Rick sits down for a wide-ranging discussion with Samantha Brown, host of PBS's Samantha Brown's Places to Love. Rick will share reflections on his career, his decades-long connection to public media, and share a few tips on some of the best places to visit and explore around the globe. There will also be time during the event where a few guests can ask Rick Steves their own travel questions.
On The Hippie Trail: Istanbul to Kathmandu and the Making of a Travel Writer
Stow away with Rick Steves for a glimpse into the unforgettable moments, misadventures, and memories of his 1978 journey on the legendary Hippie Trail.
In the 1970s, the ultimate trip for any backpacker was the storied “Hippie Trail” from Istanbul to Kathmandu. A 23-year-old Rick Steves made the trek, and like a travel writer in training, he documented everything along the way: jumping off a moving train, making friends in Tehran, getting lost in Lahore, getting high for the first time in Herat, battling leeches in Pokhara, and much more. The experience ignited his love of travel and forever broadened his perspective on the world.
This book contains edited selections from Rick’s journal and travel photos with a 45-years-later preface and postscript reflecting on how the journey through Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Nepal changed his life.
You know Rick Steves. Now discover the adventure of a lifetime that made him the travel writer he is today.
Thursday, October 8, 2026 from 8-9pm
Tickets are a $96 donation and include:
Shipping Details:
How it works:
This virtual event is in partnership with GBH and CDP, our event organizers and hosts. Your donation for this event will benefit Maryland Public Television and the MPT Foundation, Inc.
This virtual event will take place via Zoom Webinar. Zoom is free to the public but requires a computer download. You can download Zoom here.
Captions will be provided by our friends at Partners Interpreting. Do you need any additional accommodations that we should be made aware of to participate in this event? If so, please contact our partners at GBH a minimum of one week prior to the event via email [email protected].
Important Note: Any of Rick Steves soft cover books ordered after September 25 are not guaranteed delivery before the event on October 8. Books ordered after September 25 will arrive before December 24, 2026. Ordering will close on November 30, 2026.
If you have any questions regarding the event, please reach out to [email protected].
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The MPT Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3). Your contribution supports MPT's service to Marylanders and beyond. Thank you for your additional support.
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