important: an expedition through unfamiliar territory isn’t accomplished through personal bravery alone. Local expertise, community relationships, preparation, and respect matter enormously.

I hope those voices remain central to the storytelling as Project 6 continues.

Where Is Ash Dykes Going Next? My Prediction for Expedition 2

Now for the question everyone wants answered. Where is Ash heading next?

As of November 2, 2026, his second destination hasn’t been officially announced on the Project 6 website. But he has dropped some intriguing clues.

Based on those clues, the next environment appears likely to be dramatically colder than the Congo Basin, with temperatures potentially reaching around 5°F, or minus 15°C. He’s also suggested the next expedition won’t be on foot or by kayak, and will involve a method of travel he hasn’t previously trained for.

That last detail is what really caught my attention. Because Ash has already completed incredible journeys on foot, by bicycle, and by kayak. So what type of expedition could challenge an experienced explorer in a completely unfamiliar way?

My prediction: dog sledding through the Arctic.

Why I think Expedition 2 could involve dog sledding

First, there’s the temperature. A destination experiencing temperatures around minus 15°C opens up possibilities across the Arctic and sub-Arctic, including Greenland, northern Canada, Alaska, and parts of Scandinavia.

Second, there’s the transportation clue. Dog sledding would introduce an entirely different skill set. Unlike walking or kayaking, traveling by dog sled involves understanding and working with a team of animals, navigating snow-covered terrain, managing equipment, and making decisions in extreme cold. It would require Ash to become a beginner again. And that feels very consistent with the spirit of Project 6.

Third, there’s the cultural dimension. Dog sledding has a long history across northern communities, particularly among Inuit peoples in Greenland and Arctic Canada, where sled dogs have traditionally played important roles in transportation, hunting, and everyday life.

Imagine an expedition where Ash learns from experienced local mushers, explores the relationship between people and working dogs, and documents how changing Arctic conditions are affecting traditional ways of life. That’s the kind of expedition I’d love to see.

Of course, this is entirely my theory. There’s no confirmed evidence that Ash is planning a dog-sledding expedition. But if I were placing a bet on Expedition 2, that’s where my money would go.

My top three destination guesses

1. Greenland: My strongest prediction

Greenland would be an incredible setting for a dog-sledding expedition. Its Arctic landscapes, remote settlements, sea ice, and deep cultural connections to sled-dog travel could provide both an extraordinary physical challenge and an opportunity for meaningful cultural storytelling.

2. Northern Canada

Nunavut or another remote part of the Canadian Arctic would also make sense. An expedition could explore challenging winter terrain while highlighting Inuit knowledge, northern communities, and environmental change.

3. Svalbard, Norway

Svalbard offers dramatic Arctic wilderness, polar conditions, and opportunities for unusual expedition travel. I see it as a possibility, although I think Greenland or northern Canada would offer a particularly compelling combination of dog-sledding traditions and cultural immersion.

There’s also the possibility that we’re all completely wrong and he’s planning something like snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, or another winter expedition method.

But until he reveals the destination, I’m sticking with the dogs.

My Predictions for the Remaining Project 6 Expeditions

If Project 6 is truly designed to showcase six dramatically different environments, I suspect Ash will continue moving between landscapes that test entirely different skills. Rather than simply visiting six difficult destinations, I think the series could explore six distinct ways humans interact with the natural world.

Here’s my entirely unofficial prediction board.

Expedition 3: The Himalayas and High-Altitude Exploration

After tropical rainforest and Arctic wilderness, I could see Ash moving into an extreme mountain environment. Nepal, Pakistan, or a remote Himalayan region would introduce altitude, technical terrain, and challenging weather.

Perhaps this involves mountaineering, ice climbing, or traversing an unfamiliar high-altitude route. What would make this especially interesting is the opportunity to learn from local mountain communities and guides whose knowledge is essential to safe exploration.

Expedition 4: The Arabian Desert and Crossing the Dunes

For another dramatic contrast, my next guess is the Arabian Peninsula. I could imagine an expedition through Saudi Arabia’s Empty Quarter or another remote desert landscape.

But rather than another long-distance hike, perhaps the challenge involves traveling by camel or using a traditional method of desert navigation. There would be opportunities to explore Bedouin heritage, desert ecology, and the extraordinary knowledge required to live and travel in arid environments.

Expedition 5: The Pacific and a Remote Ocean Crossing

This one might be a stretch, but I would love to see a mission involving traditional ocean navigation. Imagine Ash learning to sail or navigate using techniques developed by Pacific Island communities.

An expedition centered on Polynesian wayfinding, for example, could explore navigation through stars, ocean swells, winds, and other environmental signals. It would also create a powerful opportunity to highlight the expertise of traditional navigators and the preservation of cultural knowledge.

I would find that far more interesting than simply watching someone attempt to cross an ocean as quickly as possible.

Expedition 6: Antarctica and the Ultimate Polar Challenge

For the final mission, I’m predicting Antarctica.

It’s one of the most physically demanding and logistically complex places on Earth, making it a fitting finale for a year of extreme exploration. Perhaps a ski traverse, an unusual polar route, or a challenge involving an unfamiliar form of transportation.

And unlike some of the other destinations, Antarctica could shift the educational focus toward scientific research, conservation, and the global importance of polar environments.

Whether or not any of these guesses turn out to be correct, I hope Project 6 continues to prioritize learning alongside endurance. Because that’s what makes the concept interesting to me.

What Project 6 Has to Do With Solo Travel

Now, you might be wondering what an extreme adventurer kayaking through the Congo Basin has to do with my passion for solo travel.

More than you might think.

I’ve always believed solo travel is one of the most empowering experiences someone can have. Not because traveling alone automatically makes you fearless, but because it teaches you to trust yourself. You learn to navigate unfamiliar situations. You become more comfortable with uncertainty. You discover that you’re capable of figuring things out without having every answer in advance. And perhaps most importantly, you become more open to the world around you.

Of course, there’s a significant difference between traveling solo through a new city and undertaking an extreme expedition in a remote wilderness. I don’t believe anyone needs to risk their life to experience personal growth. But I do think the underlying curiosity is similar.

It’s the willingness to step outside what’s familiar. The desire to understand something beyond your everyday life. And the recognition that the world has so much to teach us if we’re willing to pay attention.

You don’t have to be an extreme adventurer to be an explorer

This is something I wish more people understood. Exploration doesn’t have to mean climbing Everest, kayaking through the Congo, or crossing the Arctic. Sometimes exploration looks like booking your first solo international flight. Sometimes it’s navigating a city where you don’t speak the language. Sometimes it’s sitting down for a meal with people whose lives look completely different from yours. Or choosing to visit a destination because you’re genuinely curious about its history, traditions, and people, rather than because you’ve seen it trending on Instagram.

For one person, adventure might mean an unsupported wilderness expedition. For someone else, it might mean finally taking that trip they’ve been putting off for years because they were afraid to go alone.

Both can require courage. Both can change your perspective. And both can teach you something about yourself.

Travel Should Educate Us, Not Just Entertain Us

One of the reasons I’ve become so invested in Project 6 is that it has the potential to introduce millions of people to places they may never have thought to learn about.

Before watching the Congo expedition, how many viewers could have identified the Sangha River on a map? How many knew much about the communities living in the Congo Basin? How many understood the ecological importance of Central Africa’s rainforests?

That, to me, is one of the most powerful things travel storytelling can accomplish.

It can make unfamiliar places feel worth understanding.

But there’s also a responsibility that comes with that attention. When we tell stories about remote destinations, particularly communities that have historically been misunderstood or misrepresented, we have to be careful not to reduce those places to danger, mystery, or spectacle.

The Congo Basin isn’t simply a terrifying jungle filled with animals waiting to attack an explorer. It’s an extraordinarily important ecosystem and a region that people call home. Their cultures, knowledge, livelihoods, and perspectives deserve as much attention as the challenges faced by someone passing through. And I think that’s an important lesson for all travelers, not just extreme adventurers.

Cultural immersion isn’t about collecting experiences. It’s about approaching people and places with humility, curiosity, and respect.

It’s recognizing that we are visitors in someone else’s home. And that the privilege of exploring the world should come with a willingness to learn from it.

Why I’ll Be Following All Six Expeditions

I’ll admit it. I’m invested.

I want to know where Ash is going next. I want to see whether my Arctic dog-sledding prediction is right. I want to learn about the environments he explores, the communities he encounters, and the unexpected challenges that come with each expedition.

But more than anything, I hope Project 6 inspires people to become curious about the world. Maybe someone watching his Congo expedition decides to learn more about Central African conservation. Maybe the next mission introduces viewers to Arctic cultures and traditions they knew little about. Maybe someone who has never traveled internationally starts wondering what it would feel like to explore somewhere new.

And maybe, just maybe, someone who’s been waiting for the perfect travel companion realizes they don’t have to wait forever.

Because that’s the message I’ve always wanted to share through my own travel experiences.

You don’t have to explore the world the way someone else does. You don’t have to be the bravest person in the room. And you certainly don’t have to paddle hundreds of miles through the rainforest.

You just have to be willing to take that first step toward something unfamiliar.

The world is enormous, fascinating, complicated, and full of people and places worth understanding. And the more we explore it, the more we realize how much we still have to learn.

So, Ash, if you’re reading this, my official prediction is Greenland by dog sled.

And if I’m wrong? Well, that’s part of the fun.

Where do you think Ash Dykes is heading for Project 6, Expedition 2? And if you could experience one of the world’s most remote environments, where would you choose?

I’d love to hear your predictions.

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Editor’s note: Published November 2, 2026. Destinations and expedition methods for Missions 2 through 6 are personal predictions, not confirmed announcements. Project 6 details are subject to change.

Sources and Further Reading

Ash Dykes: Previous Expeditions

Ash Dykes: Official Project 6 Website