Out of Eden Walk

The Out of Eden Walk is writer and National Geographic Fellow Paul Salopek’s multiyear, 21,000-mile storytelling odyssey across the globe in the footsteps of our ancestors.

History & Culture
Out of Eden Walk

The unexpected twists on a writer's 24,000-mile walk across the world

History & Culture
Out of Eden Walk

8 years ago I began walking the Earth?and stumbled into an era spinning with change

History & Culture
Out of Eden Walk

These traditional Burmese noodles take a week and 18 intricate steps to make

History & Culture
Out of Eden Walk

How much work goes into flattening gold leaf? 20,000 hammer blows.

History & Culture
Out of Eden Walk

A storyteller walking the world stumbles across a 2,000-year-old civilization along a fabled river

Go Further

Animals

Grizzlies are coming back. But can we make room for them?
- Animals
Grizzlies are coming back. But can we make room for them?
More than 130 years after its discovery, this moth was finally photographed alive
- Animals
- Photo Ark
More than 130 years after its discovery, this moth was finally photographed alive
The world’s biggest owl is endangered?but it’s not too late to save it
- Animals
- Last of the Last
The world’s biggest owl is endangered?but it’s not too late to save it
Lasers, cannons, effigies: The surprising science of shooing vultures away
- Animals
Lasers, cannons, effigies: The surprising science of shooing vultures away
Echolocation is nature’s built-in sonar. Here’s how it works.
- Animals
Echolocation is nature’s built-in sonar. Here’s how it works.
How the world’s largest rhino population dropped by 70 percent?in a decade
- Animals
- Wildlife Watch
How the world’s largest rhino population dropped by 70 percent?in a decade
Pets are helping us cope during the pandemic?but that may be stressing them out
- Animals
- Domesticated
Pets are helping us cope during the pandemic?but that may be stressing them out
New chameleon species may be world’s smallest reptile
- Animals
New chameleon species may be world’s smallest reptile
Appalachian snake handlers put their faith in God?and increasingly, doctors
- Animals
Appalachian snake handlers put their faith in God?and increasingly, doctors
Human-hippo conflicts are exploding in this pristine patch of Kenya
- Animals
Human-hippo conflicts are exploding in this pristine patch of Kenya
Test drilling for oil and gas begins in Namibia’s Okavango region
- Animals
- Wildlife Watch
Test drilling for oil and gas begins in Namibia’s Okavango region
Oceanic shark and ray populations have collapsed by 70 percent over 50 years
- Animals
Oceanic shark and ray populations have collapsed by 70 percent over 50 years

Environment

The Keystone XL pipeline is dead. Now what?
- Environment
The Keystone XL pipeline is dead. Now what?
This in-demand plant is evolving to hide from its predator?humans
- Environment
This in-demand plant is evolving to hide from its predator?humans
These widely used insecticides may be a threat to mammals too
- Environment
These widely used insecticides may be a threat to mammals too
Oil drilling on sensitive New Mexico public lands puts drinking water, rare caves at risk
- Environment
Oil drilling on sensitive New Mexico public lands puts drinking water, rare caves at risk
The world’s wetlands are slipping away. This vibrant sanctuary underscores the stakes.
- Environment
The world’s wetlands are slipping away. This vibrant sanctuary underscores the stakes.
This single number could reshape our climate future
- Environment
This single number could reshape our climate future
The U.S. commits to tripling its protected lands. Here’s how it could be done.
- Environment
The U.S. commits to tripling its protected lands. Here’s how it could be done.
Has the electric car’s moment arrived at last?
- Environment
Has the electric car’s moment arrived at last?
These 6 numbers define the climate challenge in a changing U.S.
- Environment
These 6 numbers define the climate challenge in a changing U.S.
Sacred Native American land to be traded to a foreign mining giant
- Environment
Sacred Native American land to be traded to a foreign mining giant
Biden expected to reverse Trump’s order to shrink Utah national monuments
- Environment
Biden expected to reverse Trump’s order to shrink Utah national monuments
This Thai village created a tiny fish reserve years ago. Today, it's thriving.
- Environment
This Thai village created a tiny fish reserve years ago. Today, it's thriving.

History & Culture

3-ton parts of Stonehenge may have been carried from earlier monuments
- History & Culture
3-ton parts of Stonehenge may have been carried from earlier monuments
How ancient astronomy mixed science with mythology, Video Story
- History & Culture
- Nat Geo Explores
How ancient astronomy mixed science with mythology
This ivory relic reveals the colonial power dynamic between Benin and Portugal
- History Magazine
This ivory relic reveals the colonial power dynamic between Benin and Portugal
Reconstruction offered a glimpse of equality for Black Americans. Why did it fail?
- History & Culture
- Race in America
Reconstruction offered a glimpse of equality for Black Americans. Why did it fail?
‘I don’t even know if my home still exists.’
- History & Culture
‘I don’t even know if my home still exists.’
Old-fashioned images evoke the complicated history of Black military service
- History & Culture
Old-fashioned images evoke the complicated history of Black military service
This ruthless African king knew Rome was for sale. He bought it
- History Magazine
This ruthless African king knew Rome was for sale. He bought it
What's next for these transgender asylum seekers stranded in Mexico?
- History & Culture
What's next for these transgender asylum seekers stranded in Mexico?
Trouble lurks for Afghanistan’s beloved ‘goat grabbing’ national sport
- History & Culture
Trouble lurks for Afghanistan’s beloved ‘goat grabbing’ national sport
The origins of the filibuster?and how it came to exasperate the U.S. Senate
- History & Culture
The origins of the filibuster?and how it came to exasperate the U.S. Senate
Why this famed Anglo-Saxon ship burial was likely the last of its kind
- History & Culture
Why this famed Anglo-Saxon ship burial was likely the last of its kind
The unexpected twists on a writer's 24,000-mile walk across the world
- History & Culture
- Out of Eden Walk
The unexpected twists on a writer's 24,000-mile walk across the world

Science

Watch as NASA attempts a daring Mars rover landing
- Science
- Mars
Watch as NASA attempts a daring Mars rover landing
Million-year-old mammoth teeth yield world's oldest DNA
- Science
Million-year-old mammoth teeth yield world's oldest DNA
Why mapping Mars completely changed how we see it, Video Story
- Science
- Nat Geo Explores
Why mapping Mars completely changed how we see it
How these feuding map-makers shaped our fascination with Mars, Video Story
- Science
- Mars
How these feuding map-makers shaped our fascination with Mars
U.S. has secured 200 million more doses of COVID-19 vaccines
- Science
- Coronavirus Coverage
U.S. has secured 200 million more doses of COVID-19 vaccines
Earth’s mountains may have mysteriously stopped growing for a billion years
- Science
Earth’s mountains may have mysteriously stopped growing for a billion years
After you get a COVID-19 vaccine, what can you do safely?
- Science
- Coronavirus Coverage
After you get a COVID-19 vaccine, what can you do safely?
As more people are fully vaccinated, certain activities will become less risky, but experts still recommend holding on to precautions for the near future.
Mount Everest is more than two feet taller, China and Nepal announce
- Science
Mount Everest is more than two feet taller, China and Nepal announce
Much of America's seafood comes through this city. Here's how it controlled COVID-19.
- Science
- Coronavirus Coverage
Much of America's seafood comes through this city. Here's how it controlled COVID-19.
Day Zero: Where next?, Video Story
- Partner Content
Day Zero: Where next?
Should you get the COVID-19 vaccine while pregnant? Here's what experts say.
- Science
- Coronavirus Coverage
Should you get the COVID-19 vaccine while pregnant? Here's what experts say.
The coronavirus is mutating?but what determines how quickly?
- Science
- Coronavirus Coverage
The coronavirus is mutating?but what determines how quickly?

Travel

Why this salty Massachusetts coastal town hooks artists
- Travel
Why this salty Massachusetts coastal town hooks artists
Families are leading a new wave for Black travelers
- Travel
- Race in America
Families are leading a new wave for Black travelers
Winter is prime time for watching bald eagles?here’s how
- Travel
Winter is prime time for watching bald eagles?here’s how
As Lunar New Year approaches, many Asians worry about future journeys
- Race in America
As Lunar New Year approaches, many Asians worry about future journeys
Want dreamy winter photos? Take to the air with a drone
- Travel
Want dreamy winter photos? Take to the air with a drone
These World’s Fair sites reveal a history of segregation
- Travel
- Race in America
These World’s Fair sites reveal a history of segregation
Can carbon capture make flying more sustainable?
- Travel
Can carbon capture make flying more sustainable?
Stereotypes have fueled a tourism boom in Europe’s icy North. Can things change?
- Travel
Stereotypes have fueled a tourism boom in Europe’s icy North. Can things change?
The next great whiskey trail is not where you think it is
- Travel
The next great whiskey trail is not where you think it is
Parisians want to recover a legendary river now buried under concrete
- Travel
Parisians want to recover a legendary river now buried under concrete
Singapore’s iconic, but endangered, street food now has UNESCO status
- Travel
Singapore’s iconic, but endangered, street food now has UNESCO status
This country is where you can find some of the world’s rarest animals
- Travel
This country is where you can find some of the world’s rarest animals